A New Journey

As of this past Saturday, I am on a new journey to become more healthy and fit. God has been dealing with me for quite a while on this issue and I have finally decided to obey.

I have been exercising regularly (3-5 days/week) for the last 4 months. I have really enjoyed it, but exercising alone isn't going to help me reach my ultimate goals. This past Saturday I joined Weight Watchers and so far this week I've been able to stick with it and am doing very well. Those who pray, please pray for me that God will use this program to help me become more disciplined and eventually lose down to where I need to be. I will not go into specifics, but I do have a lot of work to do!

I had been praying and asking God to help me in this area. During the Christmas holidays, I was visiting with my step mother-in-law who had lost a LOT of weight recently. I found out that she was going to Weight Watchers. It's a lot easier to believe that something will work when you've seen the results with your own eyes! Right then, I started thinking about going myself. I started praying about it and asked God to confirm what I was feeling and also to provide the finances. Within a month or two, I began hearing of more and more people (that I know) who decided to try Weight Watchers and were being successful with it. I also found out that it doesn't cost much at all!!! Later on, my own sister started going and so now I had a partner. Doors began opening and everything fell into place ... that's when I was sure it was God.

The journey has been easy so far with only a few minor bumps. I know that it may not always be this easy, but I do know that with God's help I will get through this and I will be successful in the end. It was God who gave me the desire to do this and it will be God who will give me the strength to accomplish it!!!

This Week At Our House

We finished our schooling last Friday and are already enjoying our summer vacation. We haven't done too much except DS has been allowed to watch more than enough TV so far this week and I am slowly catching up on getting some things done around the house. I still have to get all of the paperwork done and sent into our homeschool assoc before our year will officially be complete so that's another thing I'll be doing this week.

DS's birthday is next Saturday (June 9) so I am also planning for that. He wants to have an outdoor party this year so depending on the weather, we're trying to accommodate. We're planning to do a Pirates themed party complete with a treasure hunt. DH's going to draw up several different treasure maps for the hunt. Each child will pick one and then set off to find their treasure. All maps will lead to a treasure, but only one map will lead to the ultimate treasure... haven't quite figured out what just yet. :-) Anyway, we are really having fun getting everything together. Hopefully I'll have all the invitations sent out by the weekend.

I am always a little bit sad about DS getting a year older and this year isn't any different. I do try to stay focused on the good things about it such as he is growing, he is healthy and we have another great year to look forward to seeing him develop more into the young man God is calling him to be. As I said in an earlier post, I do tend to reminisce a lot about when he was born, when he was younger, all the cute things he's done... and said! LOL But ultimately, I am praising God for this precious gift He's given me!!!

WOW!!!

We had revival at our church on Sunday and all I can say is "WOW!!!" God was definitely in the house. I could literally feel the force of His presence during both services!

How awesome is it when God confirms what you've been feeling He's telling you over the last few months by someone you've never met before. How much more awesome is it when that person also gives you the same word you received 10 years ago!!! God is so awesome!!!

God is really moving right now!!! Especially in our church, but also in our personal lives. We are starting to see not just a miracle, but several miracles at a time. I truly believe there is an open heaven right now and God is just waiting to hear what we're going to ask of Him.

One Week To Go!!!

Only one more week of homeschooling until our summer vacation begins!!! We are both excited, but I have to admit that I'll probably miss it a little bit. Of course, we could homeschool year round, but I want DS to be able to enjoy a school-free summer like most kids his age. We usually start in early August (usually the first Monday) and are finished with the school year by the last Friday in May (before Memorial Day).

It's hard to believe he'll be in 3rd grade next year! It's even harder to believe that I've been doing this for 4 years already!!! I have to admit that I was very nervous about it at first, but the longer I do it, the more confident I become. I actually have a lot of fun homeschooling DS. It still amazes that I am the one who taught him to read and write!

My favorite part of homeschooling, aside from teaching, is the fact that I get to spend one on one time with him for several hours a day. I usually stay very busy during the day, but when we homeschool, I have to make it a point to sit down and focus on nothing but DS. So if I don't get a chance to sit in the floor and play Spiderman one day, it's ok because I have already spent a good deal of time with him already.

I am planning to homeschool DS until he graduates. I admit that I am a little bit nervous about 11th and 12th grade, but I know that when the time comes, God will get me through it. DS did ask me a few weeks ago if I planned on homeschooling him through college!!! LOL Well, at least he's already thinking about college!!!

Resting In God

To rest in God is to trust Him completely. It’s knowing that, regardless of what our situation is or how long we have to wait, God will eventually come through for us.

HAPPY ONE DAY AFTER MOTHER'S DAY!!!

DS woke me up this morning and led me to the kitchen. He had made me breakfast!!! He made a bowl of cereal and orange juice. He had placed them both beside my Mother's Day flowers. (This is the first time he's ever made me breakfast!!!) -- So sweet!!!

A little bit later, he was drawing in a book he had received from the Post Office. The directions on the page said to create a stamp by drawing something you think is wonderful - anything you want. He drew a picture of me on the stamp! -- Even sweeter!!!

When he showed me the stamp he had created, I gave him a big hug and kiss. I told him that he was being very sweet to me today. He replied, "Happy One Day After Mother's Day!!!" -- Priceless!!! :-)

Definitions By DS :-)

With DS's birthday being right around the corner, this is the time of year that I like to reminisce and if you've known me for awhile then you already know that I usually talk about him a lot during this time of year. Because of this I'll probably blog more about him over the next month or two. I know that this blog is supposed to be about me, but if you know me at all, then you know DS is a huge part of who I am!!!

I love to scrapbook and I love to write down anything and everything about DS... especially during the early years. It's always fun to look back and remember things that I know I would've forgotten if I didn't write it down.

One of the cutest things I tried to keep track of is what he thinks a word means. Here are a few favorites from over the last few years that I thought I would share -

1. China Cabinet - It's a place where the Chinese keep their ancestors.

2. Discipline - It’s when parents get mad and punish their child.

3. Fire Hydrant - It's where a dog uses the bathroom.

4. Boldness - It’s when you don’t have any hair.

5. Tithe - It’s when you lay down and go to sleep. Also, it’s what men wear around their necks to go to work.

And last, but not least... :-)

6. Banjo Players - crazy people who don't have much, live in log cabins and play the banjo.