Happy birthday!

A quick 'Happy Birthday' greeting to my now 8 year old son Colton and my Dad!! Hope you both have a super day!!

God is good...

So here I sit after going through my 21 day fast...and I am humbled and I am amazed at what God can truly do...because honestly I couldn't have done it without God's help. Going without sugar has truly been a huge stretch for me...not something I could have done on my own. And how it has changed me is amazing! First of all that I was able to do it in the first place again was a true God thing...then the fact that I feel so very much better. During the 21 days I didn't have the stomach problems I was having, no bloating and pain, no sluggish feelings during the day, no brain fog...I just have felt a ton better. And I praise God for that!

So my fast ended this past Sunday and I thought I would go off the deep end into a total sugar coma...honestly I didn't. What was the first thing I had??? Believe it or not, a simple cup of hot cocoa. After 3 weeks of drinking nothing but water or tea without sugar (which btw, is not very tasty) all I wanted was something to drink besides water...I had cocoa...and though it was just a basic Swiss Miss cup of cocoa, it tasted so good and I thanked God through the whole cup. It was amazing! Then I tried a cinnamon roll I had bought at the bake sale at the Upward basketball game...honestly...I hated it. It wasn't a bad cinnamon roll, it just wasn't what I wanted or expecting...it just didn't taste good to me anymore. I let the boys have them and they surely didn't turn them down. Today I had a half a Kit Kat bar that Colton saved just for me for after the fast and I was shocked how sweet it was. And how it just didn't do it for me anymore. The thing I noticed on this fast was how I don't really have the snacking cravings like I would have during the day. It's been nice and I'm afraid now anymore to eat anything with too much sugar because I honestly just don't want to go back...I'm looking forward and excited not only for what God has in store for me, but for a healthier and better lifestyle.

So through this fast I wasn't really sure what God wanted to show me, but I KNEW what he wanted me to give up...that was without question. And it wasn't until the very end of the fast He revealed to me what He wanted to show me...even though something may taste good, or seem good or you may think it is good, it just may not be good for YOU. And with with giving up sugar and yeast products it has truly shown me that though it may taste good and seem good, it just isn't good for me. And I have a feeling God is going to reveal many other things that really aren't good for me in the long run.

So here's to a corner being turned, a life being changed for the better and for whatever God may have in store.

Also...on the growing up front....Colton lost his top tooth Saturday....man...this growing up stuff is for the birds!

Have a super week!

Congrats Brennie!

First I want to start off with the busy weekend we had...Brennan and Colton had their Father/Son Cake Bake and Blue & Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts this weekend. I have to say that Kevin was a real trooper as though he likes to bake, doing it with the boys can sometimes be a challenge for him since he has that Type A perfectionistic quality about him, but he stuck it out...even with the fact that they didn't get started baking until around 7:00 p.m. and after making and decorating 3 cakes (it was supposed to be 2, but more on that later)...by 12:30 a.m. they were done and after already working a 9 hour day I was proud of him! Here are some pics of their evening:

Brennan's was a camp scene cake that he totally designed pretty much on his own. He even sketched his idea on a piece of paper first before he decorated it. Colton's was a sunflower cake made with yellow Peeps and chocolate chips in the middle. We also made a baseball cake because Kevin had initially thought of making a 4 layer popcorn bucket cake, but it got so late that we ended up doing the sunflower and baseball instead. Brennan ended up getting best camp scene cake at the banquet and we indeed got to keep all three cakes...we brought the camping one and sunflower home...the baseball we gave away...and the camping cake was enjoyed by our Junior Church kids for snack yesterday...and boy did they enjoy that!

So now that my weekend is over...the boys are now in school...I've been thinking about something that God has been layong on my heart for a week or so now...and I'm using it as my blessing word for this week...and that is:

Quiet Time

If there is something that God has been convicting me about is spending quiet time with Him, which is sometimes really hard for me because I am one who is always doing something, working on something...there is always SOMETHING to do or needs done. To just sit and be still is a struggle...but that verse in the Bible has been speaking in my head all week...Be still and know that I am God...and also the verse Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. So this morning for the first time in a while, after I dropped the boys off at school, I got out my Bible...read a little...prayed a little...and just reamained still and listened. And it was nice. I made it through a half hour, not that time is important, but considering unless I'm in front of the computer or scrapbooking...for me to be still for 10 minutes is hard. So I want to remember the blessing of having just those few moments to BE STILL and just enjoy God's presence....may this be a reminder to me.

Well off to do what mommy's do best....have a good week!

And so...

I feel like I've been a very bad blogger lately...been thinking a lot this past week as to how busy life seems at the moment and how much I long to be bored...I would love me a bit of boredom at the moment. Now that the fair is over I was really hoping for a little repreave, but nope...not happening...nothin' doin'...so here I am plugging on and taking just a few moments to take a small break and update on life and how things have been going lately...

Lead the Singspiration at church Sunday night...honestly I do not like being up front in front of people and speaking...in fact I pretty much hate it...I don't consider myself a limelight person, but God for some reason keeps putting me in that position...the Singspiration went very well and I was truly blessed.

Listed about 17 auctions on eBay last night....if you are interested in any Bare Escentuals makeup or Cabbage Patch dolls...check them out there.

Found Colton's blankie yesterday...WOOO HOOO....was so afraid it was gone forever...I think I was more upset about it than he was...can it be that Colton is getting past the blankie stage?? Though today he has been clinging to it since he's home from school with a cough, but funny thing is I haven't heard him cough since his brothers went to school...hmmm...guess who's going to school tomorrow ;-)

I'm currently enrolled in a scrapbooking class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking called Design Your Life by Cathy Zielske. So far I am truly enjoying class (and if you are interested you can STILL sign up for class until tomorrow)...though I do know a good bit about scrapbooking I feel I learned it kind of backwards and that my design is hit and miss...so thus the reason for this class...hoping to fill in the pieces I may have missed about design along my scrapbooking way...so far I'm enjoying class and learning a lot...though it truly is keeping me quite busy in an already busy schedule.

My house is a terrible mess...enough said about that...

Colton won a cookie bouquet from our Fair today...his name was put in a drawing and they drew his name...he also won a book that co-ordinated with the cookies...we just got done enjoying the book and the cookie...here he is enjoying the cookie.

Well got to go and get ready for my scrapbooking class at church tonight...feel a little off kilter about teaching this class tonight...way too much going on and mind is just not focused on it. Hopefully that will change between now and 6:30 tonight.

Hope you are having a good week.

So Let's Review...

OK...I just have to say how cute my boys are right now...last night we were getting the boys ready for bed...and hubby asks Colton if he got his card flipped at school (card flipping is our school's form of discipline for those who may not know)...and Colton unfortunately did yesterday...I guess him and another boy were hiding instead of going to the Art room. Of course his 5 year old (and very intelligent) brain tries to explain to his daddy why he got his card flipped...well daddy I wasn't really hiding I was just playing and I wasn'tready to go into the room yet. When hubby asked Colton to explain again what he did...he looks at his daddy plainly and tells him...OK daddy....Let's review...I lost it...I had to walk away...where does this little guy get this stuff...it's like the day at church when he wanted me to spell sun for him (he kept spelling it s i n...appropriate at church I guess)...and after I spell it for him he says, "That's very interesting Mom." He is such a trip!

Then there is Brennan who came home yesterday with bandages on his elbow and leg..his leg all skinned up...I asked him what happened...He tells me he caught the football and another boy pushed him to the ground to get the football. Now if you know Brennan he doesn't play much with the other kids...he says he has no friends and he usually plays alone on the playground...so I honestly was kind of excited to hear that he was playing football with other kids...after a long conversation...come to find out he wasn't actually playing the game...he was in the middle of the field and accidentally caught the football...he wasn't actually in the game, he was just in the wrong place and happened to catch the ball and caught dirt too in the process...I was upset to hear the boy who pushed him didn't apologize, but one of the big prayers I have had this year is that Brennan would have a friend. And the last couple months he's mentioned this boy that has been playing with him and befriending him. Well yesterday this boy saw that Brennan got hurt, personally took him to the office to get cleaned up and gave up his recess to help my Brennie...I was so touched by that...and the power of how God answers a mother's prayer. God is good! It's good to know that even amongst children there are those who truly care about others.

Hoping to watch Hans Christian Anderson with the boys this weekend (yes the 50's Danny Kaye movie)...hope they enjoy it like I did as a kid.

Oh...also...If you are a scrapper and well if you are obsessed with it as I am...you know next weekend is National Scrapbooking Weekend...well in honor of that Faith Sisters is having a celebration on their web-site...there will be prizes, scrapping and tons of fun....so stop on by...you know I'll be there ;-)

Have a super weekend!

More of the white stuff...

Yes folks...another snow day...in a way I'm glad...nice to have the boys home and sleep in a little bit. So what have we done so far today....

Well the normal laundry, dishes, cooking (have to feed the kiddos after all...not sure why they get so hungry all the time he-he), scouting out Christmas gifts on the internet, more laundry....oh and I finally broke out the tree and Christmas music and some Christmas decorations...I'm slowly (very slowly mind you) getting into the Christmas spirit. Will decorate the tree once hubby does his magic fluffing and putting on lights (of course who knows how long that will tkae, but my job is done anyway).

So I leave you with this little ditty:


Colton: Mommy...can you open this game for me?

Mommy: Sure buddy.

Colton: Thanks mom...now I can be the cop and I can catch all those bad guys.

Where do they come up with this stuff anyway??

Have a super day!

Reality is starting to set in...

(Picture of Colton and Brennan, first day of school 2006)

How quickly a year passes...I knew this time was coming...been thinking about it heavily over the last year...but I still can't believe the moment is almost here...just had a home visit with Colton's teacher Miss Cores (who taught my other two boys as well...we love her! She's a great teacher.) He did very well and I think he's going to do great...at this point probably better than Mommy will ;-( He has testing next week and we have orientation and open house next week as well. He doesn't have his first day of school until the 28th...but it will be here before I know it...I can't believe that it's time for him to go...I know I've mentioned this plenty of times, but I think it's finally hitting me. Hard to believe because when Austin started kindergarten Colton was literally just days old. I thought it would take forever to get to this place and now boom, it's here...wow...I'm just in disbelief.

So if you are a mom and you have any stories to share with me about your babies kindergarten experience and how you handled it, especially when your last baby left, please share.

Coltie...

Got his 5 yr. old shots today....he was a real tropper though he cried for the last one, he was great for the first two. I can't beleive in just a few months he's going to be starting school. sniff sniff.

Been a really busy week this week...have lots to catch up on...hope you are having a good week!

He's Ready...

Can't believe this time is finally here...signed up my baby for kindergarten last night...he was SSSOOO excited...he actually thought that he was starting school and couldn't wait to get to the school....of course with his "Here I am" attitude. (grin)

Of course he was all excited about school until Brennan burst his bubble and told him he had to get shots before he started school...of course he's NOT excited about that...but he will be getting his shots May 8th...and I'm sure he'll be fine.

As each day goes by right now I feel like my babies are slowly slipping through my hands and first of all I thank God for blessing me with these little bundles of energy...I wouldn't change it for the world. I know there are days, but when I think about the whole package...it's really all worth it. Yet, it's sad...they are not meant to be here forever I know...(which is a good AND bad thing)...they are only here for me "teach them the way they should go" and then allow them to take what was taught them and make a life of their own. So I will cherish the moments I have on this journey...through memories, through my scrapbooks, through my journals...and hold them in my heart always.

May you take a moment today to cherish the life God has blessed you with.

Won't be long...

Weather was so nice yesterday that Colton and I walked to get the boys from school. It was a nice walk and for a short time he held my hand...he doesn't hold my hand much anymore...I miss it...so I truly cherished this moment...him and I holding hands...getting his brothers from school...cause I know it won't be long until he won't even want to hold my hand anymore.