Hello All! I have realized that I have a HUGE problem!!! I must admit it now and then move away from it. Will you keep me accountable, please??? I have a problem with . . . drum roll, please. . . MOMMY GUILT!! And it is BAD!!! I feel guilty about everything - what I should be doing, what I did, what I didn't do, how much t.v. the kids watch, I don't get enought sleep, ate too much, exercised too little, said something a little too harshly, didn't say something I should have, OH the list goes on!!
So I feel guilty about a lot and will now start walking away from it with baby steps. Today - posting on my blog again. Small post so I am not overwhelmed by ALL I feel I have to catch up on since I haven't in a YEAR. I have a wonderful friend who just blogs one thought a day. Profound. I'll have to copy you Andrea!!
Next step! Uploading pictures to the computer!! Keep me accountable!!
Love you friends and family!! :)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, October 26, 2009
MOPS Convention
I left home for FOUR days in September!!! I hadn't ever left all three kids and Daryl hadn't had all the kids like that before. The church offered to pay for the steering team for MOPS to go to the convention in Nashville, TN. Wow!! We figured in order to save money, we would drive the 14 hours there. 8 of us went: 6 drove in the church's van and 2 flew. I was quite leery of leaving at 3 in the morning - since I am SOOO not a morning person. Well, this was the most fun I have had as a person - me, Angela - not as a mom, not as a wife - just ME in as long as I can remember!!! Probably since Daryl was gone on deployments!! I had a blast!!! The 14 hour drive was the BEST part. Being with 6 wonderful girls trapped in a car with nothing to do but talk for 14 hours!! That is what every mother of preschooler DREAMS of! :)
We stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. I have always wanted to stay at one and I got to stay there for free!! Five years ago, while we were in Fort Worth, Daryl promised me we could stay at the Gaylord Texan if he got promoted. Well, he got promoted but we moved so quickly after that that we couldn't fit it in. I finally got to do it!!! And it is an amazing place! Huge, plush, very nice service, excellent food - but a cup of coffee was $3.22 - BLACK!!! They accommodated our 4000 people seemingly effortlessly They are used to that types of crowds.
The convention itself was awesome!!!! MOPS International did a wonderful job! The speakers were Godfilled and spoke like they were talking only to me. The worship was AWESOME!! Matt Redman, Plumb, Christy Nockles (of Watermark), Natalie Grant and Matthew West. Couldn't believe it. We had great breakout groups. I went to a session on telling God's story in you, Creative Concoctions - cheap homemade activities and crafts for kids, being a discussion group leader, being a Green Mama . . . I guess that was it. I loved it. It was talking to me as a Christian. Not solely focused on me as a preschooler's mother. How I can reach others for Christ - right here where I am.
I love the girls I was with. I have been here only a year but I feel like these girls are my soul mates. I haven't felt that way in a LONG time!!! So excited to be serving my Lord with these ladies!!! Watch out world!!! MOPS at NSBC is out to change the world - NO mom left behind!! :)
Oh, D and the kids did GREAT!!! Didn't act like they missed me at all! :) SO can I do it again next year???? :)
We stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. I have always wanted to stay at one and I got to stay there for free!! Five years ago, while we were in Fort Worth, Daryl promised me we could stay at the Gaylord Texan if he got promoted. Well, he got promoted but we moved so quickly after that that we couldn't fit it in. I finally got to do it!!! And it is an amazing place! Huge, plush, very nice service, excellent food - but a cup of coffee was $3.22 - BLACK!!! They accommodated our 4000 people seemingly effortlessly They are used to that types of crowds.
The convention itself was awesome!!!! MOPS International did a wonderful job! The speakers were Godfilled and spoke like they were talking only to me. The worship was AWESOME!! Matt Redman, Plumb, Christy Nockles (of Watermark), Natalie Grant and Matthew West. Couldn't believe it. We had great breakout groups. I went to a session on telling God's story in you, Creative Concoctions - cheap homemade activities and crafts for kids, being a discussion group leader, being a Green Mama . . . I guess that was it. I loved it. It was talking to me as a Christian. Not solely focused on me as a preschooler's mother. How I can reach others for Christ - right here where I am.
I love the girls I was with. I have been here only a year but I feel like these girls are my soul mates. I haven't felt that way in a LONG time!!! So excited to be serving my Lord with these ladies!!! Watch out world!!! MOPS at NSBC is out to change the world - NO mom left behind!! :)
Oh, D and the kids did GREAT!!! Didn't act like they missed me at all! :) SO can I do it again next year???? :)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
New School Year!!
I love the start of a new school year. To me, it is the new year and that is when I have MY New Year Resolutions. This year, I will try to sleep more, be more organized, and exercise more!
This summer did not go the way I originally intended! I did not plan on breaking my leg!! What a way to spend a summer! But we did survive! One thing I planned on doing was getting caught up on my blogging. I guess my aspirations are too high. So I will start right now with a clean slate! I did post a lot of pictures on facebook so you can check out those.
September is a jammed packed month. We came back from Idaho on Labor Day weekend. School started on Tuesday morning. Not even a chance to breathe! Riley is so excited about her teacher, Mrs Donegan. I can’t believe she is in 2nd grade!
This month is the start of all MY activities: MOPS, PTO and planning for the CNY Navy Family Support Group. In MOPS, I am a discussion group leader. At first, I was upset about that seemingly small job. But now I realize how important it actually is!! It is where you learn about each mom and can encourage her, pray for her, help her. I am so EXCITED!! And this year, I am going to convention!!! In Nashville! I will be leaving the family for the first time! Wonder how Daryl will do in MY job?? MOPS is so important because we need to be building up families. Families are falling apart all around us! Need to shine the light of Jesus to other moms. YES, this is hard work but SOOOO important!
I am the secretary for Riley’s school’s PTO. Another job I feel called to do!!! I know people are busy, but it is so important to be involved in your child’s school. I love being there and helping the people who are educating our future!!
Daryl and I are working on creating a group call CNY Navy Family Support Group. Long name, but you know the mission! J We had a family picnic in June and I was shocked at how little the Reservists family’s knew about the military! So I told Daryl I wanted to do something about that. Some of my closest friends are from our military travels. These people (thought I don’t talk to them all the time) are my closest friends. They understand about so many things that nonmilitary people have no clue about. Our first thing is planning a Deployment Brief for the group of Sea Bees who are getting ready to deploy. Wow! I feel like I bit off more than I can chew – at times. Just have to trust God in my efforts and know that anything is more than these people have heard.
Finally, Daryl and I will attend a Bible Study called iMarriage by Andy Stanley. I took the class this winter while Daryl was attending all of his schooling. Now we can go together! :)
I’ll close my rambling!! Need to wake the kids from nap. D is salmon fishing. He is doing that a lot this week – and then he had to remind me that he won’t be doing it for at least 5 months this winter! :) Love to all!
P.S. I have met a wonderul lady who is helping me watch the kids during the week - as needed. She is an answer to prayer - both of ours!! She needs to make extra money but has small children. I need someone to watch my children and she has instant playmates!! :) Her youngest two are closest to Bodie and Kaylee. They have wonderful times together and she is an inspiration to me! God is so good!
This summer did not go the way I originally intended! I did not plan on breaking my leg!! What a way to spend a summer! But we did survive! One thing I planned on doing was getting caught up on my blogging. I guess my aspirations are too high. So I will start right now with a clean slate! I did post a lot of pictures on facebook so you can check out those.
September is a jammed packed month. We came back from Idaho on Labor Day weekend. School started on Tuesday morning. Not even a chance to breathe! Riley is so excited about her teacher, Mrs Donegan. I can’t believe she is in 2nd grade!
This month is the start of all MY activities: MOPS, PTO and planning for the CNY Navy Family Support Group. In MOPS, I am a discussion group leader. At first, I was upset about that seemingly small job. But now I realize how important it actually is!! It is where you learn about each mom and can encourage her, pray for her, help her. I am so EXCITED!! And this year, I am going to convention!!! In Nashville! I will be leaving the family for the first time! Wonder how Daryl will do in MY job?? MOPS is so important because we need to be building up families. Families are falling apart all around us! Need to shine the light of Jesus to other moms. YES, this is hard work but SOOOO important!
I am the secretary for Riley’s school’s PTO. Another job I feel called to do!!! I know people are busy, but it is so important to be involved in your child’s school. I love being there and helping the people who are educating our future!!
Daryl and I are working on creating a group call CNY Navy Family Support Group. Long name, but you know the mission! J We had a family picnic in June and I was shocked at how little the Reservists family’s knew about the military! So I told Daryl I wanted to do something about that. Some of my closest friends are from our military travels. These people (thought I don’t talk to them all the time) are my closest friends. They understand about so many things that nonmilitary people have no clue about. Our first thing is planning a Deployment Brief for the group of Sea Bees who are getting ready to deploy. Wow! I feel like I bit off more than I can chew – at times. Just have to trust God in my efforts and know that anything is more than these people have heard.
Finally, Daryl and I will attend a Bible Study called iMarriage by Andy Stanley. I took the class this winter while Daryl was attending all of his schooling. Now we can go together! :)
I’ll close my rambling!! Need to wake the kids from nap. D is salmon fishing. He is doing that a lot this week – and then he had to remind me that he won’t be doing it for at least 5 months this winter! :) Love to all!
P.S. I have met a wonderul lady who is helping me watch the kids during the week - as needed. She is an answer to prayer - both of ours!! She needs to make extra money but has small children. I need someone to watch my children and she has instant playmates!! :) Her youngest two are closest to Bodie and Kaylee. They have wonderful times together and she is an inspiration to me! God is so good!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Bodie is FOUR!!
Kaylee has to be in the middle of everything!
All the Presents!
Happy birthday, Dear Bodie!
The Bouncy House!
His favorite gift, from Mimi and Granddaddy
Our crew on the Maine Narrow Gauge RailRoad
He called her "Mavis"
SOOO proud of his ticket"Can we put it on the 'frigerator?"
He is FOUR!
Fancy "Old Coach"
He is FOUR!
Fancy "Old Coach"I can't believe our little boy is FOUR! His birthday was actually July 24th but we didn't let him know because we were in Maine. Birthdays at our house mean cake and presents and we didn't want to do all that in Maine! We did do something on his birthday just for him. We went to the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. Got to look in old coaches and ride the train in the pouring Portland rain.
When we got back to New York, and while Mimi and Granddaddy were here, we celebrated his birthday in style! I asked him what he wanted to do and the perfect 4 year old answer- Have a Bouncy House! We invited all the neighbor kids and a couple of families from church. Grilled hotdog/sausages, veggies and ranch dip, watermelon and cupcakes/icecream cake. What else could a 4 year old want! :) He got so many presents, I was overwhelmed. It was a GREAT day.
CRANKY
Hello World!
I don't know if anyone even reads this but I SOOOO love reading everyone else's blog. I would write more often but I don't even know if anyone reads this. So for the moment, I am posting that I am cranky. Tired of having a hurt leg, tired of wanting to have help. My kids are cranky because I can't do what they want. It's finally hot outside and no one wants to be out there - we LOVE cool NY!!! Kaylee is such a stinker and KNOWS I can't chase after her when she is doing something bad. I hate feeling like I am always yelling at my kids. Just plain frustrated!!! How long does it take to heal a hurt leg?? The bone doesn't hurt as much as the ligaments around my foot. Want to be normal and not use crutches BUT should use crutches so it doesn't hurt. AAAAGGGGHHH! Am so appreciative of all the help I have gotten and hate to ask for more help. I h ave not been treating my husband with the utmost care he deserves. He has done a great job of taking care of all of us. I'll just go away and go eat worms right now!! (Actually, I'll just go look at pictures to order for our visit to the in-laws next week.)
I don't know if anyone even reads this but I SOOOO love reading everyone else's blog. I would write more often but I don't even know if anyone reads this. So for the moment, I am posting that I am cranky. Tired of having a hurt leg, tired of wanting to have help. My kids are cranky because I can't do what they want. It's finally hot outside and no one wants to be out there - we LOVE cool NY!!! Kaylee is such a stinker and KNOWS I can't chase after her when she is doing something bad. I hate feeling like I am always yelling at my kids. Just plain frustrated!!! How long does it take to heal a hurt leg?? The bone doesn't hurt as much as the ligaments around my foot. Want to be normal and not use crutches BUT should use crutches so it doesn't hurt. AAAAGGGGHHH! Am so appreciative of all the help I have gotten and hate to ask for more help. I h ave not been treating my husband with the utmost care he deserves. He has done a great job of taking care of all of us. I'll just go away and go eat worms right now!! (Actually, I'll just go look at pictures to order for our visit to the in-laws next week.)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Fun with Bugs!!
We have been having fun with bugs the last few months! In May, I ordered a butterfly garden, ladybug farm and an earthworm factory. The kids LOVE it!!! We received the butterfly kit and ladybug kit on the same day. The butterflies arrived a small caterpillars in a plastic cup. They looked like they were sitting on brown sugar. After reading the instructions, I learned that that was their food that they ate until they built their chrysalis's. These things ate and ate and ate for days! As they ate, they spun webs for them to crawl around on. The caterpillars looked huge and I couldn't beleive the webs could hold them up. After 2 weeks of eating, they crawled to the top of the cup and hung down and turned into these coccoons right before our eyes!!
taking abreak to head to Maine for vacation!!
taking abreak to head to Maine for vacation!!
The hole in our Gospel
I am reading a wonderful book called "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, CEO of World Vision. It is an excellent book!! I want EVERYONE to read this book. It is changing the way I am shopping!! It talks about how we as Americans are so blessed and don't always share that blessing with others.. If a family's income is $50,000 a year, that family is wealthier than 99% of everyone else in the world!! I have slowly read the book and am wondering what more we should be doing as a family. We have SOOOOO much!!
D and I just completed the Dave Ramsey course on Financial Peace. He talks about building your wealth in a Christian manner along with tithing. I don't know if I can build my wealth without tithing MORE. Why should I "build my wealth" when so many people are dying without having clean water, starving, can't feed their children. There must be a balance somewhere and I am trying to find it.
Early in the year, I decided 2009 was going to be a year of gratitude. I have been journaling along with this theme and trying to let my family know how much I am thankful for. Instead of always grumbling. I would rather be thought of as a happy person! So that is one reason I wanted to read this book! I want to share our blessings! I want to train our kids to think of others more than themselves so I need to show that I do that in my life too.
I am not going to list all that we are doing because I don't want to appear that I am bragging but what kind of things does your family do??
D and I just completed the Dave Ramsey course on Financial Peace. He talks about building your wealth in a Christian manner along with tithing. I don't know if I can build my wealth without tithing MORE. Why should I "build my wealth" when so many people are dying without having clean water, starving, can't feed their children. There must be a balance somewhere and I am trying to find it.
Early in the year, I decided 2009 was going to be a year of gratitude. I have been journaling along with this theme and trying to let my family know how much I am thankful for. Instead of always grumbling. I would rather be thought of as a happy person! So that is one reason I wanted to read this book! I want to share our blessings! I want to train our kids to think of others more than themselves so I need to show that I do that in my life too.
I am not going to list all that we are doing because I don't want to appear that I am bragging but what kind of things does your family do??
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