Sportsmomma

My One Word 2016

2016-01-01T18:45:00.000-05:00

Well, it's that time again. Each year for the past five years I have chosen a word to focus on for the whole year. My past words have been- disciplined, balance, focus, purpose and intentional. This year I've chosen (or rather I believe God has chosen for me) the word ENCOURAGE.

My goal is to do all I can to encourage others. How? I'm not 100% sure yet but I do have one idea that I'm set on doing. Send a hand written note to someone each week of the year. Yep, that's right-52 hand written notes in 2016. I'm praying that God will show me who I need to send those notes to- I trust He will. Just as I trust He will show me what else I can do in 2016 to be an encouragement to others.

I'm Just a Wanna Be!!

2015-01-27T17:38:00.002-05:00

I am not going to lie. I am a wanna be! I've been a wanna be all my life. Sometimes it's good to be a wanna be and sometimes it's not so good. You know, like when you are in junior high school (yes, I'm showing my age because now it's called Middle School) and all the other girls are wearing make up or the latest fashion "styles" and you just ~~need~~ want to wear the exact same things because you wanna be just like them. Yeah, not such a good thing right. A girl needs to be careful about who she chooses to be like and why. Sometimes I think the why is more important that the who.

But sometimes being a wanna be can be a good thing.

I am participating in a study where we are reading through the ENTIRE Bible in one year. Not only are we reading through it, but we are reading through it in chronological order and we are posting about what we are learning. I absolutely love it. The study is lead by Wendy Pope and it is amazing. She provides a video for each day and then she shares what she has learned from that days readings. And guess what, she has done this for many years and STILL gets so much out of each reading. You can still join Read Through the Word and enjoy this adventure with so many people!

So, what the heck does this have to do with my being a wanna be you ask. Well, I'll tell ya! One morning while I was getting ready for work I was watching one of Wendy's videos. I usually listen to them on my way to work (they are usually about 15 min at the most so the timing is perfect) but that morning I was actually watching. Lewis walked by and saw the video and said, "who's that, a Beth Wright wanna be?". I laughed out loud at that statement. Yes, we may, sort of, slightly resemble each other- we have short brown hair, wear glasses sometimes (only when we really want to see something- like words on a page) and we both wear scarves sometimes (want to see something funny? Watch this video of Wendy and Melissa Taylor doing the Wendy wRap). But a Beth Wright wanna be, nah- more like I'm a Wendy Pope wanna be. Not that I want to look like her but I want to be like Wendy in my heart and in my life. I want to be someone who loves to share the Word of God with others. I want to be a disciple for Christ in my words and my actions. There are so many different ways that I'm a Wendy Pope wanna be.

Guess what, she's not the only one I wanna be like. Did you see where I mentioned Melissa Taylor earlier, now that girl is another woman I wanna be like. Have you heard of Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies ministry- yep, that girl right there started the whole thing- why? Because she wanted to have a Bible study with other women of God and just didn't have the time to GO to Bible Study so what did she do? She started OBS! (BTW- we are studying an amazing book right now, Keep It Shut- we just started on Monday it's not too late to sign up). And her co-hort Nicki Koziarz, well she's another that I'd love to be more like. She has a heart for Jesus that just won't stop. And then there is Kristy Aiken-now that girl, she just oozes Jesus! I've only met Kristy in person twice- but man on man is God doing some work through her!

So yes, I'm just a wanna be and proud of it!!!!

My Word, Verse and Song for 2015

2015-01-14T18:50:00.000-05:00

I had a really hard time deciding on my One Word for this year. I prayed about it and asked God to show me what He wanted me to focus on this year. I kept thinking I knew what my word was going to be but it just didn't seem right. I even pulled up the old thesaurus and tried to find a word that was close to the one I thought I was meant to use- but still it just wasn't right. Then all of a sudden there is was- Intentional! I realized that God wanted me to be intentional in 2015!

Intentional? Be intentional about what? About my relationship with Christ, about my relationship with Lewis, about my family, about my responsibilities in my home, about my responsibilities as a leader in P31 OBS, about my responsibilities in my job.

Yes, it's a LOT to be intentional but I've done my best to prioritize. I tend to forget things, Lewis or the boys will ask me to do something and I'll say I'll do it but 9 times out of 10 I'll forget until they remind me and then way too often I STILL forget to do whatever it is they asked. And usually it's something important. Yes, I need to learn to be more intentional.

What will that mean for me in 2015? Honestly, I'm not really sure but I'm guessing I'll be using my reminder app, my calendar, and sticky notes WAY more often. Or maybe, it will consist of doing things right away when asked instead of putting things off. I am SO bad about procrastinating that its really quite sad. And distractions- well, let's just say there are lots of them that well, distract me. I KNOW this is an issue that I need to work on and I know that it's not something I can do on my own.

I found a really cool website that has some video lessons on living an intentional life and I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to them over and over. I've already listened once and they were great.

My household responsibilities- well there are so many areas I need to work on there. But I think I'll start small because I believe if I start on the small things there will be way fewer big things to take care of. So, that means cleaning off my desk and cleaning out our files.

My relationship with Lewis- I just finished reading What's it Like to be Married to Me (thanks for the recommendation Nicki) and boy do my toes hurt from being stepped on. You would think that it after almost 25 years I'd have this marriage thing figured out. I see so much of myself in this book and on one hand it makes me very sad but on the other it encourages me to know that it is not to late to make changes. I also read The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts , another great book that was very eye opening. I want to be intentional about focusing on Lewis' love language. It doesn't do him any good if I'm trying to "fill his tank" with what makes me feel loved!

So, there are LOTS of things that I need to be intentional about and as I think about them I'm directed to my new verse for 2015-

And there is just something about the song Thrive by Casting Crowns that makes me think about being intentional and living an intentional life. So, that's my song for 2015.

Do you have a word, verse and or song for 2015? If so, I'd love for you to share about it!

I'm Baaaaack!

2015-01-14T17:22:00.002-05:00

Good gracious, what in the world is wrong with me? I look back on this blog and see how faithful I was about posting when I first started the blog and then little by little I posted less and less. The last few years have been 1 or 2 posts. How sad! So, I really want to do better- honest I do. And I'm really going to try to post more- honest I am!

So, let's see how I do. I'm hoping you'll help hold me accountable!!

Made to Crave- what? God that's what!!

2014-01-30T16:10:00.001-05:00

Whew, let me tell you- I'm participating and leading a small group in the Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study Made to Crave. This study is ahhh mazzz iiing! I was made to crave- yep, but what was I made to crave- Little Debbie snack cakes- NOPE!! Six Cheese Pizza- NOPE!! I was made to crave GOD! Yes, God- and I need to get myself so full of God and his awesomeness that I don't need to crave those other things.

Our verse for this week is : 1 Peter 5:7-8a, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. NIV1984

Let's break this down:

Cast ALL your anxiety - Christ does not tell me to cast some of my cares (anxieties) on him. He does not tell me to hold on the them and bring them up over and over and over again! No he tells me to cast (give, throw, drop) ALL of my anxiety on him.

And why should I do this? Because he CARES for me- God loves me enough to take all my mess- everything I've done in the past and everything I'm gonna do in the future! He cares about me enough that he doesn't want me carrying my burdens around- dragging me down deeper and deeper! He WANTS to carry them because he loves me.

This last part REALLY stood out to me- I don't think I've ever really looked at these next words in light of the words before them!

Be self-controlled and alert! Good gracious- WHY haven't I noticed those words before? They are especially relevant in this study as some 41,000 plus women (and a few men) seek to crave God more than food- or whatever it is that they crave. Why is it so important to be self- controlled and alert? Because Satan is just sitting there waiting for a chance to get in the way and mess things up. He wants me to cave in and grab those Little Debbie snacks or those Oreos. What he doesn't want is for me to fill my heart and soul up with the one thing that can fill a God sized hole- GOD!! Well guess what Satan- I don't care what you want!!!!

I'm DETERMINED! That I will Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert.

My Word, Verses and Song for 2014

2014-01-12T16:22:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about My One Word- Change Your Life With Just One Word? It is such a great book. The author challenges you to choose one word to focus on for an entire year. I had a difficult time deciding what my word should be for 2014. In the past I've chosen a word but I haven't really focused on it. In fact, I've pretty much forgotten about it within a month or so. I have a history of starting out with a bang and then falling behind or dropping out all together. I'm really not sure why I do this. Perhaps it's because I just don't feel like I have a real purpose for what I'm doing. Wait, what was that word? PURPOSE! Yes, that will be my word for the year. No, I really didn't just have an epiphany and decide on that word. But man, it's a great word for me. The dictionary defines the word this way:

pur·pose

ˈpərpəs/

noun

1.

the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

"the purpose of the meeting is to appoint a trustee"

synonyms: motive, motivation, grounds, cause, occasion, reason, point, basis,justification

I want to have a purpose for what I'm doing. I believe that if I focus on that purpose I will be more likely to continue and follow through.

What's my purpose you ask? Well, I'll let my verses for 2014 answer that question.

I want this to be my purpose in ALL that I do. When I don't want to complete a task- I will remind myself I'm doing this for the Lord. What I'm tempted to do the task halfheartedly- I will remind myself to do it as if I'm doing it for the Lord. Would I only do half the job if I was doing it for Him? I sure hope not!!

The song Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman is just another reminder that Everything I do should be done for HIM!

Do you have a Word, Verse or Song for 2014? If so, I'd love for you to share it below!!

New Giveaway Winner

2012-09-18T14:12:00.001-04:00

I've chosen a new winner for the giveaway since I never heard back from the first one. The new winner is TEllison from http://www.thevirtuoushome.com/. I've e-mailed you. Please get back to me so I can get your materials to you ASAP!!!

Can't wait to get this study started!!!!

No Excuses and A Winner

2012-09-07T14:50:00.000-04:00

Life gets in the way. I guess that's sort of an excuse but that's the reason I haven't been on here posting. I really do want to post. I love posting on this blog and I used to do it regularly- several years ago - and I really do miss it! I want to say that I just don't have time to get on here and post but that is not true. I don't make the time to do it. But I'm really going to try harder to make time to post. So that's a goal I'm setting for myself. Nothing specific except to post!!!

If you keep up with this blog you know that I had a giveaway about a month ago. I was giving away a copy of Lysa TerKeurst's newest Bible Study Unglued and a cope of The Busy Mom's Bible. I announced the winner in the comments but I haven't heard from her- so I'm going to try again. MRS. MANNERS you are the winner!!! If I don't hear anything in the next week I will chose a new winner because I REALLY want someone to get their hands on this Bible Study. I'm telling you I CAN NOT WAIT to get started on it. I believe you can still sign up to participate in the online study through Melissa Taylor's Online Bible Study group. There are THOUSANDS of people participating in the study! If you are curious about it you can watch the three webcasts that Lysa has done. I've only watched one so far and it was amazing. Here are the links for all three:

Webcast #1 you do have to sign up for an account on K-Love to watch it but it's free to sign up
Webcast #2
Webcast #3- oops, no link for this one yet, but I'll come back and add the link as soon as it is available! I promise!!

Until then here is a little verse for you for anytime but especially those times when you are about to come unglued or you already have:

Then when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply.

~ Isaiah 58:9, NLT

I am SO glad HE replies quickly!!!

Are you an Unglued Momma?

2012-08-12T16:12:00.001-04:00

First of all, my goodness gracious it's been a LONG time since I've written on my blog. As usual, no real excuses - just life getting in the way! And how am I doing on my "word for the year"? Well, my word is disciplined and I'm guessing you figured out that since I haven't been writing I haven't been very disciplined and you'd be correct. But I am working on it.

I am in my last week of an online Bible study I Used To Be So Organized. Let me tell you it's an awesome study. It's not just about getting your home life organized but more importantly it's about getting your spiritual life organized first before moving on to the physical things. Melissa Taylor is leading the study and all I can say is it has been an amazing.

In fact, I've enjoyed it so much and gained so much from it that I've already signed up for the next online study. This one is Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst. As a mom of two teenage boys I tend to come unglued quite often. It doesn't take much for me to blow up and I don't like myself when that happens. I know that is not how God wants me to react. So, I'm ready to do something about those explosions. I'm ready to seek God in my moments of falling apart instead of trying to handle my emotions myself.

When my boys were young I did not do good job of committing to reading my Bible and having daily devotions. It's something I've been working on over the years and I'm finally getting better at it. I wish I had had a Bible that I could use that was geared toward moms who were seeking to put Gid first in their lives. I really believe I would have been more consistent in my reading and studying if that was available to me.

So, my friends, that is what I want to give you! An opportunity to get yourself and your emotions put back together! One lucky person will win a copy of Unglued and a copy of The Busy Mom's Bible. Here is how you can enter. Leave a comment here telling me about an unglued moment in your life. You can also have two additional entries by posting on Facebook about the giveaway and tweeting about it. If you do either of those please leave a comment letting me know. I'll randomly choose a winner from the comments.

The contest will close at midnight Friday, 8/17/2012. Best of luck!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

2012- Really?

2012-01-02T21:42:00.008-05:00

How in the world did it become 2012 already? It seems like it was just New Year's Day 2011! This year seems to have flown by!

Last year I chose a ONE WORD for 2011 and it was

DISCIPLINED

Well, I really didn't do so well staying disciplined last year so this year I'm choosing a new word:

BALANCE

I really need to find balance in my life. Balance in my emotions, balance in my time management, balance in my Spiritual life! So many areas of my life need balance.

So, there it is: I'm striving for BALANCE in 2012! What about you? Have you chosen a word for 2012?

You can see what word others have chosen over at My Heart Art.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-29T11:07:00.002-04:00

I miss this view!

want to see more Wordless Wednesday pictures. Head on over to 5MinutesFor Moms. You'll find some great ones to view!!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-06-27T14:25:00.002-04:00

Wonders never cease! I decided to "try" to make a menu for the week. I'm so tired of never knowing what I'm going to make for dinner until it's actually time for dinner! So here goes:

MONDAY- Taco Crescent Bake

TUESDAY - Manwiches for the boys- I'm having dinner with my friend Shelly and then we are going to our local library for a book signing to meet MaryBeth Whalen of Proverbs 31. Can't wait-she's written two great fiction books- The Mailbox and She Makes It Look Easy.

WEDNESDAY- leftovers (time for Mustgos! Everything MUST GO)

THURSDAY- Wings on the grill and pasta salad

FRIDAY- subway or chick fil a. Our college kid (the ball player living with us this summer, not my actual kid) has a double header so we'll grab something between games.

SATURDAY- DATE NIGHT! DH and I are heading to Ruth Chris for dinner and maybe a movie. The boys will order pizza.

Now, to see if I actually stick to the menu! Already have several ideas for next week!

Check out lots of other menus or at Organizing Junkie. I get tons of ideas from other people that post.

Wordless Wednesday- Baseball Brothers

2011-04-20T10:53:00.003-04:00

check out more Wordless Wednesday photos over at 5 Minutes for Mom

Why hello there Blog, yes, it's really me!

2011-01-29T13:46:00.004-05:00

Oh my mercy! It’s been so long since I’ve posted anything on my blog. Just life gettin' in the way I guess. No excuses. In fact, seems like I’ve let so many things get behind and my blog is the least important of all of them. I am seriously thinking of breaking out the old “Home Management Binder” and making some adjustments and starting to use that again. I NEED something that’s gonna hold me accountable for getting stuff done around the house. So, I guess maybe that’s what I’m gonna work on tomorrow. Getting my HMB put back together, modified and ready for use. Dusting off the cover and putting it to use. No excuses!

I’m sure that many of you around bloggy land heard about the “one word” craze at the beginning of the year. People were choosing one word as sort of a goal that they want to fulfill throughout the year instead of creating a long list of New Year's Resolutions. I thought a lot about what I wanted my word to be. I chose DISCIPLINED. Must admit that in many areas I’ve already failed. Well, not fail- I don’t like to use that word. Maybe fallen short is a better word. My house is not as clean as I want it to be. I’ve not even started this years spreadsheet to help us keep up with what we are spending our money on. And don’t even ask about where I am with the check book!

But all it not loss! There are some things I have been disciplined about. The biggest has been reading my Bible. At the end of 2010 I found out about Wendy Pope’s Walking with Women Through the WORD. This is a year long study of the Bible. We are reading One Year Chronological Bible- NLT. There is a portion to read each day and then Wendy challenges us to ask God to help us find “just a little nugget” in each days readings. We search for “Something Old: Something that you read today that was familiar but “heard” in a new way.”, “Something New: Something that you did not know before today’s reading.”, and “Something to Do: Your action response to one truth or “nugget” from today’s reading you can apply to your life.” Each weekday Wendy posts a video teaching segment. I really enjoy these because she brings up things that I didn’t even think about or often times she just has a totally different perspective about something. I am really enjoying this study and so far I’ve been about to be DISCIPLINED and have kept up with my reading and viewing of the videos. Several years ago I did the “The Bible in 90 Days” study. I’m not knocking this study at all- I know several people that are doing this right now. But I will admit that I really didn’t get that much out of reading the Bible this way. There was just way too much reading each day to really dig deep. The way that I’m reading the Bible now really allows me the opportunity to search the Word for new proclamations each day. I have time to really savor the words as I read.

I’ve also started exercising again. Boy what a difference that makes. I feel so much better. Not just physically but emotionally as well. We started “The Biggest Loser” contest at the elementary school where I work. I know I won’t win, that’s not even my goal. But I did throw my $10 in the pot and that’s certainly helping me to be more DISCLIPINED in watching what I’m eating and how I’m exercising. We're doing Cardio Funk twice a week at school and I've been walking on the ~~dread~~ treadmill several times a week. I’ve not lost a lot of weight yet, but I am getting closer and closer to my goal each week. I’ll just keep on keeping on and see what happens.

I also really want to start posting more on my blog so that’s another area where I want to be more DISCIPLINED. So, come back in a week or so and see if I’ve posted anything new and see if I’ve dusted off that HMB and actually using it!!!

Popinjay- Bitter

2010-04-14T20:39:00.005-04:00

Guess I'm getting into these photo posts now. This is my first time participating in Popinjay which is hosted by Michelle.

This weeks topic was Bitter. I knew right away what I was going to use! This allergy season has been horrible! The pollen has been terrible and everything is covered with a layer of green dust. I'm so ready for some spring showers to fall and wash away all of this mess. So, here are my "Bitter" pics because I'm bitter about all the pollen!

Oh, and can you tell what is going on with my body right now? Yeah, I know it's natural and it's gonna happen, but really- now??

Blessings,

You Capture- Comfort

2010-04-10T23:50:00.005-04:00

This is my first time participating in You Capture. I've seen it on Beth's blog many times and I've thought about how much fun it would be to post but I just never have.

For some reason this week's "assignment"-Beth uses that title in her description of what exactly You Capture is all about-Comfort, really called out to me.

So, here are my pictures of Comfort.

No explanation needed here!

It's not the rock that bring me comfort but the words on it! This rock is a reflection/thank you gift from a women's retreat I helped plan and lead this past August!

I LOVE spending time on our front porch swing! Especially in the early mornings or late evenings!

By the way- this weeks You Capture was hosted by Keli over at Kidnapped By Suburbia. Next week it will be back on Beth's Blog.

Blessings!

Who Doesn't Love a Party?

2010-04-09T00:55:00.007-04:00

Well, what better way to get me back into blogging than a big ol' party! 5 Minutes for Moms is throwing a huge shindig! I can't even begin to imagine how many bloggers are going to participate. It's gonna be crazy! And guess what? I'm going to join in all the craziness!

A little bit about myself:

I'm Beth, better known around here as Freddie or Mom. Freddie- yep, that's what hubby has called me since before we started dating. Who the heck knows where it came from but I LOVE it! He hardly ever calls me "Beth". It's always Freddie or Baby Doll- which I love too. A little side story here- when youngest was in preschool-2 yr old class- his teachers were trying to help the kids learn their parents names so that if they were ever lost and someone asked what their parents names were they wouldn't just answer "Momma" or "Daddy". Well, DS knew his Dad's name but couldn't not think of mine. His teacher prompted him by asking, "well, what does your Daddy call your mom?" His answer "Baby Doll"! His teachers got a real kick out of that!

My sweetie and I will be married TWENTY years in August! How can that be! Really 20 years! Love him dearly and can not imagine my life without him. And I REALLY need to work harder at making sure he knows that!!

I'm mom to a two sporty boys- bet you never would have guessed from my blog name! They are 13 and 11! Life is getting very interesting around here! Not so sure I'm gonna like the teenage years. But I'll be honest- I'm so glad God gave me boys! Not sure I could handle a teenage daughter!

I'm a substitute teacher hoping to find full time/part time work in the school next year. I just recent finished a 6 wk sub job working with special needs preschoolers and as a shadow for a first grader who has autism. I believe I've found what I love doing!!

Well, that's a little about me. I'm hoping that this party and all the excitement will give me the kick I need to get back to posting here. I really do miss it! Looking forward to meeting lots of new folks! I hope you'll leave a comment! How about sharing your nickname if you have one! If not, just say hello!!

oh, and if you're interested- I've got a giveaway going on. Hope you'll check it out!

P.S. I'm gonna borrow a tip from my blogging buddy Robin and share it with you. There will be tons of links at the party-

whatever your number is when you register with Mr. Linky, let the last digit determine the blogs you visit (i.e., if your number is 124, visit all blogs whose Linky number ends in "4"). This is a small way more blogs might be visited--you won't be hitting the first 20 (or 100 or 1000!) and wearing out so soon!

A promise from me and a Giveaway for you!!

2010-04-08T15:27:00.006-04:00

Oh My Mercy! I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted! Yikes! I really want to try to get back to posting more frequently. I miss it, honest I do. I miss reading blogs too. Seems like I just keep up with everyone through Twitter now and don't really go to blogs very often. Want to change that as well. So, I'm promising myself to get back into blogging.

Now, to the giveaway part of this post!

I'm giving away a copy of the Busy Mom's Bible. Daily inspiration-even if you only have one minute. Here's the description on the back-

Throughout this Bible, you will find 52 One Minute Thought-Starters that let you dip into God's Word for a minute of refreshment. To go deeper, each of these Thought-Starters is followed by an option for a five-minute Reflect and Pray or a ten-minute Study to help you learn even more about what God's Word has to say to you today.

Devotional thoughts specifically fo you, the busy mom, are all presented in the most read, most trusted New Internation Version (NIV) translation.

Would you like to win this copy of The Busy Mom's Bible? Here's how. Leave a comment below with your favorite Bible Verse- and why it's your favorite. Also, leave comments for the following: follow me on Twitter -http://twitter.com/bethsportsmomma , retweet this giveaway and/or follow this blog.

Giveaway ends 4/15/10- available to US only!

Blessings,

31 Day Fitness Challenge

2010-01-02T19:35:00.003-05:00

My twitter and bloggy buddy Amber has set a challenge for the month of January. She wants to exercise every day during January in hopes of starting a great habit! She was challenged by her hubby to do this. She's gonna blog about it each day and guess what? She posted about this on Twitter and invited others to join in on the fun! I've decided to join her in the challenge. I'm not sure yet if I'll write every day or just weekly- but I'm gonna join!

Life has been pretty crazy lately but I've actually been doing really good in the exercise area. I've exercised almost every day for the last month so I'm hoping that will carry right over into January.

I'll even be brave and post my starting weight- 141.8

My goals for the challenge are:

Exercise daily-pretty obvious, huh!!??!!

Drink 8 glasses of water a day- I'm horrible about this one

Cut way back on the sweets and increase fruits/veggies

Run at least 1/2 mile on the treadmill (consecutive-right now I can run 1 mile but I break that up in 1/4 mile increments while walking in between). I'm hoping to be able to run a 5K by the end of the yr.

Would you like to join too? Even if you've missed the first few days, you can still jump right in!

I'll list the different DVDs that I'm using in hopes of giving others some ideas.

Oh, here's what I did the past two days for exercise:

Jan. 1- I Want THAT Body by Tami Webb then walked 3 miles in the afternoon

Jan. 2- 2 miles on the treadmill- ran 4 different 1/4 laps

Book Review- What's Age Got to Do With It?

2009-11-19T08:16:00.005-05:00

Robin McGraw's book, What's Age Got To Do With It? is a great resource for women dealing with the natural aging process. It's not easy going down this road. Strange things are happening to our body and mind and Robin does a great job of explaining how SHE is dealing with it all. I especially liked her chapter on hormones. As a woman that is in perimenopause, I found it very interesting and may speak with my doctor about the option of bio-identical hormones.

Robin is open and honest about her life and how she is dealing with it all. I was, however, disappointed in the chapter on faith. What's Faith Got To Do With It? um, everything in my book, yet this was the shortest chapter in the entire book! But again, she is honest in admitting that when she isn't spending time with God, she can tell!

I think this is a good book for women to read, no matter what age. It can help us all prepare for what is ahead or help us through what's going on right now. Just remember to take it with a grain of salt, this is HER life she's talking about, not your life. We'll all deal with things differently, Mrs. McGraw just gives us her perspective on how she deals with it!

Click here to find out more about the book.

WFMW-Start Their Morning Off Right

2009-08-05T18:11:00.003-04:00

This week over at WFMW it's a Back To School Theme!

Here's my little tip: Start their morning off right! I'm not talking about feeding them Cheerios! I'm talking about having God's word available for them to see first thing in the morning.

I started this many years ago but must admit that I've been VERY slack lately. So here is my commitment to start my kids day off right this school year. I'm going to print out Bible verses and glue them onto index cards and then post them on their bathroom mirror. I'll post a new verse each week.

First week of school will be:

1 Peter 3:8-9 (New International Version)

8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Thanks to Zaankali for sharing this verse in her post today.

Go check out more WFMW Back to School tips!

Wordless Wednesday- Play Ball

2009-08-05T15:46:00.004-04:00

Summer Baseball Memories

For other Wordless Wednesday posts head over to 5 Minutes for Moms!

WFMW-Removing Hair Build Up

2009-05-20T09:36:00.004-04:00

Man oh man! My hair has been feeling really horrible lately. I know that it's because of all the junk I put in it. I color it myself and then I always use mousse and sometime hair putty and then hair spray too. It's horrible what I put on my hair.

For whatever reason I felt that I needed to use all of that stuff. And my hair was seriously paying for it. So I did a little search on good ol' Google and found a very cheap way to get rid of all the build up in my hair and let me tell you it worked like a charm.

At first I wasn't really sure if I wanted to try it or not because I was afraid my head would stink but was surprised when it didn't.

So, here is what I did.

Get hair wet as usual. Place about 2 tablespoons of baking soda in the palm of your hand and then wet it enough to make a paste. Massage it into your hair- scrubbing really well. Next- using a small squirt bottle-rinse with 1/2 Apple Cider Vinegar and 1/2 warm water. Yes, that's why I was so worried about the smell. But it goes away quickly-I promise. Then rinse with water as you normally would. Do not shampoo or use conditioner.

Let me tell you it worked. My hair felt so clean and smooth. I did it two days in a row- dried my hair as usual with my hair dryer but used no products at all on it. Smooth and silky and CLEAN!!!

Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!!

Want to find other tips! Head on over to We Are That Family- there are tons!!!

The Noticer- A Must Read for our Reading Group

2009-04-27T09:05:00.003-04:00

I have definitely found a new book for our reading group.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews is probably going to become one of the next books to make it on many reading group lists. This is the first book I've read by Andrews and I will certainly be heading to the library to find more. His style of writing flows so easily and the reader can quickly become wrapped up in what is happening.

Jones, not Mr. Jones, just Jones, is the main character who moves through the small beach town sharing his wisdom and perspective with many. I honestly felt that I was able to draw new knowledge from the insight that Jones shared with various characters throughout the book. Reading this book has now made me anxious to look deeper into various parts of my own life. Next on my list to read is now Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages. I want to find out more about my own "dialect" and that of my husband as well.

Our reading group has recent finished The Shack and Same Kind of Different As Me and many members quickly bought extra copies to share with friends and family. I'm sure The Noticer will become yet another of those must share books!

I could probably fill up this whole review with favorite parts from the book but one of my definite favorites was when Jones is speaking with Henry, discussing making changes.

"Five seagulls are sitting on a dock. One decides to fly away. How many seagulls are left?" "well, four?" "No", Jones responded. "There are still five. Deciding to fly away and actually flying away are two very different things"

How often do we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions?

Are you just deciding to fly or are you actually flying?

I hope your intentions to read this book are quickly followed by actions to do so. You won't be disappointed!

The Three I's

2009-03-05T13:11:00.005-05:00

Lately I have been putting into practice the Three I's-I've been Irritable, Irrational last but not least an Idiot! Yes, I will admit it. I've been a total idiot. Let me explain-

Over the last few ~~days~~, ~~weeks~~, ok months I have been slowly losing my mind. Something has taken over my body and mind and it has turned me into a living breathing witch! I've been horrible. I get angry at the drop of a hat. I am amazed that anyone in my house still has a head. They must somehow be able to regenerate because I am constantly biting them off.

On top of these lovely behaviors I am also not sleeping very well at times, which only serves to exaggerate the other symptoms! And then there is the whole- I could make a wig out of all of the hair on my bathroom floor- thing! Not to mention that I feel like I am in a total brain fog 75% of the time!

As things progressively got worse I realized I needed to talk to my doctor about everything that was going on. So during my annual exam I pulled my list out and starting rattling off each and every symptom. Guess what he had the nerve to suggest? He thinks I'm going through the P word. Yep, Peri-menopause! He gave me a prescription for Ambien to help me sleep (it has become my new bestest friend on occasions) and one for Yaz, a low dose birth control. What? He just threw two words (ok, 4 really) at me that I did not want to hear. Peri-menopause and birth control pills.

Stubborn girl that I am, I thought there had to be something else wrong- no way was I going through peri-menopause- I'm "only" 41. So I quickly made an appointment with my primary care physician, who just happens to be A WOMAN! Surely she could figure out what was wrong. Because there had to actually be something wrong! Right?

She tested my thyroid, cholesterol, sugar, etc. All tests came back fine. So back to the drawing board. A friend suggested it may be a parathyroid issue. Back I go to see her and ask if she'd check my calcium levels. Guess what, she'd already checked them. They are a-okey.

So what do this mean? My stars, I really must be going through peri-menopause.

So now, here is where the whole idiot thing comes in. I was upset. I was almost in tears (there's the irrational thing creeping up again). I wanted there to be something WRONG. Hello, are you an idiot? Oh wait, I've already answered that question- yep, I'm an idiot.

It took my dear sweet DH to make me see the light! I was talking to him on my way home (using my hands-free speaker of course). I told him that all of the tests came back fine and do you know what he said? "Well, that's good news!" What, good news? Hello, that means I am in peri-menopause! Do ya not understand? Then I stopped and thought. You know what? It IS good news. I don't have anything that is really wrong with me. I'm entering a normal phase of life. I WILL survive this.

And then I stopped feeling so sorry for myself. I threw a wet blanket on my own pity party. I prayed and asked God to help me through this period in my life.

And you know what? I feel better already! And sitting here at my computer and admitting that I am an irrational, irritable idiot has made me feel a little better too.

Thanks for ~~listening~~ reading!