Cooking

For about the last week I have been watching parts of Rachel Ray. That woman makes me want to like to cook. I like to bake. I love the smell of baking and measuring the ingredients. I am a type A person. So anyway I have been watching Rachel Ray and she inspired me to go through my recipes. You know the ones that look good in magazines. So, i found several I thought looked good and took Riley shopping and we got all the ingredients. Well, last night was okay. Nothing exciting but it was devoured and all gone. And tonight was less exciting and I probably won't make it again. My kids hardly ate any of it. But here is the main thing I don't like about cooking. MY HOUSE STINKS. Tonight's recipe called for onions and garlic. Now I know Rachel loves garlic and cooks with it in like everything. But gross. As yummy as it is and good for you to. I just do not like my house smelling this bad two days in a row. So, I think tomorrow I will bake and right now I have a yummy candle burning. But we will take a break from the new recipes for awhile. I just can't take the smell. Oh and I think I will turn off Rachel. Love ya girl but I don't like how you make my house smell.

Stuff and single parenting

I don't know if I have said this before but I am not a stuff person. I am not one that goes shopping looking for stuff for my house. I am one who goes through what she has and says how can I get rid of stuff. It weighs me down and I just get a heavy feeling if I feel like my house is cluttered. Now don't get me wrong. We have pictures on the walls and I have a book shelf with books and "stuff" and my kids have toys. Today I was doing some tidying up out in Jim's shop and I started to have that feeling. Like we don't use this why do we have it. Why can't I get rid of all this stuff. I Love Ipods and computers for the shear fact that I don't have to see stuff. I don't like buying many DVD's because I don't see the point. I would love to get rid of the baby stuff but I am to practical for that. We are done having kids. (God willing) but I worry that what if when Jim gets home. Now the one thing I haven't gone over board with is the kids pictures and art and stuff they get. I love all there art and things. That we may get overboard on. So I have a question for you all. If you could only take 3 things with you what would they be. Clothes, tolietries and bible (Your going in a really nice RV, fully loaded) what would you take.
Mine would be a laptop, camera and my special blanket. Of course with this my husband and kids are with me.
Now, the single parenting. How do you get 4 year old boys to not get so upset about such small stuff. Yesterday was horrible. Brayden was just out of control and no matter what happened or what we did we had a complete melt down. Now today was great until the end. Right as I got out of the shower he freaked out. I guess Riley wouldn't play with him while I showered and he was upset that I got out before she would play. I think part of the better part is the fact that during quiet time I did art with him and didn't do all my stuff. I got up at 4:30 to do all the banking and army stuff I had to get done. So we have done lots of time outs in his room. He does not like that. Tonight he lost his books and only got devotions and bible stories. That was of course devasting. Then he said sorry for not obeying. I had to explain he didn't disobey. He just can't act like that. It is okay to be mad, sad, angry and all that. He just can't scream and wail. That won't be allowed. So I guess we shall see what tomorrow brings.

First day of Preschool

Today was Brayden's first day of Preschool. He was so excited and was ready and waiting. He wants to go back everyday. I am glad we are starting with 3 days before he starts 5 days with Kindergarten. He had so much fun and loves his teacher. She is someone who will truly shape his heart.
Riley and I didn't quite know what to do after we dropped him off. We came home and went for a walk. And just hung out and played. I don't think Riley quite knew what to do. She was grumpy. Then when I said okay lets go get Brayden she started smiling and getting excited. This is going to be an adjustment for her. And me.
I am so glad that he likes it. The whole school has also decided to adopt our unit and send them packages for Christmas. They are going to love it.
There are so many caring people out there and people that love my kids. Thanks.

Heaven and a great sister

I did some yard work the other day and I don't know if it is because Jim is gone and I have more time to think, Or if I just really hate weeks. But, I was pulling a few weeds which turned into there are weeds in the grass and the flowers need to be dead headed. Anyway, it all got me thinking about heaven. A friend of mine said that in heaven she wants to be a master gardener. So, I thought about it and something I am looking forward to (I mean besides God) is no weeds. Beautiful grass for miles and great trees that don't sprout other trees in your grass or leave pine-cones or poking things. Beautiful flowers that when they are done blooming (because I still want the changing of the seasons) the dead heads just disappear. I think that is going to be great. I am a doer. I want to be Mary. Who really gets it. I want to sit at my lords feet and not get restless. I want to be with the people I love and not be thinking of things that I have to do. That leads into my sister. Okay so we are very similar. Sorry Jodi. We both have a deep passion to know Christ deeper. To have positive relationships. And we both really love my kids. She is amazing with them. Now we are also so different. But, I completely look up to her. She is amazing. She has such love. She has great friends. She desires to see all her friends follow Christ. She wants to serve Christ as her life. That is a major priority to her. We are different because all those things that I just mentioned to her come before the things that are important to me. I like to have things cleaned up and put away, before I go make a new mess and do stuff. Nothing like coming home to a clean house when you are tired. Jodi could live in a seriously dirty room. But her friends and family know how much we mean to her. Sometimes she seems a little spacy. But, seriously I am believing she just has a lot of people in her head she is thinking about and praying for at all times. So, Jodi. You are amazing. You are a wonderful woman of God. I am so very proud to call you my sister. I had a lot of fun being open and vulnerable with you tonight. Keep up the work girl. I love you.

Happy Anniversary

Today is mine and Jim's 9th anniversary. Very exciting time. I cried a little this morning and Brayden said, Mommy why are you crying. And I said well today is mommy and daddy's anniversary and daddy doesn't get to be here. He said well mommy, Jesus and Riley and I love you. Later after going to visit his class he picked me some flowers will we were outside. That makes it feel a lot better. We are also going to have pancakes for dinner since that is Jim's favorite and Brayden suggested that for dinner.
Jim is so busy I have hardly even gotten to speak to him. He thinks after today things should slow down a little. I am hoping so. Otherwise I am worried that our time out there either won't get to happen or he will have to work. Oh well I guess that is life in the military.
Here are some pictures of the last evening Jim spent with the kids and Jim and his good friend Dan. Dan just switched over from the Navy and his wife and I are very close. They live not far so we will be spending even more time together than before.
God is good to give us such a great support system. I am also the family group leader for our unit and it has opened my eyes to other people to serve that don't have the hope of Christ in this deployment. So my prayer life has gotten even longer.
If you think of it please say a prayer for our men and women serving. As well as those left behind.