A Time For Every Season....

What is a mommy to do! Just this morning I heard some unkind grunts and words being spoken in the other room. When I asked Drew why he wasn't using kind words he said that Gabe had hit him and wouldn't stop. I called Gabe into the office and asked him if he had repeatedly hit his brother. Gabe looked at Drew, then looked back into my eyes and methodically leaned his head forward, then slowly backwards. His first real confession of "yes," normally every question receives a shake of the head "no." It was adorable, but I did manage to keep a stern face! After explaining that we don't hit; Gabe turned to Drew and gave him a hug and a little peck on the cheek. Oh, if only it were that simple! I knew if I didn't discipline Gabe he would be hitting and taking things within the minute. So, I'm typing this post, while Gabe sits in time out crying his little eyes out. Joy comes in the morning through insignificant moments, that fade into the past, never t...

; “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12 It has been such a long month. We've had some many wonderful things happen, but they have left me quite exhausted! We've had such a fun summer of traveling and changes that it has been really hard for me to get back into a routine with the kids. Plus we've only had 1 car so I've been home bound for the month of August - which is good since I can't spend money if I'm not out! However, I've really been struggling with the normal everyday details of life - being exhausted and very sick certainly doesn't help my predicament. Just today I've been struggling with having a good attitude and asked the Lord for patience. I really wish I hadn't asked, just a few hours later some braxton hicks contractions began and they haven't stopped all evening. That is not the best sign for my weak pregnant self. So, I'll have to call the doc tomorrow and see ...

This was an interesting week, we had company come visit us over the weekend, so we had to take a break from our spending sabbatical. We took our guests - David and his girlfriend Kessa, to Joe T Garcia's for lunch on Friday. Then on Saturday we celebrated my mom's birthday with a girls day out for pedicures, a cute little tea house for lunch, and a movie that evening. I had some cash set aside that someone gave me as a gift, so we didn't spend any family money on the weekend. I did have to buy some groceries for when our company arrived, so we spent 42.45 on groceries for the week. Other than that it was a fun and enjoyable week. John had to work most of the week and the kids and I went to the pool and played around the house. Drew is mastering his phonics and the writing of his letters, while Gabe spent most of the week trying to get his eye teeth to come through . Gabe was especially cranky and even put on a nice tantrum for our company. It was a wonderful week of fun! ...

Week two was a rather hard week for me. I've been home with the kids for two full weeks. John has been gone almost the entire time - leaving before I get up and home after I go to sleep. It was a rough week of work, kids, cleaning, and nothing else. We went swimming a few times to get out of the house, baked a ton of homemade treats, and read oh so many books. Drew has been eager to practice his phonics and write some letters - I bribed him with a guarantee that we'd take him to his first NASCAR race once he learned how to read! Drew thinks that is where Lightning McQueen lives and races when he isn't making movies. I was energized late in the week with my first ever double up to 1.00 coupon extravaganza at Kroger! It forced me to get my coupons organized and put together my endless lists of what to buy. My mother and I awoke before dawn (5:30 am), coupon and list in hand. We weren't surprised by all the other frugals who were also shopping bright and early on a Sat...

551. Little squeals from outside in the yard – boys chasing one another with the water hose. 552. Saying good-bye to beloved teachers at church – we’re so thankful for your investment into our boys! 553. Mundane – I guess looking ahead can be rather scary so taking life one day at a time has been a blessing! The endless piles of laundry, dishes and wiping exhaust this mommy’s joy. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be exhausted! 554. John’s next step along his teaching journey – praises are being sung as he has accepted an aid position at a middle school in Fort Worth. One step in the right direction! What will it be like with John having a set 8-5 schedule with weekends off? He’s never had that before... the unknown is so exciting! 555. A new(er) car will be added to our family. A special someone must have read my post from last week about the friend who is always fixing John’s car. We will be buying their very nice, dependable, Jeep in a few days! 556. Clothes from a f...

Week 1 went fairly well, but my aim for 100.00 in groceries for the whole month left out the fact that we'd been gone for most of July, so there wasn't anything in our fridge. In order to be somewhat healthy and not have Mac n Cheese and hot dogs every day I had to break down and head to the farmers market and Kroger for some real food. I did buy things that would complement various stock piles in our freezer and pantry - this way I'm still using up my surplus. I still have a huge surplus - anyone need dressings or cereal? So far (besides bills, those don't count!) we've spent: Gasoline: 36.86 Grocery's: 83.04 Prescriptions: 10.00 I'm so excited, what we're geared up to save this month on groceries/gasoline/eating out/Misc costs like Home Depot charges, will cover the overage spent on our vacation last month. We have a short term account set up for: Vacations, Christmas, HOA dues, and our insane electric bill during the summer. Then the long term savin...

“Man worships because God lays His hand to the dust of our experience, and man miraculously becomes a living soul - and knows it and wants to worship.” —Douglas Horton 531. A new favorite song which expresses much of what I’ve been mulling over in my mind these days. (Addison Road – What Do I Know Of Holy) 532. Little boys falling in love with books... a Mommy/English lover’s dream! 533. Drew getting his first bee sting, we then looked up the difference between bees and wasps online and Drew stared at the stinger of the wasp for 30 minutes; asking questions I’m sure only his dad knew the answer to. Drew left quite proud that the poison in the sting only hurt a little (but scared him a lot)! 534. Little chubby feet running towards me with “Run Away Bunny” and “Goodnight Moon” --pleading for more reading time. I love it when their attention span is long enough for a quick book! 535. A fantastic vacation to the rouged NW, blueberry picking, ocean romps, a cooling brook, deep friendship, a...

The kids are in bed and I'm sitting on the couch, devouring frozen yogurt, reading the new "TOS Magazine" and listening to my new favorite song "What Do I Know of Holy" by Addison Road (Below) over and over again. I'm mulling over starting a composting bin with red worms (a very NW thing to do!) and dreaming of the homeschooling material I've been researching. I love our fasting month, no temptations to turn on the TV and veg out!

By Week 13, the baby is taking on a more human look. The baby's eyes begin to move from the sides of the head to the front. The baby also has many internal changes happening as well. The intestines move down from the umbilical cord to the abdomen. Also the villi in the baby's intestines are forming which will be crucial when digestion and peristalsis begin to occur. Even the baby's tiny pancreas is beginning to produce insulin this week. All of this occurs when this little fetus is only about an ounce in weight and about 3 inches long! Read more: http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/pregnancy_week_to_week_week_13#ixzz0NvQFioJ7

I had my checkup today, everything went great. Our peanut is growing and had a normal heart rate (174). I gain a pound since a month ago but my tummy is protruding a lot - my body is already changing. The boys are super excited about having a little brother or sister. I'm excited for the morning sickness to go away.... still waiting! I'd also love my energy back! The boys have been enjoying the hot weather, we swam in the whale pool this evening and made some rice krispy treats for the kiddo's to enjoy. Drew and Gabe were so excited! I've been busy saving money - I took a few months sabbatical from couponing while we cleaned out the cupboards and freezer. Now I'm getting back into the couponing. Here are a few of the deals I did this week to get free food! 10 boxes of Rice Krispies at Albertson's which cost 8.00 (oop) after coupons and in store ad. I will receive a 10.00 rebate check sometime in the next 4-6 weeks. So I made 2.00 - here come the Rice Krispy tre...

It is August! It is time for our family to go without! It couldn't have come at a better time, we're still in the vacation mindset of eating out and splurging, so our reality check will come via hard core disciplines this month. Actually, it may sound like an awful practice, but I really look forward to our fasting months. For some reason I am challenged to save, bake, create from scratch, stay home, spend more time in God's word, listen to relaxing music, bring out the candles, read those books I've been staring at, and pray more. I love the fruit of our month long fast, prayer comes more naturally and concern for others is always more on the forefront of my mind. I always feel closer to God and my time in the Word is more in depth. Not spending is like going without caffeine. It is really hard in the beginning, but after a few weeks you don't even noticed your without it. An added benefit of our no spending month is the subsequent months also benefit. In reviewin...

We made it home from our wild trip to Oregon! We had so much fun and did so many wonderful things, here were the highlights: Attended my grandfather's 80th birthday/reunion Visited the Fletcher's in Washington and enjoyed their hot tub, hospitality, and humor! Toured Down Town Seattle in a "Duck" while struggling with morning sickness that is aggravated by motion Realized I'm getting old while playing volleyball at the BBQ my Aunt and Uncle put on for everyone visiting for Grandpa's 80th. Went to the Zoo in Seattle with family and our good friends the Stringers. John enjoyed a guys day of building shelves in the Stringers garage with Mel's husband. Enjoyed visiting with 50 members from the Adamson side of the family, including my Dad who lives in Seattle Took the boys to a Mariners game - Gabe's first. We were in row 16 - nice and close! Stayed a week in Portland during their heat wave Enjoyed a luxurious night away from the boys with a fancy breakfas...