I love quotes!

Maybe it is because I have been home all week. Maybe it is because my house is super clean. Maybe I am bored. But ... I just realized that I love quotes and they are all over my house. I have plaques and notecards and framed quotes. So I thought I would share the quotes I have around my house with you.

Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one can here. Love like you have never been hurt before. Live like heaven begins tomorrow.

Where there is great love, there are always miracles.


For all our blessings. We give thanks.


This one is my all time favorite: Enjoy the journey. Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away.



I just wrote this one out on a note card yesterday. It is from the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan that I just bought yesterday. Angie from Bring the Rain is going to be reading this book with her "Sundays". If you want to join in click here. Don't worry we haven't started yet but I couldn't help but start by reading the Prologue. I posted it about the kitchen sink so I could see it every time I am washing dishes.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Your grace.Your forgiveness is so good that I struggle with believing it at times. Thank you for rescuing me from myself and giving me Your Holy Spirit. Your love is better than life.

Nothing great has been & nothing great can be accomplished without passion.

I even used Jacob's letter magnets to create this.
Grace, Hope, Love, Joy, and Faith(written on the butterfly magnet)

Have you noticed that you have a ton of something around your house? What are your favorite quotes?

I will have a post called I love Blue because obviously, I love blue and it is every where in my house too.

So We Don't Forget: Volume 1

What is my favorite 'alone time' activity?

I love to read. My dream day would be sitting on the couch or in a comfy chair, drinking hot tea, and reading a book. I know that sentence makes me sound 100 years old but at 28 it is my favorite thing to do.

Very rarely do I get a day where I am able to do this which makes it more enjoyable when I finally do.

I don't know if this will change as the years go on but I love getting lost in a book.

Disicpline & Video Games

After reading MckMama's post about discipline (you can click here to read it) I was thinking about my own forms of discipline in my household. I tend to be more on the strict side. Spanking didn't work for me. I tried to spank Jacob once and he laughed. That was the end of spanking for me.

When Jacob was little time outs really worked. When we lived with my Mom she had a set of stairs and his time out location was the third stair up. He would sit for about 5 minutes and then apologize for what he did wrong. I would tell him that I love him and then he would give me a hug. Sometimes he would fight the time out but mostly he would do as he was asked.

As Jacob got older time outs seemed to work less and less. He would sit there but that never seemed to stop the issue. I had to come up with something else that would work better. Now Jacob loves loves loves video games. I knew that this could be something taken away to change his behavior. Sometimes he will be grounded from video games for one day and other times he will be grounded for up to a week.

I actually like when he is grounded because he is more willing to do crafts or play board games when he knows video games are not an option.

While video games are my leverage in getting Jacob to behave I do have video game specific rules.

Here are my video game rules ...
1) Video games can only be played for 30 minutes at a time. I set this rule after Jacob was consumed by video games. He told me that he dreams and thinks about video games all day long. Then I read an article that children with ADD/ADHD are more prone to video game additictions.

2) In order to play video games he has to complete 2 workbook pages from a Hooked on Phonics type workbook. I started this rule when we were struggling in kindergarten. This has helped Jacob to learn more and also he now realizes that video games are a reward.

3) All video games must be rated E for everyone. I admit I know nothing about video games. My brothers were never into them so I didn't realize that they had ratings. Jacob loved playing with WWE Wrestling video games except I walked into his room when he was playing it and the language was awful. Since he was allowed to play this game for awhile before I heard the foul language I am still allowing him to play this game every once in awhile. The volume has to be off and he cannot play this game everyday.

So that is how I discipline. It may not work for everyone but it works for me. What are your rules in your house? Do you discipline with spanking or grounding? What works for you?

On a side note: Jacob decided he didn't want to do workbook pages to play video games. He was talking back so he is now gounded from video games for today.

Not My Child Monday!

MckMama is hosting her, Not my child Monday, today. So if you are embarrassed by any of your child's comments, behaviors, or attitude's please join in. You can join in this blog carnival by clicking here.

Jacob was not fighting with his 10 year old uncle Matthew at Christian's birthday party last night. After I told him to stop crying and hit him back Jacob quickly responded with ...
"Can I kick him here?" He was point to his private parts.

Jacob is not an over reacter. After I told him to stop playing video games and that his 30 minutes were up he definitly did not unplug the Playstation from the wall and proceed to put the game system, controllers, video games, and wrestling figures in the middle of the floor in my bedroom. After he disposed of everything he did not declare himself grounded from playstation for four days. Not my child!

When I told him that I didn't have to go to work anymore he did not ask me if my boss said it was ok. He was not more concerned that my boss was going to be ok without me working there than he was excited for me not to go into work anymore.

I did not get a Snuggie as a going away present from the guys at work. My son has not claimed this as his own. He has not been walking around in my cheetah print Snuggie since I brought it home.

What has your child not done recently? Go visit MckMama and join in on all the fun.

So long farewell ....

Today was officially my last day of work. I still haven't let it sink it yet. I think my first day of school I will understand I am no longer working. Does that make sense?

Tonight is Christian's 7th birthday. We are going to go bowling and get pizza. It should be a great night.

What are you plans for this Friday evening?

Through the looking glass

Right now, I am sitting at work ... doing nothing. I have been training my replacement for a week and so now I am just letting her take the reigns. I am sitting at the back desk just in case she needs me. But I am really serving no purpose.

 

Six years ago, I started with this company. I knew nothing about cars (yes, I work at an auto collision repair shop) and I didn't think I ever would get the hang of what my job was all about.

 

Some days, I would be so consumed by how difficult my job was. In the beginning, I would leave work and wonder if I should come back in the next day.

 

Six years later, I feel as if I know almost everything there is to know. I know I am good at my job and that people ask me questions when they are confused. To be honest, I like that feeling of power.

As I have sat and worked with my replacement over the last 4 days I have realized that she is starting a new chapter in her life just like I am starting a new chapter in mine.

 

Beginings are scary!

 

I will be the new kid on the block.  I will have to learn how to be good at my new "job", full time student and mom.

 

I am really looking forward to what is in store for me and at the same time I am scared about it all.

 

I really don't like having conflicting feelings at all.

 

Tomorrow is my last day at work. I am sure as my work day winds to a close I will cry. My coworkers have turned into family and friends. I will miss all our silly banter and the stories they tell me about their kids and wives. (Yes, I work with all men) We have all promised to keep in touch and get together every once in awhile. I hope we keep that promise.

 

Have you ever left a job? Did you keep in touch with your former coworkers? If you quit your job to become a stay at home mom how did you adjust to your new life? Was it some what difficult to be with your children all day every day?

Prayer Request

Josiah Steven Weiberg is a beautiful 7 month old baby boy who was recently diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1. Unfortunately, this disease does not have a positive outcome. There are no cures and children with this diagnosis live tragically short lives. This little boy and his parents, Jim and Alesha, attend Harvest Bible Chapel with me.

Please pray for this family.

You can visit their caring bridge website by clicking here.

When the dog bites. When the bee stings. When you're feeling sad.

I think about a few of my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad! (If you think I just typed that and didn't sing it out loud ... you would be wrong.)

Oh, what a long, super long, day. This is my last week of work and they are having me train two girls. Well they aren't girls since they are in their 40's. So needless to say my brain is fried.

I was trying to come up with a good blog post but all I could think of what my all time favorite authors and my favorite books from them. So that is what you are getting. I hope you enjoy.

*Francine Rivers*



Redeeming Love Atonement Child

*Karen Kingsbury*



The Redemption Series (Redemption, Remember, Return, Rejoice, and Reunion)

*Nicholas Sparks*

At First Sight A Bend in the Road

The Guardian The Rescue

*My remaining favorite books by assorted authors*

Living Simply by Joanne Heim


From Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife by Marla Taviano

She's Gonna Blow by Julie Ann Barnhill

So there you go. All my favorite books that I could read over and over again in one post. I know it isn't brown paper packages tied up with strings but this list sure did make me feel better. I hope you look into some of these books. I can honestly read them over and over again.

I love Weekends!

So this weekend we haven't done anything special. No extra super duper fun things. We have just hung out. Last night, we went out to dinner at the Olive Garden. Boy do I love that place. The soup and salad and artichoke and spinach dip was delicious. I think I could eat Olive Garden every single day.

Then this morning my mom's neighborhood had a garage sale. Tons of garage sales. I thought I would have found more things to purchase but all I bought was an over the range microwave for $25. Yup $25 dollars. I have been pricing them for ages (well not actually ages but probably a few weeks) and they were being sold for $125 or higher. So I was super happy to find one for $25 dollars.

Then this evening Jacob and I went to McDonalds and hung out with my friend Tiffany and her two boys. We never really get the chance to hang out so it was so nice. Our boys are the same age and they get along great.

Now I am sitting at home. Jacob is already in bed and I am watching Confessions of a Shopaholic.

How is your weekend going? Are you enjoying yours or do you have so much to do the weekend is gone in the blink of an eye?

My weekends are normally crazy. The 29th of this month I have a baby shower at 11:30, Jacob has a pool party from 1 - 4, and then we have a birthday party at 3:30. Do you think I will be able to get it done? I am not so sure.

College 101

I have officially registered for classes at Benedictine. I talked to my adviser, Anne, over the phone today and she walked me through the registering for classes process. I am now signed up for ...
*Literature 267 -Studies in Poetry
*Education 215 - Technology for Teachers
*Humanities 250 - The Contemporary World
*Math 112 - Math for Elementary School Teachers
and I am on the wait list for Philosophy 12o - Greek Philosophy.

My schedule is very sporadic and it doesn't seem that I will be able to take Jacob to school or drop him off at school this semester.
I figured I would have a less than desirable schedule since I applied so late but 4 hours between classes is a little disheartening.
My advisor said to see if there are any openings for the Education 215 class at an earlier time. That would help out significantly.

Now that I have my official schedule I need to find a part time job. There are two current opportunities that may work. But I am assuming that waitressing will be the best option.
Like this whole process I am leaving it in God's hands. He knows better than I do anyway.

Is anything new going on in your lives? Please fill me in. I am getting overwhelmed by my own life anyway.

Not Me! Monday!

Welcome back for another Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama to eliminate the guilt that surrounds us as mothers, girlfriends, wives, and friends. Do you let your son pee outside? Do you keep left overs in your fridge so long you can't even tell what it was before all the mold attacked it? Does your laundry sit in baskets longer than they should? Do you fight with your boyfriend but don't really know why? If any of this sounds like you, join in on the fun! Go visit MckMama and all the other Not Me! Mondayers (is that a word? I don't think so) and join in.

 

I would never ever let Jacob wash himself in car wash soap while helping to wash my car and think for only a moment that it is the same thing as a bath. Not me!

 

I would not be caught dead running around a lake on a dare from my 6 year old. He definitely did not do a wonderful job encouraging me the whole way around nor did he finish the run breathing easy while I laid on the floor near death.

 

I most certainly did not contemplate living the rest of my days here on earth in the exact spot I fell.

 

On Friday night you would not have found me arguing with Jacob in the family aisle of Blockbuster. He did not want to rent Cinderella or Sleep Beauty. I did not want to rent Little House on the Praire or Swiss Family Robinson. We did not settle on Ratatoulli.

 

I did not contemplate buying myself a really nice digital camera. I did not then have to talk myself out of it because I am working my last two weeks of work before going to school full time.

 

I am not still wishing I bought that camera.

 

I am not looking forward to not working.

 

Ok, your turn.

What have you not been doing this week?

(in)courage

Have you heard about (in)courage? (In)courage is a new site that 20 women are going to share the stories of what in courages them or what gives them courage. I just checked it out tonight and I loved each story. So they asked me (well they asked everyone) to post about what in courages me.

I am (in)couraged by ...

*by my mother. I am ashamed to say that I never gave my mother the credit she deserved until now. I never knew her strength until she was required to prove it. I never thought she understood me. I sometimes wondered how she loved me even though (I thought) we were polar opposites. I know now that we are very much alike and the things we differ about I strive to be like her. She loved me unconditionally no matter what I did. She gave me strength when I thought I didn't have any left. She gives me my courage now and I am thankful for her.

*by my son. Today we were practicing soccer at Herrick Lake and he decided that he wanted to run the entire circumference of the lake. Granted it was very long but he wanted to give it a shot. Of course I had to go with him but the entire time we were running he kept saying things like "You can do it" or "Let's just run up here" and "Come on Mom we are almost there". My son makes me want to be a better person, believer, and mother. He lets me in to experience things for the first time with him. He gives me the courage to dream big.

*God. No matter where I am in my life or what is going on around me I hear God's wisdom. He reminds me that He is with me and He is never going to leave me. He proves Himself time and again that He is forever faithful. He washes me new when I ask for forgiveness. He gives me the courage to take a leap of faith when I never thought I could walk up to the edge.

What (in)courages you today?

Fireproof, Quotes, and a Sense of Accomplishment

Have you seen the movie Fireproof yet? Last night I watched it for the second time and I still love it. If you haven't seen it you need to. It gives you this new strength. While I know I am not married it does make me long for a marriage that is fireproof. My favorite quote of the movie is ...  Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it. Jacob has also watched this movie twice and he really enjoys it. When Caleb (Kirk Cameron) is yelling at his wife, Catherine, Jacob always says That isn't how you should treat your wife. I pray when he grows up and gets married he will be a good husband and remember how not to treat your wife.

 

While I was watching Fireproof I was thinking about my personal statement that I need to write to get a grant from Benedictine. I knew I needed to get started on it so I figured I would google "overcoming obstacles quotes" and a whole slew of quotes were found. I loved so many of them.

 

Here is what I found ...

 

You've got to follow your passion. You've got to figure out what it is you love -- who you really are. And have the courage to do that. I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dream.  

- Oprah Winfrey

 

Never regret anything you have been through, because only with those trials wil you become a better person the next day. 

- Crystal Hunt

 

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventourous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.

-Alan Cohen

 

Even though those quotes are really good I choose ...

 

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.

-Franklin Delano Roosevelt

 

What do you think? Did I pick the right one?

 

So after I found "my" quote I proceeded to write my personal statement. I actually thought it was going to be difficult but it ended up being quite easy. I thought I wouldn't know how to start or how much information is too much information. But I did it! It ended up being 3 pages and exactly how I wanted it to be.

 

Please pray that I receive this grant money.

 

I have been asking for so much prayer lately and I want to thank all of those who are praying for me. If anyone has any prayers they would like me to pray please send them to me. I would love to pray for you guys as well.

 

You think you know but you have no idea!

Did I really just quote The Real World? Yes, Yes I did! Hee Hee!

 

So Lynnette at Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground (Love her, seriously, Love her) is doing a blog hop of sorts to get to know her readers. She asked us, ever so politely, of course to list 10 things about ourselves that makes us charming, interesting, or fun.

 

Here is my list ....

 

1. I drink tea all the time. Iced tea, McDonalds sweet tea, hot tea, hot tottie tea (tea mixed with whiskey) ... as long as the tea isn't flavored tea I will be drinking it. Yum Yum

 

2. I am late to everything. I feel that everything should take 15 minutes. This is a problem and I am working on it. But it is a running joke about how late I am all the time.

 

3. I love school supplies. I love notebooks without writing, pencils that haven't yet been sharpened, pens that haven't scribbled yet, and folders. Oh the folders.

 

4. I just quit my job to go to school to become a teacher. It is a dream I have had since I was a child.

 

5. I had my son when I was 21 years old. He is by far the best thing I have ever done and I don't even remember my life before he was born.

 

6. I love my handwriting. I do not write in cursive because I don't like the way it looks so I print everything.

 

7. I want to have more kids ... badly! I think I have had the itch to have more babies since Jacob was 3. It will happen but I am putting that desire in God's hands.

 

8. In my dreams I am a photographer and an author. I would love to take beautiful pictures and write a book. Not sure if that will ever happen but a girl can dream!

 

9. I sleep with the TV on. Not just any program it has to be a show that is on Court TV ... like Forensic Files or The First 48

 

10. Also, when I sleep I cannot have my feet under the covers. They have to hang off the bed too. Weird I know.

 

Do you want to join in? If yes, head on over to Lynnette's blog and check out the details.

 

Now you know.

Guess What?!

Remember from my previous post Secrets Secrets are no fun ... So I'm gonna tell everyone, how I asked you to pray for me to get accepted into Benedictine University??

Well thank you so much because bubbly Sarah from Benedictine called me today and told me that ....


I GOT IN!!!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers. God is really working in miraculous ways during this time.

I told Sarah that I am formally accepting my acceptance and that I will be attending in the Fall.

Whew!

One step down and many more to go.

The next steps will be hearing from financial aide to see how much money I will be receiving in grants and scholarships.

Then my official college transcripts will be reviewed by my adviser and then I will meet with my adviser to register for classes and to discuss my future with them.

My last day of work will be August 21st and then school starts August 31st. During the week break I should be able to complete all the things that still need to be done.

Would you guys be willing to continue to pray for me? If your answer is yes, my specific prayer requests are
1) With all the FAFSA, grants, scholarships, and loans my college tuition and mortgage payments will be covered.
2) I am able to find a part time job that fits in with my college classes and Jacob's schedule.
3) That I remember God is control of all things.

Thank you so much for your support and prayers. It means a lot to me.