tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18323443295441121852024-02-20T12:49:41.433-05:00Juggling Life - Four kids, a man in the military and working on meI'm a stay at home mom who is always in the midst of something. I have four children that keep me hopping, a wonderful husband who serves our country in the US Navy and still trying to find time in the craziness to improve myself and my small photography business. Life is a juggling act, but I am truly blessed by God and would not have my life any other way.Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-44719839542959243202011-07-10T22:22:00.000-04:002011-07-10T22:22:09.195-04:00Disappointments and ChallengesWhere shall I start, with the disappointments or with the challenges? Mmph, if that's not a loaded question I don't know what is... Yes that is the tone of frustration, discouragements and just down right funkiness! Now is your chance to run far far away, or you can join me in today's blogging adventure. Ack, hold on I have got to find the mute button for the children, they are being so loud right now, that they are interfering with the minimal brainwaves I have left right now...BRB. AGH, I don't mean to be Grumpy from, "Snow White" but really I can only take so much of the noise. It's wild, crazy, screaming animal like noises and it's at an incredibly HIGH decibel! So, now the noise level is a bit more tolerable, I can still here them giggling while they are watching, "Annie" in their room (the two little ones)...I love that sound. Right now though my shoulder/neck hurt and I'm moody because of it...so dumb, but AAARRGGHH, I was finally starting to get into a regular routine with working out...and ROAD BLOCK! I know it'll go away and work out, but I've struggled for months (and I mean months) with getting myself back into a routine to workout. Just me being a pouty pessimistic brat, and this to shall pass, but I have had so many days where I feel like I'm at the end of my ropes with this deployment thing. Where I've doubted my ability to direct my way through another year long tour (we are just going to disregard the two months of training prior to the 12 he is actually in country). Let's see we have four kids to take care of and chauffeur to and from school and varies extra-curricular actives, I have to get the house on the market November/December time frame, take care of the animals, take care of myself, keep the house in order...deal with the millions of the kids' emotions about daddy being gone and my emotions.....my grandpa is sick, grandma is hanging in there with her own health issues and I am falling apart at the darn seams!! Getting to Boot Camp and getting out there and getting my run back on feels like the only time I can just block all that stuff (and anything else I may have forgotten or omitted) out. When I do not workout, I have a harder time keeping my eating in line...and when I hurt/ache and feel in general like poo that makes me just want to go nutso too! Getting older and out of shape SUCKS, if I had just not fallen off the wagon when J left for Iraq, then just maybe I wouldn't be where I am now (physically speaking because there's not much else I would change with where I am right now) Wow, I'm totally rambling right now...mmm, LOL! Well, ok let's see if I can't turn this around....if your still with me that is, LOL!<br />
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So, tomorrow starts another challenge for me...one that is positive and will strengthen my relationship with God...and hopefully dilute the crazy women in me who rambled on above! :o) Tomorrow I start the 90 Day Bible Challenge, this means that I will read the entire Bible from cover to cover in 90 days, I have tried this on my own a few times as a teen, but never was successful. I joined this online group that does this challenge together with mentors and such, so I've been praying for success this go around. I'm excited about this as you may have read in previous blogging, that I've had my own personal struggles with my faith and this past year went through M.O.M.S at church (ministry of moms sharing) and from that I've grown so much spiritually, but I know I still have a ways to go.<br />
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Well, now I've totally lost my train of thought...frazzled much, LOL! These are the days that being a military family has it's downfalls. I would love to have my husband home right now to give me a hug, or at least have my mom, dad, sister and grandparents closer to me, somewhere to go and get that reassuring hug and clear my head. Then I wouldn't have to ramble on or rant and rave here, LOL!! <br />
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Anyway, feeling a little bit better now...maybe some more Biofreeze, Motrin and let's see if I can get some ZZzz's tonight. Throw in a few prayers and who knows maybe I'll wake up good as new tomorrow, so I can wake up to my favorite part of the day...<br />
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GOD BLESS!!!Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-60175319018312144692011-06-27T07:41:00.000-04:002011-06-27T07:41:18.052-04:00Deployment GoalsSo, wow I've not posted since April, my how the time has slipped away from me. All kinds of things going in the three ring circus called, "my life"...of course if you expected anything but chaos then you obviously are not a parent of four children, LOL! <br />
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School is out for the summer, they go back in like 47 days or something like that, but hey whose counting (Me!). Seriously though they've been pretty good, I think out of all the time they have been off thus far (since June 3rd), they've only wanted to kill each other about four days, LOL! Thus far, no one has successfully carried out their mission and all four still reside in the same house. I haven't tried to put any of them in a box to ship them to daddy or some other distant relative, although I think I've come close a few times, however, bedtime in the evening always seems to save them from being mailed out, LOL! Something about how sweet and innocent they look when they are sleeping, their biggest weapon, LOL! We have made it almost three months into this 14 month deployment, although we did a get a two week visit in there which was a pleasant surprise. The only downside to the two week visit is now we are trying to find our groove again, but we'll manage, we always do. It's never easy, but really what in life is ever easy that is really worth having/fighting for. Thus far, our summer has been crazy with Boy Scout camp, the 13 year birthday party planing and shindig and the much anticipated dance recital...that doesn't sound like a lot, but for 24 days it felt like pure insanity at times.<br />
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I've been thinking that I need to make a list and set some goals to finish while the hubby is deployed, I think if I set up some goals, I will keep busy and make the time go by faster, as well as have accomplished a few things I've been wanting to do. I'll admit it right here and now, most of them center around me and are for me, so yes, I'm going to be a little bit selfish. However, if I firmly believe that setting up my own personal goals will make a better/happier person, mother and wife...so really everyone wins. I am always the first to offer to help/ say yes to someone who asks for help, which will not change, because that is just who I am. The only problem with this is I will start something for myself, and it will go onto the shelf where it will collect dust till I find time to get back to it or back to myself. If there is anything I've learned it is that there is no one else who can make you truly happy with yourself than you. Others will try and they may succeed in making you feel happy on the outside, but really on the inside, only you can make yourself truly happy. I think one of the biggest goals I have for myself is to get back into the shape I was in three years ago, that was the best shape I have ever been in my life and I truly was happy with myself both inside and out. I knew there was a reason I kept those size two jeans in my closet, LOL! Of course this is not going to come easy as I have let myself get a bit out of control at times, but like I said anything that is truly worth it, is never easy. I've already started working on this goal, by joining a boot camp class, that I attend Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings...on at least three of the other days in the week I am trying to get some form of cardio in and keep the momentum going. It seems like over the past two years, every time I try and get back on track, I will start good and have a few really kick butt workouts and then something will come up and I will stop for that week. Then a week or two later I'll try again and have one or two good workouts...it's just been an evil cycle, that I am now trying to break. Obviously, with this comes eating better, now we do not eat horribly, however I do have my weaknesses that I need to reign back into control. So as for eating, I am trying to get myself back on the, "Body For Life" mindset...clean and healthy eating six days a week and allowing myself to eat what I want one day a week. It really worked for me in the past, so I just have to get back on the ball with it. I already know my husband is going to come home all buff and looking good...and if anything like last time, looking younger. I just want to be in shape and healthy again, what I told him was this, "I know you think I'm sexy and beautiful, however, I want to feel sexy and beautiful and comfortable in my own skin again" I hate how I feel right now, I hate clothes shopping, and I'm tired of feeling this way. It's time to take care of this body that God has graced me with.<br />
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Something else that I have been wanting to do for a long time, is find my place in my church community. Well after some soul searching and a lot of praying, I believe my gift that God has given me is my love of helping others. I'm excited to say that next Thursday (the first Thursday of the month) I will finally be able to attend my first meeting of the church Outreach Ministry. I've told the kids that we were going to start helping out at local soup kitchen probably once a month, so my next step is to find where and how we can do this. I want me children to know how important it is to help others, I want them to feel the pride in knowing that they may have just made a difference in someones life, or even just helped that person have a better day. I would love to somehow be able to work photography into helping others, I have been thinking about (probably for about a year now) getting trained with the organization, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDS) and using my photography to help parents mourn the loss of their newborns. It is something I truly want to do, my only reservation is the emotional side of it, I am a very sensitive and emotional person, and I am not sure how well I would do to keep my composure. So, this is something that over the next year I will continue to pray about and let God lead there if it is something he wants me to do. <br />
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This summer, I'm also participating in an online group challenge to read the Bible in 90 days. I have tried a few times to read the Bible on my own, but never finished. My hopes that doing with a group and having a "sponsor" who am accountable to will help to finish. I have been reading the girls Bible stories at bedtime since Easter, the Easter Bunny brought them a Bible that breaks down each of the major stories and I think I am enjoying it just as much as they are. Now the Easter Bunny also brought them a Children's Book on Saints, but mmm that does not make the best bedtime reading. I started getting questions like, "Mommy why did her daddy kill her?", and honestly was not sure how to answer that to a five and seven year old.<br />
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I'm sure my list will grow the more I think and pray about things, but for now these are my major goals to accomplish with Jason is deployed....after all I've got a whole year to come up with more!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWLMLN08s4LBQY4TIzkgAbLiWiebq7sSE_1HTwqV3nRtsmiI7QMPXCV9ODMft94ZFtj4GPlA2suGLyY0Fm5BdYzha4XKKG-fyZsaT8UOtkf3eFGG7VIhCXl3DBUzMdpbrpqeGbI-9m-s/s1600/IMG_6496-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWLMLN08s4LBQY4TIzkgAbLiWiebq7sSE_1HTwqV3nRtsmiI7QMPXCV9ODMft94ZFtj4GPlA2suGLyY0Fm5BdYzha4XKKG-fyZsaT8UOtkf3eFGG7VIhCXl3DBUzMdpbrpqeGbI-9m-s/s320/IMG_6496-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-40880051872083985252011-05-13T23:01:00.002-04:002011-05-14T20:03:15.316-04:00Angel's New and Improved Drum Set...yes we still need earplugs, LOL!<object height="355" width="425"><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/7jOw6l_LW9o&rel=1'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/7jOw6l_LW9o&rel=1' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='425' height='355'></embed></object><br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8</div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-75167951409374886392011-05-10T21:02:00.001-04:002011-05-10T21:02:16.436-04:00My Little Rock Band...earplugs please, LOL!<p><object width='425' height='355'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/sMSLfHSmeSI&rel=1'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/sMSLfHSmeSI&rel=1' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='425' height='355'></embed></object></p><div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8</div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-90227336083460844122011-04-30T14:24:00.000-04:002011-04-30T14:24:45.510-04:00Been M.I.ANo, the kids have not had me hog tied and in the closet...I am still in charge on the home front (although some days I question this). It's been a roller coaster of a few weeks, the moods/emotions are high and everyone is happy, but just as quickly as they rise they fall, it only takes a little thing (especially for the little two). I have been holding onto my faith tightly, I swear that some days God saves my children and my sanity. I need to get back into listening to my daily devotionals, they always seemed to lift my day, I have an app on my phone, however, they have messed up the devotionals, so I will have to sit and watch them on the computer. Yes, I know I could read a daily devotionals, but I really enjoy listening to Joyce Meyers' daily podcast. The kids have been on Spring Break for the past week and a half, so nothing has been "normal" lately...can you say chaotic and crazy around my house! I do not believe has actually hung off the chandelier, but close enough...hide and seek inside equals one broken frame and a fat lip. Oh well, what are you going to do, it happens. Took the older two to see "Soul Surfer" this week during Spring Break and they loved it, of course they had to read the book before I would take them to see it. One of the only movies that I can think of that the movie lived up to the book and was just as excellent as the book. Took the younger two to see "Hop" this week, that was cute as well. So glad that I ate the jelly beans, before I saw the movie and the rabbit poop them out...gross, LOL! We have not gotten to talk to daddy much since he's been gone, he schedule is crazy and for some reason the reception sucks, and he is at Fort Dix, not even in country yet, but with the crapiness of the reception you would think he was already in country. He is coming home for a visit the end of May beginning of June and I have very mixed feelings about this. Of course I am super excited that we will get to spend some time with him again before he goes to the desert, however, I know that is going to leave me with the kids going through the whole daddy leaving stage again...which any military spouse knows, sucks! Hopefully, it won't it be too bad, at least that is what I am praying for. I am going to have to find some activities that they enjoy to do this summer...hopefully I can find something other than the pool (I do not like swimming, dislike bathing suits to the utmost). We just successfully had butterflies from larva stage till today when we released them, we are looking to either do praying mantis or lady bugs next. That most likely be almost done by the time summer starts, seeing as how I have to order one of them soon before they run out of supply (praying mantis) or it gets too hot to ship the larva (lady bugs). This is a pretty boring update, not much exciting, I am just working on holding onto my sanity and continue to declutter seven years of life in the house. Not exactly sure when it's going on the market, I know soon. How on God's green earth I'm going to be able to keep our house at show condition with four kids, two dogs and a cat is beyond me. Think I'm strung out and OCD now, just wait... Well, for some reason today I cannot focus, so I think I'm going to call this a post and sign out. Have a blessed week!Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-85161722213807975802011-04-10T15:24:00.001-04:002011-04-10T18:45:58.625-04:00Working on our groove...againSo, as of today it has officially been one week of this 14 month solo flight. It started out OK, but quickly deteriorated towards the end of the week. My little Angelica has been a handful, even getting in "trouble" at school (nothing big, she hurt someones feelings because she told them she was not going to their birthday) this week. I am not sure what is up, but I can only contribute it to daddy being gone, nothing else has changed other than that. By mid-week I was beat and decided that I was going to behave selfishly on Thursday, by making Angel stay all day for stay and play at school. My plan was to get caught up on the house, but I quickly decided that that was not being selfish, LOL! I sat and enjoyed my coffee and played on the computer for a little while, chatted on the phone with a friend, curled up in my big chair and read some of my book, took a short nap on the couch, took a nice hot bath and read some more....now that's a "me" day. I was not totally unproductive, I was swapping laundry in and out of the washing machine and dryer throughout the day. It felt soo good to have the whole day to myself, the only thing missing was maybe a massage. Yesterday was a packed day, which was nice because our weekends are the hardest when daddy is gone....however, I'm thinking it may have been a little bit too packed and by the end of the evening I was fried and the kids were soo much FUN! (that last part is of course dripping with sarcasm). <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Crazy" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_11.gif" /></a> We came home from Disney on Ice (the younger three and myself) and oh my whiny!! Got them to take a short nap...at least I think they took a short one...mine was a long one. Did I mention I had to start my day with OUT coffee!!! So, I was beyond frazzled. <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Afraid" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_100.gif" /></a> After nap time the kids had cereal and I inhaled two Klondike bars, I do crazy things when I'm over tired, stressed, frazzled, etc. The Klondike bars are gone, so they are no longer my arch nemesis in the freezer, screaming at me every time I open the door. <strong>What? </strong> They really do scream my name?!?! Then it was off to Annunciation's school performance of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat", which of course was FABULOUS!! Nina (my oldest) played the part of the Butler and the brother Levy, and she was excellent in her roles ...and NO I'm not at all biased! Any who...we returned home about 9:30pm from this and boy was I in for some roller coaster emotions from the little two. I had to have some wine...I said WINE, not WHINE... but they so graciously blessed me with five letter version while I poured myself a glass for the four letter version. Bedtime brought melt down after melt down after.....can you guess? Yep, MELTDOWN!! I honestly was on the verge of my very own meltdown and when mommy melts down its UUUUGGLY!! <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_133.gif" /></a> You know that saying when mamma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy...aaahh there is so much truth to that statement. So today, I cleared the calendar and I hope God can forgive me, that meant no church either (the last one to did not wake up until almost 10:30) and here I sit in Panera, by myself taking a mental break so I do not harm anyone, LOLOLOL! <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Meditate" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_1_118.gif" /></a><br />
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Tomorrow is a new day, and the start of new routines and organization in our lives. Time to get back on the exercise and weight loss wagon, you know that one I mentioned, oh I don't know, a few months ago. I've vowed not to get involved with the pointless adult drama that affected me while hubby was gone in Iraq, now I just have to pray the drama and mood swings of the children doesn't take it's toll on me. I started to listen to my devotionals again on Thursday, that makes a total difference in how my day goes. I missed the Parish Outreach Committee meeting this past week, I was just so drained, I did not feel like going out. I am looking forward to getting involved in that, the next meeting is next month, so I have it on my calendar already. Had our M.O.M.S Celebration Luncheon last weekend, it was so nice to get together with everyone again, and I cannot wait till the next social we have...although we did talk about meeting at St. Panera's sometime soon. Well, I've babbled here long enough I have to go get milk and a few other grocery items then go get the kidlets. Besides, I've lost my concentration here, there is a teenage girl sitting at the table next to me being a total brat to her mom and I'm ready to yank her by her hair and tell her to stop being disrespectful. GGRR, but this is a rant for another day, LOL!! Hope you have an amazingly blessed week! I'll try to add this to my more consistent routine. MWAH!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Dove 2" border="0" height="117" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_1_14.gif" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/dl/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb112_&utm_id=7920" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb112&pp=" /></a>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-68397456026984040362011-03-16T00:46:00.000-04:002011-03-16T00:46:06.590-04:00Wow! Been a bit too long!!I cannot believe it has been this long since my last posting...I really need to keep on top things. Well, let's see a lot has happened since my last blog entry many moons ago, LOL, I'll keep this short (maybe) and try not to boar you with all of the details. I did run the Disney Princess Run a few weeks ago with my favorite peep Christine, we left for Disney on Saturday morning, ran the race on Sunday morning (bright and early)and got home Monday afternoon. We had a BLAST on our little girl's weekend getaway, so much fun...basically just being silly and hanging out. I am so blessed to have a friend like her in my life, she is just one of those people that is always there regardless of what it is. We did not improve our overall finish time over last years, I think we were like three minutes slower, but we ran more this year than last year and we stopped more for pictures this year. As much as we both would have loved to improve our time in this race we decided from the get go this is just one of those races that you run to have a good time (at least for us). As always running through the parks is soo much fun and having our pictures taken with the characters was great...yes we are big kids at heart, nothing wrong with that. Just means with a young heart, we will live longer and happier lives. Wore our tiaras around a bit too, which is great fun because only in Disney can you get away with that AND have people calling you a Princess, LOVE IT!!! Wearing our medals around that evening after the races was great too, because again soo many people there to support and congratulate you, not just the cast and crew of Disney but other runner's and people vacationing. Cannot wait to do the Disney Princess run next, just have to work out the logistics for the kids. I would also LOVE to do the Wine & Dine Half Marathon in the fall with Christine, we will see. I will just have to pray about these runs and see if God can help me find the answers for the children for these runs. Just maybe I can get my 12 year old to train with me and do the Princess run with me, she keeps saying she wants to do a half with me and Lord knows that is the race to do! <br />
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Other than my amazing Disney weekend things have been crazy hectic around here, getting the house ready to put on the market this summer and getting the hubby ready for his time in the desert (or rather getting the kids and myself ready for daddy's time in the desert). We have worked out a budget that will hopefully get us out of the mess we are in financially, and I have been doing a lot of praying about it. Although I thought my husband was going to stroke out when I told him I was tithing 10% our income tax return to the church this year. He tried all the bargaining with me that I tried with God when I was praying about this decision, but I know that this is what God wanted me to do. As I told my husband there have been so many times in our marriage that we have said, "wow, God is really looking out for us" or "God has a plan for us and we just need to trust in him that everything will workout for the best in the end". I do realize that the money was earmarked for some part of our debt to get us out of the whole and to help with selling our house in this ever so crappy market, but I believe that bigger and better things are in store for us and that we need to make sacrifices in order for these things to do happen. He is so stressed about everything and just has not yet gotten that he just needs to leave all our worries and stresses with God and pray about it , he will not let us down.<br />
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Also, in these past few weeks I have finished my eighth week journey through M.O.M.S and all that we have left is our celebration luncheon, which just so happens to be on the day my hubby leaves. I cannot think of a better group of ladies to spend the afternoon with to ease my mind. This whole experience has been so amazing for me and really has opened me up to my more spiritual side, which I LOVE! I was looking for a way to connect and get closer to God and this was it. I have been saying for years that I want to go through M.O.M.S and God put it out there for me because he knew that this is exactly what I needed at this time in my life. I no longer have the fears that I had with going into another long desert tour. I know that God will get me through if I just continue to keep the faith and pray to him. I am not worried at the possibility of the same nonsense drama that I dealt with the last time he was gone. God has shown me the direction to go to get through it all and the kids and I will do great. I am actually looking forward to sometime to bond with kids again and be a better person than I was the last time. I feel like I am more level headed now, a little less Cybil in the house will be great (and I'm sure my munchkins will appreciate this as well, LOL). I think I was do for a new take on life, a soul-lift if you will and I believe that is what this journey has been for me. I am looking forward to continue to get closer to God and grow to be a better Christian woman and role-model for my children. I am excited to say that I am going to see what gifts God has given me and see how I can help in the church's Outreach Ministry. I think it sounds perfect for me, I LOVE to help people and I cannot think of a better way to start to get outside of my box and my circle of friends. Life has so much to offer if we just can look outside ourselves and step outside of our comfort zones. I am looking forward to exploring the friendships I have made with the women in my M.O.M.S group, they were all so wonderful and such great ladies to spend my Monday nights with. I have started listening to devotionals on my phone every morning, and so far I really enjoy Joyce Meyers' daily podcast. It is amazing how much of a difference in my life meeting with a small group of Christian women one day a week for a few hours has made in my life.<br />
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I know there is more I wanted to write, however it is almost 1:00am and my brain is fighting with me to call it a night. <br />
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<center><b><i>Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised -Proverbs 31:30</i></b></center>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-23986035424744080112011-02-24T13:46:00.000-05:002011-02-24T13:46:47.752-05:00K-LOVE - Jason Castro "You Are" LIVE<iframe height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kUkCrSTYGA8?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="480" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Another song today that I heard on the radio that hits very close to home. I did not know that American Idol produced so many amazing Christian singers.Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-21352846397595073742011-02-24T13:43:00.000-05:002011-02-24T13:43:52.002-05:00Is done just dating God and ready for a full time commitment....No, I'm not crazy, this is my answer to the question posed to me in my daily devotional podcast from Joyce Meyer. I must say I'm a bit nervous, but I have already put it all at God's feet and I am ready to completely put my faith and trust in him AND give completely to what he asks of me and not just half of what he asks. <br />
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Since starting my beginning my spiritual journey in M.O.M.S, I have seen things so differently. Going to church on Sundays and praying from home (or wherever else the urge/need to pray hits me) is just the tip of the iceberg and only a part of what he asks of me. I am not sure why it is all happening now, but he knows. I know that right now I have so many struggles in my life and I know that only if I commit to him completely and fully will I rise from my struggles and be where I am and who I am supposed to be in my life. Even writing this leaves me a bit dazed and confused, so I will just continue to listen for his lead and follow, at some point it will become a big beautiful picture.<br />
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My husband and I have so many struggles right now. Getting a house ready to sell in a market that is not by any means seller friendly, attempting to get the finances in order (you know paying off the debt and trying to be better savers), oh and did I mention the getting ready for him to leave for a 14 month det. to Afghanistan...no struggles or stresses there at all. It is in the midst of this and raising a family that I am beginning to blossom in my spirituality. In this I understand that I am only human and I will have my personal struggles and my occasional falls from good graces (i.e. the thing called retail therapy), but it is in recognizing this, continuing to pray for God's guidance, continuing to listen to him AND following him and trusting in him 100% that in his time things will happen. It is a kind of weird surreal feeling, as stressed as I should feel right now about everything, I no longer am stressed, in fact I feel at peace (feels weird saying that) with everything. I know and have always believed (maybe not always understood it) that he will never give me more than I can handle, so it he has put this in front of me, then he knows I will make it through. <br />
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I think I'm beginning to babble again...but seriously I know what I'm talking about. <br />
God Bless!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8_kIa-TUkaJVu7E2xVNpOPd63MNpI_p4ojFFEup-ZuNp7AAkYUepDkC94F4wn3VuA85iBZuxQFpMVWSzZgIQb-4xuK1tP7yMMlBLIIdIPNmhw9Uf2fMJikBcAxBSHu15QH7Wo3gkjgY/s1600/Love--%25C2%25AC-I-Heart-Faces.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8_kIa-TUkaJVu7E2xVNpOPd63MNpI_p4ojFFEup-ZuNp7AAkYUepDkC94F4wn3VuA85iBZuxQFpMVWSzZgIQb-4xuK1tP7yMMlBLIIdIPNmhw9Uf2fMJikBcAxBSHu15QH7Wo3gkjgY/s320/Love--%25C2%25AC-I-Heart-Faces.png" width="320" /></a></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-42810019980967834772011-02-24T08:46:00.001-05:002011-02-24T08:48:34.046-05:00Stronger by Mandisa (From the Upcoming Album "What If We Were Real")<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/emgv-VRtMEU?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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This song came on the radio this morning and it really hit home for me... This will get me through the next year and a half... Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-69147008418131552932011-02-08T09:59:00.000-05:002011-02-08T09:59:31.695-05:00So, I have not posted again in about a week or so...someday I will find the time to share life's events on a more regular basis. I've been going to M.O.M.S (Ministry of Mom's Sharing) for a few weeks now and I LOVE it, I can see changes in myself already (and the women I have met are wonderful). Now of course there is always room for improvement...it's a marathon not a sprint, LMBO! I've set another mini goal for myself, but it is really something I've been setting out to do since the deigning of the year...you know the one about my owning my feelings and not letting other's walk all over me...again it's a work in progress. I am determined to not let the actions of others destroy me while J is gone this time around. I still have to learn to share my feelings with people and let them know when they have hurt my feelings, the trick is to do it without crying.<br />
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In my journey through M.O.M.S I have learned to start recognizing the "grace filled" moments in my life, you know it truly is the little things in life that make it all worth being a mom. For example last Friday mine was grace filled moment was wonderful and made me realize how blessed I am with such wonderful children. My children had gotten out of school early and were just bickering with each other all day, driving me out of my mind. I left to do grocery shopping and had left them to do their chores (and try not to kill each other), when I returned home all four of them came to the car and helped me take in the groceries and put them away and this all without me having to ask them. The groceries were in the house and all put away within 20 minutes, I was amazed! I of course thanked them, however, later that evening I was riding to the airport to pick up my dad and enjoying some Kari Jobe music, reflecting on my day and realized how amazing my children were. <br />
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On another note, as I have said I am not doing the 26.2 with Donna, because of my lack of ability to train properly for it but I am doing the Disney Princess 1/2 which is in like 19 days. I am so excited to do the race again with Christine and enjoy a weekend away. I am hoping that now that I've started running again and I can continue on my path to getting myself healthy again and lose the weight I've gained in the past year. Time will of course tell. <br />
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So, all in all even with the minor bumps and bruises along the way this past week, life has been amazingly wonderful and I am feeling truly blessed!<br />
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<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Angel 2" border="0" height="200" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_22_25.gif" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/dl/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb112_&utm_id=7920" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb112&pp=" /></a>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-60349970697094718712011-01-26T22:31:00.000-05:002011-01-26T22:31:56.680-05:00Random thoughts and questions from a six year oldSo, I have not posted in a while, OK well I think over a week. I have been pretty productive around the <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Vacuuming" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_13_1.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"> </a> house , however, I have not done what I set out to do for myself (I know big surprise <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Shocked" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_19_2.gif" /></a> there right, NOT!) This week at M.O.M.S I set a goal for myself and that was to use my kick bag at least three times before our next meeting, I guess I had better get punching and kicking.<br />
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<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Boxing" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/18/18_2_100v.gif" /></a> I am PMSing (TMI,LOL) so I'm moody and I'm hungry, just an all around fun person to be around. Why is it always so easy to keep promises to others but not to yourself? Ever notice that, or am I the only one who will drop myself for others, oh well, I'll get it right at some point. I've started pulling papers to start getting ready to do what we have to do to sell our house, I'm soo looking forward to that nightmare in this tanking economy. Onward and upward, not much I can do about the crap the government has gotten our economy into (except vote and believe me I do that every chance I get).<br />
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So, my Bella has posed some very interesting questions to me this week. Our conversation in the car was about marriage and babies, you see I'll tell my kids you have to be married to have a baby, well I guess the got it but not really, LOL! So, we are on our way to school yesterday and Bella asks if I have been married four times, and I told her I have not, that I have only been married to daddy (with a bit of a puzzled look, since I did not see the next thing coming). Well, she says how can I have four babies if I only got married once, so I told her that all four of my babies are with daddy and she matter a fact states, "boys do not make babies only mommies do, so what does daddy have to do with it"? By this point my tired mind is a bit dazed and confused, as it is only 7:20AM and I have yet to have my cup of coffee. I try to wrap my brain around this so I can answer her in a way that she will understand, as I'm thinking she again says, "so you have been married four times right mommy"? It is just way to early for this and tell her we will have this conversation when she gets older and turn up the radio. Good Lord, what have I done, she thinks I got married four times so I could have four babies. Well I know this has been a bit of a boring blog, but I had to share my Bella story because it was cute and innocent. Have a blessed day!<br />
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<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/dl/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb114_&utm_id=7922" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=" /></a>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-48604510175466911712011-01-18T09:40:00.000-05:002011-01-18T09:40:08.309-05:00OMG...what a way to start a Monday...I mean a Tuesday!!! So, I got on the scale this morning and I took my before pictures, all I have to say is <strong>O..M..G..!! </strong><a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Crazy" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_11_10.gif" /></strong></a><strong> </strong>I wanted to hurl the camera, the pictures and the scale out the window, how could I let myself get to this point. I must say I tossed my newly opened bag of Dove Dark Chocolate in the trash can and it's time to pick myself up by my boot straps. As I stated earlier, I am going through a lot of emotional soul searching right now, trying to strengthen my bond with God, myself and my family. Waking up one day and realizing that people aren't always who they seem to be or who you thought they were leads you to look inside yourself to look for answers. However, even though I am going through this emotional war <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Tank 2" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/1035.gif" /></a> inside myself I am going to have to reach deep down inside myself and pull out drive to get on with my physical goals before I end up eating myself into the next Biggest Loser contestant. No, I do not have a distorted perception of how big I am, I know I am know where near as big as the people on that show, the thing to add to that statement is ..not yet. I do buy healthy food and serve healthy food, however, I do buy myself little treats <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Chocolate" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_11_2.gif" /></a> to scarf down (usually I hide them from the kids so I get to eat them). Also I have noticed that I am a bit of an emotional eater, but only when I am feeling down. I know that getting my butt back into shape will help my emotional side as well. Time to put on my big girl panties and start dealing and stop putting it off. PS/ In case you are wondering I will not be posting the details, i.e. pictures and actual numbers on the scale, LOL...this is the world wide web <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_" target="_blank"><img alt="Satellite Dish" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/552.gif" /></a> and I do not need the whole world to see. I will however, posts losses and gains and such. OK...now to get cracking on the housework.<br />
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<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/dl/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb113_&utm_id=7921" target="_blank"><strong><img border="0" src="http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb113&pp=" /></strong></a>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-49763116105587044522011-01-15T20:48:00.000-05:002011-01-15T20:48:35.132-05:00Downhill from Monday...Nothing like starting the week with my truck acting up and having to call the hubby at work to come and take the kids to school. Yes, the truck that I have just made my third payment on today...yes it is a 2009 vehicle, so not brand new, just new to me. In its previous life it was someones leased vehicle, anywho it was still under warranty (for another four hundred miles, LOL), so problem was fixed. I should have known right from there that week was not going to go as planned. So, from there Monday was a pretty much a scratch as far as productivity is concerned...with the exception of getting my menu planned for the next forty days or so (although it is only planned on the calendar for the rest of the month). However, the silver lining...I got to have breakfast at Paneras with my husband, mmm the food was great, the company was excellent! Monday night I started my MOMS group at church (Ministry of Moms Sharing), which I'm looking forward to. It's an eight week long journey of faith sharing for moms. I'm looking forward to going through this for many reasons, what a great way to do some soul searching and of building your spirituality. Seriously folks, that was just Monday...<br />
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It was a productive week, but a very slow productive week. First the truck, then the shredder craps out on me, I think that was Wednesday, before it was done doing it's job too!!! QUITTER!! Then from there the modem crapped out on us. It took me most of the week, but I finally got the office done. I did groceries for the rest of the month on Friday, I do not remember my totals but my savings was 36%..done better but I'm happy with that. Couponing and savings is harder when you are trying to eat healthier, lot less coupons and such for that. I would love to see more sales and coupons on organic foods and less on things like cookies and junk cereals. This morning I rearranged and organized my pantry...oooohhh and to help my OCD I purchased a label maker!! Fun!!<br />
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I did not, however, get working out this week, nor did I do my initial weight and picture for my journal. I will this week. I did decide that I do not want to use my gym membership that Jason got me for Christmas, I've asked him to return it, and I can work out at home and in our community amenities. Took the kids hiking today, which we all enjoyed. Although I enjoyed our mile and a half hike, I was paranoid that the kids (or even J and I) would get ticks on us, LOL...my paranoia sometimes gets the better of me. I think the funniest thing this week was when I was helping the little two with their shower today. They stuck their little booties up to the glass shower door and made little butt cheek prints. They proceeded to take their little butt cheek prints and put a line on either side to make glasses. Creative I must say, but I laughed my butt off!!! Where do they come up with these things? AAhh to be a kid again, yeah, not really I'll pass, been there done that and I'm declaring it a no do over, LOL! So, now off to enjoy the rest of this night and the rest of this long weekend with the love of my life and our children (both the two legged and four legged ones).Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-27195508571612618272011-01-08T23:11:00.000-05:002011-01-08T23:11:08.155-05:00Deep thoughts and randomnessSo, the other night my husband was talking about his New Year's Resolution that he made and how it was going, he then asked me what my resolution was. I told him that I do not make New Year's Resolutions, which kind of puzzled him, he made some comment questioning the reason why one wouldn't want to make a resolution to better themselves. Well, here is my reason for not making resolutions. I decided a few years back that every year you make this big resolution, to get healthy, lose weight, get organized or whatever and then by the end of January, February if your lucky things start to fall apart. I've decided you to make a plan, you need to spend the entire year working setting mini-goals for yourself. Say for example instead of saying on January first that you are going to start exercising, eating right and your goal is lose 20lbs by next year...you would say maybe the beginning of January that you want to start walking for 30 minutes three times a week and not snack after 8:00 at night. Work on this goal for a few weeks (so it becomes a habit, instead of goal...a habit lasts forever), then you could say OK, now I'm going to cut soda out and do sit-ups three times a week...so on and so forth. Then by the end of the year instead of reaching a goal of losing 20lbs you've created a new lifestyle and you have a bunch of accomplishments then you can be proud of. I do not know if I am making sense, but it seems that if you set small goals for yourself you set yourself up for better success rather than setting a resolution for the year, because let's face it if say by February you've fallen off the "resolution" wagon the whole thing gets lost in the day to day shuffle. I think that instead of New Year's Resolutions, we should be telling people what accomplishments we've made throughout the year. There is always room for improvement within oneself, but it may in several different areas of your life. With setting mini-goals through out the year you can focus on that goal and turn it into a positive habit that lasts rather than something that stops once you reach your "goal". Again, I'm not sure you follow, but I know what I'm thinking, LOL!<br />
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One personal thing I am working on this year is clearing the air with people whom I've had falling outs within the past couple of years. I plan on through out the beginning of the year catching up with or sending little cards out to these people and letting them know how I feel, the reason is to make me feel better. I am one of those emotional sentimental type of people, but I tend turn my emotions within when I get hurt and bottle it up. Unfortunately, my poor husband will get the brunt of this through tears and sadness at home, and why should he have to hear it, I mean yes he gives me a hug and the support but he cannot fix it. For me it will be a healing process, because I do carry this stuff around and it eats at me at times. For the other person, maybe it will help them as well, from it I am expecting nothing, I hope it will patch up friendships and make others stronger, however, I've decided hear and now that if the other person gets angry over than there is nothing more I can do. I have let them know how I feel and apologize for what I have done wrong in our situations, but I cannot be responsible for how they feel (um, well that's what I'm telling myself). From here I hope to move on either as friends or we part ways and I've gotten things off of my chest. Sort of a personal cleansing you could say. I do not want all the nonsense drama anymore, I want true friends. <br />
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So what do you find as good characteristics for a friend? Here's what I would hope to find in a true friend; first and foremost someone I can trust. Trust is not an easy thing for me, it definitely has to be earned. If I tell them something in confidence than I want to know that they are going to respect me enough to not others. Trust and honesty go hand in had and are both HUGE to me. To me a friend is someone who is there for you in good and bad times. You know, there to laugh with you when times are good, but also there to be your rock when things are not so good. I have been blessed with some truly amazing friends in my life who have been there when others were not. I can remember my best friend growing up, sadly we have lost touch through the craziness of life as adults (I still hold hope to one day get back in touch, maybe not as close as we were as kids, but it definitely would be great to catch up), she was there for me so much growing up. I think one of the biggest things that stands out was when I was sexually abused by an uncle and I told her, I didn't know what to do, or if I was wrong about what was happening and I was devastated (he was at the time my favorite uncle). I couldn't even bring myself to look my parents in the face and tell them...she told them for me. I am not sure I ever thanked her (we were 12), if it was not for her I am not sure I would have ever told my parents, and who knows if things would have continued happening. I don't think you really realize how important it is to surround yourself with amazing people until you find yourself feeling alone and wonder where everyone went. Another quality that is truly important to me is their moods/feelings, now don't get me wrong we all have bad days where we are feeling less than positive, however, I believe that you become like the people you surround yourself with. With that said, as an adult I've learned that it is important for me to that my friends are positive about life and all that it has to offer, you definitely feed off of each other and nothing worse than being around someone who is always so negative towards themselves, life in general or even others. This year is going to be a great year an amazing year and it's going to start with me and hopefully I will positive enough to influence others to be more positive. Have your ever been friends with someone, at least in your mind, and come to find out later from some else that they do not view you as a friend, in fact they don't even like you? Really, it makes you start to question things...<br />
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So, tomorrow is Sunday and thus far I have not selected our menu for the rest of this month...that's what I'm doing during football tomorrow. The decluttering of six years worth of living in the house is going to take me, oh about six more years I think, LMBO!!! I've totally decluttered the kids' bathroom, some of the books on various shelves around the house have been downsized and all brought to a few less shelves, started the laundry room (I mean really how many Swiffer Vacs does one individual need?). This week I'm going to hit the two hall closets, finish the laundry room and shudder to say this but I'm going to start on my son's room (the boy is such a pack rat, so this will have to be done while he is in school). Also on Monday morning I vow to go to the gym and start my goal of getting back into the routine of a healthier lifestyle. At some point I have to reevaluate the budget I set up for us...totally blew the grocery budget by about $100 the first two weeks, so I'm going to have to tweak the numbers and figure out what is a good amount. Other than that I've done pretty good with our budget and so has J, now we just have to get tweaked for next month and keep doing this every month. This is towards our goal to be better with our finances...long term goal is to pay off the credit cards, student loan, my truck...debt free with the exception of a house payment (soon to be Colorado, OK well not for awhile with this market, LOL). <br />
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Well my brain is shutting down, so if I don't get going you'll be reading a bunch of random letters as my head hits the keyboard. As Tigger says...TTFN, ta ta for now!Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-59960985066309911222011-01-05T22:17:00.001-05:002011-01-06T11:41:30.847-05:00Hump Day....or is it?Yes, you are correct it really is Wednesday, although I went through most of the day thinking it was Tuesday. It was great when I finally realized it was Wednesday, er I think that is a good thing right, LOL! So today was another fairly uneventful day in the Mendez household. <br />
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So my five year old wants desperately to be a big girl at night and wear panties to bed, however, she is an extremely heavy sleeper and does not wake up when she has to go to the bathroom. So after a month and a half of hit and miss with waking her to go to the bathroom (the hit or miss part is her being wet or dry), I've decided we need to try a different approach to night time potty training. First, I went to the store tonight and bought another bag of pull ups...this was met with mixed reactions. Ooooh, Sleeping Beauty and then why do I have to wear pull ups again. Now let me tell you that when I would wake her at night to go to the bathroom and she was already wet, I would change her sheets and her clothes and the next morning she would not remember any of it. She would wake thinking she was dry only to be crushed when I told her that I had changed her in the middle of the night (mind you I have her get herself dressed and help her get undressed, she just does not remember as she is barely conscious). I just cannot take having to wash the sheets and the extra pad that we put over her sheets everyday...it's crazy. I also have done my research and finally caved and purchased a bed wetting alarm from Amazon which will be here on Friday. I've read research on them and read several reviews on this particular one, and now I just hope it works. According to the research I've done (I'm known as the Google geek amongst my friends, LOL) it is completely normal for a child to not be night time potty trained till the age of six or seven and Angel just turned five in December. So, that was my excitement for the day...WOOT WOOT!!! Only a mother can appreciate the "fun" in researching and purchasing a bed wetting alarm as the excitement for her day!! Give it up moms, you know I'm right! Let's see if this puppy can wake my little Angel up so she starts to recognize the feeling of having to wake up at night and go to the bathroom. Out of my four children she is the only one we have had to try this on. The other three we would wake them up once a night in the middle of the night and take them to the bathroom and eventually they did it on their own (by eventually I mean within a month). The only unique exception to this is my son...yes unique. During his sleep he recognized the urge to have to go to the bathroom, HOWEVER, he didn't always recognize the location of the bathroom. Yes, your read that correctly! One night we caught him in the laundry room holding the lid to the container we had the dog food in, opened and peeing on the dog food, once I caught him peeing down the side of his dresser. There were a few times he woke up and smelled of urine, my thought is that he woke and stopped mid-pee and went to the bathroom. He eventually grew out of it, quckly thankfully. Angel, I fear may be a bit more of a challenge...anyway, we will see if this works. We will still have the sticker calendar in the bathroom for when she wakes up dry, she puts a sticker on the calendar.<br />
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My oldest was home sick again today...NO FEVER SINCE THIS MORNING!!! WHOOP...WHOOP!!! The girl is going to school tomorrow!! I will be kid free for three hours tomorrow morning...can I get an AMEN!! Now, please do not take this the wrong way, I LOVE my babies, but every mom needs some alone time. A little bit of "woosaaa" time, I'm feeling a Zen moment in the morning. I might even avoid housework and all that that entails, get a nice tasty cup of coffee, the book I'm getting ready to start and draw a bubble bath. Yep, this mom is going to soak in the tub in the MORNING!!! Then onto the cookbooks...like I said yesterday I need to get my meal plans planned out for the rest of the month and maybe start next months. Not only will this help with me trying to lose some weight (remember Monday is the moment of truth...AKA "D" Day), but I've put us back on a strict budget and set us back up with the envelope system. So, if I can get my meals planned out it will make life easier when I sit down to work out the monthly budgets and how much cash I need to take out for groceries each month. Big things are going to happen for this family this year!!!!<br />
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So are you ready to hear some of the big plans for this year...(DEEP CLEANSING BREATH INSERTED HERE)...<br />
~The house is go on the market in June<br />
~A $26,000 home equity line of credit will be paid off within the next year and a half (obviously sooner if the house sells quickly and it covers that too, but the market is horribly crappy right now).<br />
~I'm going to lose XX lbs (XX will be known for certain on D Day)<br />
~We will have established and be firmly on our budget...*DRUM ROLL PLEASE* and be well on our way to paying off the credit cards....Goal is to be out of complete debt (besides house) in less than five years.<br />
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So now are you wondering...house going on the market? Where are we moving? Well we have verbal orders to Colorado (for June of 2012...that is when J gets back from Afghanistan, yeppers 14 months). Should the grace of God be over us and the house sells quickly the kids and I will move out there and get the house and get moved in....which yes will be stressful, however, it would be great to be set up in our new place by the time daddy returns. It would make the post-deployment adjustment a lot less stressful. I just cannot imagine him coming home from 14 months in Afghanistan and having to move the house and all of us up to Colorado...and then of course finding a house to for us all to live in there. Well, OK I'm not focused anymore...I'm watching Clean House. Love Niecy Nash!!! Nighters All!!!Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-57606388107682131252011-01-04T20:52:00.001-05:002011-01-04T20:57:13.176-05:00The cootie's are in the house....yep that's right...and I think they might be the flu cooties..AAGGHH run quickly in the other direction (don't worry I am sanitizing my words as they splash across your screen). My Nina Beana is sick, came down with a low grade fever last night with the body aches and a sore throat, today that low grade fever went up to 102.2* and she was an achy, icky feeling girl. I've started pumping the rest of us with Vitamin C, Zinc and Echinecha; in hopes to prevent the cooties from spreading...of course there are also fingers crossed and prayers being said (I'll take whatever I can to prevent the spread of it). So, other than having a sickly kid my day has been pretty unadventurous and pretty boring. I did manage to rid my house of some more of the toxic cleaners and beauty products in my house. LOL, as I read the phrase "beauty products" I get a chuckle to think I once would use these products fairly regularly and have since learned that these products are just chuck full of toxins that cause more harm to your body than good. I am sorry but no beauty product is worth that...this chick is going green, it's not as a quick of a process I would like but I am going. I washed the dogs...in the shower that was interesting, but better than going out in the 40* weather and freezing our butts off (or tails in their case). I am now going to sit and that very butt that I kept warm this morning and watch my all time favorite show..."The Biggest Loser"! I am going to be really bad and eat a brownie while I watch it. I've decided that starting next Monday, when we are back on track with our routines (and God willing we are all healthy) I'm going to get my butt back in the gym. Next Sunday when the garbage goes out, so does the garbage food in the house. Next Monday morning I will once again take my "beginning" pictures and get on the scale to get my actualstarting weight...time to get this butt back in shape. I'm going to use this week to get the house back in order, the routine's back in order, hopefully my husband will get my weight bag set up for me. If not, no worries...I've learned to be very independent over the years, not because of my husband being lazy (and he is not) but because well heck I'm a Navy wife...sink or swim baby! By next Monday, the house will be ready for me, I will be ready and the family will be ready. I have to get back to planning out my meals for the month, yes you read that right at one point I was planning out my dinners for an entire month (up on the calendar in the kitchen where everyone knows what we are eating and not to ask, LOL). So I think I just did a whole lot of babbling, but I know what I meant, LOL!!! Well...I'm off to get my big brownie and watch the Biggest Loser. As my menu and plan comes together for next week I'll post it~Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-64669180581475573322011-01-03T23:00:00.001-05:002011-01-04T20:56:21.577-05:00T-minus nine hours....but whose counting!! LMBO!! That's is the amount of time till the Mendez bus pulls out of the driveway tomorrow morning to return the children back to school!!! A day every parent celebrates, at least a parent who has more than one child, because by this point of Christmas break they are in a constant state of bickering and I am having to play referee. Don't get me wrong I like black and white in more wardrobe, just not that of a referee uniform (eeww, so not flattering). So, I spent the day working on proofs for a client, breaking up arguments and washing bedding. All and all a somewhat productive day...but I need to get my derriere up and moving and shake off some of the weight I have put on since September. It's been a rough six months...thought my Thyroid was out of whack, however, I was mistaken. Of course being the stubborn person that I am I waited to go the doctors...well until I started having issues in the bathroom (TMI TMI TMI WARNING). I became constipated, I went from going two to three times a day to once every three to five days. So, with that I decided it was time to go get checked out. I was diagnosed with anemia, my iron levels were at 2.9 (the normal range is 11-300 and doctors do not like to see anything below 30). Well, this explained a lot of the symptoms I was having; exhaustion, losing hair, moodiness etc. The doctor gave me a prescription for iron of which I could not take the full dose with my constipation issue. The two days I took the full dose caused my constipation issue to hit the roof. Can you say HOLY COW UNCOMFORTABLE, not going for nine to eleven days is pure hell!!! So, now I take the iron once every other day. I am now feeling slightly human...I no longer have to nap an hour to two every day. The issue at the other end seems to be slowly working its way out...however I now have 15lbs to lose (YAY me!). Needless to say my marathon venture is not going to happen this year, but I will do it one day. I am still planning to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon again this year on February 27th. BTW, I am sitting here writing this while eating my second very large piece of fudge brownie with fudge frosting on it, yep, it's going to be a long haul to lose this 15lbs. Hubby did buy me a membership to the Y for Christmas so I have a way to blow off steam while he is in Afghanistan, let's hope I can gain an interest in working out again with the same fever that I've eaten these two brownies tonight. It's going be a looong and stressful year but I am hell bent and determined to stay positive and get through this. My mantra is going to be, "I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!" Well OK, I think there was a little train who took that one, so I will have to come up with my own. Any suggestions?<br />
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On another note...and an event from today, the dog that I put an adoption application in for at a rescue was adopted, sadly not to me. I am heart broken to say the least, it is crazy as I have never have met this beautiful little lady, but I was head-over-heels for her as soon as I saw her picture and read her story. Broken heartedness equals the two brownies ...oh and did I mention the several pieces of Dove's dark chocolate that I have eaten since I saw her adoption posted. How is it that a 17lb Shih Tzu baby that I have never even met have such an impact on me? Have I totally lost my marbles? I've looked through the rescue sites for another little Shih Tzu to steal my heart and none even come close to capturing it yet, besides I promised my husband that if I was not selected to adopt this particular pooch that I would wait to get myself a Shih Tzu. With all the next year and a half is going to be bringing me I guess this was just God's way of telling me was not time yet, just not yet meant to be as I am going to have a very full plate. I am super happy that she was adopted and hope that her new home is wonderful and loving. One day I will rescue a Shih Tzu baby and I also want to rescue a Greyhound when we have more land.<br />
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Well, my plate is empty of a brownie and I fear that if I stay awake too much longer I may attack some more of the brownies, so I guess I should find my way to bed. So good night folks!!!Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-87076731192144586452011-01-02T15:37:00.000-05:002011-01-02T15:37:48.648-05:00Great start to the day...Started my morning with my alarm going off bright and early at 6:30am...I have to admit I was hoping it was still raining out, but when it was all over I was glad that it was not. I met partner in crime, Christine at "our corner" to begin our morning with a brisk (but at sometimes leisurely) 10 mile walk. I ache like hell now, mainly due to the crappy rainy weather...it's killing my knee!! AAGGHH! Mom, if your reading this blog relax it's fine (love you). Now I'm watching "House" with my hubby (after watching the very sad Jets Vs. Bills game)...our favorite show to watch together (so I'm going to make this a quick blog, LOL). Did I mention he made the most amazing Puerto Rican dinner this afternoon! YUMMY, bataligos, tostones, and rice and beans (pardon the spelling)...so good I will definitely be going back for seconds later tonight. Other than that just hanging with the family and enjoying them....I love lazy Sundays with the family, the only thing that would make it better would have been us making it to mass this morning. The kids have been enjoying the various crafts, play doh and other toys that for Christmas. Love is Great!!!! So on that note I am signing out and hoping that all of my friends and family are enjoying their Sunday afternoon as much as I am.<br />
God Bless!Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-12785755683629081182011-01-01T15:37:00.001-05:002011-01-01T15:37:58.356-05:00I went to bed in one year and woke up in another...Can you believe it is already 2011? I can't. Where the heck did 2010 go? It was a great year for my family, it was the first year in the 13 1/2 years of marriage that my husband was home the entire year (with the exception of one overnight trip and one two night trip)...and surprisingly we did not kill each other, LOL! I always joke that when he retires from the military he is going to have to find a job that requires monthly travel, you know maybe a weekend here or a week there...because until this year we never lived under the same roof for any length of time. But sadly, all good things must at some point come to end, so with that said I want a do-over for 2010, I want it to last longer, because I'm just not ready for another year (14 months to be exact) apart. This time it will be Afghanistan as opposed to Iraq, again trying to be positive, his job over there will be a lot safer than the one in Iraq....but it's still not here with us.<br />
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Well, as I try not to think about April, I find my self taking in this year and even a bit of previous years...kind of taking inventory of my life and those in it. Now this only happened because (I think) I offered a friend on Facebook who is having a difficult pregnancy a meal (I told her I could cook dinner and bring it over one night), now this is a friend who I have not known very long and I really do not talk to that much, so I guess if I were to be technical she would be more of an acquaintance. None the less, I still offered her my help ...well because that is me. Anywho, I got a private message from her saying that she had heard and gotten the impression that I did not like her that much. Needless to say I was puzzled and responded back to her and told her that was far from the truth. Now I sit and not only wonder what kind of people I have surrounded myself with but also what kind of image/personality I am giving off. I am not going to ask who said that to her, because it's a moot point, especially since I'm apparently sending off vibes that match what she has been told. I just wonder what kind of people start rumors/lie like that, I mean really who benefits from such behavior. Are they doing it just start drama? I've really had my share of drama in the past two years to last me a lifetime. It's time for me to start surrounding myself with more positive people, those who bring out the good qualities in me and not the worst. I have learned alot about myself these past few years and unfortunately I've also learned that things are not always what they seem.<br />
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So, as I sit here on the first day of 2011 and think, I wonder where we will be this time next year. What things will happen this year? Who will be in my life and who will have exited stage left? What can I change in myself (for the better) this year? What accomplishments big or small will I achieve this year? What exactly does God have planned for me...I guess I will have to wait and see and enjoy the ride.Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-43169001831910630362010-07-10T09:06:00.000-04:002010-07-10T09:06:24.166-04:00just keep running...Well ending week three of my training on a good note, I ran <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Running" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/18/18_3_110.gif" /></a> four and a half miles this morning...of course there was a little bit of walking, but ran well over half of it and I'm feeling great. Of course I had my running buddy <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Running" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/18/18_3_110.gif" /></a> Christine with me...that always help. We kind of chit chat while we are running, makes the time go by faster and keeps me paced, no need to run out all hell and get stuck a couple miles from home exhausted. I did however start a body cleanse/detox program yesterday, which may be a little rough on my runs, LOLOLOL! We stopped into Publix to get a drink from the water fountain and I had the sudden urget to use the bathroom...not number one either!!! Oh well, guess I can say I lost some weight on this run, onwards and upwards, although this is dully noted and will not happen during any week that I may have a race to run. Bought myself some cute new running shoes and my feet feel great in them today, so they were a good choice (couldn't pass up the price...running shoes on clearance for $49 with an additional 25% off = $40...anyone who knows anything about the cost of running shoes knows what a steal that is). My mother decided to take up running a few months ago and is going to run the Disney Princess Run with Christine and I which is two weeks after my full marathon (btw she is going to freakin smoke us at the rate she is going), told me about these compression pants, so I bought some and they will be here Tuesday. I'm curious to see if they do all they claim to do, although this mornig I'm feeling great and do not have any real aches and pains, I know that this is only a "short" run, and they start getting longer every week. I have not my Wii Jillian Michaels <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Bow Down" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_3_3.gif" /></a> since the Friday before Father's Day...I need to get back on the ball game with that as well. I can just picture in real life screaming at me about wasting her time and being a slacker and quitter... <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Tongue Out" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_1_20.gif" /></a> . It's coming together and once the kids start school, did I mention that happens exactly one month from today (can I get a Whoop Whoop!! <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Smile" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_1_1.gif" /></a> ), things will get so much easier scheduling a workout. Now it's off to do Saturday morning chores... <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Rolling Eyes" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_1_16.gif" /></a> <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Clothes Line" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_5_9.gif" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/dl/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb096_ZNxmk7882BUS&utm_id=7924" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb096&pp=ZNxmk7882BUS" /></a>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-37317495934949562572010-07-02T09:43:00.000-04:002010-07-02T09:43:09.920-04:00Been Committed!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Or maybe I just need to be! So yesterday I officially registered hubby and I for the 26.2 with Donna, The Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer...276 days and counting. On the note my stomach just did flip flops! <img alt="Spinnng" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_13_16v.gif" /> Training has been almost null for the past week and a half, thanks to the little invaders <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Alien" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/540.gif" /></a> that joined us then , I think it is safe to say they are gone (God I pray they are). Checking the girls' heads and us all wearing shower caps was just not fun. Anyway, I did make it to the gym yesterday, it was not easy but I did it. Today, I am not going however, as we get to go "Family Fun Day" for hub's work ....although I need to get back in the Jillian <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Michaels</span> <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Bow Down" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_3_3.gif" /></a> routine on the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Wii</span>. <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">MMM</span>, wonder if it is programed to have her yell at you when you miss your workouts, <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">LOL</span>! So tomorrow is my long run, last week was supposed to be four and this week five. I didn't run last weekend, but I am this weekend, so it will be five miles for me. <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Woot</span> <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Woot</span>! I know I can do it!!! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well I'm totally zoning <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Eye" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_4_40.gif" /></a> out at the screen, so I guess I need to drag my tired lazy buttocks up off this chair and get some housework done before we go out this morning...seriously when is the caffeine <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Coffee" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_5_6.gif" /></a> going to kick in <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Shocked" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_1_15.gif" /></a> !!! Happy Fourth of July weekend everyone!!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Flags" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_14_11.gif" /></a> <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="Flag Wave" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_14_12.gif" /></a> <a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk7882BUS" target="_blank"><img alt="USA Smiley" border="0" src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_14_13.gif" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/dl/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb113_ZNxmk7882BUS&utm_id=7921" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb113&pp=ZNxmk7882BUS" /></a></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-15675539071295300502010-06-30T12:11:00.001-04:002010-06-30T12:11:46.000-04:00oops see what happens when you blog while getting a pedi<p>Anyway as I was saying, I'm still doing laundry and washing brushes daily. A little of paranoia and OCD over the bug issue...ICK! Haven't run in a while due to the cooties, so I have some seriouscatching up to do...well guess I'll blog lter...my phone is being uncooperative.</p><div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.8</div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-13459167775800805842010-06-30T12:00:00.001-04:002010-06-30T12:00:33.978-04:00Sans itchy, scratchy and shower cups...<p>That is correct no more head "cooties"...knock on wood, in the house. Although full fledge paranoia has set in and I am still washing brushes an d bedding daily</p><div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.8</div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832344329544112185.post-11101802836195177922010-06-22T18:33:00.000-04:002010-06-22T18:33:32.074-04:00Run and the itchies So, I did not keep my run on Saturday as planned do to the girl's dance recital...dress rehersal call at 8am, followed by lunch out, home for a rest and then back to the theater for a 5:00 call time. Sunday was Father's day, so we spent the day with my husband...best daddy in the world to my kids and best hubby in the world. I went for my run yesterday, I did a little over 3 miles, 3. 39 to be exact in 45minutes. The timing is not impressive at all, but I've got time to work on it. The rest of the day was to spent with my hubby who had Monday after for a Father's Day holiday. Well that did not happen....bring on the itchies! My youngest, who is four years old has head lice!!! AAGGHH!!! So far I do not have it and neither do my other girls, daddy and the boy have no hair (buzz cuts ) so they are not a concern. In the past two days I have done more laundry, checked all my girls' heads several times and am exhausted. A girlfriend of mine took her son to get his hair cut only to find out he has it...I came to the rescue with the clippers and he now has a nice summer buzz as well. However, my friend was not as lucky, her shoulder length hair also became the home from some of our pesky microscopic critters (are you itching yet??). I helped her do her treatment and went through her hair and came home to further do more bedding and get ready to check heads again. On that note I'm off...hubby is home with my magnifying lens and Tequila!! :o)Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10577110742282783185noreply@blogger.com0