Daddy Days

 Dad and Wifey Day--went to Marshall to see the lights, eat at OS, eat salted caramel fudge and saw some Rabenhorst friends!

 Daddy and Katie day at Six Flags--this was their FAVORITE ride!

 Daddy and Melissa Day---went to Aggieland for a Basketball game!

 Daddy and Matthew Day---went to a Fun Run and to Denny's and more!

Daddy and Mark Day--went to Aggieland for a football game--I think that was a win-win for both of them!
John had this idea about 2 months ago and asked each of us what our "favorite day with Dad" would look like--and he made it happen for all of us!!  Thanks John!

Really, it's been that long!

I cannot believe that it's been since July since my last post.  When that happens, often times, I look back on a very dry time in my life--but this time, it hasn't been dry, just busy I guess.  I'm usually one of those that try NOT to be busy, so maybe this isn't the reason.  I think the main reason is I'm not uploading pictures from my phone to this blog.

My family continues to grow up---taller and taller they get...older and older they get.  It used to be that when people said kids just grow up too fast, I would wonder, because every day I home schooled, it seemed so slow.  They felt the same age forever.  Now, that I am back to teaching at a school and they are attending school, time is flying!  I'm sure that I don't like that.  I feel that I will blink and my oldest will be in college.

I hit my 40th birthday at the end of September.  I think that I've been dreading it since I was 35!  Life took a tumble that year and I just expected it to keep tumbling.  Thank you Jesus that you keep me and hold me!  I actually don't feel my age as in it's a bad thing, I just finally feel that I'm old enough to have all my kiddos.  I kind of feel that it's a good mature time in my life, not that I've arrived in life, but maybe I'm growing up! Ha!  Or maybe not!
 
Oh, also in our lives---John's parents are heading to Hawaii!  I can't believe it's that time.  They are planning to stay 6 months...I think we will miss them a lot!  The picture above is from our last group supper with them at Shoguns! Yum!

more pictures to come--if I can figure out my phone!!!

New scarf vest idea....

Post by Cindys Garden.

Fads and Interests...and backfriends

 As a teacher, summer gives me more time to shop, think, and just do some things.  I'm a homebody, but I do tend to get bored, sometimes summer is my "backfriend"--enemy in secret.  No, I don't want to give it up.  I think teachers need it; they need it to recharge for the new year/new students.

As life continues, it is interesting to me that fads come and go.  What has really got me thinking is:  Why do I like certain things?  Do I like them because they are the "new" thing?  Do I like them because they are everywhere?  For example, I've been really enjoying old things(not all old styles)--the ones with old wood, old mason jars...and then, I notice them everywhere...Walmart is even doing plastic mason jars as cups.  What have we come to when what we like is decided for us by the fads?  Here's another one for you...I bought a Norwex towel not too long ago that was a coral color.  I was thinking---hmm, I wish they would make it in a rustic red that I would like.  Then, I start to notice all the corals around in the store and I begin to like the color!!  Was Norwex on to the trend...and then I got caught up in it?  Just some of my thoughts lately...  I used to think that I was the "one" not usually affected by trends--because usually I don't like them.  Lately, I like certain things, then I notice them and then, I wonder, "Are stores/products telling you subtly what to like and it's working?"

Ok, so on to some other things that I have been doing lately(my interests)---

Norwex--I'm loving the way to clean with only water...just wish I had known of this when I had wedding showers 18+ years ago!!!  Can we do one again? haha!  I wanted to sign up so I could get the discount, but I have decided after talking with hubby to wait til they had a free sign up, no requirements or just never.  I sold Pampered Chef long ago and really decided then that it wasn't for me---I love certain things and I just can't keep from talking about them, but selling them, makes me feel weird.  So, I am just now buying them from a friend.  I put this link on the specials page, but you can check out more if you are interested.

Trim Healthy Mama---I've found this book about 1.5 years ago.  Gobbled it up, and have been implementing some things from it.  The two New Zealand (but now live in America) sisters are Hilarious, in my opinion!  I have started going full force ahead--Oh, yes for about a week now!! Long time, I know! (I'm being very sarcastic!)  Really, it's been about two weeks, but pure for almost a week.  I am not eating sugar(except in creamer--haven't given that one up until two days ago--but only b/c I ran out:) ), low carb with high fat or higher carb(45 as a limit) with low fat...those are a few main ideas.  I feel a lot better.  I always do when I eat healthy consistently.  One thing I've done just recently--I put away my scale.  I did it b/c it sometimes works against me:  If I see a few pounds off, I tend to think, "Way to Go!" and splurge...I have no good reason to splurge after just a few pounds, when my goal is a lot bigger than that.  I'm also a bit crazy and tend to quit when I get encouragement...weird...since that is one of my top love languages!!  I just want to do this for the less sugars mainly for health reasons. 
*********Update:  I did THM for 5 weeks(4 pure) and I'm taking a break.  Several reasons why:
1. I was being consumed by thinking this way so much...anything that is consuming--I tend to trim back.
2. Not really any change--I did feel better not eating sugar--but no weight change, unless I really limited calories(only happened when I visited family--lost 2 lbs over that weekend.--very normal for that to happen for me like that--when visiting family).
3.I got to thinking--I want to just eat the way God would have told me to eat.  So, Back to the Bible it is.  I've pulled out an old book that I have---What the Bible Says About Healthy Living by Rex Russell. Eating foods that should be foods, eating them not as processed(more true to form) and not making a god out of any food or drink--3 things he focuses on. 
***I really think that the THMamas had more of a handle on these things than the readers do when they read--you can eat fat---they might read---"a lot of fat":).  I think (my opinion) that we all want to have less self-control...and anytime that happens, I 'm not sure that it's a good thing.  I think Serene and Pearl actually have more self-control than appears to a reader that wants to eat everything! :)...just my current thoughts.

Essential Oils--I've been doing a
few of these for over 5 years, but recently, I've added more.  For this one, I'm not joining any group.  I have too many friends doing this--I can follow them:). My favorite lately:  Peppermint for headaches.  It works!

Ok, that's all my summer interests for now, other than general reading, cooking, and clean movies!

Another Story for you...and an update on my recently acquired vehicle.

The names of the innocent are left out for protection :).
Son: Did you ever like a boy when you were in the 7th grade or in elementary? Did you ever tell them?
Mom: Yes, I liked boys then, but no ,I didn't tell them.
Son: Why?
Mom: Because it makes it awkward since you can't do anything like marry them now or even date.
Son: But you could wait.
Mom: That's a long time to wait. Why don't you talk to dad when he gets home.
Son: I want to talk to a love expert.
Mom: Well, dad IS a love expert.
Son: No, a real love expert like on the computer. Like Dr. Cupid.
Mom: Hmmm...there is no such thing as Dr. Cupid.
(One more reason that the Disney channel should not be watched by a 2nd grader!) Ha!!

First of all, this is not our actual van--no snow here in TX...but this is what ours looks like.
It seats 8!  When we first got it, I didn't test drive it; John did.  Why would I need to--I have already decided and have test driven one before.   When I was the one driving it back home(4 hours), I realized a huge difference from my old minivan.  It drove much looser.  First, I must say I thought I didn't like the tight driving vehicles, but when I had to adjust to loose, I thought maybe I made a mistake--until today.

I had to drive my old van b/c my hubby has the new one today ,and his car was low on gas, and I was running late.  OH MY!  I love my new van now more than ever.  My new van has more get up and go than I have ever had in a vehicle!  So nice to know that it wasn't a mistake after all.  I've been holding back the "celebration" of the new van b/c I just really wasn't feeling so confident.  No more worries--no regrets.  I am very thankful for my job that helped pay for this.  Every year that I teach, I think I enjoy it more.  It does keep me on my toes every year, as what I teach is constantly an option to be changed. 

Researching Autism, Dyslexia and more...can you help?

I am doing a bit of research relating to autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia...and more.  If you have something that would be good to look at, please send me a link.
GI issues and Autism
I'm looking at some health related articles too...to watch and see if diet changes help some deficiencies.

Cleaning Product that works with only WATER!!!

Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee



If you have 3 minutes...check out Norwex and e coli!!

 Mainly, take a look at this science experiment!

Norwex science experiment

Does Norwex work BETTER?

Wow!  I want to say a huge thanks to fellow Independent Norwex Sales Consultant, Nicole Teran, and her child for conducting a school science experiment around the EFFECTIVENESS of standard chemical cleaners vs. the Norwex Enviro Cloth!!  They wanted to test how well various cleaners cleaned up RAW chicken juice!!   What the experiment shows was that the Norwex Enviro Cloth completely REMOVED all the traces of raw chicken from the surface!  Here are their test results.

Green means CLEAN!!  Wow- those results are pretty clear- only ONE tested GREEN!!  Norwex leaves a TRULY CLEAN surface!!  I can assure you… you won’t miss having to shell out cash for all of the standard cleaners, wipes, disposable dusters & paper towels… not to mention the healthier home that you’re creating!  (Here is a graph showing how the test swabs indicate whether or not there is protein left on the surface.)

If you want to order from my show---I'm closing it on Wednesday by around 5pm.  Follow this link to the ordering website.http://norwex.biz/PublicStore/event/377810/default.aspx

My favorites are the Enviro cloth(from the experiment) and the Window cloth!!

Another Minivan and CPR...related? You must read and see...

New Dream: Toyota Sienna Minivan:
As much as I wanted to get away from the minivan, when John and I looked again at the Buick
Enclave--it was just too small for storing suitcases for 6.  So, we are looking now at a Toyota Sienna minivan...so much space and it makes me smile.  It's looking like we will need til November to save up for this purchase, but that's ok.  As I type, I think of lots of others that I am surrounded by with heartache, needed miracles, and a minivan dream seems quite silly. We have had a whirlwind of a week at work.  We are waiting for a very dull and boring Friday.  We were hoping for that today, but alas--it was not to happen.
I have learned this week to---pray for miracles, be calm and respond to student emergencies, walk through a fire-alarm that wasn't real--but not a drill...and be thankful for all of these because I have learned so much about being prepared as a teacher and just simply to pray.
I am thinking I will take a CPR course this summer to even be more prepared.  Teaching is not for the faint of heart--hmmm....never thought of it that way until the last two years and lots of state-side emergencies at schools not just my own.

Missionary House and Game Room--We have walls!

 This is looking from the hall in the missionary house into the living room(right side) and kitchen(left side).  The vanity on the left will go in the bathroom, and the stack-able washer/dryer goes in a closet off the kitchen. Our plan is to have a Murphy bunk bed that folds up into the far wall here in the living room to provide two more sleeping spots for guests.

like this Murphy bed!--no we won't have the crab on the visible side.:)

 This is looking from the corner of the living room towards hallway--you can see the bathroom on the left and the door on the right goes into our garage.  There is a private entry door to the left that is not pictured.

 This is the bedroom of the missionary suite(house)...

 This is looking from the bedroom down the hallway.

 This and the one below are the game room pictures...this is above the garage.

They are coming Monday to texture.  We picked out the carpet for the game room and the paint, but still haven't picked colors for the missionary house.  We are so excited to have this started!