Friday, November 30, 2012

Rats, Kate & Ramblings





November, has been rough.  I feel like I have been put in the washing machine, stuck on spin cycle and then now hung out to dry. I am hoping that December gives me some reprieve but I am not sure it will, I guess we will have to see, right?

I had a dream a couple nights ago where I found a rat in my laundry room.  I don't remember what color it was but apparently that matters when it comes to dream interpretation.  I honestly don't even remember the rest of the dream just the rat.  I figured out pretty quickly not a good thing when you have a rat in your dream.  I looked up the meaning of having a rat in your dream and several of the interpretations I think hit the nail right on with some things going on in my life.  Funny how that works.  I have always been fascinated by dreams and the meanings behind them.

From Dreammoods.com, "To see a rat in your dream signifies feelings of doubts, greed, guilt, unworthiness and envy. You are keeping something to yourself that is eating you up inside. Or you have done something that you are not proud of. Alternatively, a rat denotes repulsion, decay, dirtiness, and even death. The dream may also be a pun on someone who is a rat. Are you feeling betrayed? "

I can honestly say that I have been feeling very doubtful, greedy, guilty....especially as we move into the holidays.  I see how truly blessed we are with our faith, health, family, food, drink, possessions and think of all the others that have nothing.  It sometimes consumes me.  I try not to let it.  But it is so hard not to.  And then I feel like I am slipping back into my "comfort zone" and I don't want to.   I feel it,  the need, the drive, to mix it up a bit, to stretch myself, my family, I am just trying to figure out how and who it will impact the most.  I need direction.  I feel a little bit lost.  Such an unnerving feeling this is.

As I was sitting there last night, kids playing quietly for awhile, I read some more of Kisses from Kate.  Have you read that book?  I have heard lots and lots about it, about her, so I finally started reading it and so far, WOW, amazed by the work she has done in Uganda over the past couple years.  She is an amazing young person!  And that is putting it lightly. 

I also finished Crazy Love by Francis Chan (a couple months ago).  I had a blog post almost done about it and never published it (not sure why; maybe I should just release it in its current raw form).  Another amazing person but on a different level.  This book really makes you take stock as to who you are as a Christian.  It really spoke to me and helped drive those rats into my dreams I think.  LOL. I don't want to be a lukewarm Christian.  I KNOW I have a higher calling and don't want to live the status quo Christian life.  Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with status quo, for some.  It is just not for me. I pray that GOD reveals his plans soon.  It is so darn hard being patient. You know.

So this weekend, we are heading out to get our Christmas tree.  Most likely from a nearby tree lot since we have grown out of the trapsing around in the mud, out in the boonies, cutting down our own.  I know not much fun but who said I was fun.  LOL. I will break out the decorations and hopefully be able to get the house decorated for the Christmas holidays.  Tyler has his first basketball tournament of the season so we will be there for a big chunk of the weekend too.  He is playing for an Oregon Prep team which only has tournaments every other weekend.  Plus he is on the 8th grade team at school and those games start this week.  Phew.  If it isn't football, it is basketball.  But it is all good because he loves it, is good at it, keeps him active and out of trouble. 

Ok, now I am just rambling.  I think I am going to go for now. 

What do you have on the agenda for this weekend? 

Have you got your Christmas tree?  Real or fake? 


Source


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Tuesday Archive Link Up 11/27




And just like that...


Thanksgiving is over and onto Christmas.

But for now, Tuesday, let us focus on Tuesday Archive Link Up, sound good?

As you know this is a link up of one or two or even three of your favorite posts that you think deserves a second chance.

Link'em up, hop around and comment. Let those that you visit know you found them on TALU.


TALU is brought to you by myself and the other fabulous bloggers...

Jessica, author of Sugar In My Grits

Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm

Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy


Saturday, November 24, 2012

Confessions Of A Non Superwoman #24



Confessions.  I love these posts.  Helps keep me in check and proves even more so that I Am Not Superwoman.  And I can't do it all and be all to everyone at all times.  And that is quite alright!


1.  The Thanksgiving dinner dishes, just barely got washed TODAY. 

2.  I did not get up at the butt crack of dawn and do the *normal* Black Friday shopping.  This is 3rd year in a row that I did not partake in this.  My sleep is to valuable not to mention too much chaos to save a few bucks.

3.  I just realized I have not changed my oil for well over the 3000 miles.  Yikes.  Is that really necessary for *newer* cars?  Maybe that is why my gas mileage sucks these days?

4.  Wednesday night.  I didn't make dinner.  We ate snacks and whatever else there was that was easy and handy.  Kids ate a yogurt, banana, some wheat thins...I think I ate a bowl of cereal.  Honestly, I don't even remember.

5.  Thanksgiving night both Kaylyn and I went to bed at 730.  We were T.I.R.E.D. 



Did you have a nice holiday weekend?  Have any confessions you want to share?  You know we like to keep it real round these parts.






Funny Confession Ecard: I planned to be productive today; then I got up this morning and didn't feel like it.


Hey, I posted some new pictures on The Other Non Superheros page. Make sure to check them out. The kids are growing like weeds!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving Funnies


Is your bird in?
 
I just finished putting
ours in the oven for
a long warm nap.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ulterior motives.
 
So that's why they serve minced pie and fruit cake.


Isn't that the truth.
Now grant it we don't need to eat like this everyday
but rather be thankful EVERYDAY.
 
 
 
From our house to yours, we hope you have a
Happy Thanksgiving shared with your loved ones.
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Teaching Kids Compassion

Compassion: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.


I recently received a comment on my blog from a reader about teaching (my) kids compassion.  And I decided to write a whole blog post about compassion and how it so easily can be passed onto your own children and other family members for that matter.

It really is a simple concept when it boils right down to it. 

Are you listening? 


Are you ready?
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.
.
.

Practice it.  Practice it often, not necessarily just around the holidays.

If your children or other family members see you are compassionate for others and their needs, they will eventually get it and practice it as well.  Get your children involved in what you decide to do to give back. 

It doesn't have to be a big production.  You don't have to house all the homeless or feed the city. Start out small.

It could be as simple as taking a tag off the giving tree during the Christmas holiday and buying a needy child a small gift.

It could be getting an extra bag of groceries and donating it to your local food pantry.

It could be taking some baked goods to a local retirement center for the elderly to snack on.

It could be inviting a lonely neighbor over for dinner.

It could be volunteering at your local soup kitchen on a holiday or on a regular basis.

IT could be whatever you want.  However you want to give back to others.  But I implore you, if you have the means to or the time, do it. 

Nobody ever says I wish I could do "less".

If you choose to give your hard earned money to a charity, make sure to check them out with your local Better Business Bureau or Charity Navigator.

How do you teach your children compassion?



Tuesday Archive Link Up 11/20

Wow!

I am so behind....I didn't feel well yesterday and totally lost a day...didn't remember it was Tuesday and time for the Tuesday Archive Link Up. But you didn't forget, did you?

Glad that the other ladies that host this were on the ball!

TALU hosted by ME and:

Jessica, author of Sugar In My Grits

Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm

Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy

So link up a post that deserves some more attention and stop by to visit some of the others. Tell them that you found them on TALU.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Tilt-A-Whirl

Man, it feels like I just got of the Tilt-A-Whirl.  Remember that ride?






I have been spun around this way and that, wobbled off holding my head and gut....wondering what the heck just happened.  What a week!  I feel like I haven't blogged much nor read many blogs but I guess I haven't. 

Our weekend started with the Winterjam concert Friday night where Toby Mac just "killed it".  If you don't know who he is, look him up.  You will be glad you did. He just won an AMA award last night.

Tyler's end of year football banquet was on Saturday where he was nominated Offensive MVP! 





And then we finished off the weekend with a Chili Cook Off where my husbands chili made grown men cry!  He won the award for the "hottest" chili!  Ahhmazing chili and fellowship with my friends in Christ.  Awesome way to end a weekend.

In between there was no slowing down....this weekend was the culmination of several outreach activities.

On Sunday our church delivered Thanksgiving Turkey Baskets to 21 families in our local community who wouldn't of had a Thanksgiving otherwise. 

21 families=95 mouths we fed!   

A successful drive however bittersweet.  The need is so great right now in not only our area but in many areas I am certain.  I know we can't feed everyone, but man, I will go down trying! 

We also finished up our Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive.  My good friend Jill headed this up and will be delivering 51 boxes to be shipped out TODAY.  Boxes for children near and far filled to the brim with lots of goodies to make their holidays brighter.

And last but not least, on Saturday in the mail, we received updated pictures of our 2nd Compassion daughter, Madeline.  Isn't she beautiful!  We think so!




Now it is time to slow it down a tad bit and get ready for Thanksgiving.  Only a few days left....(as if I needed to remind you, right?).  I am a little bit ahead of the game on this.  I did most of our shopping this past Thursday so will not need to go to the store during the rush (I hope).  And Black Friday, you will not find me there.  I will be at home, hanging out with the family, enjoying some quality time.

How was your week (end)?  Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  The hustle and bustle of the holiday season?


Have a blessed Monday!

 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

And Then I Laughed....

 




....the belly aching facial distorting rolling on the floor laughing kind of laugh. 

He said he wanted me to do what?  Is he nuts?  He obviously doesn't know this bread loving, pasta eating person very well.  I have Italian in my blood I KNOW somewhere, how can I not?  I can NOT live without grains, carbs, bread, pasta...I can throw down chips, don't eat those much, sweets, easy peasy...but Pasta! 
.
.
.
H to the E to the double L, NO! 

Yes, so my doctor, wants me to go grain free (essentially the Paleo diet) for 30 days (at least).  That means no bread, pasta, beans, rice, anything that has consumed grain or made with any grain.  Which also means that he wants me to incorporate meat (meat from grass fed animals) back into my diet for the protein that I will no longer be getting from legumes.  He forgot that I switched to vegetarian awhile back or did he?  Actually, he read the notes, from my last visit but apparently vegetarian isn't good enough..it might even be counter productive to my body type because of all the carbohydrates that I eat (read: pasta).  Those that eat diets high in carbs of course gain more belly fat and well that seems to fit me to a T of late.  My mid section...not pretty.  

My mid section is actually what landed me in the ER a couple weeks ago which is what started this whole visit and conversation with said doctor. I was having some abdominal pains and was extremlely bloated. I looked like I was pregnant, full term, no joke so instead of a rectangle at that point I looked more like a pear.




Here is my dilemma, I don't want to eat meat.  And if you read my blog when I decided to "go" vegetarian you know I decided to "go" vegetarian because of my own selfish reasons namely because I don't have one of these...




 

A gallbladder.  Don't get me wrong I love animals and hate the cruelty that is involved from getting them from the farm to the table but my reason to "go" vegetarian is mainly because of that.  No gallbladder.

The purpose of a gallbladder is that it stores and secretes bile, a digestive fluid that breaks down fats.  Without it, you got it, it is harder to digest fat.  A lot of people without gallbladders tend to suffer from a "dumping" syndrome where anytime they eat high fatty foods, it dumps into your intestine prematurely.  This is what happens to me when I eat "most" meat which is why I decided not to eat it.  It doesn't seem to happen much with other fatty foods, mainly meat so I am at a loss. 

So now what, I say?  He thinks "grass fed" meat and grain free will make a difference.  I am not so sure.  And I am really not sure about making another drastic life altering change in eating habits during the holidays.  I feel like I would be setting myself up for failure.
.
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And I don't like to fail, I mean who does right?

So again, now what?  Here I sit, pondering my next step, eating a bowl of home made mac "n" cheese  (probably not my best idea this week). But it is soooooo good! 

Anyone out there who has jumped on the Paleo diet?  How's it working for you?

Tuesday Archive Link Up 11/13



Wow! It is Tuesday again! And just shy of a week until Thanksgiving. Yeah, sorry, if I just pointed that out and maybe you wanted to block it out. So much to do, so little time.

But for now we are going to focus on the Tuesday Archive Link Up, because that is much more fun, right?

So get linking! Link up any post that you think deserves a second chance. And then, of course, visit some of the other fabulous bloggers who have linked up....let them know you found them on TALU.


This link up brought to you by me and these other wonderful blogging ladies:

Jessica, author of Sugar In My Grits

Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm

Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy


Saturday, November 10, 2012

Crashers Book Giveaway

THREE SIGNED BOOKS TO GIVEAWAY !!


This fabulous giveaway is brought to you by 
3 Lucky winners will each receive a Signed Book from the author.
Open Worldwide
Ending on Saturday 1st December at 11.59pm EST

Crashers is a modern day cautionary tale in a true to life novel.  A riveting story of love and desperation, greed and redemption.

Fraudulent car accidents is a multi-million dollar racket, involving unscrupulous medical providers, personal injury attorneys, and the cooperating passengers involved in the accidents—and who also receive a portion of the illegal proceeds. Such is the fate of newly engaged, Nathan and Shari, whose joy is tempered by the dark cloud of mounting debt.

A chance encounter with a stranger in whom Shari confides her troubles proves fortuitous: he tells her of a get-rich-quick scheme that will put her and her fiancé on easy street. Seduced by the chance to move from hard times to good times in no time, Sheri takes the carrot offered her, and finds herself acting as a “stuffed passenger”—the “victim” in a staged auto accident. The act goes according to plan and Shari gets her payday, but getting out and breaking free of the insurance fraud underworld will take nothing short of a miracle.

Across the nation, insurance fraud from staged auto accident schemes costs the insured more than $50 billion yearly. Crashers is a true-to-life novel that uncovers how the innocent get lured into the scheme of "cappers" and "hammers."

Enter to Win!!

Good Luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Photobucket

Friday, November 9, 2012

Crashers By Lindy S. Hudis Book Review


I recently had the opportunity to review Crashers by Lindy S. Hudis.  I started reading it shortly after I received it in the mail and could not put it down.  A definite page turner and very intense.  It really made me think about the "real" innocent victims as well as the seemingly honest people and how they could easily get mixed up in something so ....illegal.

Desperate times, call for desperate measures?

Things like this could happen to you, maybe it has happened to you.  It may have happened to that person you saw rear ended yesterday or side swiped. It is an ever evolving and growing industry. All there needs to be is a few greedy or desperate "victims", a dirty lawyer, and a doctor who want a quick payday.  Voila!

You won't know what hit you!


Fasten your seat belt and keep your eyes on the road  so you are not taken for a ride.  Crashers by Lindy S. Hudis: A suspenseful drama about the everyday average person, swayed by greed that gets mixed up in the ever increasing scheme of insurance fraud.




 
 
You can purchase Crashers on Amazon here.
 
 
 
 
 
Disclosure: I received this book to review through Moms With Voices Media, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Tuesday Archive Link Up 11/6



It is SUPER Tuesday.

Tomorrow by this time we will know who our next President of the United States will be. Are you excited? No more political "rants" on Facebook, on blogs, robocalls, campaign letters, etc...I am excited for that.

Soooooo let's get this party started! It is time for the Tuesday Archive Link Up Party!

Hosted by me and several other wonderful bloggers such as:

Jessica, author of Sugar In My Grits

Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm

Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy

So link up a post that you feel deserves a second chance. And then hop around to check out some of the other links and comment. Make sure to tell them you found them on TALU.

Have a great Tuesday!



Monday, November 5, 2012

Menu Plan Monday



It is still technically Monday right?  I had every intention of posting this last night and then, the wind in my sails, just fluttered away...and I decided to go to bed early instead.  It happens.

But never fear (not that you would truly miss it; I can think you would, right?)
.
.
.
.
.
 I am posting it now. 


Sunday

Spinach Lasagna
Sweet Corn

Monday

Left over Lasagna (made too much)
Applesauce

Tuesday

Un-Reuben Reuben Sandwich
Pasta Salad

Wednesday

Vegetable Stir Fry
Rice

Thursday

Grilled Cheese
Tomato Soup

Friday

Vegetable Pot Pie
Banana Slices

Saturday

Quesadillas
Spanish Rice


There you have it.  That is what our family will be eating this week.  You will no longer be pondering what that lady over at I Am Not Superwoman is cooking in her kitchen this week.  Now you can go about your day/evening.  You're welcome!

LOL.

Hope you had a great Monday and a fabulous week.   What are you making this week?


P.S. Did I tell you I went to my doctor last week and he wants me to eat GRAIN free, CARB free, SUGAR free for 30 days!  I laughed.  I will write more about this in another post.  There is lots to share.

P.S.S. I am linking this post with I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs....



Signs, Signs, everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign....
 
 
The song goes something like that...
 
I was walking up Burnside Street in downtown
Portland this afternoon, taking
in the fresh air and seeing the signs. 
 
EVERYWHERE.
 
I am not talking the No U Turn sign.  Right Turn Only sign.  
But rather something more alarming...
 
 
 
 

The doors that have become signs of the times for many in our own backyard. 
This is actually the enclosure to a local homeless camp.
 
Each door has a drawing, a poem, a saying....
 
 
 
 
I knew I liked that man (Nelson Mandela).
 
Poverty is not an "I" problem but a "we" problem.
 

 




 
Everyone including the homeless, mentally ill, addicted, ...
deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. 
 
Some may try to break them down,
but we can lift them up and allow them to...
 

 
 
 
 
I know it is easy to be cynical towards the homeless,
the panhandlers, the street kids...
 
I was "that" person at one time.
 
I am no longer.
 
Next time you see the signs, will you stop? 
 
I found this quote and it sums up my feelings in one sentence.
 
I would rather be disappointed in some rather than cynical about all.
Author Unknown
 
 

 

 
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