Feed My Starving Children

This morning Jacob and I along with my Mom, Matthew, and my Granda attended Feed My Starving Children. This is an amazing Christian organization that distributes nutritional food to more than 50 countries around the world. When we arrived at the warehouse we watched an amazing video that informed us of the food and water conditions around the world.

The story of Omar touched my heart.

Omar Before ~ When Omar arrived at malnourishment center in El Salvador, he was eight years old and incredibly fragile, weighing only 19 pounds.

Omar After ~ After eating Feed My Starving Children food for one and a half months, he weighed 33 pounds. At two months, he weighed an astounding 40 pounds. Omar represents a life saved.

For two hours today we packaged enough food to feed 41 children for one year.

Just one cup of FMSC food per day provides the nutrients a child needs to survive and thrive. The food we packaged contained ...

1. Rice - the most widely accepted grain around the world

2. Extruded soy nuggets - maximum protein at a low cost

3. 20 vitamins and minerals (with vegetarian chicken flavor) - nutrition & flavor
4. Dehydrated vegetables - nutrition & flavor

In order to prepare this mixture you just need to add boiling water.

Each meal costs only 17 cents to produce.

It was an amazing morning surrounded by Christian men, women, and children. If you have an oppertunity please check out their website and get a group together and donate your time.

http://www.fmsc.org/

25 Random Things about Me!

Here are 25 random facts about me ...
1. I am terrified of birds! I feel that birds are actually out to get me and they actually do follow me around. It is super scary.
2. I have been going to school on and off for 10 years and still have no degree. I want to be a teacher.
3. I love kids. I only have one right now but I could have 20 ... well as long as I didn't have to work. How would you get 20 children ready in the morning and get to work on time? I already can't get to work on time.
4. I would call myself a traditionalist ... I would love to be a stay at home mom who cooks dinner and cleans the house.
5. Until I met Dan I figured I would be the lady who had a ton of cats and be alone.
6. I am not scared of bugs unless someone else kills them. I seriously think they will kill the bug and then throw them at me.
7. I love orange flavored anything ... Popsicles, candy, and pop
8. I get lost in books and when I am finished reading them I miss the characters like they were my best friends.
9. I love baking things even though I don't like eating anything I make. I am someone who doesn't like cake or cookies or brownies.
10. I think I am so organized that I am unorganized and loose things. Does that make sense?
11. My family are some of my best friends. And my best friends are my family.
12. I love Dan and I know I will marry him one day.
13. Jacob is the best thing I have ever done and I don't deserve him.
14. I read mostly christian fiction books.
15. I sing loud in the car and I think I sound really good. I am not sure if I do though.
16. I secretly want to be the lead singer in a band even though being in front of people scares me.
17. I failed Speech in college twice because I was afraid the other students would think I was dumb.
18. I pray everyday for the people I know and love.
19. I cry when other people cry. Sometimes I just cry for no reason.
20. I strongly dislike Mayonnaise. It is soooo gross! If it touches my food I can't eat it.
21. I am always late by atleast 15 minutes. I actually think anywhere I drive to only takes me 15 minutes which is never right.
22. I find myself missing my dad atleast once a month.
23. I talk and walk loud.
24. I love reality tv ... The Bachelor, Celebrity Rehab, Sober House, Intervention
25. I want to leave my mark in this world but I don't know how to go about doing it.

Now that you know about me it is your turn. If you want to let me know any fun facts about you please share.

Until Later
Mindy

Oh, Jacob!

This is a true story. It isn't fiction. This actually happened.
Jacob and I are sitting on the couch watching America's Funniest Home Videos when a commercial comes on for the movie Mary Poppins. I asked Jacob if he ever saw that movie and he looks me dead in the eye and says "Mary Poppins is gross". I am dumbfounded. How could Mary Poppins be gross? Seriously? So I ask him "Jacob, why is Mary Poppins gross?" He tells me this horrific story about her. I am shocked. The story is DEFINITLY not in the Mary Poppins movie. Do you want to know what the story was? Well here it is ...
Jacob believes that Mary Poppins poops in her underwear then grabs a spoon. Scoops up the poop with the spoon and feeds it to the children.
Yup, that is the story. That was never in the Mary Poppins movie I watched. But he is convinced.
I guess we won't ever be watching Mary Poppins.

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by http://www.mycharmingkids.net. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. As for me, this is my first Not Me Monday! Hopefully, this will be an every Monday occurence.

* I most certainly did not wake up in a house filled with smoke and then go back and lay down thinking this definitly was not happening.

* I definitly did not only grab my cell phone as I left the house ... I am definitly more organized to have all my most important things in a bag by the front door just in case of a fire.

* I wouldn't and didn't slip on the rug and walk into my desk at work TWICE! I couldn't be that clumsy.

* I wouldn't dare pack Jacob an overnight bag and send him to my mother's without telling him he was sleeping there ... No mother would do that knowing otherwise he wouldn't stay.

No No Not Me. I would never ever do these things.

Do you smell smoke?

Ok so this weekend there was a fire in my condo. Not exactly my condo but in another condo in my building. Now my condo smells awful. It kind of smells like burnt plastic. I guess there could be worse but right now it is just aggravating. No amount of candles or air freshner is making the smell go away. Right now I am waiting for the other person's home owner's insurance information so I can get my carpet and furniture steam cleaned.

This is how the night went. We all went to bed around 11 p.m. and at 3 a.m. the apartment was filled with smoke and we had to get out. We were outside in the freezing cold from 3 a.m. until 5 a.m. I don't think I have fully recovered from the lack of sleep or the event itself. I am however thankful that everyone is safe and no one got hurt. Jacob did enjoy sitting in the back of a police car for a few hours. Let pray that he won't find it as fun when he gets older. I did tell him that he can only be the driver of a police car not a passenger.

2009 Cubs Convention

Today Jacob, my friend Jenifer, my little brother Matthew, and I went to the Cubs Convention. IT WAS AMAZING! I could have stayed all day. We had a blast. Matthew got "the golden ticket" and got an autograph from Lou Pinella. Ronnie Woo Woo was there too and basically greeted us. He was so friendly. I hope I get to go back next year. Thank you Aunt Cathy for giving us the tickets.

Day 3

Today is the 3rd day of Jacob getting ALL 5 STARS!!! How amazing is that?! I am awe struck. To be honest I wasn't sure that this would work. I figured Jacob could have cared less about getting stars and doing well in school but obviously he does. He gets so excited about showing me his sheet everyday. I LOVE IT!

Also, I wanted to share that I am having some tests done at the doctor. Please pray that everything goes well and that I won't have to do the next procedure. Supposedly it is more painful than the last test that was done.

Lastly, please pray that I figure out the best way for me to continue school. It has been very difficult to work full-time, raise Jacob, and take classes. Obviously, Jacob always comes first and I am not willing to sacrifice time with him to be away at school all the time. I need to put him first because he doesn't deserve an absent mother. I might be way too hard on myself but I hear all mothers have mother's guilt. I do not want him to feel that he is being neglected. Also, I don't want him to be raised by anyone other than myself. I take great pride in being Jacob's mother. He has been the best gift I have ever been given. I wouldn't change anything about him even on our worst days. He makes me a better person and he teaches me to let little things go. He is an amazing child and I thank God everyday for letting me be apart of his life. Needless to say, I love him more than words can ever describe. I am thankful I was chosen to be his mother.

Until next time,
Mindy

It's Working!

Ok guys, Jacob started his new behavior program at school on Tuesday. It was supposed to start Monday but his teacher had a meeting so it started yesterday. And guess what?!?! Jacob got all 5 smiley faces. This is fantastic news! I would bet that this is the first time he has behaved all day.

I came up with a system that also encourages good behavior at school. Some people may not agree with me but if it works then I don't care what anyone else says. Jacob loves playing on his Playstation 2 the WWE Wrestling game. SO ... in order for Jacob to be allowed to play his game he has to get all 5 smiley faces. The 5 smiley faces are turned in for 30 minutes of playing Playstation. Even if he gets 4 smiley faces he will not be allowed to play video games.

I am trying to switch him over to soy milk as well. This one isn't going over so well. He can taste it. So I am mixing it with chocolate milk mix and splitting the soy milk with regular fat free milk. He will drink that. From talking to a herbalist I need to switch Jacob's diet and that should help with his focus and concentration at school. He should have protien in the morning and carbs through out the day. Also, I need to limit his dairy consumption. If anyone knows Jacob they know that he loves his chocolate milk and that is basically all he wants to drink.

Keep us in your prayers ... great changes are going on in my house! Thank the Lord.

The love of a (The) Father

As many of you know, my father hasn't been an actual part of my life for over 10 years. He was an amazing father. He used to make us breakfast on Saturday mornings and he used to bring us to church on Sundays. He coached baseball and soccer for me and my brothers. He ran along side me at Cross Country meets to keep me motivated. He devoted his life to his children. Let it be said that I miss him. I miss him most this time of year. This is the time of year he left.

Maybe some of you do not know your fathers. Maybe your father has passed away. Maybe your father is around but not a real part of your life. Maybe your father doesn't know you at all.

Until recently, I have been in constant grief over the father that I have lost. I mourned the things that he should be experiencing along side me. I mourned the things that he should have said to me or helped me with. I mourned the things I new I would experience in the future that he wouldn't be apart of. I cursed God for taking that man away from me. I cursed God for allowing him to make the choices he did. I cursed God for breaking my heart.

In my very first post I told you that I have started going back to church. Let me tell you this has been very therapeutic for me. On Sundays, I pray for my father. I pray that he makes the defining choice to change his life. I pray that he "sees the light" and returns to a life with his family. I pray that the man I once knew is given back to me. On a recent Sunday while I was praying the same prayers I started to hear the song I love you this much by Jimmy Wayne. It is a song about a little boy who's father isn't around and yet he still loves him. And that little boy wonders if his dad loves him back. Anyway, at the end of the song the boy is all grown up and he is at church and ...

He looks up above the preacher
And sadly stared at Him

He said 'forgive me father'
When he realized
That he hadn't been unloved
Or alone all his life
His arms were stretched out
As far as they go
Nailed to the cross
For the whole world to know

I love you this much
And I'm waiting on you
To make up your mind
Do you love me too?
How ever long it takes
I'm never giving up no matter what
I love you this much

And after I replayed the lyrics in my head I knew I wasn't fatherless I finally understood that I do have a Father and all he was asking for is for me to love him back. Now granted this isn't the exact Father I had wanted. I wanted a father I could see. I wanted a father I could call on the phone. But sometimes things are not how I want them and they are not supposed to be either. God wanted me to experience this heartache and he wanted me to lose my earthly father to find Him. Without the loss I couldn't ever possibly understand the love God has for me. I know he will never let me down. I know that he already knows my hearts wants before I even tell him. He knew me before I was even born. He has good things planned for me.

It took me a long time to figure this out. It hasn't been an easy road to bear either. Some days are still tough. Some days His love doesn't seem to be enough BUT I know it is. Church has taught me this. God has taught me this. And I invite you today that if you are hurting and if you feel that life has given you too many burdens to carry on your own join me and come with me to church. It is life changing. Give God your burdens.

I may have a doctor on my hands

Tonight Jacob and I had our regular dentist visit. He went first. He has no cavities, 3 loose teeth, one gaping hole where his last loose tooth had been, and all of his 6 year old molars. After his check up was done it was my turn. I on the other hand need to have 7 cavities filled and have one root canal. During my check up Jacob was getting bored so the nurse let him play dentist. He got the gloves and face mask and went to work. He was in charge of suction. He liked it so much he said he now wants to be a doctor and a football player. I guess we will never know. I think we should just stick to graduating from Kindergarten.

Thank you God for answered prayers

We have a plan! I finally spoke with Jacob's teacher this morning. I have been having a few issues in regards to Jacob's behavior at school and basically I have been at a loss on how to proceed. I didn't know if I should have another parent teacher conference or if I should have him tested for A.D.H.D. But this morning I got good news and let me tell you I have been praying about this issue a lot. His teacher has decided to implement a program that gives Jacob opportunities to earn smiley faces for his good behavior. He will get a new sheet everyday and his teacher will send it home at night so that I can see it. I feel this will definitely help us so that I know what we can work on at home and be in direct contact with the teacher on a daily basis. Also, his teacher told me that Jacob is really smart but that he just doesn't give his best effort. Let me just tell you this teacher is amazing. She always has good things to say even if your child isn't the "teacher's pet". I couldn't imagine a better teacher for Jacob in Kindergarten.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! As my new year resolution I wanted to start a blog. I think blogs are an amazing way to keep everyone up to date on my everyday life and to keep track of the year. Jacob and I are doing well. We had a wonderful year. Nothing extraordinary but wonderful none the less. We started going back to church which has been such a great journey. God really opens doors and changes lives. Jacob is in Kindergarten and will be 6 years old in February. I am 27 years old and am dating an amazing man Dan. He has a little boy, Christian, who is 6 and such a good companion and friend for Jacob. They have been a God send for us. We are happy and healthy. Jacob, Dan, Christian, and myself spent a wonderful night in for New Years Eve. At midnight Dan and I toasted with champagne and the little boys toasted with sparkling cider. It was a magical night and a wonderful start to the new year.

Christmas 2008
New Years Eve 2008