So blessed!

This evening we were in the van driving home from a very busy day. It was just all the boys and I, since Kendra was off with her sweetie and his family (:  Out of the blue, Cameron says, "Mommy, I love you more than all the world." Aww, thanks Cam, I said. Quickly Austin jumps in with, " oh yeah, well I love her more than that. I love her more than all the galaxies times 10." Well, not to be outdone, Colby leaps in with his, "I love her more than both of you. I love her more than all the worlds, galaxies, stars and times 100 million." I chuckle and get all warm and fuzzy inside. This goes back and forth with lots of "times this and times that"!!! Not to be outdone,  Frank breaks it up with, "I can beat you all! I love her more than all the grains of sand on every beach in the whole world." 

Not sure who loves who the most around here, but I do know that the men in my family sure do love me and I am oh so blessed to have each one of them in my life!

Hugs!!

Friday Favorite Five... week 2

After a really great week this week it is hard to pick just five things as my favorite but here is my list of some of my favorite blessings from this week (: Enjoy and happy weekend to all my readers!

• Japanese Cherry Blossom lotion from Bath and Body, my friend tells me that I smell great all the time and that THIS scent smells best on me (:
• Unexpected text and notes from a hubby who loves me more each day and loves to let me know that he is simply thinking of me
• Fresh clean sheets and bedding on any bed in the house,  I love the look, smell and feel of  fresh, clean bedding
• Finding bargains at TJ's, Joann's and any other store that I might be in.... I love bargains
• Time with friends! This past week, I had brunch with a best girlfriend, a visit with my best friend, and coffee this morning with two new friends (:  I love friend time!!
  

{{Hugs}}

First week check in...

This is exactly how I felt this morning upon stepping on my scale for the first time since last Monday... I lost 5.5 pounds!! Yipee! I am so excited to see the scale moving down again! For those of you that I haven't shared this with, Frank and I started a new and healthy way of eating last week, together! I am so happy to have him beside me in this journey :) He has never dieted before as opposed to me who has tried and failed at them all. He is so supportive and I am so blessed to have him love me just as I am no matter what my size and shape may be. We aren't on this to get to be the next Brad and Angelina (although they are beautiful and if there were such a plan to make me look like her, I probably would do it, LOL) but we are on this to get healthy and to help stop some of  the body aches and pains that we are getting from getting older and unfortunatly heavier.  

So, our journey had begun and we are doing pretty good. We did have a couple of weak moments and did have a couple of "cheats" over the weekend, but all in all, I am really happy with my first week and am right back at it again this morning. Mondays will be my accountablilty day on my blog, so keep checking in to see how we are doing! One of the things that I am doing this time, that I haven't in the past is being accountable, first to myself and to God, as I know that this body isn't mine. It is His and His temple and I need to do a better job at keeping it healthy. Second to Frank and my BFF, nothing hidden between us :) Third, on my blog where you all can read the ups and I know the downs that will come on this journey, but hey at least we're working on it, right?

Hugs from a 5.5lb smaller person this Monday :) :) :)

Friday Favorite Five...

Happy Friday to you!

A blogging friend of mine, says that she stops every Friday morning to sum up some of the blessings in her life and lists five of them as her favorites. This helps her remember to be thankful for the little things in her life and when she has a bad day between Fridays, she looks back at her blog and gets an instant reminder and pick-me-up! I liked the idea so much, I thought I would do the same thing so.....

• My down comforter on my bed... so inviting at night after a long day and so soft and cloud like to look at durning the day!
• Little boys who take great pleasure in being kind to one another. Not just for the sake of the kindness jar (although that helps) but because they love to come tell me that they are being kind to each other.
• A teen girl that loves with all her heart. She can have a tough exterior but when she loves she gives it all.
• A preteen boy that still loves to cuddle up next to mom and kiss her good night.
• sugar free jello with whipping cream.... yum only 25 calories too! Can't beat that when you are watching what you put into your mouth and counting calories :)
  

Hugs,

Janet

Spring Fever

Ok, its official I have it, Spring Fever... and I got it bad!!! We are headed for March and I am ready, more than ready, to get going and get things done. I was remembering back this morning while on my treadmill, and pretty sure ever since I was a little girl, the end of winter seems so long to me and I get very antsy and ready for Spring to get here! Its funny to me, the changes that occur so quickly within me. I am ready to get cleaning done that sat all winter for lack of energy to get it done. I am ready for lighter foods, fresh fruits and veggies, walks outside with my loved ones, homeschooling to allow us more time outside instead of at the table working with all the lights on and windows closed. I am ready!! My Sweetie and I started "spring cleaning" our bodies this week by throwing away the junk and eating better. What a difference just that has made in 4 days. After the first couple of days of grumpies, we are feeling much better, we even smiled at each other last night :) hehehe! I also have made it a point to have my Pandora Worship music on all day. It helps lighten my mood greatly and the kids and I are all running around here singing and praising, What a blessing! 

So, bring it on... Spring we are ready for you and have lots of plans! Can't wait to see you and all that you will have to offer us. Thank you God for giving us four seasons to enjoy your Creation!

Happy Spring to all you lovelies!!

Plastic Knife

This week in my devotion time, I read a really great thought from the author of my daily devotion and I wanted to share it with all of you my favorite readers of my blog, hehehe! The only problem was, that I couldn't share it until I could put it to the test and I had the chance to do just that today.

The author said that, like me, she has never really had a great use for plastic knives. I had to agree with her, pretty much useless for cutting anything of any substance and even spreading things like peanut butter or jelly can be daunting at best with a cheaply made plastic knife. The author pointed out that she finally stumbled upon a use for plastic knives, and I became very intrigued! She found out that they make the perfect knife for cutting brownies.... WHAT? Now, those of you who know me, know that I am always ready for something that makes my creations in the kitchen come out even better than before. So how can this be that I have never heard of this before??  Now, this is awesome news, but what actually is better than this ( I know, can there be anything better??) is what she said after this discovery of hers that really made me tingle inside. Knowing that plastic knives have their own purpose, one wouldn't cut things like cardboard or potatoes or meat with them, they have their own purpose or gift and do anything else with them would be useless and a waste of the users energy and time. Well, guess what ladies? We all have the same purpose in our Creators eyes! We are created with special gifts and talents and we spend so much time misusing them and comparing ourselves to other women (especially).  Each of us has something to offer and use for His purpose and He is excited to watch us be useful for those purposes! So, your friend might be more organized than you, she might be more patient with her family, she might be a great hostess who has it all together on the drop of a dime, whatever! You are special too and have something to offer that your friends doesn't. Look inside for it, pray about it, and be ready to use it for God's purposes and He will be pleased, and so will you!!!

By the way, I did try cutting my warm brownies with a plastic knife, and sure enough, they came out perfect! No ragged edges, perfect squares, and not one bit stuck to the knife! Give it try and think about how God created you for His specific purpose!!

Hugs!

Great big thank yous!!!

Most of you that read my blog happen to know that these last few weeks have been tough on me. I just want all of you to know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the words of encouragement, the cards, calls, gifts, offers to make meals, take kids, and notes of laughter :) that you bestowed on me. It truly is wonderful to have such amazing people on my side of this life and without you, I would be a lost person. Each of you blessed me in YOUR way, which made it that much more personal and special and I can't thank you enough for how you have made these days lighter and easier!

So thank you many times over for being my friends, my shoulders to lean on, my listening ears, and most of all my prayer warriors! You are my friends and my sisters and for that I am eternally grateful.

Hugs to you all!