Secrets Secrets are no fun ... So I'm gonna tell everyone!!

Like the title states I am going to let you guys in on a little secret I have been keeping. Actually, in a few posts I have given hints about what is going on but now you are going to hear the whole story.

 

Are you ready?

 

Here goes ...

 

On August 21st I am going to pack up my desk and leave work for the last time. I am going to walk out the door and not look back. Because .....

 

I am going to school full - time!!!

 

That's right. I will officially be a college student.

 

I have known for, well forever, that I wanted to be a teacher and now God has made it possible for me to work toward my goal full time.

 

No, I haven't found myself a sugar daddy ... unless someone knows someone who wants to be mine! Ha Ha Just kidding. But God put this idea in my heart in the winter time and I have been actively pursued making this dream a reality.

 

I was accepted to Northern Illinois University ... but after paying $60 to apply, $108 for orientation, taking a day off of work, and another $60 for a criminal background check ... I decided Northern wasn't the school for me.

 

So, needless to say I was a little more than dissappointed. I knew God wanted me to do this. So I prayed about it and then I got another thought. Why don't I apply to the local private college, Benedictine University. I know it is a little more expensive but it is still do-able.

 

I spoke with the bubbly Transfer advisor Sarah and she also thought that this would be the perfect place for me. So I sent over my unofficial transcript and was told to wait for her call.

 

During this time, I was getting ready to drive to Idaho for my cousins wedding and put Benedictine thoughts away until I got  back.

 

But then I forget about it.

 

That was until 4 days ago.

 

I had a sudden freak out moment and applied to Benedictine thinking that time is running out and school starts very soon.

 

The day after I applied the same bubbly Sarah called me and asked me why I never sent over my transcript. UHHH!! I told her I faxed it the same day I talked to her but she must not have received it.

 

She told me not to worry about it and that she was looking over my application now.

 

So thats where I am with school. I am waiting on my "hopefully" acceptance letter.

 

Work already knows that I will be leaving and they are just as excited about my future plans as I am.

 

So can you guys do me a favor and pray that everything works out. I feel like there are still so many loose ends but I know God will provide for me. He knows my hearts desire and He has plans for me.

 

 

Update on Stellan

Stellan is not doing well at all. They are air lifting him to the Boston hospital. Please pray for him and his family. To read about his story and that of the whole MckFamily please click here.

Not Me! Monday!

Normally, on Monday I try to post all the crazy, funny, outrageous things that didn't happen to me and/or Little Man. But this Monday isn't going to be like that. This Monday I am asking everyone who visits my blog to pray for baby Stellan. He is back in the hospital with SVT. The new medicine they thought would help him doesn't seem to be working. His heart is still working overtime and his MckMama is heart broken to see her baby like this. I will be praying for the whole MckFamily during this difficult time.





If you want to read more about MckMama, Baby Stellan, and the MckFamily click here.

Weekend Plans

Hello my friends! How has your week been going so far? Mine has been pretty good. I am looking forward to the weekend and hoping that I can get some really good sleep. I don't know why I am so tired ... I just am!

 

Remember that post I did called By the Numbers! well Dan and I ended up having a big discussion on our future plans. Let's just say I had a freak out moment. I am feeling better now about the direction things are going with us. And I understand that just because we have a "plan" doesn't mean that is always going to be the case. And I now understand that Dan and I didn't commmunicate how we were feeling. He thought I would be overwhelmed by school to plan or even think about a wedding. I, on the other hand, know that I can raise Jacob, do homework, attend classes, chew gum, stand on one foot, and plan a wedding all at the same time.

 

I think that since he has been married before he isn't in as much as a rush as I am. And when I say rush I don't mean I would be getting marrried to say I am married but that I love Dan and I want to spend the rest of my life with him and I want the rest of our lives to start as soon as possible.

 

Whoo ... ok that was a huge weight lifted off me. I am better now.

 

So onto my weekend plans ...

 

When I first started blogging I wrote a post called Feed My Starving Children. Please go back and read it because .... Jacob and I are once again going to help out. I love bringing Jacob along and show him how his little hands can do so much good. And that he will be helping children his own age. Although, Jacob may be a little young to understand the full extent of what he is doing to help this is starting him down the right path to help those less fortunate.

 

This is what the Bible has to say about helping those in need ...

 

If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered.

            - Proverbs 21:13

 

Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor.

            - Proverbs 22:9

 

Be generous to the poor - you'll never go hungry; shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.

            - Proverbs 28:27

 

After the Feed My Starving Children event Jacob will be going to his dad's house for the rest of the weekend. I have a whole slew of things I have to take care of this weekend. Hopefully, I can squeeze in a hair appointment.

 

What are your plans this weekend?

 

By the Numbers!

Ok this may sound totally weird to everyone but me. And this did keep me up last night.

 

I am 28 years old.

 

I should graduate college in 3 years.

Dan wants to wait until I graduate college before we get married.

 

Now that makes me 31 years old.

 

Planning a wedding takes 1 year.

 

That makes me 32 years old.

 

We want more kids. We will try to get pregnant right after wedding. Let's say I get pregnant right away. I have the baby 9 months later.

 

That makes me 33 years old!!

That would make Jacob and Christian 11 years old!

 

To be honest I don't like how these numbers are adding up!

Our life currently!

It sure has been awhile since I updated last. I have been super tired lately for no reason at all. I think I can use a day to lay around in bed all day ... napping, eating, watching tv, and reading a book. I don't see a day like that coming for me but this is what is going on in our life right now.

- I am still trying to figure out my school plans. Not sure how any of this is going to work out. As of this moment I have not registered for any classes nor have I put in my notice at work.

- I am trying to get on a better schedule with Jacob so that we can read together every night. He is supposed to accumulate 750 minutes of reading through out the summer. We are way behind.

- Jacob's, kindergarten teacher, had a stroke. There is a bleed in her brain. Please pray for her and her family. Jacob loves her and she is an amazing teacher. She was sent from God and helped Jacob a ton this past year.

- Dan and I are discussing options on how to help Christian with his eating habits. I did post a discussion on The BlogFrog "Mom's of Picky Eaters" and I have gotten wonderful ideas on how to help out with this issue. If anyone else has any ideas on how to get a 6 year old child who only likes chicken nuggets, ketchup, and pickles to eat a healthier variety of foods without gaging on it please let me know. We are really struggling with this.

That's all I can really think of right now. My brain feels fried. Ha Ha It always feels that way.
What is going on in your lives? I am really interested please leave comments

Every Second Counts

Last night while I was laying in bed this overwhelming feeling came over me. I got tears in my eyes and had a feeling of dread in my stomach.

 

Jacob's childhood is passing me by so quickly and I don't feel like I am embracing each moment like I should be.

 

Some nights ... ok most nights ...

       

        -we don't read before he falls asleep

        -we don't pray to God and thank Him for all the good things in our lives

        -we don't just cuddle up

        -we don't eat dinner together (well we it around the coffee table)

 

I want to start doing things every night so when he grows up and has children of his own he can say "My mom and I prayed and read each and every night".

 

During the school year we barely made it home before it was time for him to get into bed. Now that it is summer he doesn't have to be asleep as early but I am still not taking advantage of the time we have together.

 

I want to get on a schedule with him. I want to make the most of the time we have together.

 

So, I am interested.

 

What kind of bedtime schedules do you have with your children?

The Great Drive of 2009

Well ... I am officially home, unpacked, and clothes cleaned. The house is still kind of a disaster but I am working on it. Since we left at 9 p.m. within 2 hours both of the boys looked like this.
Ha Ha Do you think they will not appreciate the fact that I posted these pictures when they get older? The drive was super long but they did awesome. (Both going there and coming home.)

The boys loved swimming in the hotel pool. Jacob strengthened his swimming skills and Christian learned to swim without floaties. I am so proud of both of them.

The only problem with them loving the swimming pool as much as the did was that the sunscreen didn't stay on their skin. We all got very red.

Jacob was calling us the red family. (FYI- we are all pealing and I don't like it one bit. It grosses me out.)

The night before the wedding Brandon and Kim had a beautiful rehearsal dinner for everyone.

This is Brandon and Kim ... aren't they the cutest?


This is my whole family. (From left to right and top to bottom: Me, Mom, Dan, Mark, Michael, Vicky, Jacob, Christian, and Matthew)

Brandon and Kim had the cutest rehearsal dinner cake. Since Brandon is a pilot this cake was specifically designed with him in mind.


Brandon and Kim's wedding took place on top of Bogus Basin. It was so beautiful there. The sunset was killer.







Brandon and Kim had such a beautiful wedding.



This is Landon and the flower girls. He is such a cutie and he loves Jacob. He gives me kisses when I drop of Jacob and head off to work.

This is Landon's mom, Tanya. She is just so beautiful. Tanya and I are only a year apart and we basically grew up together. I am so thankful to have her be apart of my family.

This is my Aunt Tammie and Uncle Brian. (Brandon's mom and dad)

Here is Brandon (the groom), Andrew (my cousin and best man), Michael (my brother), and Mark (my brother). They are all very close. We are so lucky to have grown up together.

The bride and groom. Isn't this a beautiful view?



This is Dan and me. Dan was such a trooper the whole trip. He drove the most, took care of the boys while I was at the bridal shower, and made sure we had great lunches and dinners.
Boy do I love him.

How did you like that for a post with pictures? What did you guys do this past week?

Brandon & Kim are Married!

What an exhausting week this has been. We have driven a long way to be a part of Brandon and Kim's wedding. They did not disappoint. The atmosphere and surroundings were stunning. I swear I could see heaven from as high up as we were. I will definitely post pictures when I get home. The sunrise was spectacular. We are leaving in a couple hours to drive home. Please pray for us to have safe travels. Specifically pray for Dan since I am not much help in the driving department. I can only drive about 4 hours at a time. I am going to take a dip in the pool now. I will catch you all up with the festivities tomorrow night.

PS- we are all sun burnt. Jacob has been calling us the red family.

We are here!

After 24 hours in the car with Dan, Mark (my brother), Jacob, Christian, and myself ... we are finally here! Both little boys are sleeping. Dan, Mark, and myself have showered and are now enjoying an ice cold beer and pizza. Thank you for your prayers. They helped us through some terrible rain in Iowa and Nebraska. I am so tired. I will update more tomorrow.

Why did I think this was a good idea?

We haven't even gotten in the car and already this trip doesn't sound all that fun.

 

Lack of sleep = Cranky Mindy

 

I still have so much to do before we leave at 7 pm tonight.

 

On my lunch break I went to the tailor to pick up my skirt. (I broke the zipper and I am planning to wear it to the rehearsal dinner)

Then I went to the shoe store because I needed black shoes with a tiny heel so I don't tower over Dan. Jacob needed dressy sandals for the rehearsal dinner so I picked up a pair for him too.

 

Then after I get off work at 6 I have to run to Target to pick up a book and some magazines for myself. I also need to find a chapter book for Christian and Jacob since they have to read every day for the summer reading program.

 

Wish me luck that I get this all done before we leave tonight.

 

2 adults + 2 kids + 1 brother + 24 hours in car = ?

 

Hopefully not disaster.

 

Please pray for us to have a safe trip.

 

Not Me! Monday!

Oh yes! It is that time again! Not Me! Monday! is back. I took last week off. Not sure why but I remembered this week. If you would like to join in with all the festivities click here and see what MckMama totally didn't do. Oh yeah and the hundreds of other participants who didn't do things either.

 

I am not leaving for a 24 hour road trip tomorrow with Dan (my boyfriend), Jacob (my son), Christian (Dan's son), and Mark (my brother). I am not scared to be surrounded by only boys for 24 hours straight. I am not going to need some serious girl time when I get home.

 

I have not only packed Jacob's bag so far. I am not planning on staying up way too late tonight to make sure everything is packed and ready to go.

 

I did not go to the tailors/dry cleaners this afternoon at lunch to beg them to fix the zipper on the skirt I am wearing to the rehearsal dinner. They did not surprise me by telling me it will be completed tomorrow morning for $14.

 

I do not have a list a page long of things I need to purchase at Target tonight as well. A swim suit is not on that list. I am not wishing that I will get six pack abs by the time I get to the store.

 

I did not forget to see if someone will watch Charlie (the cat) while we are going. I most certianly will not bribe my friend, Donna, to watch the cat in exchange for me letting her use my carpet steam cleaner. She would do it anyway. She is a great friend.

 

Whooo ... thank goodness I totally did not do any of those things.

 

On a side note, I will be posting and twittering if anyone is interested while I am gone.

 

Wish me luck.

 

Jacob's friend "D"

Remember how I told you Jacob and Christian are huge fans of WWE Wrestling? Well Jacob has taken it to the next level. I think he honestly believes he is John Cena.

 

So yesterday when I was picking Jacob up from my mom's house his little friend "D" was over and they were playing in the front yard. Oh and when I mean little friend I actually mean a giant 5 year old who is atleast a head taller than Jacob is.  Anyway, they were playing so I went inside to chat with my mom for a little bit.

 

Not 5 minutes later Jacob is flying throught the front door crying his eyes out with "D" following behing him saying he was sorry over and over and over again.

 

After I got Jacob to stop crying I had him tell me what happened.

 

He said that they were playing wrestling in the front yard. Jacob jumped on "D's" back and knocked him to the ground. Then when "D" got up he grabbed a big stick and whipped Jacob in the back with it.

 

I asked him why he would jump on "D" and he told me because that is what wrestlers do.

 

Hmm ...

 

After we had a HUGE talk about why wrestling is fake (I thought that was obvious but not to a 6 year old) the wrestling video game is banned from our house. He is no longer allowed to play with it at my house, his dad R's house, my mom's house, or his friend "D's" house. Oh yes he brought this video game with him EVERYWHERE.

 

But I did decide that now he can only play sports video games ... I am hoping that he does like the professionals do ... you know play for the NBA and buy his Mom a super nice house.

 

I think I am on to something.

 

Have any of your children reenacted something they have seen?