But Mom ....

"I just don't LIKE to do the dishes."

Elijah lamented one day last week.

"Well," Mama replied, "There are some jobs that I

don't really like to do either.  But, I do them."

"Really?!?!"  he seemed shocked that Mama

might not absolutely enjoy every single "Mama Job".

"Yes."

"Like what?  What don't you like to do?"

"Laundry ... and paying bills ... and other things."

Mama responded, 
as she walked around the corner

to start the next load ...

and then grabbed the camera to show YOU

what her hallways looked like this morning.

THIS is the boys clothes ...

the girls clothes are in the other hallway.

What are YOUR most favorite and least favorite

"Mommy Jobs"

This is my 3rd post today;
hope you didn't miss the other 2.

Another Family Photographer

Hosanna (14) has had much fun borrowing my Nikon D70 the past few months, as she saves money to buy her own Nikon DSL.


She took some great pictures of Hannah and the bridesmaids getting ready for The Wedding.   (I wasn't there for the Getting Ready.  I was decorating the wedding hall ... driving props to the photo shoot ... shuffling cars ...  and then getting myself ready.)

The Wedding Gown

The Bridesmaids' Dresses

The Bridesmaids' Bouquets

The Hair

The Shoes

The BEAUTIFUL Bride

The Budding Photographer

and

Beautiful Bridesmaid

and

New Sister-In-Law

When did my Little Princess grow up?

You can pop over to Hosanna's Blog 

to see more of her "Getting Ready" pics ...

Don't miss last night's  post,

with pics from the

Wedding Rehearsal.

Oh My!

Ben (18) has worked 

104 hours 

in the past 7 Days.  

Yes. He. Has.

We are proud of you, Ben!!!

I think he'll be glad for a little break

next weekend for another 

Family Wedding.

Ben just pointed out to me that there are only 
168 hours total in 7 days, which left him only
64 hours NOT at work ... to eat, sleep,
run a 5k, go to the mall, go to church, 
work his lawn care jobs, etc...

The Wedding Rehearsal

Since I was at home, preparing the Rehearsal Dinner for 39 people, I asked Lindsey to use my camera to take some pics at the rehearsal.


Looks like they all had fun ...

Do you remember that Jeremiah

married a Texas Cowgirl?

Well ... Josh found himself a "Cowgirl"

as well.  Hannah grew up on a small farm,

a few miles out of town.  She's had all kinds

of animals, and shown them in the fair.

The fair?  

Oh yes.  They got MARRIED

at the Fairgrounds.  Yes. They. Did.

It was a BEAUTIFUL outside wedding.

Hannah and her Daddy.

LOVE her Cowboy Hat.

Wait 'til you see the pics of her in

her wedding dress and cowboy boots,

with the cows in the background.

I guess they needed to practice this part, too?

I forgot to take pics of the lasagnas and fettuccine,
that I made for the Rehearsal Dinner,

but I thought I'd give you a peek at the dessert.

I can't believe that was 3 weeks ago.
Now we are gearing up for another Wedding Rehearsal
(and Wedding ... THIS coming weekend).

Dress Up Time

Do your kids like to play "Dress Up"?

Do they come up with all types of Crazy Costumes?

Do you encourage their creativity?

My Young Ones LOVE to dress up ...

to pretend ...

to make their own costumes ...




On Thursday, I took the 4 Young Ones 
to the park to play in the woods;
and they played "Army Man" (and woman)
for 2 1/2 hours.


The army clothes are all from their big brothers,
who all like to "dress up" for Paintball.


They brought their canteens ...
and their big squirt guns.

On Friday morning, Josiah decided to be a

"Roman Knight".

He told me he had been reading about them.

(He loves to read history text books.)

By Friday afternoon, a new game had been decided upon.


What do you think Sarah is dressed up for?

A Rubberband War

Yes.


I told them that they could have a Rubberband War
IF they all had eye protection.


Elijah cut holes out of a shoebox.


Josiah turned his bike helmet around.


Sarah found some of Big Brothers snowboard goggles,
and a hard hat.


Now ... THAT is CREATIVITY!!!

While my Young Ones do LOVE to play "Dress Up",
they are not the first Big D. Children
to don a variety of Creative Costumes.


I am reminded of the older 5 ...
who loved to play "Bible Stories" ...
out in the cul-de-sac of our old neighborhood.


The boys would actually put on some little brown dresses
that were "Brownie Scout" dresses.
(I have no idea where they came from, as none of
our kids were ever in Scouts.)


But, with these little brown dresses on,
our boys would quickly be transformed into
Men from the Bible.


Fun Memories!






As the children played outside today, 
in their Creative Costumes,
I had to wonder what people thought.


We don't have a fenced backyard.


No.


The street by our side yard is the parking lot
for the Medical Center and Dentist' Office
that are across the street.


I met a woman once, who laughed when she
found out where we lived.  She told me that
my children are "quite the entertainment"
for all of the patients at the Dentist' Office.


I'm sure they had a good show today.

A Few Days in the Life of a Taxi Driver

Thursday  *  Mama's Taxi Schedule


1:00 am  *  Mama Picks Up Ben from Work at the Berry Farm

10:00 am  *  Mama Takes Carissa to Babysitting Job

1:45 pm  *  Mama Picks Up Carissa from Babysitting Job

2:15 pm  *  Kati takes Mama's Car and Takes ...
                   Kati, Carissa, Ben, and Hosanna to the Berry Farm

2:45 pm  *  Mama takes 4 Young Ones to the Park

5:45 pm  *  Mama drives 4 Young Ones home from the Park

8:00 pm  *  Mama picks up Hosanna from the Berry Farm

Midnight  *  Kati & Carissa arrive home from the Berry Farm

1:00 am  *  Mama picks Up Ben from the Berry Farm


Friday:  Mama's Taxi Schedule

10:00 am  * Mama Takes Carissa to Babysitting Job

10:15 am  *  Mama Takes Ben to "The City" to Shop
                     at "The Mall".

12:00 pm  *  Mama & Ben go to Subway to buy Papa lunch.
                     Mama & Ben take Papa lunch at his Painting Job.

12:45 pm  *  Mama & Ben arrive Home from The City.

1:00 pm  *  Mama Picks Up Carissa from Babysitting Job.

2:15 pm  *  Kati takes Mama's Car and takes ...
                   Kati, Carissa, and Ben to the Berry Farm.

****         Hosanna has the day off, so Mama doesn't
                 have to make her daily 8 pm Taxi Run.

1:00 am (Saturday)  *  Mama Picks Up Ben at the Berry Farm


Saturday:  Mama's Taxi Schedule


7:45 am  *  Kati & Carissa Drive to the Berry Farm

8:45 am  *  Mama Takes Ben to Run a 5k

10:45 am  *  Mama Picks Up Ben at 5k

11:45 am  *  Mama Takes Ben to the Berry Farm

12:00 pm  *  Mama Takes Young Ones to the Park

2:00 pm  *  Mama drives to The City to Pick Up Hosanna
                   from Painting (she worked with Papa this morning)

3:00 pm  *  Mama Takes Hosanna to the Berry Farm

3:15 pm  *  Mama Takes Young Ones to the Park

5:00 pm  *  Mama Takes Young Ones Home from the Park

8:30 pm  *  Mama Picks Up Hosanna at the Berry Farm

12:00 am  *  Kati and Carissa arrive Home from the Berry Farm

1:00 am  *  Mama Picks Up Ben from the Berry Farm





Big Kid's Weekend Work Schedule:

Hosanna  *  3:00 - 9:00 Saturday  *  2:00 - 9:00 Sunday

Kati and Carissa  *  8 am - Midnight (16 hrs.) both days.

Ben  *  Noon - 1:00 am (13 hrs.) both days.


Mama is so THANKFUL that her kids are able to work.


But, Mama is always glad when Berry Season is over ...
and Mama gets to park her taxi for awhile.

The Taxi service is more expensive this year because not only are gas prices high, but since Kati and Carissa have Mama's good-gas-mileage-car ... Mama is driving the Monster Van every day.  So sad.  We have 2 dead good-gas-mileage-cars sitting in the driveway, with no money to fix them or insure them.  Ugh!

***  Oh Dear!  Sunday's Schedule just got CRAZY!!! ***

Papa has to take the good-gas-mileage-car to an out-of-town painting job (which is the only vehicle that Kati drives).  Therefore, Mama gets to drive the Big Girls tomorrow, as well.

1:30 am  *  Mama just got home from Picking Up Ben

8:15 am  *  Mama will drive Kati & Carissa to Berry Farm

10:30 am  *  Mama and Kids will go Pick Raspberries

11:45 am  *  Mama will drive Ben to Berry Farm

1:45 pm  *  Mama will drive Hosanna to Berry Farm

afternoon  *  Mama will sleep in the sun at a park

                     while the children play.  Yes ... we have SUN!

9:00 pm  *  Mama will pick up Hosanna

11:00 pm  *  Mama will pick up Kati & Carissa

1:00 am  *  Mama will pick up Ben

Mama is TIRED ... very, very, TIRED!!!

I Found It! I Found It!

I found a DIET that I REALLY like!!!

Yes.  I did.

The past 4 months have NOT been good for the "Takin' Care of Mama Challenge".  (see archives)


Last Fall, I had done so well to lose 30 pounds in 4 months.


Then came the marriage crisis ... and the pregnancy ... and the miscarriage.  But, even with all of those, I was just up and down 5 pounds.  No. Big. Deal.


However, the past 4 months have added just one stress after another.  For Mama ... stress = emotional eating (and not really caring about the word "diet").


I didn't have the emotional energy to even think about dieting ... or writing down everything I eat ... or exercising ...  Nope.  Didn't happen.  I didn't even step on the scales for a couple of months.  I knew that I didn't want to see what was happening.


A month or so ago, I told myself that I REALLY needed to start making better eating choices. So, I stocked up on yogurt and cottage cheese.  I ate my fruits and veggies.  I did pretty well with my breakfast and lunch choices.  But ... I didn't really care about what (or how much) I ate for dinner.


With all of the extra stress in my life, I didn't have the energy to even THINK about what I should be eating ... making separate meals ... etc...  I knew that what I really needed was an actual diet that told me what to eat all day long.  But, I didn't have the energy to even find one.


A big problem I have with diets that tell me what I can and cannot eat, is that usually over half of the meals are things that I really DON'T LIKE.  Those diets don't work too well.


A month or so ago (while doing my best with my yogurt and cottage cheese) I actually found a "Yogurt-Based" Diet.  Seriously?!?!  I was intrigued ... but not enough to put it into practice.


Then ... last weekend ... just 2 weeks before Cassie's wedding (and the dreaded Mother-of-the-Bride dress) ... I stepped on the scale.  Oh. My. No.  I was heartbroken.  I had allowed myself to gain back 15 of the 30 pounds that I had lost.  


I knew I had to do something FAST if I was even going to feel comfortable as the mother-of-the-bride.  So, I dug out the old magazine with the Yogurt Diet, and thought, "I could do this."  "I actually LIKE everything on the diet."


I started the diet on Monday ... and by this morning (Friday) had lost 5.5 pounds.  Woo Hoo!!!  Doin' the Happy Dance!!!


Right now, I really need a list of what to eat (so that I don't even have to think about it), with enough variety that I'm not eating the same thing every day for every meal.  And ... this one works for me!


I am eating 4-5 times per day ... with a total calorie count of 1100-1250 per day.  My "Mini Meals" keep me full throughout the day.


While the magazine touts this diet as a Two-Week JumpStart type of diet ... I really don't see anything wrong with staying on it.  I'm eating low-fat dairy, fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein (chicken or ground turkey) ... every day.  I can't think of any important nutrients that I'm missing.


Today's Menu:


Breakfast:


All-Bran Cereal
1% Milk


Morning Snack:


6 oz. Light Peach Yogurt
(I usually add Flax, but was
 out and about this morning.)


Lunch:


Omelet (2 Eggs, 2 Egg Whites)
Turkey Taco Meat
Tomato
Salsa
Low-Fat Cheddar Cheese


Afternoon Snack:

24 oz. Iced Hazelnut Mocha w/ Whip

Oh Yea!!!

Does this look like a "Diet Drink"?

As one of the two "Daily Extras", this diet actually lists:

I cup fat-free milk with fat-free low-sugar chocolate syrup.

(I use 1% milk and sugar-free syrup.)

I add espresso, sugar-free flavor and ice ...

and a Mama's Mocha I may have.

Dinner:

Tuna Salad w/

lettuce, tomato, carrots, mushrooms, red peppers, and water chestnuts.

For the dressing, I used 6 oz. Greek Yogurt (2x the protein) mixed with a bit of Onion Soup Mix.  (Other days, I make a Taco Salad w/ ground turkey and then make "dressing" out of 6 oz. Greek Yogurt mixed with 1/4 cup Salsa.  Oh. My. Yummm.)

Late Night Snack:

100 cal. Light Mocha Ice Cream

Total Calories:  1,065  (which is a bit low, but I am seriously NOT HUNGRY enough to eat anything else tonight).

Nope.  I do NOT feel deprived today.  Not. One. Bit.


Here are a few things this diet touts as beneficial for a yogurt-based diet:


#1  Dairy fights hunger.  Dairy protein is very good at making us feel satisfied.


#2  Dairy speeds the breakdown of fat.  Milk, yogurt and cheese are the richest dietary sources of the amino acid leucine ... which sends signals to increase the release of fat from fat cells.


#3  Dairy blocks calories.  Calcium binds to some of the fat in our intestines, resulting in a decrease in fat absorption.


#4  Dairy protects your heart.


#5  Dairy fights diabetes.


#6  Dairy cuts the risk of some types of cancer.




Just thought I'd let you know that I am getting Back On Track with my Takin' Care of Mama Challenge.  Now ... I just need to get back up on the treadmill.

RAD Wrestling

Please pray for Rachel (and Mama).  We just had a RAD Wrestling Match that lasted over an hour.


She is such a broken and angry little girl.


I am such a tired and worn-out Mama.


We need the LORD to do a miraculous healing of her heart.

Rejoice In Our Sufferings?

Have you ever read a blog post and thought, "God, did you tell them to write this for ME?"


Yes.  That happened tonight.  I was just quietly catching up with some of my Bloggy Friends when ... POW ... I got knocked upside the head by the Holy Spirit.  


My sweet Bloggy Friend Jessica wrote a post about, "Suffering. Endurance. Character. HOPE." I knew by the title that this wasn't going to be a nice, short, sweet post about her beautiful children.  No.  I knew right away that I'd better listen up.


She started with this verse:


"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  (Romans 5:3-5 ESV)


I didn't want to read any further.  Really.  I have read this verse MANY times over the years.  I have rejoiced over this verse.  I have been given HOPE by this verse.  But ... not today ... not this week.  No.  I really did NOT want to even go there.


Just being honest with you now.


I am TIRED of suffering.


My endurance has  ...  just. plain. run. out.  I feel like I have been running a marathon for the past 7 months and I keep getting told that the finish line is "just around the corner".  But.  It's not there.  I can't see the finish line.  I have lost hope for a finish line.  I can't imagine that this race has an end.


I won't go into details, but the suffering is much bigger than "just the marriage crisis" ... which was big enough on its own.  I really did not need more stress piled on top.  




But ... in the past 2 weeks ...


...  I have been verbally attacked (twice). 


...  I have been lied about. 


...  I have been gossiped about. 


...  I have been misunderstood.  




I don't know how to respond anymore.


I can hardly stop the tears.


I don't have the energy to defend myself any longer.




Many days ... 


I just want to quit.  


I want to walk out.  


I want to drive off into the sunset.




Have you ever felt like that?


Have you ever wanted to just run away?




Don't worry.


I haven't.


I'm just telling you how I feel some days.




The Lord has been near.


He has dried my tears.


He has brought comfort in my darkest nights.




But, I am not yet at the point of "rejoicing in my sufferings".  No.




Why can't the Lord teach me endurance without sufferings?


Why can't the Lord build character without endurance?


Why can't the Lord give hope without building character?




He can.  Of course.


The Lord can do anything ... any way He chooses.


Yet.  This is His choice.




I must rest in His assurance that there will be a finish line.


I must cling to the knowledge that He will give me hope.


I must learn to be thankful that He chooses to build my character.


I must ask Him to give me the endurance I need to make it through the sufferings.




Thanks, Jessica, for reminding me tonight of this verse ... even though it was TOUGH to read (and re-read and re-read and process).  I KNOW that the Lord told you to write it for ME ... even if you didn't know who you were writing it for.




I'm going to write this verse out ... and place it in strategic places where I will see it throughout the day.  I NEED to be reminded of HIS purpose in my suffering.  I need to TRUST Him to give me endurance, to build my character, and to give me HOPE.




How about you?


Are you suffering?


Are you in need of endurance?


Have you lost hope?




I pray that this verse has ministered to you, 
as it did to me tonight.






***  Don't Miss Yesterday's Post About "A Job Possibility For Papa".  Please keep that in your prayers.  It is really our first glimpse of HOPE after 7 months of unemployment, temporary jobs, painting jobs, etc... ***

Elijah Can RUN Again!

After a longer recuperation from surgery than expected, Elijah was READY to RUN again this week.  Yea!

We had a FUN track meet on Monday.  Even though none of the Big Kids were able to join us, the Young Ones ran and ran and ran.

Elijah was excited to be running again,

even though he was slow and sore,

after "limited activity" for 6 weeks.

Sarah is FAST.

Josiah is DILIGENT. 

Rachel wants to make sure that Mama is cheering her on.

Elijah got a little spring in his step,

when he got some competition

at the end of the 400m.

Ready for the 200m.

  

        

  

Track is such a FUN Family Activity.

This is my 2nd post today.  
Don't miss my Prayer Request for Papa.

A Job Possibility for Papa

Please PRAY for a job possibility for Papa that we just found out about.


It is for a Middle School Math Teacher (which he has 15+ years experience in) ... at a school that Papa worked at for 5 years (1999 - 2004).


He would be Team Teaching ... with his best friend.


He only left the school back in 2004 because of the amazing opportunity that we had to create and direct the alternative school for homeschoolers.  He had really enjoyed working there for 5 years, and would LOVE to be back on staff.


PRAYING that this is what the LORD has planned for Papa.