Last week was rough. It was my first week writing for 8 clients and I felt the work load for the first time. I know part of what was so crazy was the learning curve of the new position, plus learning how to balance working at home with my responsibilities to my family. I know both things will take an adjustment period and I'll get there :)
Added to that I ended up being a Thirty-One vendor at my son's school on Friday night. The school was having their annual "Fall Fest" and decided to combine Fall Fest with their Holiday Boutique. I committed to being a vendor in September, long before I knew I'd be working.
By Thursday afternoon I was a ball of stress. The learning curve at work meant I'd spent 3 entire days on the computer, and away from my family, without having a lot of billable hours to show for it. I was extremely edgy and frustrated, plus had to get ready for Friday night's event.
All I could think about all week was getting through Friday night . . .
Friday morning I had two things to do and figured I'd knock them out quickly and actually be able to get to the gym for the first time in nearly a month. Both things took longer than expected, but I was ok with it because one ended up involving an hour long phone conversation with a friend. The other was a quick errand that turned into a friend making me lunch and getting some time to chat with her. The two things I thought would be done by 9:30, leaving me 3 hours until I had to pick up my daughter, took me until 12:30 :) Like I said, it was all good because there was time to chat with friends in there :)
Friday my husband took a half day of vacation so I could start setting up my booth as soon as I picked my son up from school and dropped him off at home. My husband also took the kids around to play games while I worked.
The evening was not a great business success. In fact, I didn't make a single sale. I'm hoping to follow up and be able to get some parties (or at least some orders) from the people who entered my raffle, but otherwise it was pretty discouraging. My only consolation was that the vendor fee went to my son's PTO, which is pretty fabulous!
At some point during the week I'd asked on Facebook if anybody in my neighborhood wanted to recommend a reasonably priced hair stylist because I hadn't had my hair cut or highlighted in 6mo and it's driving me crazy. The lady who normally does my hair is about 30 minutes away and only works Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays so it's nearly impossible for me to see her these days because of my kids' school schedules.
At one point during the evening a friend of mine, who is on the school's PTO (also the one who invited me in for lunch when I stopped by to pick a table up from her that morning) asked me how business was going. I told her it wasn't going well.
A little while later my wonderful friend said, "I bought you a raffle ticket for a hair cut". I thought it was extremely sweet since she said she'd seen my Facebook post.
As I was loading my Thirty-One display into my car I saw a friend from my Moms in Prayer group that I hadn't seen all year. I got to spend some time catching up with her and my heart soared. Being able to talk to her for the first time since last spring felt WONDERFUL and totally made my night.
After we'd talked for about 30 minutes a lady I know from when our sons were in Kindergarten last year came over and said "Congratulations, girl!". I didn't know what she was talking about. She told me I'd won the raffle!!! I had missed the announcement while talking to my friend! As I walked to the PTO booth to claim it I ran into the PTO/sandwich making/bought me a raffle ticket friend who had already claimed my prize for me since she thought I'd left :) The night got even better!!!
After I was holding my prize I telling my friend how excited I was and the back story as to why our mutual friend (my sandwich making friend also is from my MIP group) bought me the raffle ticket and I said, "God cares about my hair!" She reminded me that God knows every hair on my head and I said, "I know! I just didn't know he cared about the COLOR of it!"
By now I was almost giddy because I was able to visit with a friend I hadn't seen in months AND I won the raffle (I'm absolutely one of those "I never win anything" people)
I finally got home and was able to sit down & rest for the first time all day (seemingly the first time all week). I fell onto the couch, grabbed my phone and started looking at Facebook. One of the first messages I saw was a post to a friend's wall saying "Auntie Barb says 'Congratulations'". That definitely made me curious. I went to my friend's wall and saw a lot of Congratulations messages. I was able to figure out what had happened . . . SHE GOT ENGAGED!! :) This friend was one of my flower girls (along with her sister) when I got married in 2004. Her dad and my husband grew up together. My husband was at the hospital the day she was born. She calls my husband "Uncle". Her dad is a pastor and performed our wedding. Her mom is a good friend of mine. Her Great-Grandma's legacy inspires me. Words can't express how THRILLED I was for her.
I went into the office where my husband was on the computer and told him she'd gotten engaged. Since he held her the day she was born I knew he'd want to know. As soon as I told him I went to sit back down. I hadn't even made my way to the couch when my phone rang. Caller ID said it was my friend, the soon-to-be-Mother-of-the-Bride. I picked up the phone saying "Hello Mother-of-the Bride! I just saw on Facebook!" I was greeted with "Well, actually . . . it's the Bride!" She had called us herself because she wanted us to know :) Her mom was able to witness her daughter's engagement so she used her mom's phone after her battery had run out making other calls.
In just an hour my Friday evening went from discouraging to one of the best nights in a long time :)
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Unexpected Blessing
When I was single people used to tell me "The One" would come along when I least expected it. I didn't believe them, but at a low point in my life, in God's perfect timing, I met my husband.
My youngest is currently in preschool three mornings a week and will be starting Kindergarten in August, 2014. From the time we were dating my husband and I agreed on the importance of Mom staying home while the kids were young. During those early talks (since we started dating at 26 and 36 our conversations on our first few dates sounded more like job interviews talking about everything from money management to disciplining kids) we had talked about Mom working outside of the home once the youngest went to Kindergarten. (Both of our moms did that)
Once I quit my last job with a paycheck in 2006 to stay home with our oldest I had presumed I'd be heading back to work eventually. I studied education, but know I don't want to teach full time. Though it's not necessarily something I want to do, I've long thought that substituting would be the perfect fit for me, where I could have flexible hours and have the same schedule as my kids.
As our youngest has grown my husband and I have talked about my future employment status at length. As far as my husband is concerned he would be ok if I didn't go back to work because we both think it's important that I'm the one who takes the kids to school, pick them up and is home with them after school. (We don't have bus service in our neighborhood so someone would have to take them to and from school every day). We also knew that, with most jobs, we would have to scramble for child care on days the kids had early release or school breaks. When my oldest was in Kindergarten last year I realized how much I enjoyed volunteering in his classroom and seeing what was happening at school with my own eyes so being able to continue that through the years became important as well.
Because I do most of our day-to-day money management I have often wished there was a way for me to bring in some extra income while still being fully available to my family. Since 2009 I have been a consultant with Thirty-One Gifts, but I haven't been able to do turn that into a steady source of income without taking away from family time in the evenings or weekends.
I wasn't looking for a job last week, but when a friend texted me a few days ago asking me if I'd be interested in working for the same company she does by doing social media marketing from home 10-15 hours a week it became something that felt like the perfect fit. After talking to my husband, praying about it, and talking to a few other friends who work from home while caring for young kids I decided to persue the position. I submitted my resume and a writing sample to the owner of the company yesterday afternoon and she offered me the position. I will start training Friday morning.
This is all very sudden, but it feels absolutely right. For quite a while I have looked at my friend (who is now my co-worker) and thought "I would love to do what she's doing". I'm obviously very familiar with social media and have long been fascinated by marketing. I love to write and started this blog because of that love.
This new adventure will allow me to combine many of the things I enjoy while bringing in an income and not taking away from my responsibilities to my family! It's a win/win/win situation that could only come from God!
I'm praising God for this opportunity and am very excited about seeing where this leads . . .
My youngest is currently in preschool three mornings a week and will be starting Kindergarten in August, 2014. From the time we were dating my husband and I agreed on the importance of Mom staying home while the kids were young. During those early talks (since we started dating at 26 and 36 our conversations on our first few dates sounded more like job interviews talking about everything from money management to disciplining kids) we had talked about Mom working outside of the home once the youngest went to Kindergarten. (Both of our moms did that)
Once I quit my last job with a paycheck in 2006 to stay home with our oldest I had presumed I'd be heading back to work eventually. I studied education, but know I don't want to teach full time. Though it's not necessarily something I want to do, I've long thought that substituting would be the perfect fit for me, where I could have flexible hours and have the same schedule as my kids.
As our youngest has grown my husband and I have talked about my future employment status at length. As far as my husband is concerned he would be ok if I didn't go back to work because we both think it's important that I'm the one who takes the kids to school, pick them up and is home with them after school. (We don't have bus service in our neighborhood so someone would have to take them to and from school every day). We also knew that, with most jobs, we would have to scramble for child care on days the kids had early release or school breaks. When my oldest was in Kindergarten last year I realized how much I enjoyed volunteering in his classroom and seeing what was happening at school with my own eyes so being able to continue that through the years became important as well.
Because I do most of our day-to-day money management I have often wished there was a way for me to bring in some extra income while still being fully available to my family. Since 2009 I have been a consultant with Thirty-One Gifts, but I haven't been able to do turn that into a steady source of income without taking away from family time in the evenings or weekends.
I wasn't looking for a job last week, but when a friend texted me a few days ago asking me if I'd be interested in working for the same company she does by doing social media marketing from home 10-15 hours a week it became something that felt like the perfect fit. After talking to my husband, praying about it, and talking to a few other friends who work from home while caring for young kids I decided to persue the position. I submitted my resume and a writing sample to the owner of the company yesterday afternoon and she offered me the position. I will start training Friday morning.
This is all very sudden, but it feels absolutely right. For quite a while I have looked at my friend (who is now my co-worker) and thought "I would love to do what she's doing". I'm obviously very familiar with social media and have long been fascinated by marketing. I love to write and started this blog because of that love.
This new adventure will allow me to combine many of the things I enjoy while bringing in an income and not taking away from my responsibilities to my family! It's a win/win/win situation that could only come from God!
I'm praising God for this opportunity and am very excited about seeing where this leads . . .
Friday, October 4, 2013
A Month In . . .
Well . . . it's been about a month since I started going to the fitness center in my neighborhood.. I'm proud to say I've been going most days that my daughter is in preschool and it's becoming a habit! Some life stuff has prevented me from going every day, but it's progress and a HUGE step in the right direction.
Wednesday I had my worst workout since I began. Less than 1 mile in I started having problems with my shins, my calves and my hips. I slowed my walking pace down all the way to 2.7mph for the remaining 15 minutes I had on the treadmill. I whined all over Facebook about how much it stunk. I whined on the Heidi's @ Home Facebook page, I whined on Another Housewife's Facebook page and I whined on Twitter. I whined A LOT.
Finally, Jenniemarie from Another Housewife responded to my whines by saying, "Heidi (said in my most serious mommy voice). Please get go get fitted for shoes. You don't have to buy them there. Just get fitted for what show is best for you and then you can shop around for price. Also get familiar with the term R.I.C.E. (Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevate.) I would suggest purchasing a pair of compression sleeves/socks-they really help. Make stretching a priority-trust me. Most importantly PLEASE, PLEASE do not compare yourself to anyone else. You kept moving for 45 MINUTES, celebrate it. Okay, stepping off my mommy soap box now."
Well . . . because I'm a compliant child I took Jenniemarie's advice. I went and got fitted for shoes this morning.
I'll be upgrading from doing my workouts in these street shoes
to these actual running shoes!
I'm looking forward to them arriving and some pain free miles on the treadmill!
Wednesday I had my worst workout since I began. Less than 1 mile in I started having problems with my shins, my calves and my hips. I slowed my walking pace down all the way to 2.7mph for the remaining 15 minutes I had on the treadmill. I whined all over Facebook about how much it stunk. I whined on the Heidi's @ Home Facebook page, I whined on Another Housewife's Facebook page and I whined on Twitter. I whined A LOT.
Finally, Jenniemarie from Another Housewife responded to my whines by saying, "Heidi (said in my most serious mommy voice). Please get go get fitted for shoes. You don't have to buy them there. Just get fitted for what show is best for you and then you can shop around for price. Also get familiar with the term R.I.C.E. (Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevate.) I would suggest purchasing a pair of compression sleeves/socks-they really help. Make stretching a priority-trust me. Most importantly PLEASE, PLEASE do not compare yourself to anyone else. You kept moving for 45 MINUTES, celebrate it. Okay, stepping off my mommy soap box now."
Well . . . because I'm a compliant child I took Jenniemarie's advice. I went and got fitted for shoes this morning.
I'll be upgrading from doing my workouts in these street shoes
to these actual running shoes!
I'm looking forward to them arriving and some pain free miles on the treadmill!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Persecution
One year ago today an American citizen was imprisoned in Iran. Saeed Abedini is currently being kept in Evin Prison. In this letter to his wife Saeed describes the conditions he has been experiencing. Pastor Saeed has been sentenced to 8 years in Evin.
Saeed is a father with young children he has not seen in over a year. Recently Saeed's daughter received a letter from her dad that has been made public.
Saeed's plight has been a topic of conversation in our home many times in the past year. Saeed's name is on one of the sticks we pick each night to pray for at the dinner table. My daughter has been praying for Saeed nightly, just before I tuck her into bed. Every night she prays, "God help Saeed to get out of jail and help the polices be nicer in Iran."
Today Christians are gathering all over the world for a prayer vigil where they will be praying for Saeed's release.
Saeed is not the only Christian in the world who is being persecuted for his faith. www.persecution.org is a wealth of information about the ways Christians all over the world are being arrested, tortured and murdered for their faith in Jesus.
Since the earliest days of the Christian church there has been persecution. Stephen was the first martyr and his murder is described in Acts 7:54-8:3. In a move only God can do, a Pharisee by the name of Saul was present at Stephen's stoning. Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and his conversion was so dramatic that God changed his name to Paul. Paul went on to write most of the New Testament and wrote of his own persecution for his faith.
I can't think of Saeed without thinking of the parallels to Paul, including the fact they both came to faith in Christ as adults and have spent their adult lives preaching the Gospel.
As I pray for Saeed I'm reminded of Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. "Now, I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ." Philippians 1: 12-13
Really, I could copy Philippians 1:12-30 as a guidebook on how to handle persecution. Just as Paul continued to preach the gospel to his captors (a captive audience!) so has Saeed.
As the global church gathers today to pray for Saeed I'm praying for his release and also praying for him to have the strength to endure the conditions he's currently experiencing, knowing God is using his life even in Evin prison.
Saeed is a father with young children he has not seen in over a year. Recently Saeed's daughter received a letter from her dad that has been made public.
Saeed's plight has been a topic of conversation in our home many times in the past year. Saeed's name is on one of the sticks we pick each night to pray for at the dinner table. My daughter has been praying for Saeed nightly, just before I tuck her into bed. Every night she prays, "God help Saeed to get out of jail and help the polices be nicer in Iran."
Today Christians are gathering all over the world for a prayer vigil where they will be praying for Saeed's release.
Saeed is not the only Christian in the world who is being persecuted for his faith. www.persecution.org is a wealth of information about the ways Christians all over the world are being arrested, tortured and murdered for their faith in Jesus.
Since the earliest days of the Christian church there has been persecution. Stephen was the first martyr and his murder is described in Acts 7:54-8:3. In a move only God can do, a Pharisee by the name of Saul was present at Stephen's stoning. Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and his conversion was so dramatic that God changed his name to Paul. Paul went on to write most of the New Testament and wrote of his own persecution for his faith.
I can't think of Saeed without thinking of the parallels to Paul, including the fact they both came to faith in Christ as adults and have spent their adult lives preaching the Gospel.
As I pray for Saeed I'm reminded of Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. "Now, I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ." Philippians 1: 12-13
Really, I could copy Philippians 1:12-30 as a guidebook on how to handle persecution. Just as Paul continued to preach the gospel to his captors (a captive audience!) so has Saeed.
As the global church gathers today to pray for Saeed I'm praying for his release and also praying for him to have the strength to endure the conditions he's currently experiencing, knowing God is using his life even in Evin prison.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Midnight Rambler
I'm just going to be flat out honest . . . I'm having a rough night emotionally. I'm basically throwing myself a pity party.
A friend's daughter was injured in an accident at home over the weekend and I just can't stop praying for her and her family right now.
On top of that I've been doing a lot of introspection and most of it hasn't been good. The truth is I just wish I could wave some sort of magic wand and have all my shortcomings, failures and idiosyncrasies vanish. Those qualities I don't like about myself and that others don't either . . . I want them GONE.
I guess the truth is I've been thinking a lot about my relationship troubles with friends and family and don't know how to fix what's "wrong" with me. I don't even know specifically what's wrong---I just know something is and I want it changed.
A friend's daughter was injured in an accident at home over the weekend and I just can't stop praying for her and her family right now.
On top of that I've been doing a lot of introspection and most of it hasn't been good. The truth is I just wish I could wave some sort of magic wand and have all my shortcomings, failures and idiosyncrasies vanish. Those qualities I don't like about myself and that others don't either . . . I want them GONE.
I guess the truth is I've been thinking a lot about my relationship troubles with friends and family and don't know how to fix what's "wrong" with me. I don't even know specifically what's wrong---I just know something is and I want it changed.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Syria
I'm very passionate about politics and world affairs. As a general rule I tend to keep my politics off of Facebook and my blog. I have friends on all sides of the political spectrum and I choose not to engage in debates, nor do I want to anger or offend my friends who may not agree with me. That being said . . . this is NOT a political post :)
Every time I hear the word "Damascus" I think of the meeting Saul had with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. I think of Annanias and His obedience. I think of God changing Saul's name to Paul because Saul had died and became a new creation.
The other day I was thinking about the current situation in Syria. I was reading reports of one of the world's oldest Christan churches being destroyed. In that moment I thought of Saul's conversion.
As I'm praying for the people of Syria, the leaders of Syria and the world leaders who are deciding on what level they want to be involved I was reminded of that meeting on the road to Damascus.
Along with my continued prayers for those mentioned above I am praying the leaders of Syria, specifically President Asaad and other decision makers, I am praying they would encounter the risen Christ in such a way their only choice is to fall flat on their face and worship Him. I am praying for a conversion so dramatic it would change a dictator who has poisoned his own people to a man who follows Jesus and loves the world the way He does.
Saul was a "Jew of Jews" and was so zealous in his faith he persucuted the first followers of Christ and was present at the death of the first martyr, Stephen. God changed Saul's heart and renamed him Paul. Paul went on to be a man who wrote most of the New Testament.
2000 years ago in Syria God completely changed a man and caused his life to do a 180. He's done it before and I'm praying that, by a miracle only He can accomplish, it happens again!
Every time I hear the word "Damascus" I think of the meeting Saul had with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. I think of Annanias and His obedience. I think of God changing Saul's name to Paul because Saul had died and became a new creation.
The other day I was thinking about the current situation in Syria. I was reading reports of one of the world's oldest Christan churches being destroyed. In that moment I thought of Saul's conversion.
As I'm praying for the people of Syria, the leaders of Syria and the world leaders who are deciding on what level they want to be involved I was reminded of that meeting on the road to Damascus.
Along with my continued prayers for those mentioned above I am praying the leaders of Syria, specifically President Asaad and other decision makers, I am praying they would encounter the risen Christ in such a way their only choice is to fall flat on their face and worship Him. I am praying for a conversion so dramatic it would change a dictator who has poisoned his own people to a man who follows Jesus and loves the world the way He does.
Saul was a "Jew of Jews" and was so zealous in his faith he persucuted the first followers of Christ and was present at the death of the first martyr, Stephen. God changed Saul's heart and renamed him Paul. Paul went on to be a man who wrote most of the New Testament.
2000 years ago in Syria God completely changed a man and caused his life to do a 180. He's done it before and I'm praying that, by a miracle only He can accomplish, it happens again!
Getting there!
In the past week I have been to the City's fitness & aquatic center three times, with improvements each time!
The first time I went was Friday 9/6. I did 2 minutes on the eliptical before my legs got too tired and I moved to the treadmill. I walked on the treadmill for just under 17 minutes until my legs started getting so red and itchy I had to quit. I was going between 3.5 and 4.0 MPH and kept my heart rate right around 140.
Saturday evening I had a little problem with my old nemesis, shin splints, but I iced them and that helped.
Wednesday 9/11 I squeezed another trip in (it was a busy day of errands and an optometrist appt. so it would've been easy to skip). Wednesday I was able to do 5 minutes on the eliptical and then did 30 minutes on the treadmill. I walked at about the same pace I did on Friday, but I didn't need to stop because of my legs. YAY!
Wednesday I felt so good afterwards I remember thinking, "I wish I could go Thursday . . . " That is NOT me. I'm lazy and despise working out so that thought absolutely shocked me.
Thursday I had no problems with my shins hurting me, though my glutes were a little sore. I'm considering the sore glutes a good thing meaning I'm making progress. They weren't "Oh.My.Goodness! I can't move!" sore . . . just a little reminder that muscles were being worked :)
Today I went straight to the gym after dropping my daughter off at preschool (the previous two mornings were a little later in the day because of appointments and other things that needed to be done). It was a little more crowded this time and all 4 treadmills were busy when I got there. I did the elipitcal for 5 minutes and then a treadmill opened up. About 17ish minutes into using the treadmill I changed one of the settings and then the whole thing stopped and wouldn't re-start. I'm sure it was human error, but by then another machine opened up so I went there. (3 are the same type and one is a bit different. It was the different one I had issues with). Though my goal was just to do about 13 minutes on the second treadmill to finish what I'd already started, I ended up going another 30 full minutes! I had to slow down a little because I was getting a stich in my side. I also noticed my shins were starting to hurt so I let up a little bit.
Time will tell how I feel tomorrow, but right now I'm pretty proud of myself that I've been able to go 3x in the past 7 days. Looking at next week I should be able to go at least twice and may be able to go 3x!
The first time I went was Friday 9/6. I did 2 minutes on the eliptical before my legs got too tired and I moved to the treadmill. I walked on the treadmill for just under 17 minutes until my legs started getting so red and itchy I had to quit. I was going between 3.5 and 4.0 MPH and kept my heart rate right around 140.
Saturday evening I had a little problem with my old nemesis, shin splints, but I iced them and that helped.
Wednesday 9/11 I squeezed another trip in (it was a busy day of errands and an optometrist appt. so it would've been easy to skip). Wednesday I was able to do 5 minutes on the eliptical and then did 30 minutes on the treadmill. I walked at about the same pace I did on Friday, but I didn't need to stop because of my legs. YAY!
Wednesday I felt so good afterwards I remember thinking, "I wish I could go Thursday . . . " That is NOT me. I'm lazy and despise working out so that thought absolutely shocked me.
Thursday I had no problems with my shins hurting me, though my glutes were a little sore. I'm considering the sore glutes a good thing meaning I'm making progress. They weren't "Oh.My.Goodness! I can't move!" sore . . . just a little reminder that muscles were being worked :)
Today I went straight to the gym after dropping my daughter off at preschool (the previous two mornings were a little later in the day because of appointments and other things that needed to be done). It was a little more crowded this time and all 4 treadmills were busy when I got there. I did the elipitcal for 5 minutes and then a treadmill opened up. About 17ish minutes into using the treadmill I changed one of the settings and then the whole thing stopped and wouldn't re-start. I'm sure it was human error, but by then another machine opened up so I went there. (3 are the same type and one is a bit different. It was the different one I had issues with). Though my goal was just to do about 13 minutes on the second treadmill to finish what I'd already started, I ended up going another 30 full minutes! I had to slow down a little because I was getting a stich in my side. I also noticed my shins were starting to hurt so I let up a little bit.
Time will tell how I feel tomorrow, but right now I'm pretty proud of myself that I've been able to go 3x in the past 7 days. Looking at next week I should be able to go at least twice and may be able to go 3x!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Who needs a plan???
September 12, 2003 was the night I had dreamt of for years. There were times I never thought it would happen. I had given up on the dream for a time, but 10 years ago the man I'd prayed for most of my adult life asked me to be his wife.
My husband and I met in November, 2002 and went on our first date a month later. After only 2 dates he bought a Christmas ornament that said "Our First Christmas Together, 2002" that he didn't show me until after we were engaged. After only about 4 dates Steve was telling his best friend since 3rd grade that he'd met "The One" and was asking his nieces how they'd feel about having me as an aunt (I'm only 6 years older than the oldest).
In February, 2003 he told me he'd turned down a job he'd wanted for years because it would mean moving to CA and "There's someone worth staying for." (Never mind I was a flight attendant with free flight benefits so we could've made it work). He didn't tell me about the job offer until after he'd turned it down.
In March, 2003 we talked about how we knew we were going to get married, but (in his words), "I'm not ready to ask you, yet." Since we were 26 & 36 I was a bit confused as to what he was waiting for (we both had jobs, he was established in his career, he owned his house, etc. so I couldn't see what he was waiting on). Even before the conversation I knew what he was thinking because 3x in a week he'd mentioned he wore a size 10.5 and wanted a solid gold band.
From the time of that conversation I mentally started calculating WHEN we could get married. I'd have thoughts like "Ok, if he asks me by April we can get married in September." When April came and went it was, "If he asks me by my birthday we can get married in November." I tortured myself with those thoughts for MONTHS.
In mid-July it was HOT (Phoenix in July is it's own brand of crazy stick-your-head-in-the-oven HOT) and we decided to walk around the mall that was across the street from my apartment to take advantage of the air conditioning. While we were there he ended up taking me into a few jewelry stores. I was so nervous I ended up trying rings on my right pointer finger! :) Silly Heidi.
I found a ring that day, but he told me to keep looking to see if there was anything I liked better. (Our deal was that I'd pick out the setting, but he'd pick out the diamond).
A few weeks after we'd gone looking at rings he had a rough day at work and called the person who'd offered him the job in CA and asked if it was still available because he was interested. I found out about this when I was on a layover in the Las Vegas airport and was listening to a voicemail from him where he ended his message by saying, "As for us, we'll still be together. I guess it just means getting married earlier than we'd planned." I was thinking, "Um . . . I don't know what you're planning, but I'm ready NOW!" I joke he proposed to my voicemail that night :)
About this time my parents moved from my hometown in California to Arizona. Because of commitments in CA my dad stayed behind there for a few months while my mom moved earlier to start work.
Over Labor Day weekend we had gone to his best friend's wedding reception and had tickets to see "O" at the Bellagio while we were in town. (His friend lived in a suburb of Las Vegas). I had thought for sure we were getting engaged while we were there. WRONG.
That was all just the background. Here's where the story gets good :)
One Sunday in September we were back at the mall across the street from my apartment and stopped back in to the jewelry store to see if I still liked the ring we'd first seen a few months earlier. While we were there Steve started looking at wedding rings for himself (He surprised himself when he liked one that wasn't solid gold, as he'd previously thought. He also found out he wasn't a 10.5)
The next night my mom and I had dinner because Steve met with his accountability partner on Monday nights. While at dinner I asked my mom if she wanted to see the rings we'd picked out so we went to the mall. We walked in to the mall and headed straight for the jewelry store my Steve and I had been at the day before.
When my mom & I walked into the store we were helped by the lady who had helped Steve & I the day before. The lady recognized me and said "Oh! I have your ring right here (on her finger). I need to put it back because someone else was just looking at it." My mom suggested I call Steve and tell him he needed to come buy it before someone else did. The saleslady said, "Yes! Call him!", but I refused. I didn't want to call and say "Come buy my ring before some other girl gets it." My mom and I left and wandered around a bit more.
As we were leaving the mall parking lot we were at a red light and my mom said "Isn't that Steve's truck?" He was in the next lane, one car length ahead of him. Because he lived 30 miles from my apartment there was only one reason I could think of that he'd be there. I pulled out my cell phone and, when he answered his, I asked "So . . . what are you doing at the Chandler mall?" He asked, "What makes you think I'm at the Chandler mall?" and I told him "Because my mom and I are right next to you at the red light" BUSTED! He then asked, "Well . . . since you know I'm down here, can I come over? I'll be over as soon as I hit up the drive through". My mom dropped me off at my place and headed home to give Steve and I some space.
Once at my apartment the story came out. He said, "Well, you probably know what I was doing there." Uh huh :D
Steve had cancelled accountability to buy my ring. He'd spent over an hour selecting my stone and went to his truck to transfer money and to get his checkbook. It was during the few minutes he was at his truck that my mom and I walked in. The saleslady wanted me to call him because she wanted him to know I was there. Just after my mom and I left he walked back in. The ladies who were working got very excited and were telling him "She's here with her mom! You just missed her! We wanted her to call you so you'd know". One lady rang up his transaction while the other stood outside the store watching for my mom and I. At one point we passed back past the store and the lady who was ringing him up basically shoved him into the back room so I would see him. If it weren't for my mom noticing his truck at the light he would've made his escape without me knowing. Steve also told me he was going to pick it up Tuesday night since the stone still needed to be set so he asked if he could come over that night. Of course, I agreed! :)
That Tuesday night was torture because I knew he had it in his possession (come to find out it was in his pocket the whole time we were hanging out). Actually, the rest of the week was torture since I knew he had it. :)
Thursday night we ended up buying his wedding ring. Yes, I bought his before he gave me mine :) Believe it or not there's more to THAT story that I'm not sharing since this is long enough.
Friday night we went out to dinner afterwards we decided to go on a drive into the forest to go see the stars. Later he told me he wished he'd had the ring on him because it would've been the perfect place to ask me, but he was still holding on to his "plan" and our star gazing trip was an impromptu one so he wasn't prepared. After we got back to his house that night we just were sitting together. At one point he asked me, "So . . . would your dad be ok if I called him tomorrow??" A little while later he just came out and asked, "Will you marry me?". OF COURSE I said, "YES!!". We kissed and then he went and got the ring out of it's hiding spot.
In the end he decided not to wait just for the sake of a plan and we got engaged while sitting on the couch his parents had handed down to him when he bought his house in 1997. :D
That was 10 years ago today :)
My husband and I met in November, 2002 and went on our first date a month later. After only 2 dates he bought a Christmas ornament that said "Our First Christmas Together, 2002" that he didn't show me until after we were engaged. After only about 4 dates Steve was telling his best friend since 3rd grade that he'd met "The One" and was asking his nieces how they'd feel about having me as an aunt (I'm only 6 years older than the oldest).
In February, 2003 he told me he'd turned down a job he'd wanted for years because it would mean moving to CA and "There's someone worth staying for." (Never mind I was a flight attendant with free flight benefits so we could've made it work). He didn't tell me about the job offer until after he'd turned it down.
In March, 2003 we talked about how we knew we were going to get married, but (in his words), "I'm not ready to ask you, yet." Since we were 26 & 36 I was a bit confused as to what he was waiting for (we both had jobs, he was established in his career, he owned his house, etc. so I couldn't see what he was waiting on). Even before the conversation I knew what he was thinking because 3x in a week he'd mentioned he wore a size 10.5 and wanted a solid gold band.
From the time of that conversation I mentally started calculating WHEN we could get married. I'd have thoughts like "Ok, if he asks me by April we can get married in September." When April came and went it was, "If he asks me by my birthday we can get married in November." I tortured myself with those thoughts for MONTHS.
In mid-July it was HOT (Phoenix in July is it's own brand of crazy stick-your-head-in-the-oven HOT) and we decided to walk around the mall that was across the street from my apartment to take advantage of the air conditioning. While we were there he ended up taking me into a few jewelry stores. I was so nervous I ended up trying rings on my right pointer finger! :) Silly Heidi.
I found a ring that day, but he told me to keep looking to see if there was anything I liked better. (Our deal was that I'd pick out the setting, but he'd pick out the diamond).
A few weeks after we'd gone looking at rings he had a rough day at work and called the person who'd offered him the job in CA and asked if it was still available because he was interested. I found out about this when I was on a layover in the Las Vegas airport and was listening to a voicemail from him where he ended his message by saying, "As for us, we'll still be together. I guess it just means getting married earlier than we'd planned." I was thinking, "Um . . . I don't know what you're planning, but I'm ready NOW!" I joke he proposed to my voicemail that night :)
About this time my parents moved from my hometown in California to Arizona. Because of commitments in CA my dad stayed behind there for a few months while my mom moved earlier to start work.
Over Labor Day weekend we had gone to his best friend's wedding reception and had tickets to see "O" at the Bellagio while we were in town. (His friend lived in a suburb of Las Vegas). I had thought for sure we were getting engaged while we were there. WRONG.
That was all just the background. Here's where the story gets good :)
One Sunday in September we were back at the mall across the street from my apartment and stopped back in to the jewelry store to see if I still liked the ring we'd first seen a few months earlier. While we were there Steve started looking at wedding rings for himself (He surprised himself when he liked one that wasn't solid gold, as he'd previously thought. He also found out he wasn't a 10.5)
The next night my mom and I had dinner because Steve met with his accountability partner on Monday nights. While at dinner I asked my mom if she wanted to see the rings we'd picked out so we went to the mall. We walked in to the mall and headed straight for the jewelry store my Steve and I had been at the day before.
When my mom & I walked into the store we were helped by the lady who had helped Steve & I the day before. The lady recognized me and said "Oh! I have your ring right here (on her finger). I need to put it back because someone else was just looking at it." My mom suggested I call Steve and tell him he needed to come buy it before someone else did. The saleslady said, "Yes! Call him!", but I refused. I didn't want to call and say "Come buy my ring before some other girl gets it." My mom and I left and wandered around a bit more.
As we were leaving the mall parking lot we were at a red light and my mom said "Isn't that Steve's truck?" He was in the next lane, one car length ahead of him. Because he lived 30 miles from my apartment there was only one reason I could think of that he'd be there. I pulled out my cell phone and, when he answered his, I asked "So . . . what are you doing at the Chandler mall?" He asked, "What makes you think I'm at the Chandler mall?" and I told him "Because my mom and I are right next to you at the red light" BUSTED! He then asked, "Well . . . since you know I'm down here, can I come over? I'll be over as soon as I hit up the drive through". My mom dropped me off at my place and headed home to give Steve and I some space.
Once at my apartment the story came out. He said, "Well, you probably know what I was doing there." Uh huh :D
Steve had cancelled accountability to buy my ring. He'd spent over an hour selecting my stone and went to his truck to transfer money and to get his checkbook. It was during the few minutes he was at his truck that my mom and I walked in. The saleslady wanted me to call him because she wanted him to know I was there. Just after my mom and I left he walked back in. The ladies who were working got very excited and were telling him "She's here with her mom! You just missed her! We wanted her to call you so you'd know". One lady rang up his transaction while the other stood outside the store watching for my mom and I. At one point we passed back past the store and the lady who was ringing him up basically shoved him into the back room so I would see him. If it weren't for my mom noticing his truck at the light he would've made his escape without me knowing. Steve also told me he was going to pick it up Tuesday night since the stone still needed to be set so he asked if he could come over that night. Of course, I agreed! :)
That Tuesday night was torture because I knew he had it in his possession (come to find out it was in his pocket the whole time we were hanging out). Actually, the rest of the week was torture since I knew he had it. :)
Thursday night we ended up buying his wedding ring. Yes, I bought his before he gave me mine :) Believe it or not there's more to THAT story that I'm not sharing since this is long enough.
Friday night we went out to dinner afterwards we decided to go on a drive into the forest to go see the stars. Later he told me he wished he'd had the ring on him because it would've been the perfect place to ask me, but he was still holding on to his "plan" and our star gazing trip was an impromptu one so he wasn't prepared. After we got back to his house that night we just were sitting together. At one point he asked me, "So . . . would your dad be ok if I called him tomorrow??" A little while later he just came out and asked, "Will you marry me?". OF COURSE I said, "YES!!". We kissed and then he went and got the ring out of it's hiding spot.
In the end he decided not to wait just for the sake of a plan and we got engaged while sitting on the couch his parents had handed down to him when he bought his house in 1997. :D
That was 10 years ago today :)
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Saving Money & (Hopefully) Losing Weight
Here it is . . . another "Heidi's trying to get in shape" post.
For years I've wanted a gym membership, but just haven't been able to make it work in the budget because other things have held a much higher priority. In case you haven't noticed, gym memberships are expensive! I knew I would probably only go (at best) a few times a week and couldn't see spending the money. My last job before staying at home was working in the Corporate Office of a local chain of gyms. I had no kids, a free membership and I still didn't go very often.
A few weeks ago I was looking at the local Parks & Rec catalog at all the classes the city offers. I knew there was an aquatic center about a mile from my house (in the same parking lot as my son's school), but found out there's a full gym inside, too. For less than the price of one month at the gym I was able to buy a pass for 30 visits to the center, which allows me access to the lap pool and the gym. The card doesn't expire so I'm only paying for the times I actually GO instead of a gym where I'd pay the same high prices no matter how many times I did (or didn't) go. By buying a 30 visit pass (they also come in 10 and 20 visit passes) I'm paying roughly $1.50 visit.
Since my son is in school from 8:45-3:15 every day and my daughter is in preschool from 9-12:30 MWF I'm losing excuses for not going at least once a week! I'm going to aim for 2 visits a week, but am realisitc that I will still need my "free" time for things like doctor's appointments, errands, school holidays, volunteering at school, etc.
The good news is if I don't go I'm not wasting money buy paying for something I'm not using since I'm basically only charged per visit!
I'll still be using my free weights, Wii Fit, desk bike and doing other exercises at home, but this will give me access to equipment that I don't have at home :) Maybe one day I'll even be in shape enough to swim a few laps in the lap pool :)
For years I've wanted a gym membership, but just haven't been able to make it work in the budget because other things have held a much higher priority. In case you haven't noticed, gym memberships are expensive! I knew I would probably only go (at best) a few times a week and couldn't see spending the money. My last job before staying at home was working in the Corporate Office of a local chain of gyms. I had no kids, a free membership and I still didn't go very often.
A few weeks ago I was looking at the local Parks & Rec catalog at all the classes the city offers. I knew there was an aquatic center about a mile from my house (in the same parking lot as my son's school), but found out there's a full gym inside, too. For less than the price of one month at the gym I was able to buy a pass for 30 visits to the center, which allows me access to the lap pool and the gym. The card doesn't expire so I'm only paying for the times I actually GO instead of a gym where I'd pay the same high prices no matter how many times I did (or didn't) go. By buying a 30 visit pass (they also come in 10 and 20 visit passes) I'm paying roughly $1.50 visit.
Since my son is in school from 8:45-3:15 every day and my daughter is in preschool from 9-12:30 MWF I'm losing excuses for not going at least once a week! I'm going to aim for 2 visits a week, but am realisitc that I will still need my "free" time for things like doctor's appointments, errands, school holidays, volunteering at school, etc.
The good news is if I don't go I'm not wasting money buy paying for something I'm not using since I'm basically only charged per visit!
I'll still be using my free weights, Wii Fit, desk bike and doing other exercises at home, but this will give me access to equipment that I don't have at home :) Maybe one day I'll even be in shape enough to swim a few laps in the lap pool :)
Monday, August 12, 2013
Perspective Is a Wonderful Thing
I've been thinking about perspective a lot lately. Mostly because God is constantly reminding me I need a dose of it.
Last year my son was in Kindergarten and would come home with shoes full of sand every day. It seemed like no matter what we did, we couldn't keep the sound from invading our home. We'd have our son take his shoes and socks off outside to dump the sand and bang them together, but I still have sand piles all over my floor and in my dryer's lint trap. I took to wearing flip flops inside the house so I didn't have to walk on it (I have issues . . .). On December 14, 2012 the tragedy in CT caused me to have a perspective shift. I realized the sand that seemed to infiltrate my house as a blessing because it was a sign of having a healthy, active, 6 year old boy who came home from school. I still wore shoes in the house and I still got frustrated sweeping it up every day, but I also praised God for the "normal" 6 year old boy who brought sand home from recess every day. Clean floors would mean my life had changed and I'm not willing to trade clean floors for the little boy who played hard at recess.
It's crazy HOT here in Phoenix, but when I find myself wanting to complain about the heat I remember how fortunate I am to rarely be out of an air conditioned enviornment when others in my community are dying from the heat.
When I get discouraged about the confines of our budget and the "wants" that I'm not able to fulfill I remember that my children and I aren't hauling all of our water home and are able to have unlimited access to clean water whenever we want it.
When I don't get much sleep because my kids have woken me up with bad dreams and/or growing pains I'm reminded of how long I prayed to be able to be a mom. I also remember how thankful I am that my kids know I'm a safe place that they can go to 24 hours a day if they need something.
God is constantly showing me where I need a shift in perspective and these are just a few of them. Each shift in perspective is a call to action, a call to prayer, and a reminder to praise the One from whom all blessings flow. One of the reasons I know I need shifts in perspective is because He gives me one almost daily. :) Maybe one day my perspective won't need to be shifted because I'll already "get" it.
Last year my son was in Kindergarten and would come home with shoes full of sand every day. It seemed like no matter what we did, we couldn't keep the sound from invading our home. We'd have our son take his shoes and socks off outside to dump the sand and bang them together, but I still have sand piles all over my floor and in my dryer's lint trap. I took to wearing flip flops inside the house so I didn't have to walk on it (I have issues . . .). On December 14, 2012 the tragedy in CT caused me to have a perspective shift. I realized the sand that seemed to infiltrate my house as a blessing because it was a sign of having a healthy, active, 6 year old boy who came home from school. I still wore shoes in the house and I still got frustrated sweeping it up every day, but I also praised God for the "normal" 6 year old boy who brought sand home from recess every day. Clean floors would mean my life had changed and I'm not willing to trade clean floors for the little boy who played hard at recess.
It's crazy HOT here in Phoenix, but when I find myself wanting to complain about the heat I remember how fortunate I am to rarely be out of an air conditioned enviornment when others in my community are dying from the heat.
When I get discouraged about the confines of our budget and the "wants" that I'm not able to fulfill I remember that my children and I aren't hauling all of our water home and are able to have unlimited access to clean water whenever we want it.
When I don't get much sleep because my kids have woken me up with bad dreams and/or growing pains I'm reminded of how long I prayed to be able to be a mom. I also remember how thankful I am that my kids know I'm a safe place that they can go to 24 hours a day if they need something.
God is constantly showing me where I need a shift in perspective and these are just a few of them. Each shift in perspective is a call to action, a call to prayer, and a reminder to praise the One from whom all blessings flow. One of the reasons I know I need shifts in perspective is because He gives me one almost daily. :) Maybe one day my perspective won't need to be shifted because I'll already "get" it.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Dear Sallie Mae:
Dear Sallie Mae:
19 years ago I was a college freshman with no way of paying for college without you. Ever since I was in 8th grade I wanted to be a high school history teacher. I signed on the dotted line and pursued that dream.
I approached graduation, did my student teaching and realized I didn't want to teach. I stumbled along for a few years, trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I "grew up" and not being able to afford food at times. Eventually I got married, became a mom and decided to stay at home with my kids, sacrificing a paycheck.
In just a few short years my husband went from being a single guy, with a good job to being a husband and a father supporting a family of 4. Among the things he took on was my payment to you each month, while I stayed home with our kids.
Well . . . 19 years after I signed on the dotted line and walked on to that college campus it's time to say GOOD BYE.
This is the end, Sallie. I know there are other former college students you're still hounding, but as for me . . . we're done. It's you. It's me. It's OVER!
I've paid you off and am not looking back. My husband tells me I'm taking too much joy in our breakup. My husband says girls are "soooooo much meaner" than guys about dumping someone. The thing is, you've been the "other woman" in our relationship since before we met. He has paid you when I couldn't. Since we got married we've paid you out of his paycheck.
I don't know many people who would be ok with another woman in their marriage and well . . . that's what you've been.
We've sacrificed dinners out, date nights and family vacations because you were hanging around, but now you're not welcome here any more.
We have nothing tying us to you and we're thankful.
For the first time in our married life you aren't part of our relationship and that's a GOOD thing.
Goodbye Sallie! We're D.O.N.E. and there's no possible way we're getting back together.
-Heidi
Yes . . .
I have FINALLY kicked Miss Sallie Mae to the curb and have PAID OFF MY LAST STUDENT LOAN!!!!!!!!!!!
WE'RE DEBT FREE!!!!!**
**We still have a mortgage but THAT'S IT!!!!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Called Out After Only Two Strikes
I'm not a great cook. I'm not a fancy cook. I'm just a mom who has to figure out something homemade to have on the table for dinner every night, while trying to stick to a tight grocery budget. Can you relate?
Tomorrow is also pay day and, thanks to being out of town last week, Mother Heidi's cupboard (and grocery budget) are bare. I thought I had things figured out and was good to go until the grocery envelope gets re-filled Friday.
WRONG!
Recently chicken thighs were on sale at the grocery store so I picked them up to make this super yummy Herb & Citrus Roasted Chicken. I took the package of thighs out of the freezer earlier today with plans to have the citrus chicken tonight. Well . . . at 4pm I realized that not only were the thighs still frozen, they were still SOLID. Hmmm. I know from experience the grocery store wrapping isn't water proof and the package was too big to fit into a Ziploc so defrosting the meat in water wasn't an option.
Time for Plan B. With a bare cupboard. Difficult, but not impossible. Strike 1. I put the chicken in the fridge and figured we'd just have that tomorrow night.
Hmmm . . .
About that time Stacy from Stacy Makes Cents was asking what everyone was having for dinner on her Facebook page. I scrolled through the comments for last minute ideas. One person commented she was making tuna noodle casserole. Hmmmm . . . . Well, it's not my favorite, but I figured it would do in a pinch. (I'm very fortunate that my husband isn't very picky and he would've taken one for the team, even if he didn't like it.) I started searching recipes and realized I didn't have all the ingredients. My mind started going and I finally decided I could make an impromptu variation.
I cooked the pasta, I made my homemade cream of soup mix (I keep a quart sized mason jar full of mix in my cabinets), added the mushrooms and went to the laundry room (my kitchen doesn't have a pantry so I use a linen closet in the laundry room to store my dry goods) to grab a can of tuna . . . only to remember that I donated all the cans in my pantry during my church's food drive last month. DOH.
By this time it was 5pm, the kids were already bathed and in their pajamas since we'd just gone swimming and I was still in my swim suit. Going to the grocery store wasn't an option. Having my husband swing by the grocery store for a can of tuna on the way home wasn't really an option, either because I'd still have to bake the casserole for 30 minutes after he got home and that would make dinner (and bedtimes) VERY late.
Strike 2
I put the cooked pasta in a plastic storage container and covered it with the homemade cream of mushroom soup. Since I already have tomorrow night's dinner defrosting in the fridge it looks like I'm assembling a freezer meal tomorrow AFTER I buy tuna at the grocery store.
I called myself out of the kitchen after the 2nd strike. I texted my husband and asked "About 15 minutes before you're ready to leave work can you call and order a pizza?" (We're fortunate our grocery store has a pizza kitchen where we can get a 16" pizza with 2 toppings for a decent price)
I'm sitting here frustrated that we're spending money on pizza. I'm frustrated the chicken didn't defrost in time. I'm frustrated I didn't check to insure we had tuna before I started cooking. I think the thing I'm most frustrated about though is that we're having pizza and I STILL have to clean up a mess in the kitchen since I already started cooking.
The good news is I have a couple of meals already planned, meaning I can extend next week's meal plan out a little bit :)
Tomorrow is also pay day and, thanks to being out of town last week, Mother Heidi's cupboard (and grocery budget) are bare. I thought I had things figured out and was good to go until the grocery envelope gets re-filled Friday.
WRONG!
Recently chicken thighs were on sale at the grocery store so I picked them up to make this super yummy Herb & Citrus Roasted Chicken. I took the package of thighs out of the freezer earlier today with plans to have the citrus chicken tonight. Well . . . at 4pm I realized that not only were the thighs still frozen, they were still SOLID. Hmmm. I know from experience the grocery store wrapping isn't water proof and the package was too big to fit into a Ziploc so defrosting the meat in water wasn't an option.
Time for Plan B. With a bare cupboard. Difficult, but not impossible. Strike 1. I put the chicken in the fridge and figured we'd just have that tomorrow night.
Hmmm . . .
About that time Stacy from Stacy Makes Cents was asking what everyone was having for dinner on her Facebook page. I scrolled through the comments for last minute ideas. One person commented she was making tuna noodle casserole. Hmmmm . . . . Well, it's not my favorite, but I figured it would do in a pinch. (I'm very fortunate that my husband isn't very picky and he would've taken one for the team, even if he didn't like it.) I started searching recipes and realized I didn't have all the ingredients. My mind started going and I finally decided I could make an impromptu variation.
I cooked the pasta, I made my homemade cream of soup mix (I keep a quart sized mason jar full of mix in my cabinets), added the mushrooms and went to the laundry room (my kitchen doesn't have a pantry so I use a linen closet in the laundry room to store my dry goods) to grab a can of tuna . . . only to remember that I donated all the cans in my pantry during my church's food drive last month. DOH.
By this time it was 5pm, the kids were already bathed and in their pajamas since we'd just gone swimming and I was still in my swim suit. Going to the grocery store wasn't an option. Having my husband swing by the grocery store for a can of tuna on the way home wasn't really an option, either because I'd still have to bake the casserole for 30 minutes after he got home and that would make dinner (and bedtimes) VERY late.
Strike 2
I put the cooked pasta in a plastic storage container and covered it with the homemade cream of mushroom soup. Since I already have tomorrow night's dinner defrosting in the fridge it looks like I'm assembling a freezer meal tomorrow AFTER I buy tuna at the grocery store.
I called myself out of the kitchen after the 2nd strike. I texted my husband and asked "About 15 minutes before you're ready to leave work can you call and order a pizza?" (We're fortunate our grocery store has a pizza kitchen where we can get a 16" pizza with 2 toppings for a decent price)
I'm sitting here frustrated that we're spending money on pizza. I'm frustrated the chicken didn't defrost in time. I'm frustrated I didn't check to insure we had tuna before I started cooking. I think the thing I'm most frustrated about though is that we're having pizza and I STILL have to clean up a mess in the kitchen since I already started cooking.
The good news is I have a couple of meals already planned, meaning I can extend next week's meal plan out a little bit :)
Monday, June 24, 2013
What Our "Homeschooling" Adventure Has Taught Me
First off, let me say when I'm talking about what's going on in our home this summer I'm using quotation marks around "homeschooling" because I'm fully aware that it's not the real homeschooling some of my friends do. What's going on in our house is more pseudo-school than real homeschool. More like after school tutoring than school :)
I started out the summer with grand plans of "homeschooling" my son for about 2 hours each day, 5 days a week. I was figuring this would get him in a wonderful position to start his 1st grade year once school starts in August. The first week I was really good about that. The second week . . . I, uh, started slacking. After about halfway through the second week our "school" time was him playing Starfall every day while his sister rested and I got a bit of a break.
We're now a month in and only have 6 full weeks until school starts (1 of which we'll be out of town) so my grand plans have now gone completely out the window. I'm now to the point I'm just trying to make sure he didn't have a "summer slide".
In the past month I've learned (or confirmed):
**I'm not disciplined enough to be my child's teacher
**My son and I do not work well in a student/teacher relationship
**I'm lazy
**Coming up with age appropriate lesson plans is hard
**Choosing curriculum is a mind-boggling exercise
**Trying to figure out what my kids "should" know at this age is hard
**I have no clue how to do assessments and figure out if my kids are where they "should" be
I know if our family was committed to this full-time some of those things would work themselves out as I did further research and educated myself, but the truth is every time I've tried to think that way and look into standards and assessments I pretty much have a nervous breakdown.
I went into this summer with unrealistic expectations of our "homeschooling" time each day being a wonderful one-on-one time with my son. Instead it's become a very stressful thing that makes me thankful for teaching professionals :) Because I won't want to "ruin" my son's summer with a screaming stressed out Mommy we're doing much less "school" than I'd anticipated and I'm fully ok with that.
I'm also left with even more respect for my friends who have determined that homeschooling is the right fit for their family and who are in the trenches as both parent and teacher to their child.
Now, excuse me while I figure out what to do with the curriculum I bought when I got ahead of myself several months ago . . .
I started out the summer with grand plans of "homeschooling" my son for about 2 hours each day, 5 days a week. I was figuring this would get him in a wonderful position to start his 1st grade year once school starts in August. The first week I was really good about that. The second week . . . I, uh, started slacking. After about halfway through the second week our "school" time was him playing Starfall every day while his sister rested and I got a bit of a break.
We're now a month in and only have 6 full weeks until school starts (1 of which we'll be out of town) so my grand plans have now gone completely out the window. I'm now to the point I'm just trying to make sure he didn't have a "summer slide".
In the past month I've learned (or confirmed):
**I'm not disciplined enough to be my child's teacher
**My son and I do not work well in a student/teacher relationship
**I'm lazy
**Coming up with age appropriate lesson plans is hard
**Choosing curriculum is a mind-boggling exercise
**Trying to figure out what my kids "should" know at this age is hard
**I have no clue how to do assessments and figure out if my kids are where they "should" be
I know if our family was committed to this full-time some of those things would work themselves out as I did further research and educated myself, but the truth is every time I've tried to think that way and look into standards and assessments I pretty much have a nervous breakdown.
I went into this summer with unrealistic expectations of our "homeschooling" time each day being a wonderful one-on-one time with my son. Instead it's become a very stressful thing that makes me thankful for teaching professionals :) Because I won't want to "ruin" my son's summer with a screaming stressed out Mommy we're doing much less "school" than I'd anticipated and I'm fully ok with that.
I'm also left with even more respect for my friends who have determined that homeschooling is the right fit for their family and who are in the trenches as both parent and teacher to their child.
Now, excuse me while I figure out what to do with the curriculum I bought when I got ahead of myself several months ago . . .
Thursday, June 20, 2013
A funny thing happened on the way . . .
I don't know why, but I still get surprised when God uses my selfish motivations and changes my heart.
It started over the weekend when I was writing about perspective and was looking for links to add to the post. While I was on Compassion's website I read about the Compassion bloggers trip to Nicaragua. A few days later I got an e-mail from Compassion (several months ago I signed up to be a Compassion blogger, but sadly have never written anything using the prompts they send out each month) saying they were having a contest related to the trip and that there were ways to get up to 22 entries a day.
The prize pack includes 9 books including some that have been sitting un-purchased on my Amazon wish list: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier by Ree Drummond and Plan B by Pete Wilson.
Confession: Compassion Week on Heidi's @ Home has been motivated by the fact that I would get 10 entries for each blog post about the trip to Nicaragua where I linked the Compassion bloggers. (I could only enter this portion of the contest once a day)
I figured it was a win/win because I got to write about child sponsorship, which is near and dear to my heart, while also doing everything possible to win books. I love to write and I love to read. Doing a writing assignment so I'd have more books to read? Yes, please!
The contest ended Thursday afternoon.
By the time I wrote the final post in my "Compassion Week" series on Thursday morning I had spent hours on the Compassion website, on the Compassion bloggers website, on twitter following the bloggers, reading their posts on Facebook, going to their individual sites, etc. My blog wasn't the only thing that was consumed by Compassion International this week--it felt like my entire life was.
On the way to getting the maximum 88 entries (max of 22 entries over 4 days) a funny thing happened . . . I started caring less about winning the contest and more about finding a sponsor for as many children as possible. 9.5 years after my own sponsorship journey began (when my husband and I got married and I "inherited" his Compassion children) I thought my heart had already been changed by sponsorship. I mean, we made our Compassion children a priority in our budget, ahead of things like eating out, going on "date nights" or getting a babysitter to preserve my sanity while I got out of the house for a few hours during the day. I take my kids to doctor's appointments rather than pay a baby-sitter so we can sponsor our kids. I was wrong. There's still plenty of room for God to work. As I've been reading the stories coming out of Nicaragua this week my heart started changing even more.
For the first time I was in the home of a child being sponsored. For the first time I caught a glimpse into the life of a mom who had been forced to choose between her child receiving an education or feeding her family and I met a dad who has defied the cultural norm and is sticking around to raise his children.
There's already more month than food in our grocery budget and yet I'm left wondering today . . . where can I find another $38/mo to bring hope to another child?
As I've read these stories and seen these pictures this week I've been changed and I never left suburbia. I've served on foreign mission trips and seen those who don't have much materially, but this virtual trip has changed me more than those ones I've been to in the barrios of Chile (twice) and having built houses for people whose homes had been made up only of pallets.
The contest is over, and for the first time this week I'm not submitting my blog link to Compassion to be eligible for to win 9 books, but I'm ok with that because I know God has started a movement in my heart that (I believe) will continue to go forward.
It started over the weekend when I was writing about perspective and was looking for links to add to the post. While I was on Compassion's website I read about the Compassion bloggers trip to Nicaragua. A few days later I got an e-mail from Compassion (several months ago I signed up to be a Compassion blogger, but sadly have never written anything using the prompts they send out each month) saying they were having a contest related to the trip and that there were ways to get up to 22 entries a day.
The prize pack includes 9 books including some that have been sitting un-purchased on my Amazon wish list: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier by Ree Drummond and Plan B by Pete Wilson.
Confession: Compassion Week on Heidi's @ Home has been motivated by the fact that I would get 10 entries for each blog post about the trip to Nicaragua where I linked the Compassion bloggers. (I could only enter this portion of the contest once a day)
I figured it was a win/win because I got to write about child sponsorship, which is near and dear to my heart, while also doing everything possible to win books. I love to write and I love to read. Doing a writing assignment so I'd have more books to read? Yes, please!
The contest ended Thursday afternoon.
By the time I wrote the final post in my "Compassion Week" series on Thursday morning I had spent hours on the Compassion website, on the Compassion bloggers website, on twitter following the bloggers, reading their posts on Facebook, going to their individual sites, etc. My blog wasn't the only thing that was consumed by Compassion International this week--it felt like my entire life was.
On the way to getting the maximum 88 entries (max of 22 entries over 4 days) a funny thing happened . . . I started caring less about winning the contest and more about finding a sponsor for as many children as possible. 9.5 years after my own sponsorship journey began (when my husband and I got married and I "inherited" his Compassion children) I thought my heart had already been changed by sponsorship. I mean, we made our Compassion children a priority in our budget, ahead of things like eating out, going on "date nights" or getting a babysitter to preserve my sanity while I got out of the house for a few hours during the day. I take my kids to doctor's appointments rather than pay a baby-sitter so we can sponsor our kids. I was wrong. There's still plenty of room for God to work. As I've been reading the stories coming out of Nicaragua this week my heart started changing even more.
For the first time I was in the home of a child being sponsored. For the first time I caught a glimpse into the life of a mom who had been forced to choose between her child receiving an education or feeding her family and I met a dad who has defied the cultural norm and is sticking around to raise his children.
There's already more month than food in our grocery budget and yet I'm left wondering today . . . where can I find another $38/mo to bring hope to another child?
As I've read these stories and seen these pictures this week I've been changed and I never left suburbia. I've served on foreign mission trips and seen those who don't have much materially, but this virtual trip has changed me more than those ones I've been to in the barrios of Chile (twice) and having built houses for people whose homes had been made up only of pallets.
The contest is over, and for the first time this week I'm not submitting my blog link to Compassion to be eligible for to win 9 books, but I'm ok with that because I know God has started a movement in my heart that (I believe) will continue to go forward.
Concluding "Compassion Week"
This week I've been sharing stories from the Compassion bloggers in Nicaragua as they've been traveling to different centers and visiting the homes of their sponsored children.
As someone living in my suburban home with the comforts of food in my fridge, a roof over my head, a comfortable mattress and cool air provided by my air conditioning it's hard for me to imagine what "extreme poverty" looks like. ("Extreme poverty" as defined by the UN is living on less than $1 USD a day) Last night Kelly at Faithful Provisions wrote a beautiful story from the perspective of Daisy, the mom of a sponsored child.
In recent months I've been struggling with fitting in with my culture and truly living like Jesus. While I know (in my head) it's not about my home being "updated" (which it's not), having new furniture (we're 37 & nearly 47 and most of our furniture is still second and third hand from our parents and friends) I'd be dishonest if I were saying I didn't want those things. Then I read stories like Bending For Treasure In The Trash by Shaun Groves and I'm reminded what's truly important in this world. I love how Traci describes the role of a Compassion sponsor in the Body of Christ.
By going on this virtual trip to Nicaragua and immersing myself in the work of Compassion for the past few days I have been changed. Being fully honest, there have been times I've looked at our monthly charitable giving and thought "If we didn't give to (fill in the organization) each month we'd have room in our budget for (my want)." God has been shifting my heart and aligning it more with His. Instead of looking at my "wants" right now I'm finding myself looking at our budget and finding where else we can cut/"find" money to sponsor another child.
The Compassion bloggers are going to be in Nicaragua for a few more days and are going to continue to post so please continue to follow their stories and be introduced to the amazing lives being changed by sponsorship.
Up until recently our Compassion children have been chosen for us. As I've mentioned before, my husband started sponsoring children through Compassion before we met and his first 2 children were chosen for him. Over the years we've had 3 girls from the Dominican Republic and one boy from Peru who wasn't even in (our equivalent) of Kindergarten when my husband started sponsoring him, and is now 17 and getting ready to graduate! Though we've sponsored 4 children over the years, we've never sponsored more than 2 at a time. Recently I was thinking of friends (who have 5 kids) and who have a Compassion child for each of the children living in their own home so their kids each have a friend they get to write to. Compressing the story, a few months I went to Compassion's website and searched for a 4 child between 4-5 with no other search parameters set. After seeing all the children in that age range I entered our daughter's birthdate in the search box and there was an adorable little boy in Peru staring at me. I told my husband what I'd done and asked, "Do you think we can make this work?". He agreed with me and we added Alexis to our family. A few weeks later I did the same thing, this time looking up a child with the same birthdate as our 6 year old and we were introduced to Sharon in Kenya. We have friends who live overseas (in a country where Compassion works) and they've told us that if we end up sponsoring a child near them (there are several centers in their area) that they would go visit the child on our behalf, which would be wonderful so we've considered that as well. Who knows . . . maybe we'll add a 5th child in their region before much longer :)
If your heart has been stirred by my posts, and the stories of the Compassion bloggers, please consider the $38/mo it would take to provide food, education and medical care for a child living in poverty. You can start your journey to sponsorship by clicking the banner to the left or the widget below.
In recent months I've been struggling with fitting in with my culture and truly living like Jesus. While I know (in my head) it's not about my home being "updated" (which it's not), having new furniture (we're 37 & nearly 47 and most of our furniture is still second and third hand from our parents and friends) I'd be dishonest if I were saying I didn't want those things. Then I read stories like Bending For Treasure In The Trash by Shaun Groves and I'm reminded what's truly important in this world. I love how Traci describes the role of a Compassion sponsor in the Body of Christ.
By going on this virtual trip to Nicaragua and immersing myself in the work of Compassion for the past few days I have been changed. Being fully honest, there have been times I've looked at our monthly charitable giving and thought "If we didn't give to (fill in the organization) each month we'd have room in our budget for (my want)." God has been shifting my heart and aligning it more with His. Instead of looking at my "wants" right now I'm finding myself looking at our budget and finding where else we can cut/"find" money to sponsor another child.
The Compassion bloggers are going to be in Nicaragua for a few more days and are going to continue to post so please continue to follow their stories and be introduced to the amazing lives being changed by sponsorship.
Up until recently our Compassion children have been chosen for us. As I've mentioned before, my husband started sponsoring children through Compassion before we met and his first 2 children were chosen for him. Over the years we've had 3 girls from the Dominican Republic and one boy from Peru who wasn't even in (our equivalent) of Kindergarten when my husband started sponsoring him, and is now 17 and getting ready to graduate! Though we've sponsored 4 children over the years, we've never sponsored more than 2 at a time. Recently I was thinking of friends (who have 5 kids) and who have a Compassion child for each of the children living in their own home so their kids each have a friend they get to write to. Compressing the story, a few months I went to Compassion's website and searched for a 4 child between 4-5 with no other search parameters set. After seeing all the children in that age range I entered our daughter's birthdate in the search box and there was an adorable little boy in Peru staring at me. I told my husband what I'd done and asked, "Do you think we can make this work?". He agreed with me and we added Alexis to our family. A few weeks later I did the same thing, this time looking up a child with the same birthdate as our 6 year old and we were introduced to Sharon in Kenya. We have friends who live overseas (in a country where Compassion works) and they've told us that if we end up sponsoring a child near them (there are several centers in their area) that they would go visit the child on our behalf, which would be wonderful so we've considered that as well. Who knows . . . maybe we'll add a 5th child in their region before much longer :)
If your heart has been stirred by my posts, and the stories of the Compassion bloggers, please consider the $38/mo it would take to provide food, education and medical care for a child living in poverty. You can start your journey to sponsorship by clicking the banner to the left or the widget below.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Compassion Week Continued . . . . Meeting A Sponsored Child
Yesterday was the first full day for the Compassion Bloggers and I was anxiously awaiting their first posts last night. During the day Kelly from Faithful Provisions tweeted a picture of her with Marcos. I rejoiced with her as she got to meet him and not-so-patiently waited for her to have a few moments to write about her day.
I was rewarded last evening when Kelly shared Marcos' story and beautiful pictures.
As I read through the description of Marcos' house I couldn't help but think of our own Marco, Alexis who live in Peru. I know they live in solid construction homes, but I was wondering what their sleeping conditions are like. We're just getting to know Naidelin in the Domincan Republic so I don't know what her living conditions are like. I know that Sharon must fetch water and most likely lives in a hut. All are a far (and humbling) cry from my own living situation as I sit here in my suburban Arizona home listening to the sound of the air conditioner that is keeping me cool in the midst of a hot Phoenix summer.
I was rewarded last evening when Kelly shared Marcos' story and beautiful pictures.
As I read through the description of Marcos' house I couldn't help but think of our own Marco, Alexis who live in Peru. I know they live in solid construction homes, but I was wondering what their sleeping conditions are like. We're just getting to know Naidelin in the Domincan Republic so I don't know what her living conditions are like. I know that Sharon must fetch water and most likely lives in a hut. All are a far (and humbling) cry from my own living situation as I sit here in my suburban Arizona home listening to the sound of the air conditioner that is keeping me cool in the midst of a hot Phoenix summer.
This morning, the first moment I could, I went to my computer and read through the other posts from the Compassion Bloggers.
My heart was caught in my throat this morning as I saw Christy's first day in Nicaragua detailed in words and pictures that rattled my world. I can see why she felt like she lived an entire year of her life in one year. After seeing the images Christy and Bri shared from the garbage dump they visited to the joy of meeting Wilbert and his family I felt like I was on the roller coaster of emotions, too.
Following the Compassion Bloggers for the past few days has reinforced my passion for sponsorship as well as given birth to my desire to go visit one of our kids.
If you're reading my blog I challenge you to follow these stories and others as they unfold this week and see what God does in your heart through these stories and the others that are going to be unfolding over the next few days.
My heart was caught in my throat this morning as I saw Christy's first day in Nicaragua detailed in words and pictures that rattled my world. I can see why she felt like she lived an entire year of her life in one year. After seeing the images Christy and Bri shared from the garbage dump they visited to the joy of meeting Wilbert and his family I felt like I was on the roller coaster of emotions, too.
Following the Compassion Bloggers for the past few days has reinforced my passion for sponsorship as well as given birth to my desire to go visit one of our kids.
If you're reading my blog I challenge you to follow these stories and others as they unfold this week and see what God does in your heart through these stories and the others that are going to be unfolding over the next few days.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Compassion Week at Heidi's @ Home
Even if you just started reading my blog this week you know my family and I are huge supporters of Compassion International since I have written several posts about our experience, the way my life is being changed and how I'm going on a going on a (virtual) trip this week with the Compassion bloggers.
Because of this week's trip to Nicaragua I'm considering this "Compassion Week" here at Heidi's @ Home :) I'll resume my "regular" posts next week, but figure this is a good time to bring attention to one of my favorite groups.
I'm anxiously awaiting updates from the team and am extremely jealous of Kelly from Faithful Provisions who gets to meet her sponsored child, Marcos today! Kelly tweeted a picture this morning as she was getting ready to meet him and all I could think of is how I'd love to visit Marcos (our oldest Compassion child, who is getting ready to graduate) in Peru, Naidelin in the Dominican Republic, Sharon in Kenya or Alexis in Peru. Alexis and Marco only live about 100 miles away from each other.
While I can't visit our kids this week I'm excited to follow the activities of the Compassion bloggers on Twitter.
Until the team starts posting their updates I'm enjoying getting to know the team by reading their blogs, including Giving the internet malaria by Shaun Groves who is helping to lead this trip.
Will you join me in following this team as they get to love on some beautiful children and witness first hand the amazing work Compassion is doing in Nicaragua?
Monday, June 17, 2013
Yuck!
For the 3rd time since October a friend from my freshman year of college has had a parent pass away. All 3 friends are my age---way too young to have to say "good-bye". Thankfully each of these know their parents are in heaven because of their relationship with Jesus, but I know it's still extremely difficult.
Yesterday was Father's Day. For one of my friends it's marked the first Father's Day without her dad, who passed away several weeks ago. Another one spent yesterday at the hospital with her dad in ICU (he passed this morning). Last month my friend whose mom passed away in October had to spend his first Mother's Day without his mom, just a few days before his first birthday without her.
I've written before about the hardest part of getting older and, at that point, I didn't know anyone well who had lost a parent. That has changed since then. Mr. M in the original post is physically doing fine, but in 2011 he had to say good-bye to his wife of over 50 years, which meant one of my husband's closest friends lost his mom.
Now these three college friends have all lost their parents in recent months and I'm once again left thinking that sometimes adulthood really stinks. I don't mind saying I'm 37. My 20 year reunion next year doesn't bother me. I could care less about turning 40 in 2016. Those things don't bother me---it's this reality of adulthood that I'm not happy about.
Yesterday was Father's Day. For one of my friends it's marked the first Father's Day without her dad, who passed away several weeks ago. Another one spent yesterday at the hospital with her dad in ICU (he passed this morning). Last month my friend whose mom passed away in October had to spend his first Mother's Day without his mom, just a few days before his first birthday without her.
I've written before about the hardest part of getting older and, at that point, I didn't know anyone well who had lost a parent. That has changed since then. Mr. M in the original post is physically doing fine, but in 2011 he had to say good-bye to his wife of over 50 years, which meant one of my husband's closest friends lost his mom.
Now these three college friends have all lost their parents in recent months and I'm once again left thinking that sometimes adulthood really stinks. I don't mind saying I'm 37. My 20 year reunion next year doesn't bother me. I could care less about turning 40 in 2016. Those things don't bother me---it's this reality of adulthood that I'm not happy about.
Going on a (virtual) trip!
All weekend I have been thinking about the lesson in perspective and the object lesson we tried to teach our kids Saturday. My husband and I had an interesting talk Saturday night about the struggle of wanting to live the life God wants while also being heavily influenced by our American culture of "stuff".
We currently have 4 Compassion children, including one who is getting to graduate his program. This young man is someone that has been part of my husband's life since before we met and started dating over 10 years ago so he's seen our family change from my husband as a single man to where we are today: a family with 2 kids who will be 7 and 5 this summer. Until recently we'd never had more than 2 Compassion children at a time, but had had 4 total over the years. In recent months we added a little boy born the same day as our daughter and a little girl born the same day as our son so we can watch these children grow up along with ours, which brought our total to 4 that we currently sponsor. We've had two we sponsor leave the program: one due to graduation and one due to other circumstances.
Though we've sponsored Compassion children the entire time we've been married (as I mentioned, my husband started before we were married, so I "inherited" these kids on our wedding day) it's been in recent months that my heart has seriously been changed by the sponsorship experience. We pray for our Compassion children regularly as they each have their own "sticks" and have their pictures hanging in the hallway where we get to see their faces often. Our kids know their names and they are part of normal conversation in our home. Our kids love that they each have a friend in a different country who was born the same day as them (though my 4 year old was confused for awhile as to why she and her friend in Peru weren't twins even though they were born the same day).
This week, Edie at life{in}grace has the amazing experience of travelling to Nicaragua with Compassion International and she, along with her fellow travelers, are blogging about their experiences.
I'm not going to lie---I'm extremely jealous of these bloggers this week who get to meet and love on children that Compassion is helping to release from poverty in the name of Jesus Christ! In my dreams we get to travel to Peru (Our oldest and youngest Compassion children live approximately 100mi from each other) or the Dominican Republic or Kenya to visit one of these members or our extended family. Since I can't visit our own Compassion kids this week I'm going to live vicariously through those who can!
Will you join me in following Edie, Shaun, Traci, Kelly, and Christy this week as they get to be Jesus' hands and feet in Nicaragua and love on some amazing kids?
We currently have 4 Compassion children, including one who is getting to graduate his program. This young man is someone that has been part of my husband's life since before we met and started dating over 10 years ago so he's seen our family change from my husband as a single man to where we are today: a family with 2 kids who will be 7 and 5 this summer. Until recently we'd never had more than 2 Compassion children at a time, but had had 4 total over the years. In recent months we added a little boy born the same day as our daughter and a little girl born the same day as our son so we can watch these children grow up along with ours, which brought our total to 4 that we currently sponsor. We've had two we sponsor leave the program: one due to graduation and one due to other circumstances.
Though we've sponsored Compassion children the entire time we've been married (as I mentioned, my husband started before we were married, so I "inherited" these kids on our wedding day) it's been in recent months that my heart has seriously been changed by the sponsorship experience. We pray for our Compassion children regularly as they each have their own "sticks" and have their pictures hanging in the hallway where we get to see their faces often. Our kids know their names and they are part of normal conversation in our home. Our kids love that they each have a friend in a different country who was born the same day as them (though my 4 year old was confused for awhile as to why she and her friend in Peru weren't twins even though they were born the same day).
This week, Edie at life{in}grace has the amazing experience of travelling to Nicaragua with Compassion International and she, along with her fellow travelers, are blogging about their experiences.
I'm not going to lie---I'm extremely jealous of these bloggers this week who get to meet and love on children that Compassion is helping to release from poverty in the name of Jesus Christ! In my dreams we get to travel to Peru (Our oldest and youngest Compassion children live approximately 100mi from each other) or the Dominican Republic or Kenya to visit one of these members or our extended family. Since I can't visit our own Compassion kids this week I'm going to live vicariously through those who can!
Will you join me in following Edie, Shaun, Traci, Kelly, and Christy this week as they get to be Jesus' hands and feet in Nicaragua and love on some amazing kids?
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Perspective and an Impromptu Object Lesson
This week we received our first letter from our newest Compassion Child, a little girl from Kenya who was born the same day as our son. This morning my husband was reading the newest Compassion Magazine, which we received yesterday and I asked him, "Did you read Sharon's letter? Did you see one of her chores is fetching water?" Both of our kids were playing in the kitchen while we talked so when my 6 year old heard us he asked what "fetching water" meant.
Since we were standing in the kitchen I turned on our faucet and told the kids how lucky we are to have running water. I explained about how many people around the world aren't lucky enough to have water in their house and they have to go get it. I explained that some people get their water from a well and others have to go get theirs from a body of water that they share with animals who drink and go to the bathroom there. I asked the kids how they'd like to drink water that came from where animals pooped. Needless to say there was a chorus of "EEEWWWWW".
I asked my son, "Sharon is your age. Do you think you could carry water back to our house without spilling it?" In typical 6 year old bravado he said, "Of course! That's easy!". Immediately an idea started forming in my head and within minutes we had an impromptu object lesson this morning.
My 4 year old went first with the small bucket:
Next up was my 6 year old:
After both kids successfully carried the small bucket past 4 houses in our suburban neighborhood I had them attempt the 2.5 gallon bucket:
As you can see, my daughter couldn't even lift the 2.5 gallon bucket and by the time my son walked to our neighbor's house that we'd designated as our end point his bucket was basically empty.
The water ended up primarily on him, which he didn't mind since we're in the midst of a Phoenix summer and it was already about 95 when we were doing this at 11am.
After watching what happened when my son picked up the 2.5 gallon bucket I was quite interested to see what would happen once the kids attempted the next challenge:
I don't know if the kids fully got the object lesson I was trying to teach because they were more into how fun it was to get wet on this hot morning, but hopefully it'll stick.
Once we got in the house I was getting a little pushback when I asked them to mop the floor and unload the dishwasher. We talked about how Sharon would probably LOVE a machine that did the dishes for her and I told them that where she lives they have dirt floors so she would think our tile floors were extremely fancy.
Our activities this morning were also a good dose of perspective for this mom. For the past few weeks I've been seeing pictures on Facebook of vacations my friends are taking and I've been getting discouraged that we haven't been able to fit anything like that into our budget. (Ironically when my kids dressed themselves this morning they both put on shirts given to them by a family member who went to Disney World last year and one of the things I've been really struggling with is not being able to afford to take our kids to Disneyland, despite it only being 6 hours away so I had that "god" in my face the whole time the kids were doing this).
Mom needed this dose of perspective at least as much as the kids.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Honest Feelings
I admit many of the things I'm going to post here aren't "right", but they're how I'm feeling.
My 4yo was diagnosed with astigmatism this week and we're currently waiting on her first pair of glasses to arrive. I'm the only one on either side of our families that has decent vision (I wear glasses for night driving, but that's about it) so we knew it was a matter of time until our kids wore glasses, but we weren't expecting it this young (we were thinking around 9-13ish) and we weren't expecting astigmatism since it's not real common in our families.
**Learning that she's probably never truly seen clearly saddens me.
**I'm thankful she will be able to wear glasses to see clearly.
**I'm excited for her reaction when she gets her glasses and sees clearly for the first time.
**Finding out she's probably never seen clearly makes me wonder if I should've caught it sooner.
**I'm a little sad that her precious face is going to be behind glasses, until she is ready to wear contacts (we assume she'll want to eventually).
**She's already told me she's sad she's going to be the only kid in her class who wears glasses.
**I'm scared about her "fitting in".
**I have friends with daughters who started wearing glasses in preschool and I know the mean things that have been said to them. I'm borrowing trouble by worrying about my girl having to hear the same things.
**I'm worried about quality of life with being as active as she wants (running around and worrying about her glasses falling off).
In the grand scheme of things I know this is MINOR. I also am thankful that this is her only vision issue. Except for the astigmatism her eyesight is fine right now (she is equally nearsighted and farsighted) so once that's corrected she'll be fine.
Here's how we found out that she needs glasses at 4:
A few months ago my son was studying the 5 senses in Kindergarten. One day he brought home an eye chart his teacher had printed out. My son wanted us to hang it up at home and do it. To him it was a game so I measured 20 feet down the hallway and he showed us "how well he can see". Because my daughter didn't want to be left out she tried it. We noticed she was struggling with some of the bottom lines. I called the optometrist office where my husband and I go (and where our son went when he was 5) and asked if they'd see her. I was told that for kids her age they recommend a pediatric optometrist and gave me a number. I never got around to scheduling anything for her (Mommy fail). Last month she hurt her eye, causing it to be red and watering constantly. I called the optometrist that the rest of the family sees and said, "I know she's younger than you usually see, but can you get her in?". I got a same day appointment and they did a quick assessment of her vision to get a baseline. I noticed she was struggling around the 20/40 part of the chart, but seemed to be doing pretty well around 20/60. Red flag, but I was (hoping) it was just because of the injury. A few days later we went for a follow up and I noticed she was struggling in the exact same spot. I asked the optometrist, "When do I bring her in for her first exam?" and was told any time. I scheduled the appointment and we went Monday where we got the diagnosis.
The interesting thing is she's already reading and hasn't had any trouble at preschool with reading or writing so we really hadn't had cause to be concerned. My husband and I were talking last night and we'd both separately remembered during the day yesterday that she used to stand close to the TV and we'd shoo her away telling her to back up. Now we're wondering if she was doing it to see better . . .
Since she's younger than we were told to do the kids' first exam (just before starting school) I'm thankful for catching it as early as we did, but I'm also a bit sad that she's having to deal with this already (and knowing she most likely was born with this eye shape and has never seen correctly) makes me a bit sad.
Finding glasses small enough for her face (41mm) was extremely challenging, but we finally found ONE pair yesterday so we ordered them (At previous places we could only find 43mm, which were too big. The optometrist special ordered 42mms for her to try on because they didn't have any in stock). My daughter was sad that all the "pretty" ones were too big for her, but I told her "You're going to wear glasses for a long time [rest of her life] so when you get bigger you'll have lots of choices and can get pretty ones".
My husband had LASIK at some point before we met (we've been together 10 years) and my sister recently had it. After doing some research we found out she could possibly be a candidate when she gets older, if she chooses to do it so my husband and I found that encouraging (Besides, who knows what kind of technology will be available to her when she's an adult!).
All in all I know there are a million and one things to be thankful for and not upset about, but I've still struggled with feelings of sadness for her over the past few days. Today I'm finding myself counting down the days until she gets them because I want her to be able to see everything without anything being "fuzzy".
Yesterday my daughter and I scrolled through Little Four Eyes as pictures of other kids her age (and younger) rocking their glasses :)
My 4yo was diagnosed with astigmatism this week and we're currently waiting on her first pair of glasses to arrive. I'm the only one on either side of our families that has decent vision (I wear glasses for night driving, but that's about it) so we knew it was a matter of time until our kids wore glasses, but we weren't expecting it this young (we were thinking around 9-13ish) and we weren't expecting astigmatism since it's not real common in our families.
**Learning that she's probably never truly seen clearly saddens me.
**I'm thankful she will be able to wear glasses to see clearly.
**I'm excited for her reaction when she gets her glasses and sees clearly for the first time.
**Finding out she's probably never seen clearly makes me wonder if I should've caught it sooner.
**I'm a little sad that her precious face is going to be behind glasses, until she is ready to wear contacts (we assume she'll want to eventually).
**She's already told me she's sad she's going to be the only kid in her class who wears glasses.
**I'm scared about her "fitting in".
**I have friends with daughters who started wearing glasses in preschool and I know the mean things that have been said to them. I'm borrowing trouble by worrying about my girl having to hear the same things.
**I'm worried about quality of life with being as active as she wants (running around and worrying about her glasses falling off).
In the grand scheme of things I know this is MINOR. I also am thankful that this is her only vision issue. Except for the astigmatism her eyesight is fine right now (she is equally nearsighted and farsighted) so once that's corrected she'll be fine.
Here's how we found out that she needs glasses at 4:
A few months ago my son was studying the 5 senses in Kindergarten. One day he brought home an eye chart his teacher had printed out. My son wanted us to hang it up at home and do it. To him it was a game so I measured 20 feet down the hallway and he showed us "how well he can see". Because my daughter didn't want to be left out she tried it. We noticed she was struggling with some of the bottom lines. I called the optometrist office where my husband and I go (and where our son went when he was 5) and asked if they'd see her. I was told that for kids her age they recommend a pediatric optometrist and gave me a number. I never got around to scheduling anything for her (Mommy fail). Last month she hurt her eye, causing it to be red and watering constantly. I called the optometrist that the rest of the family sees and said, "I know she's younger than you usually see, but can you get her in?". I got a same day appointment and they did a quick assessment of her vision to get a baseline. I noticed she was struggling around the 20/40 part of the chart, but seemed to be doing pretty well around 20/60. Red flag, but I was (hoping) it was just because of the injury. A few days later we went for a follow up and I noticed she was struggling in the exact same spot. I asked the optometrist, "When do I bring her in for her first exam?" and was told any time. I scheduled the appointment and we went Monday where we got the diagnosis.
The interesting thing is she's already reading and hasn't had any trouble at preschool with reading or writing so we really hadn't had cause to be concerned. My husband and I were talking last night and we'd both separately remembered during the day yesterday that she used to stand close to the TV and we'd shoo her away telling her to back up. Now we're wondering if she was doing it to see better . . .
Since she's younger than we were told to do the kids' first exam (just before starting school) I'm thankful for catching it as early as we did, but I'm also a bit sad that she's having to deal with this already (and knowing she most likely was born with this eye shape and has never seen correctly) makes me a bit sad.
Finding glasses small enough for her face (41mm) was extremely challenging, but we finally found ONE pair yesterday so we ordered them (At previous places we could only find 43mm, which were too big. The optometrist special ordered 42mms for her to try on because they didn't have any in stock). My daughter was sad that all the "pretty" ones were too big for her, but I told her "You're going to wear glasses for a long time [rest of her life] so when you get bigger you'll have lots of choices and can get pretty ones".
My husband had LASIK at some point before we met (we've been together 10 years) and my sister recently had it. After doing some research we found out she could possibly be a candidate when she gets older, if she chooses to do it so my husband and I found that encouraging (Besides, who knows what kind of technology will be available to her when she's an adult!).
All in all I know there are a million and one things to be thankful for and not upset about, but I've still struggled with feelings of sadness for her over the past few days. Today I'm finding myself counting down the days until she gets them because I want her to be able to see everything without anything being "fuzzy".
Yesterday my daughter and I scrolled through Little Four Eyes as pictures of other kids her age (and younger) rocking their glasses :)
Monday, June 3, 2013
Happy! Happy! Happy!
Like Lisa at Marble and Mud I have a hard time being happy when it's nearly 110 outside. Yuck. Instead of focusing on what I don't like about this season I'm choosing to focus on what's making my happy right now:
**The only nice thing I have to say about the hot weather is . . . at least the pool is warming up :)
Since school is out for the summer, here are the things I'm enjoying about our break in no particular order:
**We're all still in our pj's at 8:45am and don't have anywhere to be until this afternoon
**No more playground sand EVERYWHERE (the floor, my son's shoes, his socks, the dryer's lint trap, etc.
**Not having to pack school lunches
**Wearing less clothes (and more swimsuits) makes laundry easier
**The kids are able to wear flip flops every day and I don't have to help anyone tie their shoes
**Time with the kids
**Not really being on a schedule
**There are empty spaces on the calendar this month
**Lots of time in the pool makes for tired kids and less of a bedtime battle
**Arranging get-togethers with friends is much easier now that we don't have to worry about school schedules.
What is making you happy right now?
**The only nice thing I have to say about the hot weather is . . . at least the pool is warming up :)
Since school is out for the summer, here are the things I'm enjoying about our break in no particular order:
**We're all still in our pj's at 8:45am and don't have anywhere to be until this afternoon
**No more playground sand EVERYWHERE (the floor, my son's shoes, his socks, the dryer's lint trap, etc.
**Not having to pack school lunches
**Wearing less clothes (and more swimsuits) makes laundry easier
**The kids are able to wear flip flops every day and I don't have to help anyone tie their shoes
**Time with the kids
**Not really being on a schedule
**There are empty spaces on the calendar this month
**Lots of time in the pool makes for tired kids and less of a bedtime battle
**Arranging get-togethers with friends is much easier now that we don't have to worry about school schedules.
What is making you happy right now?
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Harder than it looks
For the past few months I've been working on being healthier. As a family we've already pretty much eliminated packaged and processed foods from our diet, though I do confess I still enjoy my Coke and probably won't be giving it up soon, despite knowing how bad it is for me.
I've also started working out more than I used to (ANY working out is more than I used to). Between eating better and exercising I was starting to notice a difference in my shape. I took measurements of different places (arms, hips, waist, etc.) in March and then again in April. I was pleasantly surprised to see I'd lost inches throughout my body in that time frame. And then May came. My birthday and Mother's Day are within a week of each other. During that time there were also end of the year parties at preschool, Kindergarten, and Little League. Needless to say I fell off the wagon for a few weeks. I haven't dared take any measurements since the end of April, but I can tell by the mirror and my clothes that I took several steps back after having made some progress earlier in the year
I'm getting back in the routine now. I don't belong to a gym but I have free weights, a medicine ball and resistance band. I have a Pinterest board of workouts that I have been attempting. (Yes, I finally broke down and joined Pinterest as a way to keep track of workout ideas and to aid in my meal planning). I've noticed many of these *look* easy, but in reality I can't make it through half of it when the instructions say 3 reps. I picked one today that I've been struggling with and my goal is to be able to complete an entire rep by the end of June.
This is one of the workouts that has been kicking my tail. I am going to attempt it most days and WILL be able to get through it at least once without stopping!
I've also started working out more than I used to (ANY working out is more than I used to). Between eating better and exercising I was starting to notice a difference in my shape. I took measurements of different places (arms, hips, waist, etc.) in March and then again in April. I was pleasantly surprised to see I'd lost inches throughout my body in that time frame. And then May came. My birthday and Mother's Day are within a week of each other. During that time there were also end of the year parties at preschool, Kindergarten, and Little League. Needless to say I fell off the wagon for a few weeks. I haven't dared take any measurements since the end of April, but I can tell by the mirror and my clothes that I took several steps back after having made some progress earlier in the year
I'm getting back in the routine now. I don't belong to a gym but I have free weights, a medicine ball and resistance band. I have a Pinterest board of workouts that I have been attempting. (Yes, I finally broke down and joined Pinterest as a way to keep track of workout ideas and to aid in my meal planning). I've noticed many of these *look* easy, but in reality I can't make it through half of it when the instructions say 3 reps. I picked one today that I've been struggling with and my goal is to be able to complete an entire rep by the end of June.
This is one of the workouts that has been kicking my tail. I am going to attempt it most days and WILL be able to get through it at least once without stopping!
Friday, May 31, 2013
Making Yogurt!
The kids and I headed to the splash pad this morning and had a blast! My kids were among the biggest there and I'm thinking this is an activity they'll be outgrowing soon, but for now . . . they loved it!
Other than having fun at the splash pad one of the things I've got going today is making yogurt. Several years ago I knew a few people who had yogurt making machines. I looked into them one day, saw the price and decided I couldn't imagine how much yogurt I'd have to make before I "broke even" and the machine became cost effective. That quick Swagbucks search was enough to begin and end any thought I had of making yogurt myself.
In the meantime I had pretty much stopped buying yogurt after reading the ingredient list. Yeah---it didn't look like a healthy snack at all after that. That kind of bummed me out because my kids LOVE yogurt!
Along came Stacy from Stacy Makes Cents. Once I saw her post about making homemade yogurt I was HOOKED! I'm not a great cook, and I'm lazy, but I can totally do this! It's EASY and I can make a gallon of yogurt for the same price as a gallon of milk and without all the junk! YAY! (The first time I had to buy some yogurt for the cultures, but every other time I just save same from the previous batch to use). There's not a huge time commitment involved, either which means I'm able to get it going and then leave it alone and let it do it's thing while we go on with our day. Even warming/cooling the milk is low maintenance (as long as I don't forget about it, which I've never done *cough cough*). As my 4 year old says, "Easy peasy lemon sqeezy". (Thank you Goofy for that one)
Since I make a gallon at a time I use 4 quart mason jars and 1 half pint one. The half-pint (anybody else think of Laura Ingalls Wilder when they hear "Half Pint"??) one is what I use to save the starter for next time.
During the school year 1 gallon lasts about a week because I add some frozen fruit to the plain yogurt and pack it in school lunches when we're low on fresh fruit. (By the time lunch rolls around the fruit has defrosted and, when stirred it flavors the whole container). I also make "jelly yogurt" where I add organic strawberry jelly from Coscto to flavor the yogurt. Occassionally I will just add raw honey. Plain yogurt isn't the tastiest thing ever so I do sweeten it, but with things *I* add, not a list of stuff I can't pronounce and that's created in a lab.
I'm out of "regular" yogurt because this week I used it to make Greek yogurt to use in recipes like tzatziki sauce and strawberry protein pancake roll ups with yogurt filling so the time has come to make some more.
I had to pick up milk at the store after our trip to the splash pad. I didn't have a gallon of whole milk in the fridge, otherwise I would've been able to get everything going before our outing this morning. (The kids drink 1% milk, but I use whole milk for yogurt for the extra creaminess). Right now the milk is cooling and I'm about to put it in the jars and oven.
Thanks, Stacy for teaching me how easy (and inexpensive) it is to make yogurt! :)
Other than having fun at the splash pad one of the things I've got going today is making yogurt. Several years ago I knew a few people who had yogurt making machines. I looked into them one day, saw the price and decided I couldn't imagine how much yogurt I'd have to make before I "broke even" and the machine became cost effective. That quick Swagbucks search was enough to begin and end any thought I had of making yogurt myself.
In the meantime I had pretty much stopped buying yogurt after reading the ingredient list. Yeah---it didn't look like a healthy snack at all after that. That kind of bummed me out because my kids LOVE yogurt!
Along came Stacy from Stacy Makes Cents. Once I saw her post about making homemade yogurt I was HOOKED! I'm not a great cook, and I'm lazy, but I can totally do this! It's EASY and I can make a gallon of yogurt for the same price as a gallon of milk and without all the junk! YAY! (The first time I had to buy some yogurt for the cultures, but every other time I just save same from the previous batch to use). There's not a huge time commitment involved, either which means I'm able to get it going and then leave it alone and let it do it's thing while we go on with our day. Even warming/cooling the milk is low maintenance (as long as I don't forget about it, which I've never done *cough cough*). As my 4 year old says, "Easy peasy lemon sqeezy". (Thank you Goofy for that one)
Since I make a gallon at a time I use 4 quart mason jars and 1 half pint one. The half-pint (anybody else think of Laura Ingalls Wilder when they hear "Half Pint"??) one is what I use to save the starter for next time.
During the school year 1 gallon lasts about a week because I add some frozen fruit to the plain yogurt and pack it in school lunches when we're low on fresh fruit. (By the time lunch rolls around the fruit has defrosted and, when stirred it flavors the whole container). I also make "jelly yogurt" where I add organic strawberry jelly from Coscto to flavor the yogurt. Occassionally I will just add raw honey. Plain yogurt isn't the tastiest thing ever so I do sweeten it, but with things *I* add, not a list of stuff I can't pronounce and that's created in a lab.
I'm out of "regular" yogurt because this week I used it to make Greek yogurt to use in recipes like tzatziki sauce and strawberry protein pancake roll ups with yogurt filling so the time has come to make some more.
I had to pick up milk at the store after our trip to the splash pad. I didn't have a gallon of whole milk in the fridge, otherwise I would've been able to get everything going before our outing this morning. (The kids drink 1% milk, but I use whole milk for yogurt for the extra creaminess). Right now the milk is cooling and I'm about to put it in the jars and oven.
Thanks, Stacy for teaching me how easy (and inexpensive) it is to make yogurt! :)
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Off and running
Well . . . today is Thursday, which makes it the 3rd day I've been home with the kids since school let out for the summer. Since I'm only a year removed from having both kids home full-time it's not a HUGE adjustment for me, but it still is.
I absolutely love the idea of sending the kids outside for several hours to keep themselves entertained. I am a firm believer that my kids need to be bored, they need to come up with their own entertainment and I am not their entertainment director. (As much as my kids would like for me to be, I'm not responsible for making sure they're always entertained)
I say I like the idea of sending them outside with a water bottle, but the reality is we live in Phoenix, AZ and it's insanely HOT here in the summer. Preheat your oven to 350 and keep the oven door closed. Once the oven is preheated open it up and stick your face in front of the door. Walking outside kind of feels like that. When the overnight low is 92 you know it was HOT during the day.
As much as I CRAVE the silence that comes from my kids playing outside by themselves and making up their own fun, I can't send them outside to play in an oven for hours. Bummer. I'm also seriously petrified of desert creatures that slither. I saw one cutting through my backyard about 2 years ago. A month or so ago I found one in my garage. I'm not gonna lie--I'm scared to go in my own backyard.
There will still be outdoor activities (swimming!!!) and "entertain yourself" time each day, but the reality is I need to be creative about how to keep the kids entertained, keep myself from going insane and pass the time inside. Mostly keeping them occupied so I stay sane.
Today I made a few more steps towards my primary goal of remaining sane this summer. I already mentioned my journey into pseudo-homeschooling. (which actually may be the straw that takes the last of my sanity or just proves my sanity is completely gone already). Today I finally bought our passes for Harkins Summer Movie Fun. For $7/person we get tickets to 10 movies so for $21 it's not a bad way to spend a few hours a week. Looking at the schedule I knew we weren't going to go this week, but when I bought my tickets this morning they said we could come tomorrow if we want.
Judging by the yelling and fighting going on today it might be nice to be in a quiet theater for a little while :)
After buying our Summer Movie tickets we went to the library to sign up for their summer reading program. I limited the kids to 3 books each because I didn't want to have to keep track of too many, but promised them we can go almost daily to get new ones if they read the ones they checked out today.
Between swimming, "homeschool", movies and reading I'm thinking we're on our way to finding things to do to keep cool and keep entertained this summer!
I absolutely love the idea of sending the kids outside for several hours to keep themselves entertained. I am a firm believer that my kids need to be bored, they need to come up with their own entertainment and I am not their entertainment director. (As much as my kids would like for me to be, I'm not responsible for making sure they're always entertained)
I say I like the idea of sending them outside with a water bottle, but the reality is we live in Phoenix, AZ and it's insanely HOT here in the summer. Preheat your oven to 350 and keep the oven door closed. Once the oven is preheated open it up and stick your face in front of the door. Walking outside kind of feels like that. When the overnight low is 92 you know it was HOT during the day.
As much as I CRAVE the silence that comes from my kids playing outside by themselves and making up their own fun, I can't send them outside to play in an oven for hours. Bummer. I'm also seriously petrified of desert creatures that slither. I saw one cutting through my backyard about 2 years ago. A month or so ago I found one in my garage. I'm not gonna lie--I'm scared to go in my own backyard.
There will still be outdoor activities (swimming!!!) and "entertain yourself" time each day, but the reality is I need to be creative about how to keep the kids entertained, keep myself from going insane and pass the time inside. Mostly keeping them occupied so I stay sane.
Today I made a few more steps towards my primary goal of remaining sane this summer. I already mentioned my journey into pseudo-homeschooling. (which actually may be the straw that takes the last of my sanity or just proves my sanity is completely gone already). Today I finally bought our passes for Harkins Summer Movie Fun. For $7/person we get tickets to 10 movies so for $21 it's not a bad way to spend a few hours a week. Looking at the schedule I knew we weren't going to go this week, but when I bought my tickets this morning they said we could come tomorrow if we want.
Judging by the yelling and fighting going on today it might be nice to be in a quiet theater for a little while :)
After buying our Summer Movie tickets we went to the library to sign up for their summer reading program. I limited the kids to 3 books each because I didn't want to have to keep track of too many, but promised them we can go almost daily to get new ones if they read the ones they checked out today.
Between swimming, "homeschool", movies and reading I'm thinking we're on our way to finding things to do to keep cool and keep entertained this summer!
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