Screams of Spring

I love spring. The trees are budding, the grass is turning green, the flowers are starting to pop their beautiful petals out, and the birds are ... screaming.  Not just "screaming," but "SCREAMING."

Each year, we have the same problem. Birds sneak their way into our vents, make their nests, have babies, and scream their heads off. It literally sounds like a woman screaming. And its behind our microwave.So gross.

And today, my husband is home. He fixed his breakfast, ate it, and suddenly stood up and said, "that's it--I'm evicting those birds!" To which, I laughed and said: "Yeah. Right. They'll be back." And he replied, "Not this time. I'm taking wood, nails and duct tape. They're outta here."

Allrightythen.

He's out there now, and I hear knocking, scraping, struggling, chirping, screaming, dragging... it makes me shudder and think of the old Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds." But so far, it looks like Man is winning over Bird.

I give it three months.

Rocket?

Hunter: Mom, I love that song. It's my FAVORITE.
Me: What song?
Hunter: You know, the one I love! Because its so awesome.
Me: Ummmm... can you sing it for me?
Hunter: Yeah... "We are, We are, ROCKET!"
Me: You mean, "We will, We will, Rock You!"
Hunter: Yeah, "ROCKET!" Can I go to a dark place where people are yelling and sing it? And can I jump all over the place?"
Me: Ummmm... I need to talk to Dad about that.
Hunter: "We will, We will Rocket! We will, we will Rocket! We will, we will Rocket!"

Me: (in my head, of course) Ugh!

Being snowed in...

It has a lot of disadvantages... like one four year old in particular, who just loves the movie Up, and has watched it no less than 15 gazillion times. In a row. The entire week we've been cooped in this house because of the snow. Ugh. Actually, it is a pretty good movie with a good theme and ending. But after the gazillionth time, it just wore on us old foggie adults!

The other day, out of the blue, Hunter quoted a line from the movie Up... almost flawlessly. So I thought I'd quiz him...

Me: Hunter, what does Kevin say? (Kevin is the beautiful bird that "finds" them.)

Hunter: Kaw!

Me: Very good! What does Russel say? (the little boy)

Hunter: With my [Wilderness Explorer] GPS, we'll never be lost! (then Hunter imitates Russell throwing his hand sideways and the GPS flying out window) Oops!!!

Me: That was awesome, Hunter! What does Mr. Fredrickson say all the time? (grouchy old man that just lost his beloved wife, Ellie)

Hunter: All the time he says "Baah!"

Me: (laughing) What does Doug the dog say? (a dog who wears a translator collar)

Hunter: My master is very intelligent. My master is good and smart. I have just met you and I love you! SQUIRREL!!

Me: Wow! You remember all that in a scary kind of way! Does Kevin say anything else?

Hunter: Yes, KAW!

He's so much like his daddy. He'll remember at least one quote from any movie he's ever seen. I think we have a prodigy on our hands, because Hunter remembers WAY MORE than ONE line! And he's only four!

We're ever so proud!

KAW!

Just a little bit of snow!

So we've been just a little bit busy these past few days. Well, since last Friday, really. Can you say... "Snow, snow, snow"???????

This first picture was a "little" snow from last week... they were predicting one inch. We got seven. What a surprise.

The second picture was this past Friday and Saturday ... when we got 29 inches of snow. YES. TWENTY NINE. I measured it with a yard stick.

Then we helped all our neighbors, including digging out the sheriff's car. The last picture is today... in which we are under blizzard conditions and are set to accumulate another 20 inches of snow. It's been snowing since last night, but the wind is howling so hard that it was blowing snow in our front door through the cracks. Lovely.

So as we hunker down and stay warm, we are finding that Wii can be boring after 4 hours straight... there isn't much on TV during the day, and I'm getting pretty tired of the food we have on hand.

And you can bet we're not going out until the wind stops blowing and howling.

Why is it that children LOVE SNOW SO MUCH? I mean... I do love snow ... but I DONT like being wet and cold. Kids DO! Weird.

Can anyone say... Pina Colada???

Life Changes You Never Think Will Hit You

You would think that when you turn 42, your huge life-impacting changes are over with. Life is secure, mortgages are close to being over, you're far into your career (having worked hard in your youth to get where you are) and retirement is right around the corner.

Unless you live in today's world, with today's economic problems.

Instead of having a secure sense of life-impacting changes being over when I turned 42 last week, I was given notice that my position was being abolished. My company has no new work the rest of the year, no new work for next year, and numerous of our current jobs are ending within the next six months, with many people coming off of job sites.

At the time they gave me this news, they were still holding out hope that we would win a multi-billion dollar job, but today, we received word that we lost that bid.

This indeed is a life-impacting change that will affect more people than just me in my company.

Last week, 20 people were laid off. Today, close to a hundred people that were assigned to this "job in waiting" were told that there is no longer a "job in waiting." More people will be laid off next week, the week after, and the week after that.

I'm fortunate to have a full month's notice. I may not be as fortunate to find a job or retain our current home, but I'm so blessed to have a relationship with a God who is in the business of miracles. I'm also blessed to have a husband who is so positive and strong. My heart was saddened for how my child's life will be changed, but I'm positive that God will provide and take care of us.

God is in charge. God knows what we are facing, in fact, he knew before I did and before my boss did.

I'm excited to see what God's plans are in our life in the next coming months. Maybe it is to get my masters in counseling? Maybe it is to finally finish writing one of the many books I've started and actually "market" it to potential publishers! Maybe its just to take care of my family, or maybe its even to get a new and better job.

Whatever his plans are, I'm excited, because I know He's walking right beside me, and so is my husband, child and family and friends.

Please keep me and my family in your prayers. I would truly treasure them!

Walking in faith. Walking in the hope. Walking in Christ - the only true way to go.

...Keepin’ it real banana!

Several years ago, when my friends boys were 4 and 6, I was over at her house visiting. Her youngest was WILD about the Wiggles, and loved to dance to the DVDs. He would ask her to get up and dance with him, and she would. She told me it's fun, and that one day, I'd be doing this with Hunter, because you'll do silly stuff for and with your kids.

I laughed.

And I said something like... "Not on your life! I HATE the Wiggles and dancing like that's just silly!"

And you know what? I never had to dance to the Wiggles.

But...

Fast-forward to the year 2009.

A new group is emerging ... The Fresh Beat Band (that's them to the right). They're not all that great yet, and even quite silly... but Hunter loves them. They are a new group that beat box, rap, sing, break-dance, hip-hop dance, and act silly while teaching kids how to spell, rhyme, think fast, dance, work together, help each other, and other lessons that are passed through the music they sing. They also teach them how to be creative by playing music on ordinary items like boxes, trash cans, lids, etc.

Hunter loves to turn them on and jump on my bed, dance, sing, rap, break dance, hip-hop, spin, jump, body slam (well, not really), and act silly like they do. In turn, I LOVE for Hunter to turn them on and jump on my bed, dance, sing, rap, break dance, hip-hop, spin, and jump so he burns of energy (especially on rainy days!).

And then, two weeks ago ... two.weeks.ago. -- a day I'll permanently mark in my brain -- Hunter asked me to dance with him to the Fresh Beat Band. And I did. Because my son asked me to. And I love me some Hunter (name who said that quote first: "I Loves me some...").

And now I know what my girlfriend meant.

We danced to "Bananas" a silly song that has words like this: "Peel banana, feel banana, keepin’ it real banana!" And we had so much fun. If you look back, the Wiggles weren't that great when they first started either, but the Fresh Beat Band has some really fun, wholesome and engaging songs. Given a few seasons, I'm sure they'll get better.

So anyway, I now dance with my kid, and have fun doing it.

So hip hop, and pop, and have a great day dancing with your kids!

"Na na na na na na na let's go bananas!!!"

You can see 10 of their videos by clicking HERE.

You can read about them HERE.

I wonder if I should record these songs to play at Hunter's wedding???

Parenting Issues

Sorry this post is so long and somewhat discombobulated, but I just have to release everything in my head.

Please know, that I’m sharing this post only to encourage other parents going through the same thing. Because I know how much encouragement I need on a regular basis … and recently at our women’s retreat, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized that it’s been particularly difficult and rather discouraging raising a child at our older age, because all of our friends/peers currently have TEENAGERS or COLLEGE-AGED kids and are unable to commiserate, as they are in a different stage of life than we are. They are at an established authoritarian place in their relationships with their kids, as well as becoming their friends. I, on the other hand, have a 4 year old that likes to push every boundary. Some might think its cute… but I just wither inside when he misbehaves terribly in public.

On the other hand, all of our friends that DO have a child either the same age or close to Hunter’s age are all in their twenties and early thirties. They have energy. They stay up all hours of the night. They can chase, and chase, and chase their kids, while keeping up with their energy levels. Their minds are not forgetful, and their spirits are not battle-wounded and they are able to come up with fresh and great discipline ideas. Their batteries are fully charged and ready to go.

My batteries are about dead, and sometimes I feel like I’ve been fighting in the front lines with William Wallace (Mel Gibson) on Braveheart.

My husband has been gone this entire week hunting. He’s in Kentucky. Eight hours away. Sob.

My husband does a LOT of stuff around the house to help out… including cooking on weekdays, because I get home too late from work to start a meal from scratch (which is what we prefer – healthier).

I’m tired and want my husband back.

Anyway… it has been very hard trying to get done by myself everything that the two of us normally do! Especially with a particular 4-year old who is going through some tough developmental stages right now (who will remain nameless to protect the “innocent” – HA!)

So, HUNTER (the innocent) has been quite a handful. He is going through an “anger” phase, and is learning how to control and express his emotions. It’s been such a joy. Really. NOT.

Both my husband and I have had incredible parenting breakthroughs over the last couple months, due in part to James Dobson’s “The New Strong-Willed Child” CDs, and in part to (but mostly) just crying out to the Lord for help and clarity. Sometimes, the only thing that has kept us going on the path of sanity is the knowledge and understanding that a strong-willed child raised in a Godly home, with Godly values and principles, by Godly parents, will turn out to be a strong-willed Godly adult.

I don’t know about you, but to me, that is such a comfort, praise God!

Some of the things my husband and I have started doing is NOT disciplining out of anger by counting to 10 (or 1,000); being very consistent (this is so much harder than it sounds); finding creative, but effective disciplining methods for our child’s personality (spankings do NOTHING for Hunter); and disciplining with soft, calm tones in our voices.

Another time, I’ll share with you an example of what I went through this week, but first, I want to explain some of the things we’ve changed.

Hunter is a dramatic child. I have NO IDEA where he gets that from. It certainly doesn’t come from his mother who has a personality of an EXCLAMATION! POINT!

We have found that if we raise our voices and scream at him (which for some reason, I had really taken to doing), he will scream back at us like a crazed lunatic. Now, I have always been a huge proponent of speaking gently and kindly to your child. HUGE. Especially when I didn’t have children of my own. Until I had my own child, and then, out of frustration, threw that silly theory out the window.

Over the past few months, my husband has been encouraging me to tone down my voice and decibel level when I discipline Hunter. Surprisingly, I’ve noticed over the last few weeks that if Hunter does something worthy of discipline, I don’t have to raise my voice. I simply have to walk over to the wooden spoon, pick it up and go to punish him. He knows he’s done something wrong. Believe me. I don’t need to yell or scream. I just spank, and calmly, without emotion explain why I spanked him, and tell him I love him. All this while he proceeds to scream in such a dramatic fashion that I fear the neighbors might contact Child Protective Services thinking I’m torturing the poor child.

Don’t worry. He cries like that when we put him in time out, too.

Another change I made was I stopped repeating myself over and over and over: “Hunter, pick up your toys. Hunter! Pick your toys up! HUNTER – PICK YOUR TOYS UP RIGHT NOW!”

It was totally NOT effective with Hunter.

After analyzing what I had been doing with my husband, and complaining that he never listened or obeyed, we came to the conclusion that I was parenting too much from the chair (side-lines) and expecting Hunter to obey immediately. Again, Hunter is a strong willed child. He is going to buck anything and everything he can, including and especially instructions from a side-line cheer leading parent. He needs a hands-on, in your face parenting style that constantly reminds him he’s doing something. So I had to become far more involved than I had ever thought would be required of a parent. Normally, when a parent says “pick up your toys and put them away” you can expect your child to obey immediately.

With Hunter, I have to keep bringing him back into focus. I will stand next to him while he does his cleanup tasks, sometimes helping, but mostly encouraging him to concentrate on his task and make sure that he doesn’t get easily distracted (which he does and will). He also likes it when I count for him (like timing him) - because he thinks he’s going to beat some kind of world record. Cracks me up.

Other times, I have to go and take him by the hand to his shoes on the floor in the family room, and ask him to pick them up and put them in his shoe bin. I follow him to make sure they actually get put in the bin without ending up on the floor in the dining room because he stopped to pick up a crumb or penny or toy on the floor.

Some people say it might be ADHD. Others say it is typical 4-year old BOY behavior. Regardless, I need to be a “proactive” parent, not a “side-line” parent (which works nicely for some, but not for us).

Another discipline tool we use is the toilet. I know some may think what I’m about to say is extreme, but you have to put it in context with the type of child you have. We use the toilet (with the lid down) in the powder room as his spot for time out. Our stairs are in the middle of the family room, and he has access to way to many distractions to focus in on the fact that he is being punished.

The powder room, however, has absolutely NO distractions, and it just breaks his heart that he can not be in the same room with everyone, or watching TV from the steps. My sister and brother-in-law discovered the “power of the toilet seat” when they were temporarily staying in a smaller home with 4 children. They had to get creative on where to put a child in time out without the other kids distracting them, and soon enough, the toilet became the place of choice.

Whether it is the laundry room, the powder room, or a quiet corner, a place without distraction is what works best for Hunter when he’s put in time out.

Consistency, while innocent sounding enough, is the hardest with us. When you threaten a punishment, follow through, and BOTH parents need to be on board. My husband and I have had a tough time on this one point. I’m far softer than he is (as is the case in most homes), but I’ve had to toughen up. For instance, if Hunter does not have a green day at school, but rather a yellow day, he isn’t allowed to watch TV, play with friends, or eat any treats. That’s easy enough… but if he has a RED day, all those apply, plus he gets a spanking. Usually red days are pretty bad, and it’s hard for me to come home with my child after giggling and smiling in the car, and look in his book bag and find out he had a red day and I have to spank him. My heart just drops. He would fight us at first, but now, about a month into this, he just turns to face me, puts his hands and head into my belly, and I give him two strong swats. He usually cries quietly, and holds on to me while I explain that every time he comes home with a red day he gets a spanking. It’s heart breaking for the mom (or dad) but when your child responds the next day with a green day, it confirms that you’ve done the right thing.

The most important thing I’ve learned (thanks to my husband) is to remain calm. Calm, calm, calm. Sometimes, I have to pretend to be a robot, or an alien who can’t speak or react… just to keep me focused on remaining calm and monotone, but it has been one of the most effective changes I’ve made.

Yes, all these changes are and have been great. No, it didn’t happen over night. But praise God, because of these changes, discipline is getting easier in our household.

I have spent many hours crying, and praying that God would help me be a better mom, and while I’m not there yet… I can definitely see Him answering that prayer.

School and Modesty

So far, the fourth week of school is going very well, but the first three??? Not so well.

Hunter cried and cried and cried when I left him in the gym for before-school care. He ran out of the gym numerous times after me when I walked down the hall to leave. For two weeks this was my struggle. I was a half hour late to work every day.

The turning point was when the teacher that sat at the table checking children in came over and took him by the hand and suggested they play. That made him feel welcomed.

Now he whimpers a little and begs me not to go, but once someone engages him, he's off and has a great day at school. Praise GOD!

On another topic, I wanted to discuss modesty. A friend and fellow blogger, Jules from Everyday Mommy, was interviewed on Crosstalk. She was discussing Moms for Modesty. Jules originally began Mom's for Modesty back in 2006, and continues to move forward with this all-important topic. She did a fabulous job, and you can listen to the whole talk show here (and I encourage you to): http://www.crosstalkamerica.com/shows/2009/09/modesty.php

Like Jules, I don't have a daughter, and while the modest attire mostly impacts the way females dress and the inappropriate styles that designers create for the young girls, I must say that it also crosses over a little to the young men as well. The school my son goes to does have a uniform, but while Hunter is in pre-K, he is allowed to dress in "play" clothes. My husband and I have made a conscious decision to dress him in a "uniform" of sorts. I will only put him in long shorts or long slacks, and shirts that are either "polo" shirts, collared shirts, or turtle necks. Basically -- modest church clothes that mimics the school's uniform. The school doesn't allow the kids to wear shirts that have logos or sayings on them. I must say, that there are so many shirts with sayings on them that I will not put on my child because they are inappropriate. I have found, however, that I can purchase "uniform-like" clothing at Lands End at a fairly affordable price (solid shirts - long and short sleeved, slacks, shorts, sweat pants).

But when it comes to boys, the way you dress them isn't what I think is most important. I think it is more important what you teach your son about modesty. My husband is what I'd call my "modesty police," in that he always looks at my outfit and will let me know if he things it is too revealing or low cut. Needless to say, I'm my own hardest critic. I'm overweight, and shy about my figure. I would never, ever wear anything that I felt was inappropriate. But one thing I'm fully aware of is: My son looks at me and how I dress, and he will remember the examples that I'm setting now as to what is or isn't acceptable and/or Godly when he is considering dating a young girl in the future.

It is no secret that men are visual, and my husband and I need to teach my son how to avert his eyes, how to be polite but avoid girls that are immodest or provocative, and how to address it directly and immediately. But more importantly, I need to "practice" it... and fervently pray a hedge of protection around my son's eyes!

Each day I pray for my son's future wife. I pray that she be a Godly young woman with a firm foundation rooted in scripture, lovely in spirit, caring and loving to my son and their children, and modest and honorable.

Jules stated that "Modesty starts with the inward foundation," and one quote that Jules shared from her friend Elle really resounded in me: "When a woman takes the time, diligence and investment of will to properly attire her spirit with the strong spiritual foundations of God's truth, then her outward life and its example evidentially display those disciplined choices."

Very well said.

Whether you have a son or daughter, modesty matters.

Make a statement today. Please hop on over to Moms for Modesty and sign the petition!

Texting and Driving

If you don't do anything else today, please make sure you watch this video... then show it to your kids that drive... and their friends... and their friends. Then send the link to all of your friends that have kids that drive. Its only 15 minutes long. Fifteen minutes that will change the way you think about texting and driving. Please make sure you enlarge the video for the whole screen.

Then... for the love of Pete -- STOP TEXTING AND DRIVING.

My life is at risk.

So is yours.

Here's the link to the website: http://ut.zerofatalities.com/texting.php

Edited to add: I've had to remove the video because it continuously plays and was driving me NUTS, as I'm sure was doing so to everyone else. Just follow the link above. Thanks!

Our God Reigns Here!

I'm going to open up and just be honest here, because I know I'm not alone.

Once in a while, I hit dry spots in my walk with Christ.

I've been a Christian for over 30 years (I know! And I look so young!), and it is easy to acquire the "been there, done that" attitude when reading scripture and walking your faith walk.

But even as a mature Christian, I face issues on a daily basis that leave me feeling like I just can't face them. They can fill me with fear and doubt. Praise God that I DON'T face them alone! I have the power of the Holy Spirit in me that help face trials and temptations.

But I am human, and many times (like now), I have trials that really leave me feeling afraid of what the outcome may be.

And then ... well, then something comes along my path – a little gift from God – that renews my spirit of faith, my strength, and reminds me that GOD REIGNS, and even if the outcome of my trials are not what I want, OUR GOD REIGNS and the battle is won.

Praise God!

And here is the powerful God Gift that came my way today that blessed my socks off. And I'm not even wearing socks today! I've listened to this ALL.MORNING.LONG – literally, and my spirit is renewed, and I'm ready to continue fighting this trial my household is going through. (Note to husband: Honey – you need to listen to this song ... claim the words and get a good night sleep tonight! I love you!)

And even after the gazillionth time of listening to this song, I’m STILL getting goose bumps. This was an answer to a prayer – no, really a CRY OUT TO GOD, that I sent out early this morning for courage and ENCOURAGEMENT.

I hope it blesses YOUR socks off too. Have a listen... again, and again, and again. There is power in these words!

Spirit of doubt and fear... depression, anxiety, addiction and infirmity ... I command you to leave in Jesus name. You’re not welcome here. MY GOD REIGNS here. I claim this ground in Jesus name because OUR GOD REIGNS. The battle's won. I have no fear, because God reigns here!
I claim it, I accept it, I believe it. Thank you John Waller! (he performed this song)

Go forth and worship!



p.s. -- It may not happen in MY timing, and the outcome may not be what I want… but the issues we are struggling with and the prayers we’re sending up will be answered!

This is getting ridiculous!

Last night, I went into my son's bedroom for prayers and to tuck him in.

Low and behold, I find him standing behind his fan.

Smelling his curtains.

Because his daddy let him spray Febreze into the air behind the fan.

A four year old. Loving Febreze.

And he looks at me and all excitedly says, "smells so good, mommy!"

Would someone stop the insanity ride and let me off, please?

I should be paid for living my life. Honestly, I haven't seen Febreze used so frequently in my household as I have this past 5 weeks where I was home recovering.

Makes me wonder what these boys do behind my back.

I think my husband has an addiction...

I’m in desperate need of some good Godly advice.

You see – I think my husband has a problem. An addiction that I've just uncovered.

When I confronted him about it, he broke down and said it started off as an occasional use (recreational?), but then quickly escalated to a more frequent problem. In fact, now he does it just because "he can." Isn't that an addiciton?

He is a strong, Godly man with outstanding morals and ethics, and I can't help but wonder how something this tragic could befall my family! And think of the example he’s setting for my son! It frightens me.

Ladies … if this can happen to my good Christian husband, it can happen to anyone. I've gone through my home to try to eliminate all temptation for him, but still … he manages to get his fix.

It's gone from hidden use in the laundry room, to behind closed doors of the bathroom, to now - anywhere he wants. He's become openly brazen about it, and I feel as though I really need to draw boundaries immediately, because I suspect he’s trying to get me to be a willing partner in this addiction, just so he can "feel good" about it. Why, just last night, I was lying in our bed when he walked into the room and took a huge snort of the stuff. I was shocked!

In fact… he sprayed it right into the fan and it blew all over me. I was so disgusted. It's becoming a problem in my home. My husband's addicted, and I’m now at my wits end.

I curse the day I ever brought Febreze into my home. Lavender Vanilla Comfort FABRIC freshener. He doesn't even bother to use AIR freshener!!!

What to do???

Feeling Guilty ... Sort of...

So, the other day, I was sitting comfortably on my chair with my foot propped up, watching my husband cooking in the kitchen, then vacuuming the family room, picking up toys, back to the kitchen, entertaining Hunter... All while I'm comfortably sitting on the chair. Doing nothing.

And I'm feeling guilty that I can't help.

Sort of.

Ok. Yes. I am feeling guilty. I am. Really. No. I'm not. I mean... YES. Yes I am.

What can I say. It's an internal struggle I'm having.

I feel bad just sitting around doing nothing while my husband slaves around. My house is a mess, the laundry is in two piles: clean vs. dirty, and the dishes pile up in the sink. It has been very hard on my husband juggling all the Sunshine-family balls in the air. But I am feeling a small sense of satisfaction that my husband can actually experience everything I do. It is hard being a mom with a full time job. Cleaning, laundry, child, job, husband... it is hard to balance everything.

And sadly, I suffer from the "perfect mom" syndrome. I want my son to have the perfect "Leave it to Beaver" life experience. Perfect home, perfect meals, perfect activities, perfect everything.

But fortunately, this terrible syndrome is tempered by my "we're not perfect" husband. He doesn't mind living in a home that looks "lived in" ... his priorities are always in the right place... spending time with our son.

He grounds me ... brings me back to reality. A dear friend once said that I'm the gas in our relationship, and my husband is the brakes. I always want to go, go, go, and he always wants to slow down. Slow, slow, slow.

It's a good balance. I love my husband. He rocks. And... he's an amazing dad. What more could a woman want?

A clean house? All the laundry washed and put away? All the dishes washed and floors swept?

Yeah. Maybe.

But I think I'll just slow down, sit back and relax. And NOT stress that the house isn't perfect and that there are all sorts of things hanging from the banister.

I'm okay with that. I am. Really. Twitch, twitch, twitch.

I owe my husband big time, don't I?

Hospitality Outside the Home

I'm sorry -- I had some technical difficulties today, and am just now able to post!

Today, I'm guest-posting at Reluctant Entertainer about Drop and Run Meals -- in other words: sharing hospitality outside the home. In that post, I mentioned two different meals, and wanted to share one of the recipes today.

Pop on over to Sandy's place and see what I wrote about, then come back and write these recipes down for the next time you need a meal idea to take to some one's home. They are very tasty and very simple to make -- even the least experienced in the kitchen will be able to put these recipes together.

Basil Chicken Pasta "To Go"

1 package fresh pasta (found in the deli section)
3-4 chicken breasts, cut-up in strips (about the size of your thumb)
Olive Oil
1 stick butter
1 jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup frozen Sweet Peas
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
1 hand full of fresh basil
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 disposable foil pan with clear lid

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the linguine per instructions. Drain and set aside.

In a large frying pan, add half of the butter and a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Season the strips of chicken with salt and pepper, then cook until brown. Strain on a paper towel and set aside.

Melt the rest of the butter. Add the onions and red peppers and cook until tender. Add the peas, chicken, garlic and basil and cook until peas are warmed through. Toss with the noodles, Alfredo sauce and Parmesan cheese. Toss well.

Place pasta and chicken in a metal foil disposable pan. Sprinkle top liberally with Parmesan cheese and cover with clear lid.

Options: You can add any of the following veggies: broccoli, asparagus tips, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, sliced zucchini or squash, brussels sprouts. You can use any veggie combos, the key is to cook them until tender in butter and/or olive oil. In this particular dish, the butter gives the veggies a richer flavor.

Substitutions: You can substitute the chicken for left over diced turkey or ham, or crab and/or peeled shrimp. Cook the crab and shrimp in hot butter with garlic.

ENJOY!

Home Made Ice Cream

THAT'S IT... I've had it. If I have to read one more blog about home made ice cream, I think I'll scream. It's just WRONG, people!

I can't stand it, and because of that... I'm ordering an ice cream maker TODAY.

I don't care that I can't walk right now or bear weight on my one bad foot... I must sacrifice and take one for the team. So we can have delicious ice cream. Because I'm a good and generous mom like that.

It's all for the love of my family, you know.

Now... rush on over to Reluctant Entertainer and Pioneer Woman and snag their ridiculously delicious ice cream recipes. And I promise... these are women you'll love to hate to love. You'll love them so much you'll hate yourself for loving them but you can't help yourself. Whew. It's a split personality thing.

Reluctant Entertainer's Vanilla Ice Cream
Pioneer Woman's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Ice Cream
Part 1
Part 2

Never mind. I can't get to my wallet.

FOILED AGAIN.

Surgery

On July 2, I'm having my ankle reconstructed. Pretty major surgery. Major cutting, major bolts, major pain.

Please keep me AND my poor husband in your prayers! Thank you!

I'll update as soon as I'm conscious!

Marriage... and a last look at the Gosselins

Ok – last time I’ll discuss this family. Promise. Actually, the focus of this post isn’t the Gosselins. It’s marriage. But the Gosselins are what prompted it. Here are a few things we KNOW...

Speculation: Jon has had an affair with another woman.
Speculation: Kate has had an affair with her bodyguard.
Speculation: The couple is very unhappy. (most likely fact, too)

Fact: The Gosselin's are currently married.
Fact: The Gosselin’s have 8 children.
Fact: The Gosselin’s live in PA.
Fact: The Gosselin’s have filed for separation/divorce.
Fact: Divorce tears apart a family and makes God weep.
Fact: Anger, bitterness, resentment, cruelty, disrespect – all these things can wreck a marriage long before an affair comes into play.
Fact: Having children changes the balance of the relationship between husband and wife.
Fact: Stress changes the balance of the relationship between husband and wife.

I am a product of parents that divorced… and by the Grace of God… remarried each other after becoming Christians, with faith that God would restore their love for each other. I have also experienced very rough patches in my own marriage where I became an awful, manipulative and ugly woman. No, my husband and I have NOT been unfaithful to each other (by the Grace of God), but have certainly broken trust with each other and hurt each other greatly in many other ways (finances, lying, manipulation, etc.), and for many years, I operated as the lone bandit, rather than as a team with my husband. It was hurtful to him. (yes, I have a type-A controlling personality, why do you ask?)

I can firmly say – with first hand experience on both ends (child and spouse), without hesitation, and with love and kindness: a rotten marriage CAN work. God weeps over broken marriages, and wants us to draw close to Him and trust Him to work out our problems.

When we get married, it isn’t an “outfit” we choose to wear that we can discard when it gets old, worn, or dirty. It is a covenant we enter into between God and our spouse. Husbands and wives who profess to be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are called to seek reconciliation in their marriages. It won’t be pretty. It will be painful. But we’re called to do that, and it can be done when we make Christ the center of our relationships!

God CAN change hardened AND broken hearts. He can place the lost love, trust and forgiveness back into the marriage, and he CAN make it work. No, it isn’t easy, and believing that it is would be ridiculous and naïve. It is, however, worth it. For you, for the kids, for the covenant you made before God.

My heart is saddened for this couple and their broken relationship that is so publicly covered by news and media, but Jon and Kate are not the only ones that are walking in brokenness, despair, hurt, betrayal, and pain. In fact, 32-34% of Christian marriages are documented to end in divorce. ONE IN THREE!!

Marriage is fragile! Just like an egg, it can crack very easily under pressure – especially if the foundation isn’t firm. If your marriage is teetering, and you’re struggling, you probably already know that you’re not alone. But what I want you to take from this post is this: No matter what the pain is you’re suffering, no matter what the betrayal, hurt, or brokenness you find yourself in right now, God is bigger. Just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean your marriage is immune to problems. It also doesn’t mean that a separated Christian marriage will turn out with a happy, spiffy ending all tied up in a nice bow.

It just means that we have a greater power for anything you’re facing. No matter what the circumstance… GOD IS WITH YOU and he can help you overcome difficult hurdles. That will never, ever change. You may feel pain, darkness, loneliness, but God will be there for you.

If you’re trying to make a difficult relationship work, my advice would be “deflect blame” back to yourself, even though you may not think you are wrong or have any blame, and start working on changing yourself. No matter where blame may lie, you will always have character traits that need to be changed, softened, and turned around.

Forgive. Love. Be kind, compassionate, and caring. Remove the ugliness. Speak gently, encourage, uplift, and place yourself in the other person’s shoes. Pray for God’s powerful love to fill your heart for your spouse. It CAN happen. I am living proof.

As for he Gosselins: I pray they choose to stop the show so they can raise their family in peace and privacy, while working on their broken relationship. I pray they focus their attention back on Christ, and, I pray that God will place people in their lives that can show them His love, and teach them how to love each other again.


Truth: We must love each other. Mark 5: 1-2
Truth: When we forgive someone that has sinned against us… Christ will forgive us too! (Matthew 6:14, Luke 17:3-4, Mark 11:25)
Truth: We CAN find perfect peace… and it isn’t by divorcing our mate. It is by turning to Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 26:4)
Truth: We CAN attain knowledge and good judgment through Christ! (Psalms 119:65-66)
Truth: God will reward us when we put him first (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Truth: We must learn to be humble (Philippians 2:3-4)

My personal testimony is rather huge, scattered, and crazy, but in case you're interested, here's a small peek into my life: Window one; Window two; Window three

Happy Anniversary!

Today, I've been married to the man of my dreams for 19 years. Can you believe it? Time simply flies when you're having so much fun! (or when there is a super-active three year old involved!)

Honey -- I love you! Still! Yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

Happy 19th Anniversary!

In honor of our anniversary, I leave you with the words to the song we had sung at our wedding ... no, not the Ave Maria -- that would probably put you to sleep... the other one... Time In A Bottle:

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
Till Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

We are LYING parents

Recently, I started giving my precious angel of a boy (yeah, I'm REALLY referring to Hunter) Gummy Bear Vitamins. He loves them. He has started calling them his "medicine" or "vikamns," because we had to explain that he can only have two each night since they have a measured amount of vitamins in them. If he eats too many, he might get sick.

Try holding back a 3 year old from chowing down on gummy bears.

Try holding back a 42 year old from chowing down on gummy bears. (not ME -- I'm still 41!)

Neither task is pretty.

Man those things are yummy.

This past weekend, we ran out. I was incredibly busy putting together a party for about 30 people, and just didn't have time to run to Costco to get another bottle. And Hunter? He threw a FIT. He wanted HIS VIKAMNS.

So we did the next best thing.

We lied to our son.

And now we're both going to hell in a hand basket.

What has this world come to?

We gave him two fruit chews with no vitamin value in them whatsoever and told him they were "different vitamins."

And he bought it hook, line and sinker.

Then we did it the next night

And we'll have to do it again tonight because I haven't made it out to Costco yet

I'm carrying the weight of the world in guilt on my shoulders, folks. I'm a rotten, lying momma.

A rotten, lying, fake-vitamin-pushing momma who's got her son addicted to them like crack.

A Mixed Bag of Emotions

One thing I've learned after having a child is... as parents, you want to provide them with as many fun and exciting events as possible!

So with that in mind, last night we took Hunter to the circus. I think I was just as excited as he was! It was the first time he has EVER been, and I couldn't wait to watch his excitement. As it turns out, it was a strange experience for all of us. While we were standing in line to get our tickets, he announced that he didn't want anything to eat. Now, that alone is an odd thing, because Hunter nearly ALWAYS wants sweet things to eat. He was riding on Daddy’s shoulders, and he was very quiet. Almost somber! How weird.

But once we got inside and sat down, he became so excited to see the clowns and kept asking and asking and ASKING about them. “When are them coming out? Where are them? When are them coming out? Where are them?”

Three year olds tend to lack originality and a solid grasp of grammatical form in their questions. But, boy! It sure is charming.

When the circus finally came out, the clowns appeared. And they weren't all that great, in my humble opinion, but then again, I’m not three. Hunter sat in my lap perfectly still staring at everything with his eyes wide and his mouth open. He was so quiet the entire time!

Then, two dirt bikes came out. Or maybe they were mopeds. Who knows. I’m not a motorcycle aficionado by any stretch of the imagination. But they were red. And I am quite the expert when it comes to my colors.

They drove right into the huge METAL! BALL! CAGE! Otherwise known as … the “GLOBE!” of “DEATH!”

Hunter loves motorcycles. He’s fascinated by them to the point of distraction to where we can be talking to him in the car, but if there is a motorcycle next to us, we've lost his attention. I thought he’d love these stunts. Instead? He was frightened by them. Poor baby!!! He kept hiding his face in my chest. Hunter is a very sensitive child, and loud noises frighten him. This was NOT something he was enjoying.

But not everything was loud. I think he really enjoyed the “Dogs and Pony Review,” the “Aerial Ballet on Streaming Silks,” the jugglers, the elephants and the camels. He did not, however, enjoy the Wheel of Destiny (a man running around on a huge hamster wheel).

He didn't care for the high-wire walkers – especially when they jumped rope on the wire and one lost his balance and fell, straddling the wire. I think that pretty much scared him silly.

I think we stayed about 10 minutes into the second act. Long enough to watch two women hang from their hair and do tricks in mid air. That’s when my evil side got the better of me, and I whispered in Hunter’s ear: “Can mommy do that to you? Hang you from your hair and twirl you around so you can dance in the air?” Ugh. Why did I say anything? WHY? Because, suddenly, he had had enough. He didn't want to listen to mommy tease him about hanging from his hair. His senses were overly stimulated and had gone into overload. He informed us he wanted to go home. NOW.

Which in retrospect, turned out to be a gift from God, because we no sooner made it out of the big tent and into the parking lot when we heard a loud boom, and then, an even louder, huge boom – I’m assuming the second one was the human cannonball they advertised. If Hunter had stayed for that, I think it may have driven him completely over the edge.

The entire walk back to our car, Hunter kept saying, “I don’t like the circus. I don’t want to come back to the circus. I don’t like the circus. I don’t want to come back to the circus.”

I don’t blame him. He had bad dreams last night, my poor baby! I don’t want that for him, either!

I hope he won’t need professional counseling to overcome his fear of circuses!

We may need to evaluate a little closer what we consider to be "fun and exciting" events!!