Seems like so long ago....
And this....
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Ouch
Quote from Beth Moore's Esther study:
Here's the trap, however: If we distance ourselves long enough from real needs, we replace them with those that aren't. Pretense becomes the new real and suddenly a delay in the delivery of our new couch becomes a terrible upset. We are wise to force ourselves to keep differentiating between simple inconveniences and authentic tribulations. The more detached and self-absorbed we become, the more we mistake annoyances for agonies.
(emphasis is mine)
Yep. That's me. Lately I've become a bit of a drama queen before God and, ashamedly, among friends and family. I am turning annoyances for agonies. And I need to stop. I do think that God wants to hear our hearts and ALL of our needs. Read this fantastic post for more on that.
With that said, however, I shouldn't give equal weight to my laments about, say, my baby boy's sleeping patterns and the horrible situation in Darfur. Duh. But I do. I often fill my prayers and thoughts with shallow little annoyances, giving little thought to serious agonies.
I'll close with one of my favorite songs that reflects my heart. Who am I that the Lord would love someone like me? Someone that is seriously self-centered, often bitter and, lately, very inwardly focused. I am so humbled and thankful that my God is faithful and loves me.
Here's the trap, however: If we distance ourselves long enough from real needs, we replace them with those that aren't. Pretense becomes the new real and suddenly a delay in the delivery of our new couch becomes a terrible upset. We are wise to force ourselves to keep differentiating between simple inconveniences and authentic tribulations. The more detached and self-absorbed we become, the more we mistake annoyances for agonies.
(emphasis is mine)
Yep. That's me. Lately I've become a bit of a drama queen before God and, ashamedly, among friends and family. I am turning annoyances for agonies. And I need to stop. I do think that God wants to hear our hearts and ALL of our needs. Read this fantastic post for more on that.
With that said, however, I shouldn't give equal weight to my laments about, say, my baby boy's sleeping patterns and the horrible situation in Darfur. Duh. But I do. I often fill my prayers and thoughts with shallow little annoyances, giving little thought to serious agonies.
I'll close with one of my favorite songs that reflects my heart. Who am I that the Lord would love someone like me? Someone that is seriously self-centered, often bitter and, lately, very inwardly focused. I am so humbled and thankful that my God is faithful and loves me.
Weekly Menu
Monday: Tomato Lentil Soup and Bread
Tuesday: Stuffed Shells
Wednesday: Little Mister's birthday!! He loves pasta with tomato sauce, so we'll probably have that in addition to sliced bananas and pears. All of his favorites.
Thursday: Little A and I are headed to her school fundraiser dinner - Chick-Fil-A is catering
Tuesday: Stuffed Shells
Wednesday: Little Mister's birthday!! He loves pasta with tomato sauce, so we'll probably have that in addition to sliced bananas and pears. All of his favorites.
Thursday: Little A and I are headed to her school fundraiser dinner - Chick-Fil-A is catering
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Amen!
Click to enlarge
Sorry for the scanned attachment, but I couldn't find an electronic copy.
I loved this article. My favorite quote is "it's resisting constant temptation to seek short term relief at everyone's long term expense." That to me is one of the biggest challenges to mothering. Sure, I could bribe the kids to behave a certain way in public. I could let the kids sit in front of the TV all day. I could turn a deaf ear to the whining, defying and lack of manners. I could serve easy pre-prepared meals to avoid cooking healthy foods. Short term relief. But at what cost?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Weekly Menu
Monday: Chicken Sausages in a bun, oven fries, fruit salad
Tuesday: Winter Vegetable Soup (with modifications), bread, sliced pears
Wednesday: Pasta with tomato sauce, bread
Thursday: Black Bean Tortilla Soup
Friday: Homemade pizza with mushrooms, onions and bell peppers
Tuesday: Winter Vegetable Soup (with modifications), bread, sliced pears
Wednesday: Pasta with tomato sauce, bread
Thursday: Black Bean Tortilla Soup
Friday: Homemade pizza with mushrooms, onions and bell peppers
Friday, March 20, 2009
Frugal Friday - Air Dry
Bring back the clothesline! Uses clothes pins for their original purpose!I started using the clothesline when we started cloth diapering. The sun whitens the diapers wonderfully and naturally. Now I try to dry half of each laundry load outside. It's great for play clothes, dish towels, baby blankets and other things that don't need to be perfectly wrinkle free. 
I. HATE. IRONING. And I am a horrid ironer (yes, I just made up a word). So, I use the dryer as my lazy-mom ironing service. Thus, I won't hang my standard mom attire tees, capris and jeans or any of Husband's or the kid's clothes that need to look presentable.
I don't know how to quantify the savings of air drying. Clearly, there is both a financial and green living incentive in reducing the energy used.
As a bonus: want to entertain your kids for a few minutes? Hang a large sheet over the line and let them play in the 'tent.' Or, let them 'be a bull' and run through the sheet over and over.
Gotta run - the diaper wash just finished and I need to go practice what I'm preaching.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Save $$$ on Diapers!
Another diaper bargain for you!
If you go to www.diapers.com and order at least $49 worth of products, you can get free shipping and $10 off your order with the following code: MICH9937.
Diapers.com has disposable and cloth diapers, as well as several other baby products. I just ordered some more BumGenius 3.0 diapers (bringing our stash up to 9) since Little Mister is about to outgrow our Size M Bumkins.
You can also try the following rebate in addition to the $10 off code. I'm sending it in today. If it works, it'll make the price/diaper around $10, which is a great deal for BumGenius 3.0.
http://www.diapers.com/HelpCenter/Parenting.htm
If you go to www.diapers.com and order at least $49 worth of products, you can get free shipping and $10 off your order with the following code: MICH9937.
Diapers.com has disposable and cloth diapers, as well as several other baby products. I just ordered some more BumGenius 3.0 diapers (bringing our stash up to 9) since Little Mister is about to outgrow our Size M Bumkins.
You can also try the following rebate in addition to the $10 off code. I'm sending it in today. If it works, it'll make the price/diaper around $10, which is a great deal for BumGenius 3.0.
http://www.diapers.com/HelpCenter/Parenting.htm
Sunday, March 15, 2009
What They're Loving These Days
Little A
To drink: she's a water drinker - I'd say 95% of her fluid intake is simple H two O. The other 5% is milk/iced tea/sips of my sonic drink.
To eat: She is a fabulous eater. Her breakfast is generally oatmeal (plain), pumpkin bread or Kashi waffle, red pepper strips, bananas and apples. If she stays in her room until 7am, she gets to have cashews and a 'cereal wall' which consists of her lining up 4 cereal boxes like a little study carrel around her place mat. She nibbles from each box while eating her breakfast. Lunch is either leftovers, grilled cheese, Annies DW pasta and cheese with broccoli/cauliflower/carrots or a bean and/or cheese burrito. Dinner is whatever we're having. She doesn't like spice (heat) in anything, so if I'm planning something that I can't make mild, I'll make her some pasta. Snacks are usually dry cereal, triscuits, cheese sticks or apples.
She has plates that have 5 compartments and she insists on each compartment being full of something different. I keep a lot of chopped fruits and veggies in the fridge and just fill the compartments in at each meal. I love that it means she eats a huge variety of things, but it also means that I have to travel with food whenever we eat out, because she has come to think that ALL meals need 5 different things.
The girl is quite a carnivore and gobbles up meat when given the chance. She loves hot dogs, bacon, ham and sausage. If you ask her her favorite food, she'll usually say 'hot dogs.' It's funny to me because she's probably had 8-10 hot dogs in her whole life, but they've obviously made a good impression on her.
To read: Latest library book favorites are When Vera Got Sick, I Love You Stinkyface and all of the DW (from Arthur and friends) books.
To click: She loves pbskids.org. She really likes the Arthur and Friends games and the Clifford games.
To do: Swing, swing, swing. Play with her princess figurines, her My Little Pony Ponyville set, play-dough and her Dora house. She has become an avid coloring book fan. She'll spend 20-30 minutes at a time with her box of markers and stack of coloring books. Coloring books entertain her for far longer than blank paper. She enjoys playing Memory and wins over half the time (with no cheating). She loves puzzles.
Little Mister
To drink: Still nursing happily and often. Sometime after the 12 month mark I'll slowly wean him to morning and night feedings. He has taken to a cup quickly and gets water with his meals and snacks. I'll be introducing cow milk pretty soon.
To eat (inedible): Anything off the floor. Pebbles and wood chip mulch from the park. LOVES chewing on big sister's markers and puzzle pieces.
To eat (edible): BANANAS, Multigrain Cheerios, Chex, pumpkin bread, waffles, BANANAS, whole wheat pasta, triscuits, Costco spinach ravioli and potstickers, Yo-Baby yogurt, Annies DW pasta with veggies, BANANAS, pears, nibbles off of our plates (he gobbled up the tofu cubes from our sweet and sour soup yesterday)
To do: Chew on anything and everything. Taking a few steps, but still prefers crawling. LOVES the phone and has managed to call a few people. The remote controls are a close second to the phone, much to his sister's chagrin when he manages to change the channel while she is watching Clifford or Curious George. He is a happy babbler, but no (discernible) words yet. He is still a wonderfully happy little guy.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Frugal Friday - Walgreens/Huggies Deal
The blogosphere is abuzz with this deal this week, but in case you weren't aware, there is a great deal going on for diapers at Walgreens this week.
First, go to http://www.coupons.com/ and get the $5/off Huggies Gentle Care and $3/off Huggies Natural Fit (get two of each).
Next, go to Walgreens and buy $25 (before coupons) worth of Huggies Gentle Care or Natural Fit products (diapers are $10/pack and Gentle Care wipes are $5.99/pack). You'll get a coupon/voucher for $10 towards your next purchase.
I spent $20.57 because they didn't have the wipes in stock at my Walgreens, so I bought 3 $10 packs of diapers and then used $11 worth of coupons. If you subtract the $10 voucher, that means I got three packs of diapers for $10.57. Not bad!
If you're really motivated, you can go the Caregiver's Marketplace rebate website and get an additional $0.75 back on each pack.
We still cloth diaper predominately, but use disposable for long outings, diaper rash issues (can't use diaper rash cream with cloth diapers) and when Little Mister is in someone else's care. I bought a size 3 and 4 pack of Natural Fit and 1 package of size 1 Gentle Care to give as a baby gift.
First, go to http://www.coupons.com/ and get the $5/off Huggies Gentle Care and $3/off Huggies Natural Fit (get two of each).
Next, go to Walgreens and buy $25 (before coupons) worth of Huggies Gentle Care or Natural Fit products (diapers are $10/pack and Gentle Care wipes are $5.99/pack). You'll get a coupon/voucher for $10 towards your next purchase.
I spent $20.57 because they didn't have the wipes in stock at my Walgreens, so I bought 3 $10 packs of diapers and then used $11 worth of coupons. If you subtract the $10 voucher, that means I got three packs of diapers for $10.57. Not bad!
If you're really motivated, you can go the Caregiver's Marketplace rebate website and get an additional $0.75 back on each pack.
We still cloth diaper predominately, but use disposable for long outings, diaper rash issues (can't use diaper rash cream with cloth diapers) and when Little Mister is in someone else's care. I bought a size 3 and 4 pack of Natural Fit and 1 package of size 1 Gentle Care to give as a baby gift.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
He is Faithful
After my writing my cathartic yet pity-party post yesterday, I sat down to do my Bible study homework for today. We are doing Beth Moore's Esther study. It is phenomenal.
The first scripture I looked up hit me smack in the face:
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:10-12
And then the following quote:'Sometimes providence can be defined as times when God trumps your perfectly good plan with one of His own... then seems to disappear from it. Take heart, Beloved! He's right there and He's there right.'
It was just what I needed to hear. God sees my husband's heart and the way he helps people. This may not be the job for him, but his work is noticed and noted by the Almighty. And, while God seems to be silent now, He is still present. I've heard the saying many times, "When you can't see His hand, trust His heart." So true, but so hard to do.
The first scripture I looked up hit me smack in the face:
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:10-12
And then the following quote:'Sometimes providence can be defined as times when God trumps your perfectly good plan with one of His own... then seems to disappear from it. Take heart, Beloved! He's right there and He's there right.'
It was just what I needed to hear. God sees my husband's heart and the way he helps people. This may not be the job for him, but his work is noticed and noted by the Almighty. And, while God seems to be silent now, He is still present. I've heard the saying many times, "When you can't see His hand, trust His heart." So true, but so hard to do.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Nonrational Escalation of Commitment
In a graduate school business classes we talked about the idea of 'non rational escalation of commitment.' That is, the tendency to base decisions on previous decisions.
This quote sums it up well: "If a first you don't succeed, try, try, again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it." W.C. Fields.
This is a topic Husband and I are discussing ad nauseum these days in relation to his job. As I've mentioned, we moved to Texas for him to leave a very demanding (but well paying) job in corporate finance to start an even more demanding (but currently poorly paying) job as a personal financial advisor. Clearly the timing was awful. Had we known the Dow was going to drop, oh, 50 freakin percent, we wouldn't have made the same decision. But we didn't know that. We couldn't have known that. At the time we made what we thought was the best decision.
Now, however, we are left trying to decide what to do next. He could be a phenomenal advisor. He could be such an asset to his clients, with his knowledge and moral compass. We also both love the potential of this job. The thought that after a few years of hard work building up a client base, he would be able to work a more flexible and family friendly schedule. Visions of him coaching soccer teams and coming to school functions are lovely. The idea of him controlling his own workload and not being at the mercy of a corporate hierarchy is nice. But, can we make it to that point?
I realize that I am sounding quite selfish. This is a horrible job environment for so many people. Every day small businesses are closing their doors, a dream dying for their owners. Every day people in the corporate world are losing jobs through no fault of their own. I feel the pain for those people more than I would have a couple of years ago.
My heart has broken over and over for my husband as I see him pick himself up each day and head to a job where he is rejected, has doors shut on him and has to continually swallow his pride. He is an incredibly knowledgeable, highly moral, amazingly ethical man, yet is seeing others in his field with looser morals and much less financial knowledge bring in more money. He seems to be penalized for doing what is right for his clients as opposed to what would put more money in his pocket. There are others in his company that have gotten some lucky breaks, that have been in the proverbial right place at the right time.
I don't believe in luck. I believe in God and His divine providence. Thus, we are left struggling, wondering what God is trying to tell us. Is it so hard because this isn't the path He wants us on? Or is it hard because we are supposed to learn perseverance and faith? How do we know if we should stay on this path or if we are just non-rationally escalating a commitment and need to ignore sunk costs and move on?
Thoughts?
This quote sums it up well: "If a first you don't succeed, try, try, again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it." W.C. Fields.
This is a topic Husband and I are discussing ad nauseum these days in relation to his job. As I've mentioned, we moved to Texas for him to leave a very demanding (but well paying) job in corporate finance to start an even more demanding (but currently poorly paying) job as a personal financial advisor. Clearly the timing was awful. Had we known the Dow was going to drop, oh, 50 freakin percent, we wouldn't have made the same decision. But we didn't know that. We couldn't have known that. At the time we made what we thought was the best decision.
Now, however, we are left trying to decide what to do next. He could be a phenomenal advisor. He could be such an asset to his clients, with his knowledge and moral compass. We also both love the potential of this job. The thought that after a few years of hard work building up a client base, he would be able to work a more flexible and family friendly schedule. Visions of him coaching soccer teams and coming to school functions are lovely. The idea of him controlling his own workload and not being at the mercy of a corporate hierarchy is nice. But, can we make it to that point?
I realize that I am sounding quite selfish. This is a horrible job environment for so many people. Every day small businesses are closing their doors, a dream dying for their owners. Every day people in the corporate world are losing jobs through no fault of their own. I feel the pain for those people more than I would have a couple of years ago.
My heart has broken over and over for my husband as I see him pick himself up each day and head to a job where he is rejected, has doors shut on him and has to continually swallow his pride. He is an incredibly knowledgeable, highly moral, amazingly ethical man, yet is seeing others in his field with looser morals and much less financial knowledge bring in more money. He seems to be penalized for doing what is right for his clients as opposed to what would put more money in his pocket. There are others in his company that have gotten some lucky breaks, that have been in the proverbial right place at the right time.
I don't believe in luck. I believe in God and His divine providence. Thus, we are left struggling, wondering what God is trying to tell us. Is it so hard because this isn't the path He wants us on? Or is it hard because we are supposed to learn perseverance and faith? How do we know if we should stay on this path or if we are just non-rationally escalating a commitment and need to ignore sunk costs and move on?
Thoughts?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Weekly Menu
Monday: Baked Potato Soup
Tuesday: Costco Ravioli, fruit and bread
Wednesday: Spaghetti, fruit and Bread
Thursday: Chickpea and Broccoli casserole (thanks JoAnne) - and I'm guessing Husband will eat leftovers, since he isn't typically the biggest chickpea fan...
Friday: Pizza
Tuesday: Costco Ravioli, fruit and bread
Wednesday: Spaghetti, fruit and Bread
Thursday: Chickpea and Broccoli casserole (thanks JoAnne) - and I'm guessing Husband will eat leftovers, since he isn't typically the biggest chickpea fan...
Friday: Pizza
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Toddler Talk - Early March 2009
A: Mom, the swing was cranky.
Me: What do you mean?
A: It didn't swing straight.
Me: That would be 'crooked' sweet girl....
**********
A: Why is Ava's hair longer than mine? I am older.
Me: Well, I guess her hair just grows faster.
A: Oh. (pondering). Did she take a short cut? Because short cuts make things faster.
**********
A: Why is grandma at school all day?
Me: Because she is a teacher. That is her job.
A: When I grow up I am going to be a princess!
Me: What will you do all day?
A: Dance.
Me: What do you mean?
A: It didn't swing straight.
Me: That would be 'crooked' sweet girl....
**********
A: Why is Ava's hair longer than mine? I am older.
Me: Well, I guess her hair just grows faster.
A: Oh. (pondering). Did she take a short cut? Because short cuts make things faster.
**********
A: Why is grandma at school all day?
Me: Because she is a teacher. That is her job.
A: When I grow up I am going to be a princess!
Me: What will you do all day?
A: Dance.
Need Advice.....
Update: I'm going for a haircut on Tuesday night - check back for pictures!
Could I pull off this haircut? I don't quite have Katie's cheekbones... (or personal stylist)
I need to get a haircut that forces me to fix it, so I quit reverting to total mom ponytail. Along with my solid color tees, capris and flip flops, I am in immediate danger of becoming a cliche. Here is my current hair on a rare-ponytail free day, along with some old pictures of me with bangs. Should I add bangs again?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Weekly Menu
Sunday: lunch -tortilla soup, dinner - leftover pizza
Monday: Pasta with Rosemary Tomato Cream Sauce (didn't end up making it last week) and homemade Foccacia Bread (Betty Crocker Red Cookbook recipe)
Tuesday: New Recipe: Beef Carbonade. Husband gets beef! As does Little A who is quite the carnivore when given the chance. There was a great sale on Chuck Roast this week.
Wednesday: Spaghetti and bread machine bread
Thursday:Trying a new Black Bean Tortilla Pie recipe (thanks to Brandy for the recommendation)
Friday: Leftovers or homemade pizza
Monday: Pasta with Rosemary Tomato Cream Sauce (didn't end up making it last week) and homemade Foccacia Bread (Betty Crocker Red Cookbook recipe)
Tuesday: New Recipe: Beef Carbonade. Husband gets beef! As does Little A who is quite the carnivore when given the chance. There was a great sale on Chuck Roast this week.
Wednesday: Spaghetti and bread machine bread
Thursday:Trying a new Black Bean Tortilla Pie recipe (thanks to Brandy for the recommendation)
Friday: Leftovers or homemade pizza
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