Cora. Praying for this baby’s family tonight.  Diagnosed with cancer less than three weeks ago at ten months old, now in the arms of Jesus.

I heart Mondays.  Even this monday that is so packed with things to catch up on I can’t even decide where to begin.  I have already done several things, but my next step (after typing this post) is to make a list!  We spent our entire Saturday working outside and Sunday was spent at church then nap then church… so there is much to do! 

My menu is simple this week.  I bought two big rump roasts this weekend and cooked them both all night in the slow cooker, this morning I added tons of onions, potatoes & carrots.  Tonight we’ll have traditional roast.  I’ll chop some and save it for stew on Wednesday and some for bbq sandwiches on Thursday.  We’ll have enchiladas tomorrow because I have a bag full of advocados I don’t want to go bad.  I really love guac.

I have a few recipes I really want to try and haven’t had a chance yet… maybe next week.

Bailey had a great birthday.  I can’t believe he is fifteen years old!  It will be permit time before we know it.  Yikes!  Although he has spent so much time driving the golf cart I think driving will be a cinch for him. 

It feels like Spring here… very windy which is normal for Oklahoma.  I wouldn’t be surprised to wake up to snow… or to 90 degree weather.  You just never know here, but I’m enjoying what we have now.

Kim writes:  This week’s question is going to be a tough one…Rather than answer the question; we will probably talk about more how the question makes us feel. I was reading a page from David Jeremiah’s (I like him) book, “Captured by Grace”, and the story I was reading had a question that got me full attention. So this week, I would like to see what emotions this question will evoke in you all.

I will give the quick version of the story. The story is about Helen Roseveare a British medical missionary in the Congo. Helen stayed in the country in 1964 when many others fled; she believed that she would be willing to make any sacrifice for her Savior Jesus. Someone tried to poison her once, her house was looted and she lost every item in it, and around her many female missionaries and medical personnel were raped be rebel armies. David Jeremiah mentions that Helen was fearful often, but she wanted to concentrate more on learning to trust God.

There is more to the story, but to shorten it for this week, on August 15, 1964 Helen was beaten, humiliated, and raped by a truckload of brutal soldiers. She barely survived and had to be taken from the Congo. During her very painful recovery she found herself closer to God than ever before, and she even longed to go back to the Congo more than ever. (Up to this point I have paraphrased what David Jeremiah has written, and now I will take up with direct quotes to finish up the story).

“There was no bitterness within her, though Helen had experienced terrible, mindless evil. It would have been so easy to demand of God why He allowed these atrocities, when she had been so faithful to His service. But in her heart of hearts, she felt that God’s question would be, “Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience, even if I never tell you why?”

That question stopped me in my tracks, and for today’s Chat I would like to hear your thoughts about this question…Of course this is the question that Helen felt like God was asking her, but I think it is a good question for all of us to ponder.

I had to read that question several times.  Can I thank God for trusting me with this experience, even if HE never tells me why?  Can I thank Him?    I am continuously thankful for so many blessings in my life, it seems odd to think about thanking God for the trials.  In my shallow existence I don’t think it ever occurred to me to thank Him for the trials, more specifically … the one we’ve been living since May 04.  I know that we have made it our mission to put all our trust in God ignoring the negative thoughts, visions, and words floating around us daily.  But, have I thanked God for the accident?  I can’t say that I have.  Can I?  (deep breath) 

So many thoughts… first thought: Bad things come from the devil not God so why would I thank God?  But reading the question yet again it is about Him trusting me. 

Next thought: Job. 

It’s too early on this Saturday morning for all this DEEP thought. 

Thank you God for trusting me with this experience, even if you never tell me why.

Yes.  I think I can.

1. Rusk shining spray.  Love this stuff.  It is the best I’ve found for straightening my hair without being greasy.  It smells good too!

2.  Big sexy spray and play hairspray.  Love this stuff.  Amanda does too.  It holds but isn’t sticky. 

3.  Bed head spoil me.  This is a great anti-static de-frizzer.  I need both of those things!

4.  Rusk sheer brilliance.  It’s more greasy… but when I straighten my hair I rub a dot in my palm and all over the ends to help tame any frizzies. 

5.  Redken velvet whip.  If you are wondering by now if I use all these things every day the answer is no.   A lot of days I go with my naturally curly hair clipped back or in a ponytail/bun.  But when I take time to fix my hair I do use all of these products.  This product I use after washing.  It makes my hair softer. 

 Writing about hair products is more interesting than something like car insurance right?

Go see Susanne to share you fave 5 or to see more…

warning: this may be really random

1. I went to lunch today with Jana, Matt’s cousin and a friend of mine.  We were celebrating her birthday.  She chose a place I had never been to or even heard of called “Iguana Grill.”  It was in downtown OKC… and surprisingly enough really really good food.  It was a kind of yuppy urban atmosphere with a little twist on normal mexican food entrees.  My chicken enchiladas (which I’ve been wanting since seeing the tutorial on LF’s blog!).  The portions were not big like at some places, which was good and the only side was guac… also good! 
2. We walked to the cutest place next door to the restaurant called “Sara Sara Cupcakes.”  It was really a cute place… did I mention how cute it was? Think all white, with hot pink flowers and cute.  We didn’t even buy a cupcake.  We just looked at them and listened to the guy explain what kinds they had… then we left.  We were full from lunch.  Oh well.  Better than New York Yankees tickets.
3. We walked today! yay!
4. Bailey’s birthday is Saturday so I’m picking him up tomorrow to go have lunch with my brother.  We’re going to Cheesecake Factory! I heart that place.  I always get the exact same thing there though and I like it so much I’m afraid to try anything different.  (for those of you who go there: what do you get?)
5. I’ve been praying for mom & dad to sell one of their rent houses and tonight it sold! So happy.  Here’s mom and dad with some of the great-grands…
6. Mom and dad will be married fifty years in March!  I am a busy girl getting ready for that!
7. We had a FLO meeting yesterday at Panera bread (is this a good food week or what???).  Very exciting plans for FLO. 
8. I was so happy that I put dinner in the slow cooker this morning… when I got home late in the afternoon!  It is so worth the time in the am! 
9. I like Reba. It makes me lol.  Especially the blond lady (can’t remember her name but she is hilarious).
10. I’ve been making nightly to-do lists for Emelia and am amazed at how well it works! 
11. Today is Matt’s sister Jane Ann’s birthday! 
12. Izzy had a good day today.   Her personality was sure showing today.  I like to see it.  She seriously has the best group of people who work with her.  I truly heart them.
13. I got this quote in an email earlier… ““A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”

It is a real task to find a good website hosting choice. I finally settled on hostgator after the recommendation of some bloggy friends, but if you don’t have a buddy to tell you what has worked for them you might try checking out web hosting geeks for features and reviews. It’s always good to shop around and know what the options are. I have to say I didn’t really know how they compared until looking over the chart. I think for me a service that I would be likely to try would be user friendly servers. The complicated web hosts just make my head hurt!

For Today…

Outside my window… it’s dark!

I am thinking… how happy I am to have gotten a lot done today!

From the learning rooms… reading, making a mousetrap car…

I am thankful for… everything

From the kitchen…we had leftover casserole with broccoli and corn

Wearing…pj bottoms, hoodie & socks!

I am reading… blogs tonight.

I am hoping… to have a great week!

I am creating… a post about immigration attorneys.

I am hearing…csi miami

Around the house…the kids are getting ready for bed and finishing homework, matt’s sleeping and I’m enjoying the quiet time!

One of my favorite things… quiet time

A few plans for the rest of the week…dr. appt. tomorrow, lunch planning meeting for FLO Wednesday, and Jana’s birthday lunch Thursday… shop for tv stands.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…

I. Annie P-blahblahblah. Promise to do better in February. So help me God.

1. I promise to eat healthier, drink more water, and see numbers of lesser amounts when standing on evil scale of meanness and insensitivity rather than climbing numbers of shame.
2. I promise to walk further than from car to store or from bedroom to front room (although it’s a pretty far walk in there).  I promise to get outside and walk at least four times a week (hey it’s a start) and possibly check into maybe joining the gym.  How’s that for a promise?
3. I promise to be kinder.  I watch the 17 and counting show and while having 17 or 18 kids is not a goal of mine, the mom is so kind and oozes goodness.  I want to ooze goodness. 
4. I promise to continue reading my bible every. single. day.  It’s important and it has to be a priority.
5. I promise to spend less time on the computer and more time doing things that while may be considered mundane…. are a huge part of my job description as a homemaker.  It’s not all about me even though I sometimes forget that.
6. I promise to live a more frugal existence not wasting money on frivolous items or to make sad days happier.  Retail therapy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I will have to write lots of posts like this one for Mesothelioma.

That’s all the promises I feel capable of making good on for now.  Hopefully there will be more promises.  Any promises you need to make for this fresh clean start of a new month?

I woke up early this morning… not really early, but by seven a.m.  Matt turned the tv on while I tried to go back to sleep.  He was watching 28 days (movie) and I ended up staying awake and watching it.  It was interesting.

After breakfast late and some cleaning I decided to take Bailey and Emelia to the movies.  Just get out for a while… we went to see Mall Cop.  It was really good.  Kevin James did a great job and was such a “nice” guy in this movie.  It was a pretty wholesome movie without nudity, language or blood.  

We didn’t do movie theatre food… no popcorn or anything.  We were all pretty full from lunch at home so no one even thought about it.  But, Emelia did realize that we didn’t eat anything when we were driving away and so we ran through McD’s drive through for a treat!

I don’t know how a trip into the grocery store for 3 things (here’s my list:)

1. milk
2. cereal for Iz
3. coke

can turn into a basket full of stuff!  I ended up with:

1. coke
2. onions
3. baby carrots
4. avocados
5. cereal for iz
6. butter
7. milk
8. fudgesickles (80 cal)
9. cups
10. milk
11. cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow
12. tortilla chips
13. ivory soap

Now I’m sitting here, alone in my room because Matt is watching UFC on tv…. I hate those shows.  I am remembering I didn’t buy ketchup.  A necessity here.  I’m wondering what all I will buy in my quest for a simple bottle of ketchup?  Anyone else have this problem… seeing everything you “need” everytime you run in for a couple of things?

Wow.  That was random and boring huh? I need to get a micro sd card too.

I’m watching “whatever, martha” on the fine living channel (fln).  I have seen it advertised and wondered if Martha’s daughter Alexis was being mean and doing this show “to” martha… but at the opening Martha actually says she gave all these old tapes to her daughter so she could basically make fun of her.  They are making fun of everything she does.  It’s kind of sad.  I don’t think I like this show and/or will probably never watch again.  As a matter of fact, I’m changing the channel.  (I’d never make fun of you on television mom!)

Speaking of mom..  Here’s a cute pic of her with my neice Candace’s little baby girl.  She’s so cute … (both mom and gabby I mean.)

Tonight I made homemade pizzas and a big batch of matt’s veggie/volumetric burgers.  He helped me cook both these things the last time I made them and while I enjoy spending time together I realized tonight while cooking “solo” how much cleaner and faster and more efficiently I work alone.  I guess it works out either way.  I welcome the company and time together, but also enjoy just getting it done!

That’s all I have for tonight.  I need to make my daily bible reading bookmarks for the girl’s class tomorrow…