Guess what I got today??? A new puppy. Just what I need, right? I’m having second thoughts already. It’s so cute though. Just look at the little yorky face!

I can’t come up with a name. He has been sick (once on matt’s lap (yikes) and once in my floor! ick. I think he’s traumatized being taken from his mama. He seems okay now. Since Bailey has been the one to take him out and clean up after him, he thinks he has veto rights on the name. I suggested a few… dexter, cosmo, pepperoni (pepper for short), and none of these meet Bailey’s approval. He likes the name ‘ninja’… I guess a 13 year old boy would like that name. I personally really don’t like it. I’m up for suggestions!

It’s been a busy day… I helped matt rake and load the big fire of limbs this morning, took Emelia and her friend to veggie tales outing, took amanda to work because boyfriend wanted to pick her up… I ran in JCPenny for a sec and MAN they have awesome sales!!! If I had more time I would have had a blast. I grabbed four sweaters in a huge hurry and ran to the cashier. I hope I can make it back there soon. We had chinese for dinner. It was so good! I used some of my bonus points to eat. When I weighed today I was down 2 more pounds. YAY.

Karen gave me this sweet award.

The Award originated with Penelope Ann of Cafe at the End of the Universe.

This is what she says about the Award:

“I am sending some love out to my friends in the form of an award: Everyone I meet online deserves this (almost) but some more than others have been exactly what I needed, so I am giving them this award I found out there….should they think it should be returned to me, that would not be disliked. I do ask they also select a few friends to pass it along too though as well…”

Of course I send it right back to sweet Karen!

Also Nancy who stops by every day and leaves sweet notes here. Thanks Nancy. I can’t leave Lauren (her daughter) out!  Lauren is a sweetie!

To my new friends Yvonne who is always super kind and Kellie who was a real help this week!

To my irl friend Julie!

To Jodi, Judi, & Haley who I feel like I have known forever already!

And to my igoogle pals Amanda, Jenny & Sonya.

To DJ and to Hope. Such kind woman … both of them.

Last but not least to my friends Tammy, Sue and Kahri.

Everyone who stops by here show kindness. Thank you.

I’d like to pass this spreader of love award to all of you who stop by and take time to read my mostly scattered, usually uneventful posts! Your sweet comments bring a smile to my face & heart.

Do you like my new page?  I am so grateful to Kellie for helping me get my domain hosted and all this figured out.  It was seriously a mess.

I’ve spent the past three days inside with Isabelle. She has been pretty stuffy… but she is getting better.  Bailey was feeling this way last weekend.  It seems to be about a 3-4 day thing.  I am happy that I am not getting it!  I noticed matt sniffling, but he refuses to claim it.  It’s been nice to be home so much.  I have been able to get out and run errands after the kids come home from school.  I finally got Julie’s treadmill.  It was so funny, I was telling her (on the phone) that I wanted to buy one, and she said, “I want to sell mine.”  So, it worked out perfectly.  That things is HUGE.  I got on it today for about 20 minutes on speed 3.5.  It wasn’t too bad until I somehow put it fully on an incline.  It was enough to leave me with shaky legs when I finished.  It’s funny how disoriented I feel after walking on it, I’m hoing that wears off.  The diet is going great still.  I actually had a couple of points left over last night.  I thought Matt & I might go out tonight, but I ended up cooking so I haven’t used my bonus points yet!  I’m considering a mall trip tomorrow with amanda (ssh, don’t tell her yet) and then maybe a stop at pepperoni grill.  Love the bread with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil. YUM.  We went to Lowe’s tonight after dinner, after a short stop at mom and dad’s house.  Dad ordered a new remote for his satelite in the bedroom and couldn’t figure out how to program it to the tv.  That’s my job, I am always the remote programmer/phone figure outer/digital camera instructor.  It’s nice to be needed.  They hopped in the car and rode with us to “town.”  We are replacing all the storm doors.  I found a really pretty one for the front door with a retractable screen and then lesser models for the other doors.  The dogs are so “jumpy” the screens have to be reinforced which is never attractive… but ripped is less attractive I suppose.

I had lunch Tuesday (while Iz was in school) with Miki.  She is the youth pastor at our church and close to my age.  It was really fun to sit and visit with her.  We were in Panera bread from 1:30 until 3 ish when I had to race her back and get Iz by 3:45.  It was her late day with Camilla.  (Hi Camilla).  Have I mentioned that me & Izzy LOVE Camilla?

Did you hear about the tax incentive that’s being approved?  1200 per married couple, 300 per kid…2400 (cap)  Not bad.  I wonder when it will go through.  I’m thinking a little trip would be a perfect way to put ours back into the economy.  We’ve been talking about going to San Antonio soon and visiting Sea world there.  If you’ve been there (I know Kari has) do you recommend any hotels along the riverwalk?  I looked online a few weeks ago and there were so many I couldn’t decide.

Emelia has a friend spending the night, her name is Cridana(sp?)… I guess they will play and giggle all night.  They are going with our church to see veggie tales tomorrow afternoon.

That’s all I have for tonight.  Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.

Question 1
What is your favorite fairy tale? Probably the princess and the pea. It’s kind of a joke around here that I’m obviously not a princess because I have sat on remotes and such and not known on many occasions…. I’m easily distracted what can I say?
Question 2
If you could be guaranteed a spot on the reality show “Survivor”, would you go? NO. I would not go under any circumstances. I would, however, send Matt :o)! I don’t like fruit or fish. It would just not work for me.
Question 3
Meanest thing you ever did to a sibling??? I know what kind of question is this Hmmm… I am the youngest and only girl… My brothers are 6 and 10 years older than me. I can remember the usual silly pranks, but overall I can’t remember anything flat out mean except maybe telling mom or dad something I shouldn’t have. I’m sure given the opportunity they could think of something really horrible I have done. I am sorry now if that helps?
Question 4
Best Fashion Era… 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s or now… Probably 80’s or now.
Question 5
Have you ever skipped to the end of a book before you finished reading the book? No, I don’t think I have… if so I can’t remember.

Bonus Questions (I found these questions through a website, and boy are these challenging…)
Question 6
What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? Heal Izzy. completely.
Question 7
What is one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? Let my guard down and just breath Him in. Let go of reserve and enjoy living in His presence. Spend time in His word to know more about His love. That’s three and I could keep going…

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this

all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

2 Corinthians 4:7

~ ~ ~

As the clay is in the potter’s hand,

so are you in My hand.
Jeremiah 18:6 NLT

Jeremiah was told by God to go down to the potter’s house and see how he makes his vessels: “The jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so [the potter] crushed it into a lump of clay… and started over” (Jeremiah 18:4 NLT).

Who crushed it? The potter! Why did he crush it? To make something better out of it! Here’s the good news: life may have crushed you, but you’re still in God’s hands! Your family and friends may think you’re beyond repair, but God doesn’t, and His opinion makes the difference. Your life may seem to be out of control today, but in reality you’re still on the potter’s wheel. “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand.”

One day a friend of Michelangelo saw him working on a piece of marble he’d found on a rubbish dump near Rome. When he asked the master sculptor what he was doing, he replied: “There’s an angel inside and I’m going to bring him out.” How wonderful! >From a rubbish dump to a showcase. From a piece of rejected marble to a priceless work of art. That’s what our God does! Hannah said “He raises the poor from the dust… To set them among princes” (1 Samuel 2:8).

When Jesus called His disciples He said: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). You are not born qualified - you become qualified. How? By spending time with Jesus! So stay where the Lord has you today and let Him keep working on you. Tomorrow you’ll be glad you did.

~ Bob Gass Ministries

visit Sheryl for more flf!!!

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It’s about time to start shopping for patio furniture. I would love to find products to create a cozy outdoor space on our side deck. It is covered and about 16 X 16. I haven’t really ever used it to it’s full capacity. I think it could almost be like an outdoor room. I would also like to extend our back deck and add some new patio furniture out by the pool. It’s almost Spring, so it will be time soon to start getting things done outside. With so many limbs still to clean up I look forward to a nice clean yard!

With my new ww committment, I am looking for recipes that I can actually eat!!! I love finding recipes that are good and not 30 points per serving. For those of you who have the good fortune of never needing to count points, you get an average of 18-30 points per day depending on how much you weigh at the time. Just this morning Amanda wanted to run out for McD’s breakfast. I had to check the points and ended up getting an egg mcmuffin without the yolk for 5 points and had my tea I mentioned with it. It was good and I still felt like I had fast food (which I honestly don’t really like). I have been making a scrambled egg every morning for 2.5 points that is really good! along with a slice of whole grain toast. Yum. Click on the banner to see more slow cooker recipes over at my friend Sandra’s blog!

Creamy Red Potatoes (5 Points)

2 Pounds Red Potatoes – quartered

8 Ounces Neufchatel Cheese

10 3/4 Ounces Cream of Potato Soup

1 Envelope Ranch-style Dressing Mix

Place potatoes in slow cooker. Beat together the cream cheese, soup and salad dressing mix. Stir into potatoes. Cover and cook on Low 8 hours, or until potatoes are tender.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 234 Calories; 9g Fat (35.9% calories from fat); 7g Protein; 31g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 30mg Cholesterol; 390mg Sodium. Exchanges: 2 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Fat.

I’m doing pretty well with ww. It’s week two. I lost 4 lbs the first week, and three the second… for a grand total of 7 pounds lost! I am pretty happy with the results considering I had dinner with Mendy at Logan’s last Friday night. I only ate half my food (the rest was breakfast), and then Saturday we got gyros for dinner… I’m doing well with no cokes, I have figured out a formula for sweet tea that is low sugar but still sweet enough that I like drinking it. I make a gallon of tea and add a rounded 1/3 c. of splenda and a sparse 1/3 of real sugar. It’s not bad for that much tea. Cutting sugar out of my diet has been the biggest change. I have switched to sugarless gum and haven’t been making desserts. Mom and dad came down and brought dinner the other night (chicken enchiladas - yum) and cheesecake! I had a small piece and stayed within my points for the day. I have a basket on top of the fridge with 100 cal snacks. I have just bought several different types I like (my fav right now is the cheetos asteroids) and I reach in and get one for a quick 2 point snack. Sometimes I just try a piece of sugarless gum when I want something. It’s been working so far. I’m buying Julie’s treadmill and it should be here late today (or maybe tomorrow ;o). I’m so excited to be able to walk while here in the mornings with Iz. I finally have an ipod shuffle so I can listen to tunes while she watches noggin.

Well, that’s everything you could want to know and more about my weight loss happenings… if you have any questions ask away and I’ll put the answers at the bottom of this post.

breakfast today… 1 egg + 2 egg whites scrambled with pinch of parm cheese 3 points
1 piece ww toast with 1 tsp butter 2 points
1 cup hot green tea with splenda 0 points

Lunch… lean cuisine 5 points
cracker jacks 2 points
tea 1 point

Whitney asked if I’d recommend weight watchers? Absolutely Whitney. I think it is really easy to follow and after you do it a while you know what to eat to stay within your points allowed per day.