Mama's Makeover: Help Needed

Shabby Apple:  Caliope

Okay, Ladies . . .

I have a fun job for you.

I won a Blog Giveaway . . .

and I am the happy recipient of a . . .

$50 Gift Certificate for Shabby Apple.

(Thank you, Carissa of lowercase letters, for this wonderful gift!)

Shabby Apple:  Caloohi Callay

So . . .

I need YOU to . . .

help me pick out some new clothes.

Shabby Apple:  Root Beer Float

I know . . .

$50 won't go far . . .

but I plan to add a bit to it.

I am planning to buy myself something NEW and FUN . . .

to celebrate when I have . . .

Lost 75 Pounds.

(which I am hoping will happen in the next few weeks)

Shabby Apple:  Land Hoi

So . . .

please hop on over to the

Shabby Apple

and let me know which dress, skirt, shirt, outfit . . .

YOU think would look fabulous on the . . .

New and Skinnier Me.

Shabby Apple:  Barefoot in the Park

Seriously.

I have chosen my clothes for so many years . . .

by how best to hide camouflage my extra pounds . . .

that I really don't even know what styles will look best now.

Shabby Apple:  Gray Fox

And . . .

since it has been so very many years since I was this weight . . .

I am thinking that my 50-something body shouldn't be trying to wear

30-something styles.

While at the same time I am so not ready for "old lady" styles.  

(smile)

Shabby Apple:  Bon Voyage

So . . .

. . .  what do YOU think ?

. . .  what styles are best/appropriate for a 50-something?

(that doesn't feel old at all )

I can't wait to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Please Pop over to Shabby Apple . . .

there is so much more than just the pictures I put on this post.

Thank you for your help on Mama's Makeover.

A Great Day at the Track

Today was the last 

Middle School Track Meet

of the Regular Season.

At today's meet, 

it was determined who will go on

to the League Meet next week.

Josiah finished up his 7th Grade season

with a P.R. (Personal Record) of 1:15 in the 400m.

Great job, Josiah!  Way to run!

Sarah had an amazing meet with . . .

. . .  a 1st Place finish in the 4 x 100 relay with 53.63.

. . .  a 1st Place finish in the 4 x 200 relay with 1:55.25.

. . .  a 5th Place finish in the 200m with 30.15.

(missing 4th place by .1 seconds)

. . .  a 5th Place finish in the Long Jump

with a P.R. of 13'2"

Sarah will move on to the League Meet

in Both Relays and the Long Jump.

(She missed going in the 200 by just 1/10th of a second.)

They have had a GREAT season,

and we couldn't be more proud of their

hard work and dedication to the sport!

Hosanna will find out tomorrow if she will be going to the

high school District and State meets as an alternate for one of the relays.

Oh how she would LOVE to go to State, 

as part of the relay team,

even if she doesn't get to run.

One more week of Spring Baseball for Elijah,

and then we have a 2 week break before . . .

Summer Track

and

Summer Baseball.

Mama sure loves to be the kids Biggest Loudest Cheerleader.

(I used to be the biggest . . . but not any more.  Big Smiles!)

Grandma Time . . .

I'll take it whenever I can get it.

A week ago, Jim and I went to the Memorial Service

of an elderly man we had known years ago.

He was a godly Christian leader in our community,

and someone that had greatly impacted 

Jim's teaching and coaching career.

We enjoyed the Memorial Service,

along with 1200 other people.

And, it was fun to see a couple of people I had gone to 

Jr. High and High School with 30+ years ago.

While back in my "old stomping grounds",

we also visited my Dear Daddy,

and my "adopted" Pops & Mom

that I lived with in high school.

But . . .

the best part of the day was spending the evening with

Gregg, Kayla, and Noah.

Oh. My. Yes.

This Grandma-Business is SUPER FUN!

We met up with them at a restaurant on the Tacoma Waterfront.

Since it was the most gorgeous day yet of the spring,

the restaurant wait times were looooong.

But, we didn't mind at all,

since this gave us time to take a 1 hour walk

along the waterfront.

Kayla & I chatted,

while Gregg & Jim visited,

while Noah enjoyed being carried by

Grandpa & Grandma.

I had to stop us all for just a minute,

so that we could take these quick phone pics.

Isn't he ADORABLE?

 After our nice walk on the waterfront,

we enjoyed a wonderful meal,

and great conversation with Gregg & Kayla.

While we definitely wish that they lived closer,

we don't complain about the 150 mile drive to spend time with family.

We are BLESSED to have them near enough for 

a walk along the water and a dinner date.

Truly BLESSED !!!

I had a choice to make when I got up this morning:

#1  Be disappointed that I was not spending Mother's Day with all of my children.

#2  Be thankful for 5 wonderful children that I was BLESSED to spend the day with.

I chose #2 . . . and was not disappointed in the least.

I was absolutely BLESSED all day long . . .

and am so THANKFUL that I got to spend the day 

with these 5 AMAZING kids / teens / young adults.

We started out the day by heading to the Early Service.

(leaving the house at 8:10am)

After Early Service, we went to Sunday School.

Jim needed to run home to get something for Children's Church, 

and came back with a Hot Mocha for Mama.  

Sweet Treat #1.

After Sunday School, we all stayed for our first day of ministry with Children's Church.

Our family is in charge of Children's Church (for the 4-6 year olds),

during 2nd Service on the 2nd Sunday of each month.

After church, each woman was given a single long stemmed rose.

After all the women were given their roses, the man in charge came looking for,

"the woman with the most kids", and BLESSED me with an arm full of extra roses.

What a TREAT!

(I filled 2 vases when I got home: 1 for the kitchen and 1 for the living room.)

After church . . . Papa took all of us out to lunch at Bob's Burgers.  

Yummm . . .

I decided to TREAT myself for Mother's Day,

and ordered an Avocado Bacon Chicken Burger with JoJos . . .

instead of my usual Salad.  

 Oh. My. Yum.

After lunch, we came home and Mama asked for a little Photo Shoot . . .

outside . . .

in the rain . . .

with the 3 photographers in the picture.

Papa did a pretty good job, though, don't you think?

Funniest Thing:

When we got dressed for church at 7:30am, we were NOT in any way planning to "match"

for Family Pictures.  No.  There was NO discussion of purple and blue and stripes.

We probably couldn't have matched better if we'd tried.  (smile)

I then asked Ben to take a few pics of Mama & Papa before we headed out for a Coffee Date.

He just started randomly shooting pics in any which way.

Oops.  

Cut off Papa's head here.

Not quite what I was hoping for.

Getting better . . .

Not too bad.

The kids headed inside to take naps

(their choice, not mandatory for teenagers) 

and "chill" for awhile,

while Papa and Mama headed out for a Coffee Date.

Another Sweet Treat!  

What a Day!

Papa and I returned from our Coffee Date,

and it was time for a Hand & Foot (card game) Tournament with the kids.

Oh how Mama LOVES to play Hand & Foot with her kids!

Mama & Elijah were partners, and we got beat badly,

but he was a great sport, and we still had a lot of fun.

We finished up Hand & Foot at 9:15, and it was nearly bed time.

But, before bed, the kids pulled out a few cards and a couple of presents.

I LOVE this sign from Ben.

And, what a TREAT from Hosanna!

After cards and presents and hugs and kisses and prayers . . .

Papa and the Young Ones headed to bed.

Since I had already made the choice to forego my diet for the day,

Hosanna and I "snuck" out to DQ for a Mint Oreo Blizzard.

Oh. My. Yum.

After sticking to 1000 calories per day for many, many months . . .

I believe I surpassed 1000 calories in this one "little" treat.  Yikes!

(not to mention the 1000+ calorie burger and jojos from lunch)

Back to the treadmill tomorrow . . .

but, today I was BLESSED to set aside my diet . . .

to set aside all of the "stuff" going on in my life . . .

to set aside the hurts and pain and frustrations . . . 

and to CELEBRATE the JOY of the BLESSINGS the LORD has given me !!!

And . . .

in addition to spending the day with these 5 WONDERFUL children . . .

I got a homemade card from Lindsey in Australia yesterday . . .

I got a card from Gregg, Kayla, and Noah (signed with his handprint) yesterday . . .

I got a present and a phone call from Rachel yesterday . . .

I got early morning text messages today from Cassie & Carissa in Minnesota . . .

I got afternoon text messages today from Gregg & Kayla and Josh & Hannah . . .

I got an afternoon phone call today from Carissa . . .

and . . .

I got FB messages and thank you's from most of the Big Kids, too.

I was truly BLESSED on this Mother's Day !!!

Fun Family Friday Flip-Flops Frisbee Fast Picnic Park Practice Play Subway Sandwiches Salad Sub-Districts

Yesterday . . .

we put away our homeschool books for the day . . .

and decided to create a . . .

Family Fun Friday 

holiday.

The sun was out . . .

and we were ready to PLAY.

After running a couple of errands . . .

we went to the mall to buy new Flip-Flops . . .

and a couple of new Frisbees.

Then . . .

off to the Park we went . . .

to have a Picnic . . .

and to Play

Frisbee Golf.

After Playing  9 holes of  Frisbee Golf . . .

(It was my first time playing, and I tied Elijah for the WIN.  Oh yea!)

Mama got out her lawn chair and read a book . . .

while Josiah borrowed her camera to take pictures . . .

while Elijah & Sarah Practiced with their Frisbees.

We then headed to Subway to pick up . . . 

Sandwiches for the kids and a Salad for Mama . . .

before heading to the Sub-District Finals Track Meet . . .

to watch Hosanna run Fast.

We left home at 11:00 am . . .

and returned home at 9:00 pm.

It was a loooooong day . . .

but we sure had a lot of . . . 

Family Fun !!!

Discus Throwin' Hosanna ???

Hosanna  . . .   a Thrower ???

Yes.

Faith Filled Fridays: Childlike Faith

I told you last week about the Message From the Lord that I was able to share at our church's Ladies' Spring Tea.  There is so much about this message, and others, that I want to share with you all, that I decided to try (no absolute promises, but I will try) to write a weekly post about Faith.  Of course, I try to share my faith throughout the week, in all kinds of posts, but maybe setting up a schedule like this will help me to share what I am learning from God's Word more regularly.

The theme for the Ladies' Spring Tea was Childlike Faith.  As I was preparing my message for the Tea, I pictured a little girl with her head bowed, seeking God for big things, and with simple faith, expecting God to answer . . . 

which reminded me of this story . . .

When I had 5 kids under 6 years old, I had 4 impacted and infected wisdom teeth and needed oral surgery.  Jim and the kids drove me to the surgeon’s office to drop me off for surgery, promising to return later to pick me up.  As I was getting out of the van, Jim said, “Kids, we should pray for Mommy.”  My 3 or 4 year old daughter, Cassie, boldly prayed, “Please God, help Mommy’s mouth not to hurt.”

I thought, “Oh. How sweet.”  

But, I also thought, “Oh dear.  She is going to be disappointed tonight.”

No.  I did not have a childlike faith to match Cassie's.

I was sent home from surgery with some heavy-duty pain meds, and told that I probably wouldn’t eat any solid food for a couple of days.

The doctor phoned Jim that evening to ask him how I was doing, and Jim handed me the phone.  

“How am I?  Fine.  I’m eating chicken and rice for dinner."  

"Pain?  No.  No pain."  

"Swelling?  No.  No swelling." 

"Prescription Meds?  No.  I didn’t take any.”

No.  

I never had any pain or swelling from the surgery 

for my 4 impacted and infected wisdom teeth.  

None.

Do you believe in Miracles?

Do you have the kind of Childlike Faith that Cassie had?

I believe that God wants us each to pray that way . . . and to live that way.

Struggling . . .

with Temptation tonight.

I am oh so close to getting in my car . . .

driving to the grocery store . . .

buying a 1/2 gallon of . . . 

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream . . .

and bringing it home to eat the WHOLE thing.

I can justify it in oh so many ways:

"I've been sooo.... good on my diet."

"I've lost 64 pounds already."

"It will make me feel better after a STRESS-FILLED day."

"I've only eaten 850 calories today."

But . . .

I KNOW that it WON'T make me feel better.

I KNOW that I will just be mad at myself tomorrow when I get on the scale.

But . . .

it sounds sooooo...... GOOD right now.

Do YOU ever have temptations such as these?

Have you ever eaten a 1/2 gallon of Ice Cream?

Or a bowl of unbaked cookie dough?

Please don't tell me I'm the only one with such thoughts.

How do you deal with temptation ???

What are your triggers ?  

What are you tempted to do or to eat ???

Do you usually succumb to such temptations . . .

or do you have things that help you to withstand temptation?

Prayers Appreciated

Heavy Heart.

Lots going on.

Serious Prayer Needs.



Mostly Unspoken Needs:   

My Kids

My 94 year old Daddy

Friends

Church

please lift us up, as God know the needs.



One Speakable Need:  

I had a job interview today.  Please pray that the Lord would give me wisdom as to whether or not I need to be working outside the home.  Finances are TOUGH . . . but my heart is at home.  Hard.

This is a part time job  . . .  for a ministry . . . so it would be using my gifts and passions.  If I need to work outside the home, this is definitely a place I would like to work.  Still . . . a huge decision.

Sprintin' Sarah

When Sarah runs . . .

she is FOCUSED . . .

and she is FAST.

Sarah is first out of the blocks . . .

and the other girls have to chase her right down that track.

Jumpin' Josiah

Josiah is in 7th grade this year . . .

and is really enjoying his first season on a 

School Sport's Team.

Slidin' Elijah

Oh Boy . . . does this little guy LOVE baseball !!!

Cute & Creative Baby Gifts

I wrote a post in February about the . . .

Baby Shakes & Daisy Cakes

that I made for a Baby Shower.

Last week, I revised the design a bit,

but took some more CUTE gifts to

a church friends' shower.

(Thankfully, this friend was not at the

February shower, or I would not have

copied the Cute Gift Idea.)

I started out with a set of Baby Shakes.

(I came up with the name, and thought it was kind of cute.)

Rockin' the Curls

 A week ago . . . 

in THIS post . . .

I asked for your help.

Straight?

or 

Curls?

I asked.