What are you thankful for?

Days of beautiful spring weather with snow days thrown in between really mess my spring dreams up. I am thankful for sooo many things. What are you thankful for?

My Sweet hubby and our lil family.

 Parents who have stayed committed to each other.

Testimony of Christ unconditional love for me.

The cutest lil daughter in the "WHOLE WIDE WORLD"

Pedis with the girls.

These are a few of my favorite things to be thankful for. I pray that we remember the lil things especially when there are so many with so little especially after some of the devastating happenings in the world as of late. God watches over all of his children and loves each of us. He will provide and succor those who need his comfort. 

Goals Calander

I love to make lists and pretty paper to put my lists on. Here is what I am using to set my daily goals for the week. Each topic and day has a column. I put exercise, household, menu, scripture study, and crafting as topics at the top. I left it so I can change them put depending on what I need to focus on. then I put the specifics. like if I want to do pilates for that day or get my laundry done. Its a fun way to organise my day and to keep improving in important areas. Now to add my disclaimer. I don't always get my goals accomplished and we all know that life happens that way. But if I at least have my focus planned out I wont (hopefully) sit on the couch with a box of mallamars wasting the day away on my computer. Heres to dreaming.

Computer Overdose

I am Addicted to my new computer. I know the floors need cleaning and the toilet has that lovely line that is going to reach up and grab me next time I sit down. But I can't help it. I honestly got on the computer at noon just to get my bills and budget updated. It is now 9pm and I still am on this drug with a keyboard and I am getting the deer in the headlight stare from looking at the screen too long. Hey didn't I have a child I was supposed to care for today? (I did feed her). well I may have to ground myself from this evil device tomorrow and hide the "crackberry" too. But at least my blog looks cute and my Ipod is full of great music and even some books. Don't they have support groups for this. Oh yeah thats what Relief Society is for. Talk about inspiration. Tee-Hee.

Tote Bag Diva

We had a sewing class at Relief Society the other night. It was fun to learn some of the basic sewing ticks. Miranda loved getting a church tote bag out of it. Our instructor gave me an A+. if only I got grades like that as a teenager trying to sew a three armed sweatshirt. It got my creative juices flowing. I may have to had a pocket and maybe even some ruffles. tee-hee.

At The Rainbows End

Almost at the rainbows end. This past year Joe and I have had a lot on our plate. He is still traveling 4-5 days a week. We finally sold our rental property, our tenants moved out last Sept. After paying 3 out of 9 months of rent. We then remodeled and painted. Our wonderful neighbor purchased the house for his mother and has moved her in. Now that we have money from the sell of the house we are finally putting in new carpets, it only took 5 years and getting rid of my poor cat that nobody wanted (except Miranda) She was a very naughty cat. My carpets are proof of that. We also are getting our fence fixed and repainted. My brother has been out of work so he is doing it for us. We finally got me a new car. The old one had 254,000. miles on it. Anthony is enjoying it's last days. Our next project is to get a shed, clean out the garage and basement (not on my list of a good time)and even getting a deck and landscaping in the back yard. Everything we have been wanting to do since we moved here. Oh and the big one. We are going to Disney World and staying at the Disney Caribbean resort. (I do have to admit we got a fantastic deal.)Please don't think I'm bragging. I am counting our blessings. I feel stronger and a moving desire to lift the burdens of others. I feel renewed in my desire to be a better wife, mother and yes homemaker. I also feel the overwhelming desire to be a better christian. The rain is slowing but as we all know there will be more. I am thankful for the warm sunshine of life today. It gives be courage to face the storm clouds I will have to face another day.

Disney Trip

We have been talking about going back to Disney World since our last trip there in Dec 07. Every time Miranda finds any coins in the house she picks it up and says" this is for our trip to Disney, or this is Disney money." I have found her collecting the change out of my purse to put in the big bank as well. So now that we sold the rental property and have our bills paid off and cards paid off, we are serious. We aren't sure if were using holiday inn points or if we will say at a Disney resort. The clock is ticking our tentative date is May 1-5. We have to decide this week so we can find good air fare. Now that is a story in its own. But we do have points to redeem.

Bulgarian Charity

Some of you may know that I served my church mission in Bulgaria. One of my comanions there runs a charity for Bulgarian Orphans. She was also featured in LDS Living magazine this month. I thought it would be nice to show you their recent video of their current trip to Bulgaria.

Hidden Veggies

Thanks to Jamie for posting a comment on my blog responding to my need for recipes I have found 3 new cookbooks. Deceptively Delicious, Sneaky chef for kids and for your man. All of these books are written to hide veggies in regular meals and desserts. I've tried 3 so far. Last night we had pink pancakes, with beet juice & apple sauce mixed in. They were gobbled down. We tried grilled cheese sandwiches with carrots puree snuck inside. Not our fav the puree was too mushy. But at dinner we had mashed potatoes with cauliflower mixed in. Yummy. I am planning on trying brownies with spinach snuck in. Hmmm how will it taste. An adventure I am excited to try.

Princess Dresses to Make

I am going to make Miranda some princess dresses for our future trip to Disney world. We went shopping for fabric and Miranda chose a cute Disney princess fabric with Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, and Belle on it on a blue fabric. I got a yellow with small flowers to match it as well as a nice daisy lace to trim it. I thought I could make the skirt in the blue as well as the cap sleeves. The bodice and under skirt will be in the yellow. It should turn out cute. We picked out some other fabrics too but I want to get this dress going and done first. Wish me luck.

Similar to this one from etsy, but with the princess fabric.

Queen of My Castle

I have the nesting bug. I have to admit I enjoy making lists, planning my attack on my chores, making beautiful schedules, and compliing recipeies. I have found a bunch of fun websites and creative women who enjoy many of the same things.

http://controllingmychaos.blogspot.com/ I love her recipeie cards and digital scrapin ideas. she exposed me to shabby princess.com

http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/

http://virtuallyorganized.com/blog/

http://mealplanningmommies.blogspot.com/

http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com/

All of these women have inspired me to fall in love with homemaking. Hey even cleaning can be enriching and I can be creative too.

Here is my "Mega job chart", I am working on actually doing all of it when I'm supposed too but it is set up so if I do miss a task I can make it up during the week or next week.

I also made a menu planner hoping it will inspire me to cook more substantial meals and be better when grocery shopping.

New Car Yipee

Yes we finally got a new car. Joe has been needing to get a new car since his work requires a new car every 4 years. We have been stalling but the day has come. I inherit the ford escape and Joe gets this beauty. Its a Jeep liberty. It took all day at the dealership and finally at 6pm we got it all finalized. one of the best things is we got it at 0% financing. yipee. Now I have to get the ford cleaned up and serviced and get my sad bonniville a new home. It was an amazing car after 254,000 miles still actually runs.

Baby Hungry

I am sooooo baby hungry. I don't know what it is lately. Every time I see a new baby I have to do everything I can to not pick her or him up and cuddle. I know most moms would not be thrilled with me "stealing" their child (especially if they are complete strangers at the grocery store). I was even mashing up my brown bananas for the freezer and thought, "This would make great baby food". I do hope to either get pregnant (difficult but not impossible. see miranda), adopt (money not saved for that yet), or do foster care again (who knows if we would get a baby and if we are staying in PA). So until we decide or He makes another miracle happen I will have to make faces at other peoples babies and remember "In the Lords time". PS if anyone needs a "BABY sitter" I just may be available especially if they are under 6 months old tee-hee. I just love when they cry and all they want is to be held. I think it is the satisfaction after they stop and as they cling tightly as if their whole world was the closeness of your body. And the sweet smell of their baby skin. Ok I need to stop I may be fantasizing a bit, but I warned you "I am baby hungry".

Gwen "The Cat" Adopted

We used to have this cat, Gwen. I got her at a shelter almost 13 years ago. She was always the "scardy cat". She did not like children, or pretty much anyone. She was a attached to me but if it was not on her terms she wouldn't let you come near her. Early on she started a bad habit of not using her litter box. It even got to the point that my parents wanted her out of the house. My poor unsuspecting husband (then Fiance) took her in. He spoiled her with tuna and seemed to do well. Until we got married and left for our honeymoon. She pooped and urinated in his recliner (of course Joe's favorite seat in the house) The recliner was never the same again. We thought we got rid of the smell but could smell residual pee (we were really just grossed out that she used it as her litter box). We set it out by the trash and some poor unsuspecting fool took the chair home. We kept dealing with her bad behavior until we moved to New Jersey in 2003. The apartment conveniently would not allow pets. So I had her at my moms for a while (I think she lasted 2 weeks at most) then I found a cat shelter who would take her. They tried everything to get her to eat. she got very sick and the vet wanted to put her down. the shelter refused and moved her to the flower shop hoping she would cheer up. She now was being fed tuna and had masters domain over the shop. The other cats did not like her and anytime someone came in she would throw a "HISSSY" fit. She also rubbed hair on all the flowers. Did I mention she was the hairiest cat on the earth. I then got a call after this went on for about 4 months to come get her. So now I have to keep her in the apartment and hope we don't get in trouble. When she came back she was a much nicer cat and tried to use her litter box. She did like the fact that she did have the run of the place since Ralph, "the Dog", was at my moms. so now 4 years later and another move she has gotten worse about using the litter box. I decided with much prodding from my husband to find her a home. I tried local spca's, cat shacks, even online. No such luck. So after 2 years of trying we get Joe's friend Ted to take her as a stray to his local shelter in maryland. this was about a year and half ago. I have been checking their website to see if she was up on it. she was at first under an alias 'Oscar White" and recently was put up again as "snowball" last month. Today I went on and she is listed as ADOPTED. I sure hope she behaves. P.S. Miranda was asking Santa for him to bring Gwen back and still tells me to go get her because she is part of our family.

Exercise Dreams

I just ordered this cool new heart moniter/watch. I am excited to get it and start using it while I exercise. I have slacked off with my exercise program but I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and get my tendonitis undercontrol. I am setting a goal to exercise 3-5 days a week. wish me luck.

Officialy a "Mean Mommy"

Today is the day that I can now be labeled as a "Mean Mommy". I have been struggling with Miranda's back talk and defiance in everything I say to her. It has been heavy on my mind and I have been more strict with timeouts when she acts this way lately. Today it hit the fan. We were on our way to dance class. No prior infractions before we left. I asked her which"short cut" should we take. It is a lil game we play when there is more than one route to our destination. So I turn down the road and she begins to scream at me and cry while telling me I must turn around and go the other direction. I am not happy with her communication skills and tell her we can take that way home. She still not being happy starts spitting at me and yelling and thrashing in her seat. ( I am waiting for her head to spin and have pea soup spewed out of her mouth) At this point I pull the car over and tell her we can go home or go to dance but I am not moving the car until she stops throwing her fit. We start on our way again after a few minutes. She is still upset and complaining but more calm. When we get to the dance studio I let he know we need to take 5. She does ok for the first few minutes but then starts carrying on. It continues to escalate so I tell her. "Ok, lets go home. Your not behaving and we are not going to dance with this attitude" I pull out of the parking lot, much to her dismay. As we pull out I see my friend and her daughter and let them know we are going home. So on the road we go (its a 20 min drive home). Miranda flips and takes her seat belt off. I pull over. take her out of the car and tell her she can get in the car if she stops yelling and puts her seat belt on. still crying to go back to dance we get buckled in and on the road again. The drama continues, the crying escalates to yells. we pull over again, I get her out of the car. (her car seat come out to since she has a death grip on it.) I tell her she cant ride in the car if she is yelling, mommy will get in an accident. She gets back in the car. We wait till she can stop crying and telling me we MUST go back to dance. 5 min later we head for home. We eventually make it home. Was it worth the fight? YOU BET IT WAS!!! We sit on the couch and cuddle. She tells me she is ready to talk about it and with out any tears we talk about how its not ok to yell at mommy and If mommy says no it means no. She gives be a big hug and a kiss, and tells me she is sorry. I asked her later on if we are supposed to yell at mommy and she said very sternly "Oh no".

The most beautiful moment in my life was when Miranda was placed in my arms. I am forever grateful for her little life being forever a part of mine.