more about W@H

I wrote yesterday about a wonderful W@H testimony- precious ello's salvation and subsequent baptism. Today I am going to brag on W@H in a totally different way. Like I said W@H is a wonderful group of women and at any one time, we will have a number of things going on. For example right now, we have just started a new BINGO game, we have a Biggest Loser contest going on, we are in the middle of at least 4 different Bible studies, we have just finished a praise challenge, and we have all the day to day chatter about books, eats, jobs, marriages, kids, you name it, we talk about it.

Back to the brag -- I am taking part in our Biggest Loser Challenge -- we are all working different plans but with the same goal, to lose weight. Each week there is a challenge posted to the two teams. This week's challenge -- create a menu for the week and post recipes from that menu. Well for the first time in several weeks I created a menu Saturday. Now that in and of itself wasn't a major brag, I actually did it BEFORE the challenge was posted. I just had to transcribe it to the thread for it to count and I will post recipes soon.

But because of some major motivating from a precious team member, I realized exactly what this menu planning is all about. It isn't just about saving money while grocery shopping and planning healthy meals for my family, both highly important and been sorely lacking around here in the last few weeks. It is also about prioritizing time -- both to actually DO the menu, but having it ahead of time makes it easier to plan out my evenings at home. For example today, I came home, sat down at the computer to check email and in on the boards while the kids and their dad were outside finishing up a few last minute things. Then I was able to get into the kitchen with a clear plan on what to do for dinner. I could plan what and when to do things so that I got dinner on the table, and here is the important part in CLEAN dishes, on a CLEAN table, with CLEAN counter tops. When I walked into the kitchen I had none of those things clean. And all of this was done in about an hour (remember I had to clean things as well as cook) without the benefit of a stove (Shanna when is that part coming??). And what is more, I also have clean dishes, table and counter top AFTER dinner as well!!

Praying things go just as well tomorrow......

What is WAH?

Back when I first started blogging, I started searching around and reading blogs written by people like me. Through these I found mentioned again and again this group called WAH aka Women At Home. The more I read of the members, yes both positive and negative, the more I longed to be a part of the group. Well just over 2 years ago WAH opened up their own website and message board. As stated on the introduction page,

" While W@H is a Christian organization, any woman may join -- we just require that she understands that this is meant to be a safe place for everyone. If you have questions, concerns, need someone to listen, or just want a reason to laugh, then there is a very good chance that you should be at W@H as well."

That is just what we have, a place to ask, seek, love, listen and be ourselves. The most wonderful testimony of what we have took place this weekend in a land far, far away. We had a wonderful girl join the boards who is from Belgium named ello. ello was a seeker and asked us all the tough questions, However, through the ministry of all the women there who answered questions and just loved on and prayed for her she made a decision for Christ! There was great rejoicing in WAHland. ello found a church close to home and started praying for her boyfriend, who has since accepted Christ, himself, more rejoicing in WAHland. Now ello since she had made her decision she waned to follow with baptisim, but could find no one willing to baptize her, since apparently she was baptized as a child. So she shared her desire and request with us all. Enter another amazing WAHwoman Zoe. She volunteered to fly to Belgium from her home in England and go to baptize our new sister in Christ. And that is just what she did!

* warning the link takes awhile to load *

How is this for family resemblence

Eli at 15 months

My father at 10 months

Food Journal

You can ignore this if you so choose -- and you probably will -- I am just placing it here for accountability and ease.

Saturday 10-21-06

supper: Sonic Cheeseburger with mayo and pickles only
Onion Rings
Vanilla Coke

(so I REALLY blew it............)

Sunday 10-22-06
Breakfast: Musli Cereal (Kroger brand Mulex)
Skim Milk

Snack: Rold Gold Honey wheat pretzel twists.

Lunch: Steak Quesidillas (Tyson Steak strips, chedder cheese, 3 pepper onion blend, flour tortillas)
Iced Tea

Supper: left over meat loaf
Iced Tea

Monday 10-23-06
Breakfast: Muesli Cereal
Skim Milk

Lunch: 20oz Pepsi - minus what the 2 yr old drank ( yep that is it! I barely held that down)

Supper: big mistake eating at all
cheeseburger
chips
iced tea

( I believe I was suffering from food poisioning from the left over meatloaf on Sunday -- I suffered with feaver and upset stomach until about 3:45 am when I threw up -- I started feeling better immediately)

Tuesday: 10-24-06
Breakfast -- Honey Nut Crispix Cereal
Milk

Lunch: half a grilled chicken salad
iced tea
2 squares of a caramel candy bar

Supper: Grilled chicken breast strips
baked beans
iced tea


Wednesday 10 - 25-06
Breakfast: Honey Nut Crispix Cereal
Milk

Lunch: Frito Chilli Pie
Iced Tea

Supper: Loaded 3 Meat Pizza
Iced Tea


Thursday: 10-26-06
Breakfast: Honey Nut Crispix Cereal
Milk

Lunch: Cheeseburger w/ mayo, pickle, ketchup
Mozerella Sticks
Iced Tea

Supper: Totino's Pizza rolls
Iced Tea

Friday: 10-27-06

Breaksfast:
Jimmy Dean Ham and Cheese Omlet
Milk

Lucnh
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Side Salad
Iced Tea

Supper: will be......

15 years old

Today is a weird day for me. A young man whom I have only seen twice in his life, had his 15th birthday today. I have no idea where he is or what he is doing, I can only assume that he is going to school at my alma mater, the same school from which both of his birth parents graduated, his father the same day I did, his mother a year later.

The last time I talked to his father was 13 years ago today, a short but very agonizing conversation.

Why am I bringing this up? I don't really know, I haven't thought of this child in a long time and don't think that I have thought of him on is birthday since 13 years ago.

There is a story behind this.... there always is...isn't there? I dated this child's father 13/14 years ago and 3 or so years before that. Between those two times was his relationship with the child's mother, which obviously produced said child. They were two youngsters, that went too far that one night, afternoon actually, and well .... you know...... Anyway, she was a sophmore, he a junior at the time. No they weren't getting married right then they were too young. That would come after graduation. Together with her parents they worked out the 'perfect' solution. Birth parents would give the child up for adoption after birth and mother's parents would adopt child. He would be raised right there in their home with mom close by and dad just a few doors down. Once they got married, he would be their's once again. Sounded too good to be true. Son was born in October of mom's juinor and dad's senior year. Papers were signed, all was good. Dad graduated and went to the local community college and worked full time to be able to live on his own and support mom and son. Soon however, things started to unravel, In September, just before the child's first birthday mom decided she didn't want anything to do with dad any more and walked out of his life, taking son with her. He had no parental rights, they were signed over in the adoption. Dad was devistated.

Guess who came in to pick up the pieces? Right, me! I was only too glad to be there and pick up. Soon enough it wasn't her he cared about any more. He just missed his son. He wrote long letters to his son often and was going to keep them until he turned 18 and could give them to him. I admired that in him and wanted to help. Our relationship started out only as old friends we had been through a LOT together in high school (totally unrelated to his girlfriend and child both before and during thier relationship). We had several common denominators -- his best friend was a good friend of mine and went to church with me, band, journalism, and Spanish classes.

However, the more time we spento together the more it grew, really surpising both of us. It was he that gave me my first kiss. It was he that listened when my college roommate turned on me. And it was he that I first believed when he told me I was beautiful. However, and most people don't believe this ( I probably would be skeptical too if anybody else told me this), we NEVER slept together.

However, because I was 2 hours away in school, and my parents didn't really approve of the match anyway. He broke up with me in early October, 13 years ago, I called him one time after that (on this night) just to see if he was okay. And havne't talked to him since. I do know he got married ( about 6 months before I did) But that is all I know. And I think all I really care to know.

However, I do wonder what his son knows of him....... I suppose I'll never know the answer to that question......

Okay

I know I am horrible at this blogging thing lately! I am not having a lot of computer time and what time I do have I spend mostly at WAH or reading my Bloglines. I have a lot to write about and never really sit down to compose my thoughts and take the time to type. I promised Blest a post earlier this week. But this isn't it yet.....

There are some changes taking place in our household. After 10 months of unemployment my hubby started work last Monday. With that my two year old, who has always been at home with mommy or daddy, started a day care. While I HATE the fact that it has to be done. I have been blessed to find a wonderful Christ centered childcare for him. And it is just 2 miles from my school, which I have already talked about being a wonderful place to work, since I have to.

Over the next few weeks we will be reevaluating responsibilites and routines around here and get a chance to get things back on track.