Eat Less; Exercis More...Duh

So that's the advice I have gotten from my parents to help me lose weight...very encouraging. So I did it...I joined weight watchers...everybody's doin' it. (And yes, when everyone else jumps off the bridge I will to; no sense living on this earth by myself)

I joined weight watchers on Thursday and have lost 1.5 lbs so far, not bad for less than a week. I was feeling hungry and depressed last night, and my DH's suggestions for getting more food on less points was NOT helping. So this morning I got up with DS and we went to the grocery store to get some foods I could eat and we found the jack pot...Little lemon cakes that are delish, and only 1 point! We also found ice cream bars and frozen dinners.

One of the hardest things so far has been dinner time. I'm not settled enough to be able to eat what the rest of my family is eating so I have to make two dinners which again depresses me, but no more, with my new frozen meals! I also have been snacking more than sitting down for meals and I know I will have to sort through that, but for now I want to lose some weight to keep my enthusiasm up.

I did invent one thing that I like a lot...a piece of low fat string cheese wrapped in thinly sliced turkey. It is 1 point and sooooo good, and filling. My friend said she takes a fat free tortilla and spreads sugar free jelly on it and that's good too (I tried it and I concur it is yummy).

So does anyone have any other yummy suggestions to get me through the day?

Big Questions

Here goes...I was talking with a friend and she asked me about God having His hand on everything and that led to God's involvement with us and the world. Finally we became stuck on the question, why did God send Jesus to die for us? Why didn't he simply change our hearts and remove our sin, and if it was so that we would have something to believe in, why didn't he just give us that faith? Looking forward to your answers!

Tagging Continued

Previously on tagging...Sara had many items to tag and had not even finished sorting them, we pick up with Sara on her way to the fair grounds to drop off the tagged items...
On my way to visit Andy at work a couple of days before the drop off day, I saw a sign at the Sugar Loaf exit ramp that said Gwinnett County Fair Grounds so I thought great they must be right around here so on Friday all I will need to do is come down 85 exit a Sugar Loaf and follow the signs. Sadly this plan failed me.

I crammed everything in my SUV seats folded down, side to side, top to bottom front to back; I couldn't see anything...at all. I make it to the exit and am driving down Sugar Loaf and driving and driving over 316 over Old Norcross no more signs have been seen. I call Andy and he tells me to keep going past Five Forks and then past Scenic Hwy and it will be a left turn after that. I see the sign, but there is no left turn, the next left has blocked gates and the next left is a neighborhood...So I go in the neighborhood, I go back out of the neighborhood, I go in the exit. Desperate times, desperate measures.

I get out go up sign in and wait for a cart to take my stuff in...this is taking too long I will use my bassinet to wheel my stuff in...Genius Me!

Stuff on ground getting dirty...no so genious.

Get stuff in and on rack, go back for more.

Go back for more...

and go back for more.

Okay I have everything.

There is a woman who has begun checking me in (she looks concerned) she says that one of the outfits is dirty like someone stepped on it...Now how did that happen?
Then the next shirt is the same way and the next one...Aha I have it...the paper, card stock remember, didn't take the ink well and it is all rubbing off on the outfit that is touching it. She asks me if I have a wipe on me...No...I have folded down seats and the clothes on my back...no room for wipes...no baby...why do I need wipes? I'm thinking she is going to tell me that they won't take any of the clothes, and honestly, I'm going to get a little ticky if that happens. Alas, she says it's "all good" and I can go hang it up.

Once inside the warehouse there are people everywhere and boxes, some labeled, some not...I can't find anything. Where do the bumpers go, where do the bathroom towels/curtains go, where do the tie backs for the curtains go...where do the hairs I keep pulling out of my head go, wait I know that one!

It takes about an hour to get everything hung up plus the hour and a half it took to get everything unloaded and checked in. What a day!

This evening I hired a baby sitter so I could go to the presale, waited in line for 20 minutes to get in the door, spent 5 minutes shopping and waited 50 minutes to check out, and another 10 to get out the door. Needless to say I did not bother going to the other building that had a line further than I could see to just get in the door.

Everyone said that the presale was worse than the first day of the consigment sale and I believe this is true, that or those people are crazy. Everyone selling has the same motivation-presale- so all 1,000 of us were there, I kid you not.

But, and this is a big BUT! I did get one of the cars I wanted, the last one of 5 that hadn't been taken and the fold out thing
Melissa saw for the church nursery, and a "classic" sit and spin that Andy wanted.

All in all we got what we really wanted and weren't too worse for the wear.

And I think we will do it again next year!

Life Experiences

Tonight my DH was talking about life experiences and how he feels like he hasn't experienced life. He felt "sheltered and in a bubble" while he was growing up. I listened to him talk and tried to make helpful suggestions, but it didn't seem to help much.
After he left to go to bed I spent some time thinking about what he said, and about my own life experiences. We came from opposite points of parenting, so I had a great many experiences and was not sheltered. People often tell me "you're so mature for your age", I know they mean it as a compliment, but honestly it is not a bonus to be mature for your age. All it really means is that you have experienced more than you should have by that age. Having "experienced" life has matured me quickly, but it has also made me more cynical, hard and mistrusting of others. I didn't necessarily rebel against my parents rules since there were so few, but I did do things that were not in my best interest and consequently harmed my heart. As my DH craves experience and a knowledge of the world I crave innocence and safety. I carry the regrets and pain of my past with me as he carries the pain of isolation. As I write this I feel like I am equating the one to the other, when in fact, I don't believe they are equal. As time goes by he will gain knowledge, maturity and experience, but will do so with an older wiser mind.
While I get older I will learn from and remember less about the hurts of my past and develop the tools to deal with it...but right here, right now my maturity hurts, my experience and past life is hard to live with.
I wish I could help him understand the benefit of protection from the world as a child. I know that as parents we can go too far and create an idol out of protecting our children, and I am not advocating a bubble lifestyle, but I do believe that God has led us to protect our children from the sin in their own hearts and the sin that can be committed against them. I can hear him saying that we can't protect our children from their sin, but I believe we can. We can guide our children, we can make rules to teach them what sin is, just as God gave us laws to show us sin. I suppose what I really want is my slate to be wiped clean, I want to forget about what I did. I believe God has forgiven me and that my "transgressions are as far as the east is from the west" and that "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". I also know that it is my sin that brings me back to the cross, but I still feel jilted. I long for the childhood of someone who was happy, well adjusted and secure. If I had been that girl I wouldn't carry the pain I do now, I wouldn't be the person I am now either, but honestly I would be fine with that.
Here's the problem with that, I am the person I am, I do have the pain that I have, and I do struggle with supporting my husband in his quest for the maturity I have...Any suggestions?
~desperately seeking relief~

And the Sunday 4

So now Sam and Robyn have made the Friday/Saturday favorite four and I am following suit with the Sunday 4. Don't we just love any opportunity to talk about ourselves? But, truthfully I love learning all this stuff about my friends.

4 Jobs that I have had in my life
Animal clinic-kennel
Sales calls for an internet company
Nanny
Stable hand: feeder, rider, stall picker, water bucket emptier/filler

4 Movies I watch over and over
Anchor Man
Fried Green Tomatoes
Steel magnolias
Pirates of the Caribbean

4 places I have lived-the only places I have lived
Portland, OR
Norcross, GA
Dunwoody, GA
Sugar Hill, GA

4 T.V. Shows I love to watch
Greys Anatomy
Everwood-cancelled this year :(
Gilmore Girls
Desperate House Wives

4 Places I have been on vacation
Italy
Cancun
Cozumel
Hawaii

4 Favorite restaurants
Brio Tuscan Grill
Scallini's
Cardamuro's
Maggiano's

4 places I would like to be
any restaurant-I'm starving
In bed
At a spa
On a horse

4 favorite books (instead of websites visited daily)
Black Beauty
Wuthering Heights
Anne of Green Gables
A leg at each corner

Jeannie's Chateau Elan Benefit

Saturday evening I went with a few friends from church to a benefit at Chateau Elan for Dare to Share. There was a silent auction, a live auction, a band, free drinks and fabulous food. Above is a picture of the dress I wore (before I had my hair and makeup done) Cindy is the only one with a picture of all of us done up and getting ready to leave...so I will post that later.
We all met at Jeannie's house to get ready-where we swapped shoes, bags, dresses and makeup. Took turns fluffing eachothers hair and were pretty much a bunch of girls playing dress up.
We all had such a good time at the party we didn't meet everyone there but saw the names of famous people on the silent auction sign up sheets. The food was great we had wine, bread, the best salad ever-strawberries, goat cheese, pecans and a fantastic dressing. There was steak and snapper served with asparagus and those of you that know me know I love asparagus like life-no joke. The desert was a custard with berries on top...delicious! and of course coffee. Carey and I went out to visit the cheese table and it was to die for-of course I could live on cheese alone. Then during the fashion show I was talking (which I tend to do with my hands) and knocked my drink over, but let me tell you this was ingenious! I had like two sips left maybe, but the server came over and poured me a whole new glass. The drinks were only free from 6-7 and you got one free one with dinner so I was scoring with this drink spilling. Carey thought it was so great she considered tipping her glass over too! I got home about 11 and crashed on the couch while my DH finished up his show and then we crawled into bed-It was such a party night that I couldn't get up for church the next morning...We'll just call it my quiet time!

Tagging

I don't know how these two pictures will show up when I publish, but that's half the fun right? Okay, I am in the Gwinnett County Consignment Sale coming up in a couple of weeks. www.kidsignments.com Melissa sent me a link a couple of months ago, and when I saw they were still accepting sellers I applied (we have tried to sell at the Sugar Hill Methodist Consignment before, but it never panned out) and got a spot.

The real reason for selling at these sales is that you get to go in on preview night and shop before anyone else. I know this won't be as thilling to everyone as it is to me, but I'm sure there are enough of you out there to appreciate it! I wasn't nearly as excited before I saw the pictures they had posted on their site...this is like the toy mecca for thrifty mommies. The car picture has rows and rows and rows of cars...I couldn't believe my eyes.

Now for the stinky part...Selling my stuff. First you have to dig everything out, sort it by size, then sort the sizes by prices. This is exhausting. Then you have to safety pin all of the outfits that have matching pieces together and pin them to the hangers (which you supply). Now you have to print out the tags, but only one copy since you will be taking them to the local office store and having them reprinted onto cardstock (so they hold up to busy shopping). Now take your printed price tags and cut them out, match them up with the clothes, and pin them on.

So far I have...SORTED...yes that's right sorted (most of) the clothes. I am going tonight to print off my tags and then will have a cut fest after the kids go to bed. And I am still after hangers, but I know it will all be worth it when I get to have uninhibited shopping (the early pass only allows you-no children-no husbands-no grandparents) in the toy mecca! READY, SET...TAG!!!

Tea At The Bare's

Tyler and little Rusty hangin' by the couch; Jonah riding around on his automobile















Jackson a little ticked about taking a picture; and here's everyone (no Jack) saying Bye

Today Keri and Sam came over for a "proper tea" unfortunately that all went out the window when the string for the tea bag came out of the teapot spout!(the only decaf. tea I had was bagged) After our bloggity home tour I realized that Sam and Keri had declined ALL :) my previous invitations (2) to come over, hence they had not seen the house of Bare in person yet. We had the grand tour and the kids ran around playing and chasing the cats.
Ella sang the blessing before the kids started their kitchen floor picnic and the mommies had tea and cookies. There were many screams, little pushes and arguing, but after Sam calmed down we had a very nice time (hehehe).
It was great to have you girls over, I really enjoyed myself~Keri we are off to your house next...When's the date!
Smooches~~
Sara

SAHM I AM Update

My motivation has slowed down for my weight loss, I lost three pounds and then gained back two...water weight I guess, but it's still depressing. I know the number doesn't matter and it's how do your clothes fit...are you feeling better...blah blah blah. I still want the number to read 125. No that's not the number I am going for I personally don't find that to be attainable, but I would be happy at 135, and that is my goal.
I finished the book today after a significant break. It kept depressing my...the moderator continued to be unpleasant and I spent sometime thinking about it and I am not like her. She is someone who makes people like me feel bad for not measuring up, but I do measure up. I have Christs righteousness and perfectness covering me. The Lord created me for His glory and glorify Him I will. How many times do we have to tell our heads until the truth gets to our hearts? I don't know, but everyday I think I get a little bit closer. God truly does delight in me and I in Him. I don't need to be concerned with other opinions good or bad-only Gods. Thank you Lord for the freedom I have found in you, please forgive my drifting and unbelief. You are my rock, my mountain top, my safe place, and the lover of my soul; you know the depths of my heart and you love me the same!

Pictures

For some reason I cannot remember to take my camera anywhere. My parents came up to visit today and I even charged the batteries so I could snap away...And I forget the thing at the house. We took the boys to jumping party, but they were closed so we gave jungle jump a try. They let Jack in for free which was nice (especially since they charge 6.36 per child!), but I think they would charge next time for him. I didn't like the set up as much as jumping party; it wasn't as aesthetically pleasing. The jumping things were way to big for Jack and a struggle for Tyler, but he loved it anyway. All this running and jumping and playing with Gamma and Papa and me with no camera :(... It was very sad.
I took them to the pool this afternoon and Tyler floated around on the adult size blue float that is big enough for me to stretch out on...He looks so cute with his hands behind his head resting on the pillow. Jack sailed around in his floaty until Tyler demanded to be put in it. Then I held Jack and Tyler swam around in the BABY float. He swam from one end of the pool to the other then got out and jumped in off the side. He had the best time...Until we had to leave. You all know how that goes.