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| He left for two days because they messed with him! Oops!! |
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| They wrote a note asking him to come back and promising to leave him alone. |
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| Do you see him? |
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| We made milkshake ornaments at Chick-Fil-A...the next day he was drinking one! Silly elf! |
Monday, November 26, 2012
Snickerdoodle
By popular request, here are pics of our elf on the shelf! I'll TRY to keep it updated...
Bible Time Quiet Book
I love quiet books for little ones! When my son was born, I made a simple one for him and for his friend, Molly. They took FOREVER, and I was sure I'd never make another one. However, I have always wanted to make a Bible-themed one, so when I found out a sweet couple at our congregation was expecting, I decided that was the perfect time to try it. I searched everywhere online and had an incredibly difficult time finding ideas and patterns for a Bible-themed quiet book. Apparently lots of people WANTED to make one but didn't know how. So, I combined various general tutorials on assembling quiet books with coloring pages, craft ideas, etc. and made my own. I think it turned out cute! Let me know what you think! :) It's not necessarily designed to be used DURING worship, although for some that might work. My kids talked too much to do anything like that in worship, so we started training them early on to pay attention and "take notes." This is more just to reinforce Bible stories being learned at home and to help with fine motor skills.
I'm happy to share instructions, patterns, etc., but it will take me a while to get them uploaded because I combined all sorts of ideas to make my own and don't have them all typed out or anything. If you have questions before I get that far, let me know!
I'm happy to share instructions, patterns, etc., but it will take me a while to get them uploaded because I combined all sorts of ideas to make my own and don't have them all typed out or anything. If you have questions before I get that far, let me know!
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| The cover with Baby's initial. Mom didn't want anything "too girly." :) |
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| Front inside cover and page 1 (close ups follow) |
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| This pocket has a mirror in it. The page says "God Made Me Special." |
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| God Made Flowers |
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| The flower petals are attached with velcro. The child can put them in correct order. |
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| Hide God's word |
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| A laminated Bible is "hidden" in the heart, just like Scriptures should be in our hearts! |
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| Fill Noah's Ark |
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| The felt animals fit in the ark pocket. |
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| Armor of God |
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| They can put the pieces on the top velcro piece when the soldier is not wearing the armor. |
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| Weave Joseph's coat |
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| Jonah and the big fish |
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| Unzip to rescue Jonah from the fish belly! |
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| Cast your nets |
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| Match the fish to the correct color felt. |
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| A pocket for a small notebook and crayons. |
Friday, November 2, 2012
A Good News Kind of Day
Yesterday, I woke up feeling yucky. Headache, exhausted, and GROUCHY. Not a good combination, considering I had a full day ahead of me AND it was only 2 days until my daughter's birthday party. This year is Rapunzel-themed, and those of you who know me in real life know that I tend to go a little overboard with parties. I LOVE parties, and we try to minimize how much "stuff" we give our kids, so a fun experience at the party is a good substitute.
Anyway...I'm off track. Back to the feeling yucky and grouchy business. Our morning was crazy (as usual), and we squeaked into school on time and then had to unload decorations for today's Harvest Day. Still grouchy. Then little man and I had to tackle Wally World (a.k.a. Walmart)... on the 1st of the month...at 8 am. STILL grouchy, and feeling less than thankful and grateful on the first day of the month of Thanksgiving.
Fast forward an hour and a half, and I just barely sailed into my WW meeting on time. On my way in, the dermatologist's office called, and my stomach lurched with dread as I answered. 2 weeks ago I had a double punch biopsy on a spot on my head that she feared was skin cancer. Hesitantly, I answered the phone, and the cheery nurse greeted me with "We have your biopsy results and all is...NORMAL. THere is NO cancer!" Instant relief. I do have to go back in 5 weeks for some additional treatment, but no surgery or invasive procedures. Prayers were answered, no doubt about it!
After that news, I rushed into WW, fully expecting "bad" news on the scale. I have worked really hard, but I just wasn't feeling it. I stood up there, closed my eyes, and waited for her to sigh. Instead, I heard, "Good job! Another 2 gone! Down 15 lbs!" WOOHOO!
My 3rd piece of good news came a few minutes later on my answering machine. I had blood work done Tuesday to test my Vitamin D levels, which are persistently and stubbornly below normal. THIS time, they were not only within normal limits, but WELL within them. I can decrease my daily supplement dosage a little and rest comfortably knowing that, for the time being, I am within a healthy range. Yay!
Needless to say, all of this good news in such a short time reminded me that, even when days are icky and I feel yucky, my attitude needs to be one of thankfulness and gratitude, rather than grouchiness. The rest of the day, I tried hard to channel a good attitude, even when the day went "downhill" and ended in a heap at the end of the evening. It is so comforting to see such tangible proof of answered prayers!
Anyway...I'm off track. Back to the feeling yucky and grouchy business. Our morning was crazy (as usual), and we squeaked into school on time and then had to unload decorations for today's Harvest Day. Still grouchy. Then little man and I had to tackle Wally World (a.k.a. Walmart)... on the 1st of the month...at 8 am. STILL grouchy, and feeling less than thankful and grateful on the first day of the month of Thanksgiving.
Fast forward an hour and a half, and I just barely sailed into my WW meeting on time. On my way in, the dermatologist's office called, and my stomach lurched with dread as I answered. 2 weeks ago I had a double punch biopsy on a spot on my head that she feared was skin cancer. Hesitantly, I answered the phone, and the cheery nurse greeted me with "We have your biopsy results and all is...NORMAL. THere is NO cancer!" Instant relief. I do have to go back in 5 weeks for some additional treatment, but no surgery or invasive procedures. Prayers were answered, no doubt about it!
After that news, I rushed into WW, fully expecting "bad" news on the scale. I have worked really hard, but I just wasn't feeling it. I stood up there, closed my eyes, and waited for her to sigh. Instead, I heard, "Good job! Another 2 gone! Down 15 lbs!" WOOHOO!
My 3rd piece of good news came a few minutes later on my answering machine. I had blood work done Tuesday to test my Vitamin D levels, which are persistently and stubbornly below normal. THIS time, they were not only within normal limits, but WELL within them. I can decrease my daily supplement dosage a little and rest comfortably knowing that, for the time being, I am within a healthy range. Yay!
Needless to say, all of this good news in such a short time reminded me that, even when days are icky and I feel yucky, my attitude needs to be one of thankfulness and gratitude, rather than grouchiness. The rest of the day, I tried hard to channel a good attitude, even when the day went "downhill" and ended in a heap at the end of the evening. It is so comforting to see such tangible proof of answered prayers!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Woolly Worm festival
Last week, we attended the Woolly Worm festival in Banner Elk, NC. My parents treated both of my kids to their "own" woolly worms to race...Rapunzel was my daughter's and Woolly Woolly Jake was my son's. Yes, I said race. This money pit of a festival is based on the tradition that woolly worms can predict winter weather based on the darkness of their black stripes. It was hilarious. Ridiculous. Ludicrous. And yet, my kids loved it!
The idea is that you buy a woolly worm and compete in a heat with 19 other hopeful woolly worms and their "trainers." You put the worm on a special mark on the string, and when the leader says go, you start urging your worm up the string without touching the worm or string at all. Some people had straws and blew on the worms to get them moving. Others cheered loudly or fanned their worms. The chaos that ensued was beyond absurd. Even at the fastest possible speed, the race moved along at a...dare I say...crawl. (Pun intended, I suppose). The winning worm of each heat got $25 and the chance to return for a semi-final. Semi-final winners received $50 and a chance to compete in the finals for $1000! The winning worm was then analyzed to predict the winter weather.
Throughout the festival they had art booths, crafty items for sale, and plush woolly worms tacked onto all kinds of hats, clothes, scarves, etc. It was truly a money pit, but everyone seemed to be having a blast.
Even though this was beyond absurd, I am glad we were able to attend. While at one time I used to be ashamed to live in the region of the country that I do (I was Cajun born and raised), now I find contentment in the country traditions and festivals that surround us. Though silly, they are a part of the culture where my kids will be raised, and I hope they learn to take pride in their heritage. However, I hope they take pride in the legend of the woolly worm withOUT having to revisit the celebration. Once was enough for this mama!
The idea is that you buy a woolly worm and compete in a heat with 19 other hopeful woolly worms and their "trainers." You put the worm on a special mark on the string, and when the leader says go, you start urging your worm up the string without touching the worm or string at all. Some people had straws and blew on the worms to get them moving. Others cheered loudly or fanned their worms. The chaos that ensued was beyond absurd. Even at the fastest possible speed, the race moved along at a...dare I say...crawl. (Pun intended, I suppose). The winning worm of each heat got $25 and the chance to return for a semi-final. Semi-final winners received $50 and a chance to compete in the finals for $1000! The winning worm was then analyzed to predict the winter weather.
Throughout the festival they had art booths, crafty items for sale, and plush woolly worms tacked onto all kinds of hats, clothes, scarves, etc. It was truly a money pit, but everyone seemed to be having a blast.
Even though this was beyond absurd, I am glad we were able to attend. While at one time I used to be ashamed to live in the region of the country that I do (I was Cajun born and raised), now I find contentment in the country traditions and festivals that surround us. Though silly, they are a part of the culture where my kids will be raised, and I hope they learn to take pride in their heritage. However, I hope they take pride in the legend of the woolly worm withOUT having to revisit the celebration. Once was enough for this mama!
WW, Week 9
I have completely dropped the ball writing about WW. I hope none of you were on the edge of your seat waiting to hear all about it! If so, hopefully you didn't fall off the seat during the interim. Climb back up there and I'll share a few things I've learned.
First of all, I am down 13 pounds in about 9 weeks. I feel like it has been excruciatingly slow, but when I look at the total, I realize that it's really not! I'm a "streaky" loser. I will go 3 weeks and only drop half a pound, and then in one week I'll drop 3 or 4 at once and repeat the cycle. So, those in-between weeks can be frustrating and try my patience, but the "big loss" weeks are great motivators!
What have I noticed in my first 2 months?
1. Portable snacks for reasonable point values are few and far between. I did find a Kashi bar that doesn't taste like cardboard and is only 3 points. It will do in a pinch. Because of my blood sugar issues, I have to always have something available FAST just in case. I want something I can leave in my glove compartment in the event of a sugar crash.
2. Eating out is horrible. Even when you think you are making good, healthy choices, you aren't. It frustrates me that eating out is such an integral part of our society, and yet there are few choices out there that facilitate healthy living. Thankfully, we don't have the money to eat out often. My newest endeavor is to find reasonable meals to eat out for those times when we "have" to.
3. Too much of our society revolves around food. No need to elaborate, but I will. Have you tried to find something fun to do with your adult friends that doesn't involve food? Especially if you share the Bible's views on alcohol and don't allow it in your life! As kids, we could go to the park and play and not need food, but what do adults do for fun? Interesting.
4. Food labels are not created equal. You can't assume that a muffin is a muffin is a muffin... You have to read labels diligently. Take your points calculator to the store with you! You will be shocked at some of the values of "regular" foods that we eat daily! Likewise, when eating out, restaurants vary widely in point values of similar foods. Do your research!
5. Points are not created equal. I will challenge those of you attempting weight watchers to measure out 3 or 4 points of cookies or chips and compare it to what you can eat if you choose zero or 1 point fruits, veggies, grains or lean meat! Some things just aren't worth the points because they provide no long-term satisfaction.
6. You can't take a break or let your guard down. Ever! Plan, plan to plan, pre-plan, and plan some more! Don't get caught off guard. Don't make uneducated choices about points.
7. It is so hard to teach healthy eating and healthy image to children! My kids are aware that I am doing this program, but I try so hard to focus on it as a way to EAT HEALTHY rather than a way to lose weight. My daughter is especially intrigued by this, and if I am not careful, she becomes obsessed with whether a food is "good for me" or not. I am a firm believer that the occasional sweet or junk food treat is fine. In fact, even necessary! I try to teach that there is nothing with any food, in moderation. But, this is so hard to teach! I don't want my kids to dwell on or obsess over food, weight, body image, etc., but I DO want them to learn healthy habits. Quite a difficult parenting dilemma!
8. Support makes all the difference. I thought at first that the meetings were cheesy, but now I can't wait until the next one. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging, and as they share things that have or have not worked for them, I feel empowered to make good choices! When someone gets up and receives an award for her accomplishments, I cheer along with them as everyone claps. When it's my turn and others clap, I feel motivated to get to that next goal.
9. People in the "good old days" had the right philosophy. If you can't pick it or slaughter it "fresh," it probably shouldn't go in your mouth. I've been moving away from processed food as much as possible for about a year, and I wish I could completely ditch it. It's so nutritionally void.
First of all, I am down 13 pounds in about 9 weeks. I feel like it has been excruciatingly slow, but when I look at the total, I realize that it's really not! I'm a "streaky" loser. I will go 3 weeks and only drop half a pound, and then in one week I'll drop 3 or 4 at once and repeat the cycle. So, those in-between weeks can be frustrating and try my patience, but the "big loss" weeks are great motivators!
What have I noticed in my first 2 months?
1. Portable snacks for reasonable point values are few and far between. I did find a Kashi bar that doesn't taste like cardboard and is only 3 points. It will do in a pinch. Because of my blood sugar issues, I have to always have something available FAST just in case. I want something I can leave in my glove compartment in the event of a sugar crash.
2. Eating out is horrible. Even when you think you are making good, healthy choices, you aren't. It frustrates me that eating out is such an integral part of our society, and yet there are few choices out there that facilitate healthy living. Thankfully, we don't have the money to eat out often. My newest endeavor is to find reasonable meals to eat out for those times when we "have" to.
3. Too much of our society revolves around food. No need to elaborate, but I will. Have you tried to find something fun to do with your adult friends that doesn't involve food? Especially if you share the Bible's views on alcohol and don't allow it in your life! As kids, we could go to the park and play and not need food, but what do adults do for fun? Interesting.
4. Food labels are not created equal. You can't assume that a muffin is a muffin is a muffin... You have to read labels diligently. Take your points calculator to the store with you! You will be shocked at some of the values of "regular" foods that we eat daily! Likewise, when eating out, restaurants vary widely in point values of similar foods. Do your research!
5. Points are not created equal. I will challenge those of you attempting weight watchers to measure out 3 or 4 points of cookies or chips and compare it to what you can eat if you choose zero or 1 point fruits, veggies, grains or lean meat! Some things just aren't worth the points because they provide no long-term satisfaction.
6. You can't take a break or let your guard down. Ever! Plan, plan to plan, pre-plan, and plan some more! Don't get caught off guard. Don't make uneducated choices about points.
7. It is so hard to teach healthy eating and healthy image to children! My kids are aware that I am doing this program, but I try so hard to focus on it as a way to EAT HEALTHY rather than a way to lose weight. My daughter is especially intrigued by this, and if I am not careful, she becomes obsessed with whether a food is "good for me" or not. I am a firm believer that the occasional sweet or junk food treat is fine. In fact, even necessary! I try to teach that there is nothing with any food, in moderation. But, this is so hard to teach! I don't want my kids to dwell on or obsess over food, weight, body image, etc., but I DO want them to learn healthy habits. Quite a difficult parenting dilemma!
8. Support makes all the difference. I thought at first that the meetings were cheesy, but now I can't wait until the next one. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging, and as they share things that have or have not worked for them, I feel empowered to make good choices! When someone gets up and receives an award for her accomplishments, I cheer along with them as everyone claps. When it's my turn and others clap, I feel motivated to get to that next goal.
9. People in the "good old days" had the right philosophy. If you can't pick it or slaughter it "fresh," it probably shouldn't go in your mouth. I've been moving away from processed food as much as possible for about a year, and I wish I could completely ditch it. It's so nutritionally void.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Baby stacking toys
We are having a baby boom in our local congregation, almost all girls! I love to make handmade gifts, and I used to make cross-stitch, but I got to where I couldn't keep up. So, when my sewing machine got fixed after almost a year of not working, I tackled these cute stackers! The fun part is that they can be "mismatched" and still look cute! :) Someone needs to have a boy (besides Denise, because I have something else planned for you!), so I can make a sports-themed one. :)
The pattern comes from here: http://heatherbailey.com/
Here are the few I've made so far... They definitely LOOK handmade ( as opposed to professional), but I think that's part of their charm.
The pattern comes from here: http://heatherbailey.com/
Here are the few I've made so far... They definitely LOOK handmade ( as opposed to professional), but I think that's part of their charm.
Mouse House
Wow...I am way overdue for posts! Among other things (like this oh-so-fun respiratory mess everyone is passing around), I have been a little preoccupied lately with a rather large mouse problem in our house. Thankfully, so far they have stayed downstairs, but they are starting to overtake our basement. Yesterday, we finally broke down and called an exterminator, and he came to set out bait and to do whatever else those guys do. Today we have a mouse party going on downstairs. No joke. They are running around EVERYWHERE. It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. When a mouse ran around my shoe in the laundry room, I am not sure who was more freaked out...me, because I am sick of mice, the mouse because I started yelling, or my poor husband, who didn't see the mouse and just heard me yell and saw me run off crying. Talk about a meltdown! All the stress and frustration from this (and some other personal issues going on) were more than I could take. But, I was reminded of the therapeutic benefits of a good, long cry! I think my kids thought I'd lost my mind.
Anyway, all that to explain my absence.
I will work hard this week to do some catch-up on posts, as I have many things to share! We just got back from a family-friendly trip to the DC area, Monticello, Mount Vernon, and Natural Bridge. Our kids LOVED it. I didn't expect them to get quite that into it, as they are still young, but they had a blast!! I want to share our itinerary and tips for those places, in case others want to go.
I also have some weight watchers updates to post. I have now lost 10.5, in a little over 7 weeks. It has been slow, but steady, and I have high hopes for great future results!
And, of course I can't forget to write about the Woolly Worm Festival that we attended in a nearby state today. Cheesiest thing I have ever seen, but the kids loved it! Thanks to Nana and Grandaddy for treating us to an unparalleled level of absurdity! :) :)
Anyway, all that to explain my absence.
I will work hard this week to do some catch-up on posts, as I have many things to share! We just got back from a family-friendly trip to the DC area, Monticello, Mount Vernon, and Natural Bridge. Our kids LOVED it. I didn't expect them to get quite that into it, as they are still young, but they had a blast!! I want to share our itinerary and tips for those places, in case others want to go.
I also have some weight watchers updates to post. I have now lost 10.5, in a little over 7 weeks. It has been slow, but steady, and I have high hopes for great future results!
And, of course I can't forget to write about the Woolly Worm Festival that we attended in a nearby state today. Cheesiest thing I have ever seen, but the kids loved it! Thanks to Nana and Grandaddy for treating us to an unparalleled level of absurdity! :) :)
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Little Keepers at Home
Little Keepers at Home
A little over a year ago, a friend of mine told me about a
group she had found online called Keepers of the Faith. We both have girls, and we had talked about
how we just weren’t really comfortable allowing them to be part of Girl Scouts,
but that we loved the idea of a “club” where they could get together with
friends, do projects, etc. We also had
discussed ways to keep our girls involved with each other and to grow in faith
and knowledge of God. She directed me
to this website: keepersofthefaith.com
and asked me what I thought.
In a nutshell, the basic premise of this group is similar to Girl Scouts,
but with a Biblical focus. The girls can
earn “badges” for achievements they accomplish individually as a group. All of the badges are designed to train the
girls to fulfill the role God has established for all women; to be keepers at
home. We stress frequently to them that
their role as keepers at home is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed
about. It is a difficult, rewarding, and
blessed role to have in service to God!
We encourage them to be thankful for God’s wisdom in allowing them to
serve in these ways.
Each “club” of Little Keepers is autonomous. The company makes the books, badges, and
various materials available for purchase, but there is no central governing
authority dictating when, how, or if you cover certain tasks. As a result, we do not have to worry about
false doctrine or teachings permeating our lessons or activities. We set the tone for the sessions based on scriptural
teachings.
The more my friend and I discussed it, the more we could see
this idea being made a reality with our girls and their friends. So, we typed up a proposal and took it to our
elders for consideration. After some
discussion, the elders agreed to allow the girls to meet on Wednesday nights to
fellowship, work towards badges, and, most importantly, to learn more about
God. Each meeting includes a meal, a
devotion or application of God’s word, and a project or activity. We have been meeting now for over a year,
and it has strengthened our girls in ways we didn’t realize could happen so
quickly. It has been a work in progress,
but even people outside our small group of girls and moms have commented on the
difference they have seen among the girls who attend. We work together during our meetings on
various tasks and projects, and every 4-6 months we have a “pinning” for our
girls. We average 10-12 girls at each
meeting, and their current ages range from 6-13. We are getting ready to welcome a new group
of girls, some of whom are 3 and 4 years old, and we look forward to watching them grow
and change alongside our current club members.
Some of our projects from the year include:
- Bible reading – Jonah, Ephesians, and Daniel are some of the books they’ve read
- Bible Memory work – including model prayer, obedience verses, books of the Bible, kindness verses, love verses
- Weekly devotions about our roles as girls/women in God’s kingdom
- Painting self-portraits with watercolor
- Painting favorite Bible stories with watercolor
- Decoupaging trivets for our widows’ brunch
- Decoupaging lap desks
- Learning to bake cinnamon rolls (from scratch!!)
- Learning to decorate cupcakes
- Visiting the nursing home and delivering hand-made crafts the girls made
- Singing Christmas songs at the nursing home
- Preparing, decorating for, and sponsoring a dinner for the elders and their wives
- Scrapbooking
- Rubber stamping
- Painting trivets for home
- Card-making
- Grandparents’ Day gifts
- Family trees
- Allowing the girls to lead songs and prayer among other girls
- Manners and Etiquette training
Our girls have learned to work as a team towards common
goals. They are learning to be good
friends to one another and to share in fun experiences together. More importantly, they are developing the skills
to serve God in the roles He has assigned them. They are also learning to be comfortable praying and singing in an all-girls setting, which will hopefully aid them later when they become teachers of children and/or women. The moms have also grown closer together as we share in the joys and struggles of parenting. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be
part of this group, and I pray that God will continue to bless the efforts of
the moms and children involved!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
WW - week 2
I was down another 4 lbs this week! Woohoo! That's 8 total in the first two weeks. I was thrilled, because the 2nd week of any new venture can kick your tail if you aren't careful! The "novelty" of the first week has worn off, and it's down to the nitty gritty of the plan. They say to expect more weight loss the first two to three weeks, and then it will slow down. I'd love to lose at least 10-15 before my mom gets to her goal and I'm solo in this! :)
My first comment this week is about the meetings. I thought I would feel so self conscious about going to these meetings. Would I feel FAT? Would I feel sloppy? Would I be embarrassed? The answer is a resounding NO! I have never met these people before, but as soon as you walk in the door, they are welcoming you into their group. I guess it's because we are all fighting the same battle of the bulge, but it's so encouraging to have complete strangers cheering you on when they hear "another 4 down." I guess because they understand! We all need a pat on the back sometimes, and for some reason it means a little more coming from someone who has been there, done that. I'm neither the largest nor the smallest in there, yet I feel a part of something bigger. I'm sure that sounds cheesy. I can see why this program works, and why people keep going back, even after they reach their goal weight.
The 2nd week was much harder than the first. Mentally I had to stay really focused, because we had some major stress going on. But, I feel stronger having conquered that and done well! This week I feel better prepared to face the challenges, as I found some low point snacks that should help hold me over a little better. Wish me luck!
My first comment this week is about the meetings. I thought I would feel so self conscious about going to these meetings. Would I feel FAT? Would I feel sloppy? Would I be embarrassed? The answer is a resounding NO! I have never met these people before, but as soon as you walk in the door, they are welcoming you into their group. I guess it's because we are all fighting the same battle of the bulge, but it's so encouraging to have complete strangers cheering you on when they hear "another 4 down." I guess because they understand! We all need a pat on the back sometimes, and for some reason it means a little more coming from someone who has been there, done that. I'm neither the largest nor the smallest in there, yet I feel a part of something bigger. I'm sure that sounds cheesy. I can see why this program works, and why people keep going back, even after they reach their goal weight.
The 2nd week was much harder than the first. Mentally I had to stay really focused, because we had some major stress going on. But, I feel stronger having conquered that and done well! This week I feel better prepared to face the challenges, as I found some low point snacks that should help hold me over a little better. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Weight Watchers Week 1 - reflections
Today marks the end of my first week on the plan, and I have a few reflections.
1. This isn't a reflection, but I lost 4 pounds! I was very excited! I worked really hard at it this week, so I wasn't surprised that I did well, but still happy about it.
2. Food really affects my mood. Being hungry makes me grouchy! I THINK it's because of my blood sugar crashes, but, whatever the reason, I was a bear! I have a great husband for putting up with me this week!
3. Even "keeping track" of my food intake, I was underestimating how many times I grabbed stuff on the go!
4. Being active again after 4 months of virtually NO activity while in the boot is hard!! I love to walk, stretch, do yoga, etc., but it's tough to get back to being reasonably in shape!
5. Taking a 4 year old with boundless energy with you to walk is a wonderful motivator, and every entertaining!
6. This will be a lifelong process for me. It's time I just come to grips with it!
7. You can't do this without support! At least, I can't!
8. Eating out is a bad idea....for so many reasons!
1. This isn't a reflection, but I lost 4 pounds! I was very excited! I worked really hard at it this week, so I wasn't surprised that I did well, but still happy about it.
2. Food really affects my mood. Being hungry makes me grouchy! I THINK it's because of my blood sugar crashes, but, whatever the reason, I was a bear! I have a great husband for putting up with me this week!
3. Even "keeping track" of my food intake, I was underestimating how many times I grabbed stuff on the go!
4. Being active again after 4 months of virtually NO activity while in the boot is hard!! I love to walk, stretch, do yoga, etc., but it's tough to get back to being reasonably in shape!
5. Taking a 4 year old with boundless energy with you to walk is a wonderful motivator, and every entertaining!
6. This will be a lifelong process for me. It's time I just come to grips with it!
7. You can't do this without support! At least, I can't!
8. Eating out is a bad idea....for so many reasons!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Weighty Matters
I did it. I bit the bullet and joined weight watchers. Yesterday was day one, and I am both excited and nervous about the journey ahead! I have struggled with my weight since I was little...like 2nd or 3rd grade! I've had many successes and many failures in this journey. In the 18 months before we decided to have children, I lost 56 pounds "on my own" after a diagnosis of pre-diabetes and threats from the dr. if I were to get pregnant before getting below a certain weight. In a way, my daughter saved my life, because the thought of having children kept me motivated and focused on my weight loss goals. After I had her, I quickly dropped back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but I could go no farther. Since that time, I've gained about 20 of those 56 pounds back, and I hit a weight I swore I'd never reach again. I have a great support group of other women struggling with the same issue, but for some reason I just couldn't do it on my own this time. So, when my mom mentioned that she wanted to return to Weight Watchers, where she'd had great success a few years ago, I jumped at the chance. Normally I don't "go public" with information like this, but I want my sisters in Christ to be praying for me as I tackle this difficult issue in my life. As I find good recipes and tips, I'll try to share them on here for others who might struggle with this as well. Wish me luck!
First News Flash: A small can of tuna (the whole can!!!) is only 2 points, and it packs a whopping 20 grams of protein! Protein is key to keeping my blood sugar from spiking, so this is good news! Time to stock up on tuna! :)
First News Flash: A small can of tuna (the whole can!!!) is only 2 points, and it packs a whopping 20 grams of protein! Protein is key to keeping my blood sugar from spiking, so this is good news! Time to stock up on tuna! :)
Friday, August 24, 2012
More Bible Notebooking: Noah's Ark, Tabernacle, Babel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Esau
Noah's Ark
For this one, I had my little one cut out brown "boards" and glue them on, as well as animals. Then I found a really cool font called "trace" online, and it made dotted lines for him to trace! :) Worked great. I couldn't believe how hard he worked on this! Here is his example.
Tabernacle Preschool
There are multiple online sites where you can make your own word searches. I just typed in the words I wanted and selected the difficulty level, and it created it for me!
Tabernacle Elementary
My older one wanted a page for this as well, so she had the harder one. She put it away somewhere before I got to scan it, so I'll put it on here when she finds it. :)
Tower of Babel
Jacob and Esau
An easy crossword puzzle I created on puzzlemaker.com
Ezra
The kids in class made a mosaic out of the heart by gluing on small colorful pieces of paper. We talked about how, when we have God's word in our heart, our heart is beautiful! Then, they could trace the dotted words.
Abraham's promise
He traced the words and then painted the stars yellow. After that, we squirted some gold glitter glue on the stars and smeared it around.
Abraham and Isaac
No link here because I just copied a reproducible coloring page and let him color it.
For this one, I had my little one cut out brown "boards" and glue them on, as well as animals. Then I found a really cool font called "trace" online, and it made dotted lines for him to trace! :) Worked great. I couldn't believe how hard he worked on this! Here is his example.
Tabernacle Preschool
There are multiple online sites where you can make your own word searches. I just typed in the words I wanted and selected the difficulty level, and it created it for me!
Tabernacle Elementary
My older one wanted a page for this as well, so she had the harder one. She put it away somewhere before I got to scan it, so I'll put it on here when she finds it. :)
Tower of Babel
Jacob and Esau
An easy crossword puzzle I created on puzzlemaker.com
Ezra
The kids in class made a mosaic out of the heart by gluing on small colorful pieces of paper. We talked about how, when we have God's word in our heart, our heart is beautiful! Then, they could trace the dotted words.
Abraham's promise
He traced the words and then painted the stars yellow. After that, we squirted some gold glitter glue on the stars and smeared it around.
Abraham and Isaac
No link here because I just copied a reproducible coloring page and let him color it.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Bible Class Josiah
Last week, we studied Josiah in my kindergarten Bible class. I like teaching this story to little ones because they are always amazed that there was a king who was 8 years old! Most of the time at least one of my class members has an older brother or sister who is 8 or 9, and they find it so amusing that a kid that age could be king! They are also always impressed when he tears his clothes because he's so sad. (We DO remind them not to try that when THEY are sad!).
This week, we introduce the memory verse 2 Tim 3:16. We only use the first part, though. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD. Starting out, I give them about a month to do a memory verse. Our focus for this lesson is that the Bible is God's word and we should listen to what it says.
Before class, I hide small pictures of Bibles around the room. When we get to the part where Josiah's friends find the Law, I let the kids run around the room and find the paper Bibles.
We start the lesson with me telling the story using some cheesy popsicle puppets I made.
When we get to the part about the men finding God's law, we point out the scroll that Shaphan is holding and talk about how they didn't all used to have their own copies of God's word, which made it even more special! We also talk about how silly it was that God's law was in the house of the Lord and no one knew it. We talk about Josiah tearing his clothes and reading the law to the people and everyone being sad when they realized they were not following God. I try to make application the best I can to 5 year olds that, anytime we realize we aren't doing what the Bible says, we should be sad and try to fix it.
Following the story, the kids make crowns. I just made a basic crown template.
The kids decorate it however they want, with markers, crayons, rhinestones, and sometimes glitter if I have a calm bunch. :) Then, I cut a strip of posterboard and make the part that goes around their heads and staple it to the crown. Instant kings!
And here is the scrapbook page for Josiah!
Josiah Scrapbook Page
This week, we introduce the memory verse 2 Tim 3:16. We only use the first part, though. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD. Starting out, I give them about a month to do a memory verse. Our focus for this lesson is that the Bible is God's word and we should listen to what it says.
Before class, I hide small pictures of Bibles around the room. When we get to the part where Josiah's friends find the Law, I let the kids run around the room and find the paper Bibles.
We start the lesson with me telling the story using some cheesy popsicle puppets I made.
Following the story, the kids make crowns. I just made a basic crown template.
And here is the scrapbook page for Josiah!
Josiah Scrapbook Page
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
"Unanswered" Prayers
Have you ever had one of "those" prayers? You know the kind I mean. The one that you pray over and over and over, and no matter how often you pray it, you just feel like it's not being answered? Have you ever been guilty of questioning why He doesn't see fit to answer it? I have, very recently. When I realized that the prayer had, indeed, been answered more abundantly than I could have imagined, I was humbled. And grateful. And awed.
I put the title in quotes, because I know with all my heart that there are no unanswered prayers for a child of God living right in His sight. The reason we call them unanswered is often because the answer wasn't the one we wanted to hear. Right? You can nod in agreement...no one will know. :)
Recently, I prayed very hard about a situation my daughter was facing with a new school year. I took to heart the verse that exhorts us to pray without ceasing. Several times I was brought to tears begging God to answer the prayer. I prayed fervently for His will to be done, not mine, and for me to accept that will, but deep down I had hopes for a certain answer to be His will. I know I'm not the only one who has done that!
Needless to say (but I will anyway!), God did not answer the prayer the way I, with my feeble understanding of things, thought He should have. I confess that I was scared and almost angry at the results, but I remembered a similar situation last year that turned out to be best, even though I hated it at the time. When my daughter became aware of it, she even asked why God did things the way He did. I had no answer other than, "Because He knows best." Even as I spoke the words, I worried. Did He really make the right choice? Did I interpret His choice correctly? Had I messed up His plan? Would it work out for the best? Should I "take it back" upon myself instead of letting it go? I wavered in my confidence and spent more than one sleepless night.
Today, I had a meeting at school that I feared would cement my opinion of the situation. I tossed and turned all night as I worried about the meeting and rehearsed my part of it. I stressed and prayed and had myself in knots. I was desperate for reassurance that this would work out for the best.
I walked into the meeting incredibly nervous and scared. I was going to have to share private family details with a stranger and hope for the best. Would it be well received? Would it work out? Could I do it alone??
The answer, in short, is that I didn't HAVE to do it alone. God had prepared the way for me. He had already taken care of the details. He had answered my prayer in ways I couldn't have imagined. Within a few minutes of beginning the meeting, I knew that He was taking care of me and of my daughter. The other person in the meeting was very accepting and welcoming, and she quickly assured me that she had our best interests in mind and would help us with the difficulties we faced. The fears I had were unwarranted. My worries were a waste of time and energy and sleep. (Aren't they always?)
I am not naive enough to think that there will be no bumps along the road this school year, but I am so thankful that, during this first full week, God has reminded me of His constant presence.
So, the next time you feel like your prayers are going unanswered, do two things for me:
1.) Make sure you are in a right relationship with God. If you have questions about this, please ask me or check out the tab at the top of the page about salvation for verses to study.
2.) Stop worrying if you can, and know that there are NO "Unanswered" prayers with God. If you feel like it has been unanswered, take a good, hard look at things and see if maybe the answer just isn't the one YOU thought was best.
3.) Don't give up praying. Keep praying until you are confident you know God's answer. Even then, keep praying. Thank Him for answering your prayer. Trust Him to make it all work out for good!
I put the title in quotes, because I know with all my heart that there are no unanswered prayers for a child of God living right in His sight. The reason we call them unanswered is often because the answer wasn't the one we wanted to hear. Right? You can nod in agreement...no one will know. :)
Recently, I prayed very hard about a situation my daughter was facing with a new school year. I took to heart the verse that exhorts us to pray without ceasing. Several times I was brought to tears begging God to answer the prayer. I prayed fervently for His will to be done, not mine, and for me to accept that will, but deep down I had hopes for a certain answer to be His will. I know I'm not the only one who has done that!
Needless to say (but I will anyway!), God did not answer the prayer the way I, with my feeble understanding of things, thought He should have. I confess that I was scared and almost angry at the results, but I remembered a similar situation last year that turned out to be best, even though I hated it at the time. When my daughter became aware of it, she even asked why God did things the way He did. I had no answer other than, "Because He knows best." Even as I spoke the words, I worried. Did He really make the right choice? Did I interpret His choice correctly? Had I messed up His plan? Would it work out for the best? Should I "take it back" upon myself instead of letting it go? I wavered in my confidence and spent more than one sleepless night.
Today, I had a meeting at school that I feared would cement my opinion of the situation. I tossed and turned all night as I worried about the meeting and rehearsed my part of it. I stressed and prayed and had myself in knots. I was desperate for reassurance that this would work out for the best.
I walked into the meeting incredibly nervous and scared. I was going to have to share private family details with a stranger and hope for the best. Would it be well received? Would it work out? Could I do it alone??
The answer, in short, is that I didn't HAVE to do it alone. God had prepared the way for me. He had already taken care of the details. He had answered my prayer in ways I couldn't have imagined. Within a few minutes of beginning the meeting, I knew that He was taking care of me and of my daughter. The other person in the meeting was very accepting and welcoming, and she quickly assured me that she had our best interests in mind and would help us with the difficulties we faced. The fears I had were unwarranted. My worries were a waste of time and energy and sleep. (Aren't they always?)
I am not naive enough to think that there will be no bumps along the road this school year, but I am so thankful that, during this first full week, God has reminded me of His constant presence.
So, the next time you feel like your prayers are going unanswered, do two things for me:
1.) Make sure you are in a right relationship with God. If you have questions about this, please ask me or check out the tab at the top of the page about salvation for verses to study.
2.) Stop worrying if you can, and know that there are NO "Unanswered" prayers with God. If you feel like it has been unanswered, take a good, hard look at things and see if maybe the answer just isn't the one YOU thought was best.
3.) Don't give up praying. Keep praying until you are confident you know God's answer. Even then, keep praying. Thank Him for answering your prayer. Trust Him to make it all work out for good!
Bible Notebooking Adventure
In my Sunday morning Bible school class and in my home studies with my littler one, we have started making Bible notebooks. I've seen a lot of blogs and sites that do this for homeschooling, but I thought it could be applied to Bible lessons and Sunday school as well. I have kids in my class from time to time who need a little help with retaining the lessons we teach, and I thought something visual that the kids created themselves might work well. My son also needs to learn to stay focused on the task at hand and to complete work given without running off to do something else! So, these pages will, hopefully, serve multiple purposes. If you've done one of these kinds of notebooks before, feel free to share any tips!!
To start, I got a basic 3-ring hardback binder for each child and put names on the covers. In each binder, I put some empty clear page protectors. From there, all I have to do is create a page for the kids to complete with each lesson! Here are a few I have started. If you like them, feel free to use them and share them. The ones for my little one have handwriting lines on them so that he can do the letters correctly. I write the words and let him trace or copy them. At home, we are doing some review with my 4 year old. In class, we are studying different stories that stress the importance of the Bible.
Bible Notebooking Page ADAM AND EVE
Bible Notebooking Page ARK OF THE COVENANT
Bible Notebooking Page JOSIAH
Here is my little man's first attempt, Adam and Eve.
And here is his ark of the covenant. :)
To start, I got a basic 3-ring hardback binder for each child and put names on the covers. In each binder, I put some empty clear page protectors. From there, all I have to do is create a page for the kids to complete with each lesson! Here are a few I have started. If you like them, feel free to use them and share them. The ones for my little one have handwriting lines on them so that he can do the letters correctly. I write the words and let him trace or copy them. At home, we are doing some review with my 4 year old. In class, we are studying different stories that stress the importance of the Bible.
Bible Notebooking Page ADAM AND EVE
Bible Notebooking Page ARK OF THE COVENANT
Bible Notebooking Page JOSIAH
Here is my little man's first attempt, Adam and Eve.
And here is his ark of the covenant. :)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
God Made Me Special
My first lesson with a new group that has just promoted into my class is always "God Made Me Special."
We start by reading Genesis 1:26-27 and talk about how God made man special and in His image.
Next, we read this book:
Here is a link to it on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Designed-Must-Special-Caucasian-Version/dp/096152796X
I spent WAY too much money on this book at a fancy boutique one time. It was going out of business and I had a gift card I had to spend, so I made an impulse buy. I have never regretted it. It's drawn in "childish" style, but I've used it even with pre-teens and early teenagers. It's charming.
Anyway...we read that book and talk about all the ways God made us special. We thank God after each page for making our eyes, ears, Spirit, etc.
Next, we use a mini book from here:
The mini book is called "Little Me."
I go ahead and prepare the small page pockets.
Each page has a separate "body part" made out of paper that the kids can decorate to look like themselves. Then, they can lay the pieces out to make a "whole" body and position it however they want. We talk about how God made each part of us. When they are finished, each piece slides down in the little pocket on each page, so they can keep them. The kids always love this project!
At the end of class #1, I send home an "all about me" survey for the parents to complete with the kids asking some of their favorites so that I can get to know them a little better.
This year, I'm trying something new. We are making a "scrapbook" for each child of our lessons. I'll post more about that as I figure out exactly what we're doing with it.
We start by reading Genesis 1:26-27 and talk about how God made man special and in His image.
Next, we read this book:
Here is a link to it on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Designed-Must-Special-Caucasian-Version/dp/096152796X
I spent WAY too much money on this book at a fancy boutique one time. It was going out of business and I had a gift card I had to spend, so I made an impulse buy. I have never regretted it. It's drawn in "childish" style, but I've used it even with pre-teens and early teenagers. It's charming.
Anyway...we read that book and talk about all the ways God made us special. We thank God after each page for making our eyes, ears, Spirit, etc.
Next, we use a mini book from here:
The mini book is called "Little Me."
I go ahead and prepare the small page pockets.
Each page has a separate "body part" made out of paper that the kids can decorate to look like themselves. Then, they can lay the pieces out to make a "whole" body and position it however they want. We talk about how God made each part of us. When they are finished, each piece slides down in the little pocket on each page, so they can keep them. The kids always love this project!
At the end of class #1, I send home an "all about me" survey for the parents to complete with the kids asking some of their favorites so that I can get to know them a little better.
This year, I'm trying something new. We are making a "scrapbook" for each child of our lessons. I'll post more about that as I figure out exactly what we're doing with it.
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