Things that make me happy

There are certain things that I watch that make me feel all excited and good inside.  Some make me want to get up and dance.  I love watching these dance scenes and thinking I can do that (now it's more like - I could do that at one time in my life LOL).  This is one of my favorite dances in one of my favorite movies Center Stage!

This is another favorite movie of mine

and of course there is Dirty Dancing, and Chicago and many many more!  I love dancing.  It makes me feel complete, and watching it is just as rewarding as doing it (sometimes)  especially since the opportunity to dance doesn't present itself as often as I would like.

Is there anything in particular that makes you want to just get up and do something fun...like dance?

Lets Dance! - True Story Tuesday

I have stated here before that I was a dance teacher.  I want to elaborate on that for a moment. When I was 6 years old I attended my first dance class and fell in love.  From that moment on I knew that without a shadow of a doubt I wanted to be a dancer when I grew up.  As I got older I decided that I wanted to teach dance, own my on studio and dance from dusk 'til dawn. 

When I graduated high school I knew I was going to teach dance, but I wanted to get a degree in accounting and business management so that I would better now how to run my business. I had a plan, I set out to accomplish my dream.  In that dream nowhere was I the mother of a beautiful little boy that liked sports.  I didn't think about children and where my life would take me once I had them.  I just assumed I'd have little girls that loved dance as much as I do.  Low and behold, I have one child, who happens to be a little boy that likes sports.  So 5 years after opening my dance studio I closed it and started a new journey in life.

Making the decision to close the dance studio was easy, cleaning it out and giving up dance all together was hard.  I lost myself a little, I had been a dancer all my life I was struggling with my identity now and what to do with myself.  Dance had been my outlet, if I was upset I danced and just loose myself in the music.  I was never a great ballerina (although I love pointe) but I was an excellent tapper.  I LOVE TAP.  Putting my tap shoes up was the hardest thing I have ever done (well not the hardest - but it ranks in the top 5 below burying my best friend, burying my grandmother and living with an abusive spouse).

A couple of weeks ago I found out my old teacher now offers a "PRO-AM" competitive dance class for her old students.  Which means that a group of mothers (12 to be exact) get together late during the week (after 9) and dance like old times, and compete.  I can't tell you how exciting this was.  I immediately called to get the class information and found out that a new class was starting and Saturday (last week) was going to be the first class.

On Saturday I was very excited,  I rushed around all day counting down until I got to go to my first class. I was like a kid waiting to buy a new toy!  Finally 5:00 rolled around and it was time for me to leave for my class I rushed out the door and sped up the road!  Here we go!

Walking in was like old times!  The same faces, just a little older ;), and talking stretching walking around getting to know each other again.  The the music started.  I realize now why I have hearing difficulties.  Seriously it's a wonder I'm not deaf, and no wonder why I have hearing problems. (My audiologist says that the reason I only notice problems on the phone is because I am lip reading in person) Seriously the music was so loud that my organs were jumping to the beat.  Once the shock of the volume wore off, we got down to business.

"Let's start going across the floor Chaînés, 1 in plié, 2 in relevé all the way across"
I can do this, I'm a great turner.  I WAS a great turner.  Now I have glasses that flew across the floor after my first turn.  So I put those away and started again.  Spotting is essential in turning.  If done correctly you will not get dizzy.  I evidently didn't do them correctly because when I made it to the other side of the room and stopped, the room continued to spin around me.  I grabbed the wall, hoping the turning would stop before I had to go back again.  No such luck, I started my turns back and ran into the woman in front of me.  Not only was I dizzy, but I can't see either so I was a complete and total mess. 

The turns didn't stop there.  Oh no we did a variation of chaines paired with pirouettes and piquee's across the floor and back for no less than 20 minutes. I seriously thought I was going to vomit from the spinning of the room, not to mention the spinning of the Kelly!  Let's just say that my spotting technique needs some work.

Finally we moved on to leaps and jumps: OH GOD!
We went into a series of grande jete's, scissors, calypso's and seconds.  All with and without turns.  By the time we finished the last of the jumps I thought my legs were going to collapse under the weight of my body.  We were only 45 minutes into the class and it was 2 1/2 hours long!   Thank GOD we started the dance after that and got some rest time!

Then we learned a new jump, at least it was new to me.  It's called a "C" jump, I call it the bust my a$$ in front of everyone jump.  I named it this right after I got up off the floor upon completion of this jump.  (or attempted completion). 

All in all I had a great time, and I will be back on Saturday for more punishment.  Let's just hope that my sore muscles have healed by then!

Have a good Tuesday!
(for more trues stores link up with Rachel & Mr. Daddy)

He's going to be fine.

I want to tell you about my dance class, but I will hang onto that until tomorrow.  Yesterday we drove 3 hours away from home to take Cam to his first baseball camp experience.  Don't get me wrong he has been at camp before.  He has gone with our church for years, but that is very different.  At church camp we know the people that he is staying with.  He has friends from church there with him.  Yesterday we left my son 3 hours away from home, knowing no one.  That was hard.

When we got there he was really excited, he was ready to meet the coach and players.  We set up his dorm room (it's at a college) and unpacked all of his belongings then headed over for orientation.  We were not sure that we could stay for orientation, so right before it started we told Cam that we should say our goodbye's so that if we needed to leave we could.  His eyes grew big and tears started welling up.  So we assured him that we would stay a little longer, and maybe watch the first practice if he wanted us to, if they would let us.

When we left he seemed fine, but for sure he was doing better than we were.  My husband was talking, I'm not sure what he was saying he was just rambling on  but I said "He's gonna be fine".  Then I was talking about the practice schedule, when my husband said "He's gonna be fine."  I bet in 5 minutes we said  "He's gonna be fine" about 100 times.  My mom called and I answered the phone "He's gonna be fine".  That was a long drive home.  At one point I started feeling light headed and dizzy.  I thought Lord I'm getting sick,  that's when I realized I was holding my breath. So my thought went something like this "Breathe in. Breathe out. Don't cry, he's gonna be fine. Breathe in. Breathe out. Don't cry, he's gonna be fine."  I can't begin to tell you what a long ride home that was.

We didn't go home for a while, we killed time and went to eat and just piddled around.  Who whats to go home to an empty house?  We were defiantly taking this harder than him!  He called around 9:30 and told us he was having so much fun, and wanted to know if we could let him stay for the next week too.  Right then it was like the weight of the world was lifted off my chest.  Just knowing that he's not alone, he is making friends and having fun.   No one told me that parenting was so hard!  No one told me that loving someone so much, could hurt!  It's the greatest feeling in the world.  So right now I'm missing my little man, but I know He's gonna be fine!

Have a happy Monday!

Lets take a trip down memory lane:

 I told you all about my first cruise.  The little "incident" on the public beach.  Well I was thinking that I wanted you to see the difference in the public beach and the private beach.

This is the public beach,  do you see the people in the back ground, this was before the incident - these people left before "the couple" got there

This is the private beach.  - you can see the difference!

I want to share with you the story of our cruise - because I'm digging for happy memories today:

    About 2 days before Christmas in 2003 my boyfriend (we were not married until 2005) had not purchased me a Christmas present (imagine a man waiting until the lat minute, I know that none of your men do that right?)  He and his friend rode to the job together every morning, and on the way back they were talking and Wes mentioned that he still needed to find me something for Christmas (gotta love him). His friend (Ricky) then suggested that they go to his travel agent and add onto the cruise that he and his wife and their friends were going on.  Wes thought this was a great idea, he'd been listening to them talk about this cruise for months and I guess he was secretly jealous of them. So right then he did it, he bought and paid for in full the cruise 4 nights from Tampa, to Grand Cayman, then Cozumel then back to Tampa. 

Now I must add right here that although we had been together for 4 years at this time these people were his friends, not mine. I was a divorcee with a kid, and they just really didn't approve of our relationship.  They thought I was just using him I guess.  When we all got together I was always treated like an outsider.

This is going to sound terrible, but when I opened the envelope and saw the cruise I was not excited.  I was furious.  My idea of a good time was NOT spending 4 days with people that didn't like me while Wes was having a good time hanging out with the men. We are all women, we know how women can make other women feel. So I tried as hard as I could to sound excited, because he was so excited. (this was me taking the higher road)

 On New Years eve at 5:00 Wes & Ricky were both given their walking papers.  The conversation went something like this "We are closing the plumbing department as of tomorrow January 1st, today is your last day,  Here's your LAST check.  Oh yeah - Happy New Year."  

 Just a few weeks later I started having some health issues.  These issues came "over night", I thought I had a bladder infection and with in 2 weeks a doctor wanted to test me for cancer of the bladder.  When we came home I decided that if I were going to be fighting for my life soon, I didn't want to leave Cameron behind while we went on this cruise, I wanted to cancel.  I was totally freaking out and the only thing I could think was that I wanted all the time with him that I could get. Just a few days later my dad came over with the money for Cameron's ticket so he could join us on the cruise.  He wanted us to go and to take Cameron too.  After all we didn't know what was going to happen.

I can't tell you how scared I was, the thought of fighting cancer, maybe loosing.  My child only 5 years old  would he remember me in 5 years if I was gone?  Where would he be?  Would they send him to my x-husband to live-he didn't know him, he hadn't seen him in 3 years.  Well the Friday before we left I found out it wasn' t cancer (THANK GOD) but I still had lots of tests to have done.  So at least this cruise was not hanging under a cancer diagnosis.

When we arrived with a child in hand you should have seen the way the others were looking at us.  You could tell that they didn't want a child with them on their cruise, at their table.  I was very uncomfortable, but I knew my son, I knew he would behave, and I knew that at least now I would have someone to hang out with, even if he was only 5 years old!

Well, I met one of my closest friends ever on that trip.  She was one of the friends of Ricky's wife, and we hit it off from the start.  She was even in our wedding!  And I must add my child was so well behaved!  He was perfect!  Before we left to come home EVERY ONE was singing his praises!  We are all friends now, and have even been on another cruise together - with Cameron!  The others never bring their kids....I never leave mine!  They never figured out what my health problems were  - I have my kidney function checked every so often, and as long as it stays the same - we don't worry!

Tip of the day: buy new sunscreen before leaving on a cruise - don't use last years, that stuff goes bad!

My Heart Is Broken

On June 10th in this post I asked you to pray for Ellie. Today I ask you to pray for her identical twin sister Grace and her parents.

Ellie received her wings today, my heart is hurting and I just don't know what to say. 

True Story Tuesday - Favors on the Beach

It's Tuesday and i am linking up again with Once Upon A Miracle for True Story Tuesday!  Last week I was venting and this week, for some reason I remembered this little tale, and thought I would share the surprise with you.

Several years ago, my Dear Husband  decided at the last minute to give me a cruise for Christmas.  It was a sweet thought, however on New Years Day he was laid off.  The cruise had been paid for and was only 1 month away.  At the time Cameron was only 5 and we decided that he would go with us, because I was having some health issues and I didn't want to leave him behind because well the future was looking kind of ....

Anyway, while on this cruise we were flat broke!  We had enough money to pay the tips, the parking bill and then just a $150 to spend and for the trip home.  Needless to say we didn't waste anything on this cruise doing silly excursions.  All of our friends decided to take a "Party Boat" to a "Private Beach" for $100 per person.  We didn't join them for that trip, we took a cab to a "Public Beach"  I put these in quotations because the Party Boat was a boat, that had all the liquor you could drink on the ride to your destination.  The free liquor was a single bottle passed around from person to person you take a drink and pass it on - gross, and I will get to the part about the beach.

I must say for a public beach there was no one in site except the people that worked at the bar.  We found a little cabana, my hubby ordered some Sol for himself and a couple of Coke's for me and Cam.  While we were waiting on our drinks we decided to go for a swim.  The water was warm and it really was like being on a private beach!  While we were swimming this other couple arrived.  They were a bit older than me.  Not OLD, but old enough to know better you know what I mean (maybe mid to late 50's)?

THANK GOD Wes and Cam decided to go walking down the beach, I was just relaxing in the sun enjoying the quite of the beach and watching the other couple swim.  She had this really cute one piece bathing suite on, I remember thinking how cute it was, and how nice it looked on her.  (Please tell me I'm not the only woman that does this).  By this time they were walking back to their cabana (located RIGHT BESIDE of mine) and do you know what she did?  She stripped down to the complete buff and changed her bathing suit right there in front of me.  That is not the worst thing she did.

This chick dropped to her knees and did her man a favor with me sitting there! (If you don't understand favor send me an email and I will explain) I really tried not to watch, but it is kind of like someone shining a light in your eyes, for some reason you just can't look away.  I was in shock!  No offence to anyone over the age of 50 reading this, but I really didn't think people that age did this sort of thing, certainly not in PUBLIC!  The guy from the bar actually went over delivered their drinks at the table that he was sitting at (she was still kneeling) gave them a funny look and laughed as he walked back by me! About the time she "finished" Wes and Cameron walked back up, (I'm glad they were gone so long - I would have hated to tap her on the shoulder and tell her to put that away). 

They had found the "Private" beach that our friends were at and he wanted to join them - well I jumped right up and grabbed our stuff and we took off down the beach!  Let me tell you that private beach was so crowded that we couldn't find a place to sit - but at least nothing X-RATED was going on there!

The next time we visited that place, we went back to our public beach, so that we could have more privacy (LOL) and a place to sit.  We did make sure to cover Cam's eyes until we knew there were no porn stars in the making sitting around!

My First Award - and Random Thoughts

Thanks so much to Mama Gator at Table for 3...Actually make that 4  for this wonderful award!  You have brought a little sunshine to me today!

I am supposed to name 12 blogs for this award.  I must say that blogging has become a new obsession with me, and I LOVE reading all the blogs on my list and finding new blogs.  The following blogs are ones that I check out every day and they they are always so up beat and happy!

1. A Southern Belle Trying Not To Rust
2. Mann Land 5
3. My Home and My Hips are both Doublewide
4. Once Upon A Miracle
5.  Short Southern Mama
6. The Daily Dribbles
7. Webbisodes
8. The Survival Guide For the Young, Fabulous and Newlywed
9. Kitchen Belleicious
10. Bray Bunch
11. Daily Gems from Gods Jewelry Box
12. Foursons


These twelve blogs bring a smile to my face in some way or the other each day. 

Thank you so much Mama Gator for making my day!


I have read many books then watched the movie only to be disappointed by the movie because it's not even close to the book.

 My Sisters Keeper is the same, the book was a real tear jerk er, just like the movie.  It seems to me though, if they were going to change it so much couldn't they have ended it happier? 

The one thing the movie omitted was a love story that was happening between the lawyer and the guardian ad litem.  Omitting this love story also omitted this quote that I think sums up the idea of love perfectly:

"You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not"


— Jodi Picoult (My Sister's Keeper)

It's that nice?  I love my husband, Lord knows that man is not perfect!  (Neither am I - but don't tell anyone ;o)  
 

 
One last thing - this weekend my Sister in Law - Jessica came in 2nd runner up in the Colgate Country Showdown.  Here is a video of her singing "Broken Wing" by Martina McBride.
 
 

What is a Hero? - and LOI

To everyone who visited my blog yesterday:

I know that you came here yesterday looking for a sarcastic letter and found me very angry and mouthy myself.  I am sorry and I hope that today's post will make up for it.

Have a great weekend!

I know that I left that last post on a sour note.  I was very angry and it helps me to revert to a happy memory when I am that upset.  So here is my "go to" memory that I used yesterday. 

When Cam was 5 he was attending kindergarten at a local private Christian school.  Every morning I walked him in class, spoke to his teacher and said good bye before I left.  He continued at this school until the end of his third grade year, before I put him in public school.  We went through this same routine every morning, every once in a while he would get his name on the board for something or another.  One day he didn't want me to walk him to the class room, I thought it was kind of weird but I walked him in anyway.  He had gotten in trouble for not paying attention the day before and his name was on the board, she didn't erase them before prayer requests were given, he didn't want me to come in so that I wouldn't know he had been in trouble at school.  When he was in first grade, we were on the way to the school and he asked what a hero is.  We talked about it , and when we got there he asked me not to walk him inside.

I thought maybe he got his name on the board again, so I went on in with him.  When we walked into the room the children (all 7 of them) started chanting "Hero, Hero, Hero".  Cameron then whispered in my ear that they all kept calling him that and he wished they would stop.

That is when the teacher told me that the day before while they were outside, one of the boys, "Michael", fell through the monkey bars and was hanging between two bars by his neck.  The other children all ran off and hid.  Cameron climbed on top of the monkey bars and twisted Michael's head so that he would fall through.  Michael hit is head again and was knocked out when he hit the ground.  Cameron then ran to the teacher for help.

911 was called and Michael's parents met him at the ER.  Michael told them that he was stuck and couldn't breathe because the bar was on this throat.  When they brought Michael back to the school to show off his 5 staples, they told the class that Cam had saved Michael's life, he was a hero.

Cam is 11 years old now, and they are still the best of friends.  - These pictures are all old- but they were taken between the age of 5 and 7 he "saved" Michael when he was 6.  :)

Thank you Very Much - Mouthy Old Lady Issue!

It's Free Therapy Day!! That's right, it's Thursday, which means it's the Thank You Very Much day. The way it works is that you take out all your frustrations on people/things that peeved you off during the week and thank them in a very sarcastic way, for being who or what they are/doing what they did.

I know that after the week I've had I need some free therapy, and if you need some to go here and link up with Kmama!


To the MOL (Mouthy Old Lady) at the salon,

Have you ever heard of Battered Wives Syndrome? I am going to assume from the way you were talking about TPG (That Poor Girl) that you have no clue what I am talking about. Battered wives syndrome is very real and it is the exact reason that people like TPG stay with TJA (The Jack Ass) for so long. Until you have walked in TPG's shoes you should keep your mouth shut about her situation. It is people like you that contribute to battered wives syndrome in the first place. I know you MOL - you worked for my mom. I know that your husband worshiped the ground you walked on and never raised his voice to you in the 50 + years that you were married. You are very lucky. You can't honestly say what you would have done if you were in her shoes, because YOU! DON'T! KNOW!

I do know, I know what it is like to be ashamed to show my face in public because I caught people discussing what was going on in my house. (But what I didn't see was people trying to stop him from hitting me)I know what it is like to avoid my neighbors because they watched my then husband throw rocks and lit cigarettes at me. I know the humiliation that goes along with the fear when you are a battered wife. I know how long it takes to find yourself and your freedom again. I know exactly what it was like to sit in a bathtub of water and try to figure out how to kill yourself without killing your unborn baby! I KNOW! I know the feeling of going to bed every night praying that God would take you out of this life because you feel so hopeless, ashamed and worthless. I know the self esteem issues and how long it takes to get back on your feet. I know what it is like to loose who you are and never really find that girl again.

Do you think when he introduced himself on their first date he said "I'm TJA, I beat my wives and girlfriends, try to control all of their thoughts and movements, and make them feel completely worthless, wanna go out?" That's not how it happens, it's gradual, its unnoticeable at first until years (yes years) later you find yourself in a situation that you never thought would happen to you. Then you are trying like hell to figure a way out and still be alive.

If you would spend half as much time on your knees praying for God to give her the courage and strength to leave that you spend flapping your jaws about what you would do, maybe that girl would finally stand up for herself and leave. Maybe instead of gossiping about her you could show her some encouragement, maybe you could let her know that it will be okay if she leaves. Maybe you could tell her that she is worthy of love, worthy of more that she has been given, this is not her destiny, she did nothing to deserve this treatment. Maybe you could tell her that Jesus loves her, even when she feels like no one does. Maybe just prayer is all you can do, that would be better that running your old mouth! I would have said these things but I really didn't want to stand up and humiliate you in front of everyone, and disrespect you - because my mother taught me better! I knew if I opened my mouth ugly things would roll out, so I did the best I could do and KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT! It's not something I will do again!

So thank you very much for bringing back those old feelings, I really needed that to top my wonderful week off!


**PS I am not trying to get sympothy for this - I am married to a wonderful man that treats me very good! I'm good, I'm just pissed and didn't sleep AGAIN last night. I just needed to get it off my chest.


I can't tell you how much better that feels. I wish I had wrote this last night before I went to bed!

Dream a little Dream

Have you ever had one of those days where:

• You had little to no sleep last night because the dog wouldn't stop whining although you tried and tried to accommodate her
• You wake up with a headache and your feet have not hit the floor yet
• You have lost your keys and have to use the spare set because you have no clue where to even start looking
• PMS set in a few days ago and you don't think it's ever going to leave

That's the kind of day that I'm having today. I'm exhausted from lack of sleep, my head is killing me and I know if it doesn't stop it will be a migraine before bed time tonight :(. Throw in some stomach cramps and a little bit of a bad mood, and that's where I am today. Anyway on day's like today I daydream a lot. How things could have been different, or what I would do if.....

Here are my thoughts for today:

If this dream job for the hubby would come through this is our plans:

To build a house like this:

From eplans.com

We would have the 15 acres that butts up to my parents 75 acres and would would have 4 horses.

We would have a swimming pool in our back yard (A beautiful pool with a beach entrance!) and a nice place to have friends over for a cookout on sunny days.

This stuff was all in the plans until my husband lost his job last year (2 weeks before Cam's 11th birthday). Hopefully this new job will work out (praying) and we can get back to planning!

What do you do on day's like this - do you day dream too? If so - tell me your dream.

Top 2 Tuesday - Guilty Pleasures

I am joining Taylor at the Undomestic Momma for Top 2 Tuesday again this week.  This weeks topic is guilty pleasures. If you want to join up just link up here!

1. I think I said that I love to read, anything I just love to read.  My husband hates when I buy a new book, because I will not put it down until I am finished!  Right now I am reading the Percy Jackson series, because my son is reading them and I like to know what he is reading, plus I actually like the books!  I just finished The Battle of the Labyrinth.

I have just decided that I want to read the Jason Bourne series so I picked up Borne Identity on Sunday and I will start it today. 

2.  My second is Hallmark movies!  Yes I know some of them are for kids like "The Pictures of Hollis Woods" but I just love them.  Here are two of my favorite!

Join up with Taylor and let me know your top two!

Try this yummy dessert!

I know that I have said more than once that I am on Weight  Watchers.  Well I have been bored with the diet because I keep eating the same thing E V E R Y   S I N G L E  N I G H T!  Ughhh  how excited can you be about grilled chicken after 4 weeks of having it every night!  The problem is my husband is trying to loose weight, and he only likes chicken on this diet that he is doing - and he refuses to try Weight Watchers!  So I've decided to just venture away from what he is doing because I just can't eat chicken twice a day everyday.  I will start hiding in my car shoving down hamburgers soon!

So last week I tried pork tenderloin and it was good (next time I'm leaving off the Cinnamon).  Tonight I am doing another pork tenderloin, but it will be seasoned with Greek seasoning and grilled!  Sounds yummy doesnt' it?  Last night I was struggling with a sweet tooth.  The problem is that I don't really like ice cream much.  I do like some pie! 

Well I figured out the points value on this and I'm so excited that it is only 5pts! (I know that's a lot but still not that bad! if you have the points left over!)

You can get these little cups from Sams' club with lids.  This makes 29 individual servings!

1 1/4 c. of Graham Cracker Crumbs
3 tablespoons. of sugar
1/3 c. melted butter

mix together and spoon 1 tablespoon in each of the 29 cups  I don't mash it down I like it loose in the bottom but you can mash it if you like.

Filling:
1 large tub of the light Cool Whip
1 can of frozen Lemonade
1 can of Eagle Brand milk

In a large bowl mix all this together with you mixer on low setting, until all is blended well, then spoon into each cup (about 2 table spoons in each)  freeze.


I can't tell you how happy I am to be able to have a dessert that I love! (I really love apple pie, but I don't think I can squeeze that down to a serving size that will fit into my daily points values!)

For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)

This picture is from their mothers face book page.

Ellie & Grace are identical twins.  The only thing that Ellie has that Grace doesn't have is cancer.  This child has fought this battle so hard, and Grace has stood by her side in fear for the last two years.  I can't imagine what it would be like to watch someone that looks just like me struggle with life.  Even worse, Ellie has been given 3-6 weeks to live.  How is Grace going to look in the mirror every morning and see her sister looking back at her - how is she ever going to get through this? 

My heart is so heavy right now.  I ask you all to pray - pray for a miracle that will heal this precious child.

you can look her story up on caring bridge (Ellie Potvin) or on twitter (lift up Ellie)

Please God I lift this child up to You, I beg You for complete healing.  I am asking for a miracle.   I know that the Dr.'s have only given Ellie 3 - 6 weeks on this earth. That is why I come to You today on behalf of Ellie Potvin.  Father our Bible tells us that “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27), we hold strong to that verse Lord, because we know that You alone can heal Ellie. "For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)  I ask You today to please allow Ellie to grow up to be a woman, to stand with her twin sister on this earth for years to come.  I ask that You Lord will please remove the cancer that is hurting her little body and make her well and whole again.  I also ask You to be with her family, and her sister as they walk through this valley of darkness.  I pray that You see them through to the other side of this valley, and I pray that Ellie is still on this Earth with them and healthy.

I ask these things in the Holy name of Jesus Christ

Amen

56 pounds and counting!

I have to tell you that every time I get a new post on my Top 2 Tuesday I get excited!  I love to read, but I am always reluctant to venture outside of my zone.  I have a few people that I like to read Marry Higgins Clark, VC Andrews (no in a long time though), Daniel Steele (until I just got bored with her books).  I very seldom look for books by other people.  Last year I read "My Sisters Keeper", of course I read it before the movie came out, and I was shocked at how different the movie was from the book.  Nicholas Sparks, I must say is great but I really don't like to cry when I finish a book.  I am so excited to try some of these new books!

I know that I posted that my dad and I joined Weight Watchers together on March 2nd.  My dad weighed in at 365.2 pounds (that's a lot for his 5'10" frame) and I weighted in at 152.5.  When we started this I was actually planning on loosing weight, but I have failed because I am lazy and I love soda.  I continue to go with my dad, and I am actually doing okay (this week) but I wanted to share with you our weekend experience.

When we started my dad couldn't walk from the parking lot to the meeting without taking a break to catch his breath.  When we finally got inside he was huffing and puffing and sweating like he had just ran a marathon.  On Saturday, June 6th we participated in the Weight Watchers 5K walk.  We were supposed to walk 9 1/4 laps to complete the 5K.  He walked without stopping 10 laps!   From March 2 until June 6th (that's only 3 months) my dad has lost 56 pounds!  Can you believe that!  (I've lost 4 - but like I said Ive been very bad)

I have started this week trying to cook some of the Weight Watchers meals, if it is good I will post the recipe. 

Hope you ladies have a great WEDNESDAY!



Seasoned Pork Tenderloin

main meals





POINTS® Value: 4

Servings: 8

Preparation Time: 20 min

Cooking Time: 12 min

Level of Difficulty: Easy



Who needs a fattening Easter ham? The spices in this lowfat pork tenderloin make it irresistible. Marinate overnight for deeper flavor.





Ingredients



1/2 cup(s) reduced-calorie pancake syrup

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp table salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground

2 1/2 pound(s) lean pork tenderloin, use two 1 1/4-pound pieces



Instructions

In a large zip-close plastic bag, combine syrup, dry mustard, cloves, ginger, salt, cinnamon and pepper. Trim pork of all visible fat and cut each tenderloin in half widthwise. Add tenderloins to plastic bag, squeeze out air and seal bag; turn to coat tenderloins. Place bag on a plate and refrigerate on bottom shelf, turning bag occasionally, at least 2 hours or overnight.





Preheat broiler. Place tenderloins in a roasting pan and pour marinade over them. Broil 5 inches from heat until pork reaches an internal temperature of 160°F, about 6 minutes per side. Let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before slicing. Yields about 4 ounces of meat per serving.













© 2010 Weight Watchers International, Inc. © 2010 WeightWatchers.com, Inc. All rights reserved.

WEIGHT WATCHERS and POINTS are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and are used under license by WeightWatchers.com, Inc.



I just finished eating this and it was great!

Top 2 Tuesday - My Book Picks!

I love to read so I was super excited about picking my two favorite books!  The only thing is that I have read a lot of good books and I can't pick!  So I will pick the ones that I have read recently that I really like.

1.  The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

    

from her web site

I really liked this book because it wasn't a love story.  It kept you in suspense until the last page!  I read this book in one night!


2. Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clarke

This is a book that I have read several times, although I know how it ends.  I just keep re-reading it to see if there are signs that I missed that point to who the villain is.  It's a really great book.

Now I am off to link up with Taylor and see if I can find me a new book to read!  Tell me what your latest read is - or your favorite book!  I'd love to check it out!

It's time to start FLYing!

Several years ago I ran across this website.  At first I thought is was sort of stupid, but I signed up for the emails anyway because my house was in total CHOAS (can't have anyone over syndrome)!  I would cringe when someone would unexpectedly pull up in my yard and pray that they didn't ask to come in.  It was terrible.  I was never at home and laundry and dishes would constantly pile up, the dishwasher was always full of dishes that needed to be put away and the laundry that did get done was on the couch waiting to get folded/ironed/ put away.  We won't even discuss the bathroom!




I started with shining my sink and let me tell you what a difference that made.   You start by loading the dishwasher at night and running it before you go to bed.  The next morning when you get up, unload the clean dishes so that your dishwasher is empty.  For the rest of the day don't let anyone put anything in the sink, it must go in the dishwasher.  So your sink and counter top stays clean all day!  At bedtime turn the dishwasher on so that it will be ready to unload when you get up.  After following the Flylady for a couple of days, my house was CLEAN!  WOW I was amazed.  I used this tool for quite some time, and on  Saturday morning my day was completely free because the house was clean and there's no scheduled cleaning duty for the weekends!  That's family time!  No more spring cleaning because you do it a little each day. Even scrubbing the baseboards, you don't have to schedule a weekend to do it, it's already done! Then I hit a snag in my road, I started school and working full time.  The emails started piling up because I just didnt' have the time to read them everyday, and on the days that I did read them I was so tired I just skipped that day. I am not a SHE (stay home executive)  I work everyday!  So I blocked the list and decided that the hubby could keep the house clean for a while.

Now my house is in CHOAS again and I am starting today with a shiny sink and renewed email lists!  I am determined to make sure that when Cam comes up at the ballgame and asks if a friend can come over I don't have to say "No, the house is a mess".

Wish me luck as I start flying again!

Memorial Day

I have been on vacation, and I know that my post on Memorial Day is late!  I have been incredibly  busy and I just have not had time to write at all!

My family and I joined my mom and step-dad on vacation in Washington DC for the Marine Corps parade.  Ross (my step dad) and his brother Maxie (who was also with us) were both in the Marine Corps.  Upon landing in Maryland and getting our rental van our first stop was the Iwo Jima Memorial.  There we saw a group of Marines marching and practicing their presentation for Memorial Day.  We watched and took a few pictures, and moved on. 

The next thing I know Cam was over talking to the soldiers, shaking their hands and thanking them for serving our country! You know I was a proud mama!  The soldier looked over at me, told me what a wonderful son I had and called his men to line up for a picture with "this fine young man". 

Cam w/ the Marines

We walked around the memorial and I just couldn't believe the detail in the statue!  It was really amazing, I'm not sure what was more amazing the size or the detail.  I guess you just can't believe this until you see it in person.  As we walked back around to join our group I noticed this group of kids, shaking the hands of Ross (my step dad) and Maxie (his brother) thanking them for their service.  We almost never got out of there because of all the kids coming up!

I was so touched I almost cried.  I know that I talk a lot about Mrs. P.  A lady I've never met in my life, but I thought of her so much over the weekend.  While I was walking around at the Marine Corps Museum I was looking at the bricks bought for the fallen hero's and I just cried for her and her daughter.  I know that it's strange to hurt for someone you don't know but they were really on my heart all weekend.

We made it back safely and had a wonderful trip.  We visited several memorials including the Vietnam Wall where I found two names of people my dad served with.  I can't tell you what it was like transferring their names onto a piece of paper for him.  Walking by men that served in that war on their knees with tears streaming down their faces.  It was surreal. I will post more pictures when I can.

For my TYVM Thursday I would like to say this:

To all the men and women (and their spouses) that have served our country.  Thank you so very much for the freedoms that we have today and for protecting our nation and our way of life.  I am truly grateful.

To the children that were shaking the hand of my Step dad and his brother - thank you very much you made our trip so much more special. You made us all so proud.

To the servicemen that actually took the time to speak to my son - thank you very much you have no idea how that makes him feel.

To the service men that made it a point to tell me what a "fine young man" I have, and how shocked that they are that he is so respectful.  Thank you very much a mama never gets tired of someone else praising their child! (I bet 10 people came to me saying this over the weekend!)

To my child who continued to shake the hands of every soldier that you could find: thank you very much for being the great person that you are!  I love you so much!

Now head over to Kmama's and link up for this weeks TYVM!