most days

Most the winter I really love the cold and snow. BUT the past two days and the next two days are not days I like this weather. It is really cold. As I am typing this the temp is 9 degrees feels like -7. At 6 am it was 1 feels like -15. That is way TOO COLD for this southern girl. Now that being said at least it is only for a few days. I can suck it up stay inside bundle up and just stay warm, at least we have heat. In the summer when it is 75-80 for MOST the summer I am really loving living here and not in the heat and humidity of the South. Guess I take what God has given in all of it's beauty and glory.

Have a blessed Sabbath day. Stay warm and dry

Saints Fan

From the time we moved to New Orleans when I was 9 years old, I became a Saints fan. We are a different breed of fan ~ I remember losing seasons, I remember the 1st winning season, I remember the 1st playoff and loss. I remember the 1st playoff win.

I have been to many a event in the Superdome religious, entertainment and sporting events. It is a dome like no other. I cried 4 and half years ago when Katrina nearly destroyed it. I was fortunate to be able to go to a game there after it reopened. To me the dome represented sadness and HOPE.

Tonight I got to watch my SAINTS play their hearts out. It was a nail biter. But in the end my house was SCREAMING WE ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL. THE SAINTS ARE MARCHING TO MIAMI.

After 43 years New Orleans Saints are making their first Superbowl appearance. Yes it's just football but for a New Orleanean, it is so much more. February 7th, I am not just watching the commercials. lol

Whew

Stopped to get gas in the van. Had ~A and ~B buckled in their car seats. Turned the key to auto so they could listen to the radio while I was getting gas. Pumped my gas, go to get back in the van. OOPS the van door was LOCKED. OH NO ALL and I MEAN ALL the doors were LOCKED. My cell phone was inside. Nique is at home with the other 5 kids. I tapped on the window, hoping that Bekah can unbuckle herself, asking her to get out of her car seat. She manages to do it. Now this is actually both scary and a relief all at the same time. She comes and unlocks the drivers door so I can get back in the van.

Whew!!! Major catastrophe averted

Power outage

Last night I got a text from Brian "power out"

Ok so most the time this would not be a big deal BUT it is 7 o'clock at night and about 28 degrees out. I told him where the candles where. The kids had hidden and run down the batteries in the flash lights. The house was actually fairly warm so that was a good thing. Our house is completely electric ~ heat, stove, water heater, everything. We don't have anything that is gas or oil. He got the girls to bed before I got home. I got more flash lights. When I got home we put the boys to bed in the girls room and shut off the boys room, made sure all the kids had extra covers. The cause for the power outage was a blown fuse down the road that isn't traveled (basically down in the woods). The plow guys got the road plowed and then the power guys got the power back on in the middle of the night.

This morning ~B comes and says "mommy the house works again" LOL the mind of a 3 year old.

I wanted to watch election news last night. It was a HISTORIC election for MA and the US. I kept up on my cell phone as much as possible til the battery died. So today I actually got up and watched the early morning news. It's amazing how things turned out. While I couldn't vote because of not being a MA resident, I am glad that the state spoke. The reports are saying about DOUBLE the normal voter turnout.

I am off to clean and organize a little. Have a great day.

Reading Challenges

So Nique says I should go ahead and join some of the book challenges. I am looking at some of them.

Here are some that I am thinking about

100+ Reading Challenge This is an average of slightly more than 2 books a week If I am doing any amount of these challenges I should be able to do this challenge.

Sunrise ~ Karen Kingsbury
Summer ~ Karen Kingsbury
Someday ~Karen Kingsbury
Sunset ~ Karen Kingsbury

Twenties Girl ~ Sophie Kinsella

Redemption ~ Karen Kingsbury
Remember ~ Karen Kingsbury
Return ~ Karen Kingsbury
Rejoice ~ Karen Kingsbury
Reunion ~ Karen Kingsbury

Fame ~ Karen Kingsbury
Forgiven ~ Karen Kingsbury


Redeeming Love ~ Francine Rivers


Buy One and Read It I am planning on doing the library challenge but I love buying books and some books just BELONG on my shelf. Those are the books that I will read for this challenge

Redeeming Love ~ Francine Rivers

 Support Your Local Library What a way to read and not have to buy my books  If I am going to read 100+ plus books this year I am not going to buy them all.

1 Sunrise ~ Karen Kingsbury
2 Summer ~ Karen Kingsbury
3 Someday ~Karen Kingsbury
4 Sunset ~ Karen Kingsbury
5 Twenties Girl ~ Sophie Kinsella
6 Redemption ~ Karen Kingsbury
7 Remember ~ Karen Kingsbury
8 Return ~Karen Kingsbury
9 Rejoice ~ Karen Kingsbury
10 Reunion ~ Karen Kingsbury
11 Fame ~ Karen Kingsbury
12 Forgiven ~ Karen Kingsbury

 Christian Historical Fiction I love reading historical Christian fiction

Redeeming Love ~ Francine Rivers

 1st in a Series Each series of books that I start would count. I love reading series.

Sunrise ~ Karen Kingsbury
Redemption ~ Karen Kingsbury
Fame ~ Karen Kingsbury

2nd-reading Challenge There are authors I can re-read or read the 2nd book in a series would qualify for this

Summer ~ Karen Kingsbury
Remember ~ Karen Kingsbury
Forgiven ~ Karen Kingsbury

 Finish That Series Finishing the series that I start

Sunrise Series ~ Karen Kingsbury
Redemption Series ~ Karen Kingsbury

Romance Reading A lot of the Christian fiction books I read might fit into this catagory

Sunrise ~ Karen Kingsbury
Summer ~ Karen Kingsbury
Someday ~Karen Kingsbury
Sunset ~ Karen Kingsbury


Redemption ~ Karen Kingsbury
Remember ~ Karen Kingsbury
Return ~ Karen Kingsbury
Rejoice ~ Karen Kingsbury
Reunion ~ Karen Kingsbury

Fame ~ Karen Kingsbury
Forgiven~ Karen Kingsbury

Redeeming Love ~ Francine Rivers

 451 Challenge Looking over this list there are some great books that I have read or have wanted to read, most I should be able to find at the library


 Christian Non Fiction This works to challenge my mind as I read inspiration

 Young Reader's Challenge This works to read more books with the kids


It looks like a lot of reading. But I think I would have a lot of cross over reading and be able to do this. I am going to take a day or two to think about it and go back and look at the links again later to decide.

Will keep you updated.


UPDATE~I am going to do the above.  

Crashing and Burning ~ NOT This Time!!!

I am not going to do that this year!!!

I have tried for years to get organized and stay organized. Most years I crash and burn. Hard to believe for most but I am a perfectionist to the point that it overwhelms me. When I can't do it just so perfectly I end up giving up. I want it done just so RIGHT NOW. Well This year I AM NOT going to do that. I doing this slowly and one step at a time. I am slowly looking at my house and my life and figuring out what works for me, not what works for someone else that they send to me in a bunch of emails that overwhelm me.

Sometime last year I came across Homesanctuary Through her site and words and God's prodding (because I truly believe He led me there) I began to think of my house in a different light. Brian and I have sat down and thought of a Mission statement for our home. This year Rachel Anne is talking about The Secret to Successful Home Management. Each day I am working on her small projects and realistically looking at life and challenges. The prayer and hope is that life in our house gets better for my children and husband. God is calling me to be a better wife, mom, daughter and friend.

Today's topic was about creating a schedule for housekeeping. Take a look at it, if you struggle or even if you just want some good ideas. Housekeeping Schedules I worked on mine today, carved out time for GOD, ME, BRIAN, and Family time, Church, School and cleaning. Our set in stone appointments are on the sheet then the extras fit in around that.

Sometimes we hear the same thing a 1000 times before it sticks. I used to envy those that are naturally organized and keep "perfect" homes but not anymore. I am the way I am, it just takes me a little longer to clean and be organized but I learning to be okay with me. God made me!!!

Have a blessed day

Thankful Tuesday

Today was a day of frustrations but yet I am thankful to be here.
Thankful for the laughter of children. As we were driving trying to chase down a textbook we passed by the BACK of Brian's old office building. The girls start yelling "that's daddy's work, we going to go see daddy." That brought me much joy.

I am thankful a house that needs to be cleaned,
clothes to be washed
dishes to be cleaned
Why you may ask?
It means that we have stuff, clothes to wear, a house to keep us warm, and food to eat.

I am THANKFUL for my Savior who watches over me and reminds me that He is there to keep me and love me.

Daily scripture reading

I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High Psalm 7:17

Goals for today

It's Sunday, football comes on it a little while, I have a lot to do before that though.

Minimal Maintenance
Laundry reboot folding during football game
Office Pick up (kids have already started helping)
Dinner plans (looks like breakfast for dinner)

wondering

I am in the process of getting the girls birth certificates. Up til now I haven't had a need for them. The copy from the hospital and their social security cards have sufficed. So I call the lady to make sure she got all the information.
She calls me back. "ma'am are ~A and ~R twins?"
"yes they are." I replied.
"I found ~R in the book but haven't located ~A."
To which I replied, "Well ~A was baby A and ~R was baby B born at ... and ..."
"I will go and look again"
I haven't heard back from her yet. Hopefully she will call me back tomorrow and let me know she found my cute and adorable baby A. LOL Until then I guess I didn't give birth to two cute and adorable baby girls but just one cute and adorable baby girl. Good thing I have her shot record and her medical record from the the hospital and her social security card to prover her existence. The joys of red tape.

School has started

Yep it's official...

I am back in school. I am a Junior but feel like a freshman all over again. It's been 14 years since I have gone to school. Well I did take a chemistry class in 2000 but that was one single class I only had one child. Now I have 5. WOW So Brian has been going to school for the past 3 years but usually taking 1 single class in 8 week spurts sometimes he might take 2. I really do appreciate all that he has done. Now he is almost done.

I am scared crazy with the two classes I am taking, both of which have a lot of information. I won't be sharing grades with anyone because my VALUE doesn't involve my grades. I am not in a competition to be better than anyone else.

Off to read about anatomy

This year is off to a dandy start

So we are snowed in... The "light snow turning into 3-6 inches by 10 pm Saturday night" became 3 - 6 inches over night and still falling. The plow guy came down our street at after 1030. We live on private property not city streets so even when the regular street is plowed we may not be. Anyway we got a message that church was canceled today due to snow which is a mixed blessing. I was really looking forward to church this week after not attending last week. The girls however weren't going as they ALL have the sniffles and coughs.

I got my syllabus for the new semester. OH MY. This is all online but each test is a proctored exam. I called the closest base and basically got brushed off because I am not an AIR FORCE spouse. I will be calling again on Monday to speak to them again. Between the two classes I will be very busy between now and April 22. 20 weekly exams, 2 case presentations, 1 research paper, 1 midterm and 2 final exams. So this equates ONE busy mama. After 14 years of being out of college and having 5 kids and 2 extras in the house, this semesters scares me a little bit. I have to locate a testing proctor site if the base doesn't work out, which I may have done through one of the local community colleges. My books still have to get here which hopefully they will be by Monday or Tuesday.

We are having movie night with the kids tonight, just quietly chilling out at home amongst all the snow, so far I think there is about 6-8 inches now.