Little Bit of This & That...

PandaGirl was a medieval princess for trick-or-treating. Got lots of candy! She has this costume because this coming Friday we are hosting a medieval retreat for the 5th & 6th graders in the Children's Ministry and the leaders are all dressing in character. Of course, PG HAD to have one too! ; )

Last week we went on our second date in a WEEK!!! We had fun double-dating with friends while going to a golfing range. I'm am not a golfer, but had a BLAST hitting those little balls!! Great stress reliever, I found. We decided that we want to go on a date night at least twice a month. So important to continually date my man. I just love him so.


PG's hair is growing out so beautifully!


A little bit of stuff:

~Gained 6.5 pounds since starting work. Yuck. Got my rear on the treadmill.

~Had a teacher/parent conference to listen to PG's kindergarten progress. She is doing very well and right on track. Woohoo! However, PP and I were totally cracking up when the teacher told us that she had difficulty recognizing just a few of the lower-case letters. Guess what one of them was? /x/ LOL!!! Doesn't that look JUST like the upper-case one?! Maybe my sweet baby was nervous...or blonde. ; )

~Excited for my MommySpice friend getting the Auntie Ann's pretzel store they wanted.

~Have been able to keep up MORE with my BFF who moved across the big Pond since over there she has fast internet and not dial up like she did just three hours from me.

~Haiti paperwork going right along.

~Found my stride at work. Still counting down the days until June, though.

~LOVING the fall weather!!!!!!!!!!

~Made a wonderful beef vegetable soup, then noticed---right before spooning the soup into the bowls---that the garlic jar lid was oozing black stuff and the lid DID look like it had been "popped" when I was cooking--I thought it was nothing, but after seeing the black goo...we ditched the tainted soup and headed out for Tex-Mex instead. HATED wasting a whole pot of soup!!! GRRRR!

~Found one of my best friends from high school on Facebook whom I haven't seen in 19 years. Very fun.

~Got sucked into a new book and devoured almost 400 pages in two nights! Which leads me to this:
~~~~I'll open up a fun little can of worms with my next post...Twilight.

Have a blessed and happy weekend! ; )

Where Did I Go?

Oh where, oh where has my inner self gone?
Oh where, oh where could I be?

With my time cut short and my work still here,
Oh where, oh where could I be?

Oh. My. Goodness. By looking at the graphic you might think I am sick of being at home doing all those mom things.
Nuh-uh.
Just the opposite.
I can't wait to be back at HOME!

How do you do it? If you work a full-time job outside (or inside) the home AND have children....please, let me give you some applause. THIS IS SO HARD! Friends ask me all the time "how's your new job?", "do you love your new job?", "what's it like going back to work?". I want so desperately to answer with a smiling face and say, "WONDERFUL!", but I find myself, instead, prefacing all my answers with this, "it is a huge blessing to have the job, but my last day is June 5th." Seriously, there is NO doubt that God handed me this job on a silver platter with sparkly bows on it so that we could fund our adoption. However, the REALITY of working full time is killing me! This working full-time thing is really interfering with my life! LOL! ; )

On the bright side there are some benefits via my job experience:

~once I return to my domain as a Stay-At-Home-Mom, I will SOOOOOO appreciate my role and do it with gusto, enjoying all I can and providing for my family in every way possible.

~my brain has turned to mush after being home for five years. I need to exercise it daily in order to not end up in a looney bin with no brain cells in my old age.

~the adoption will be paid for. BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!!!

~we have a little extra "play" money to get some things we have needed and wanted for awhile.

~I feel that my college degree is actually being used instead of just hanging all on the wall in a pretty frame.

~my faith has to be evident in my walk and talk in front of non-believers....ya know, "those" people outside of our Christian bubble who need to experience Jesus in a positive light.

~I have always valued my time with PandaPop and PandaGirl, but even more so now that I don't get to see them as often.

~my eyes have been opened W-I-D-E to how so many families in our church must feel all time...tired, run-down, exhausted, pooped out, frustrated, frayed, weary...and then come to church and volunteer even more time.

Ever since I found out this speech therapist position was open in mid-August, I have been running around like a chicken with her blonde head cut off. Not a pretty sight. Lots of hormonal fun. Smile. Also add to the mix that my baby started Kindergarten, we packed and moved into a different house, we surfed through hurricanes in Haiti with our little guy we "were" adopting, learned that he had a blood transfusion then later learned that we couldn't adopt him after all---and all this along with all my job responsiblities that are JUST now making sense. Whew. I have been on an emotional roller-coaster with no seatbelt and my head hanging over the side of the car at every turn. I have not been a pretty sight to my family. I am praying fervently for ME to come back to the land of the living and get "it" together---as if I EVER had "it" together, but at least I wasn't a mean grumpy person before working. I can't be this way until June. I just can't. Somewhere I have to find a balance between all of this stuff and thrive, not just survive.

I must say that I have asked for forgiveness for EVER taking my job as a SAHM lightly. I have come to realize that being a stay at home mom is not only FUN--despite all the chaos and frustrations of being home all day with little ones--but it is truly an honor, privilege and gift from the Lord. My hope is that SOMEbody, ANYbody will take encouragement from this post and find a way to enjoy your season "at home" and don't take it for granted...you just might HAVE to go back to work someday!!! AHHHH!

Thank you, Jehovah Jireh (Old Testament name for God meaning "my Provider") for the job. Thank you for letting me experience life as a stay-at-home-mom when some people don't ever have that opportunity. Thank you that the plans are that I will return to that job and will do my very best to honor You in all that I do. Thank you.

Happy Birthday to Me, Myself and I!

Oh me oh my. 38?

I have always loved my birthday and tell everyone that it is to be celebrated with joy!

Last night I went to check my email and my precious mom sent me an e-card. When I opened it up I noticed the pictures and music were pretty, but when I went on to read her writing or rather, her heart, I couldn't help but let the tears stream. I called her immediately and told her that those words were THE sweetest she had ever written to me. She is a phenomenal writer by God's gifting. I have seen her talent at work countless times over the years. However, today those words pierce my heart and I am forever grateful. Thanks, Mom. (My middle name is Dawn so that's why 5:34am is significant. She named me for the sunrise and new beginnings).

Here's exactly what she wrote:

Seasons come, and seasons go, but nothing surpasses that early morning horizon of pink skies 38 years ago when I awoke to the greatest change of my life. Excitement was in the air. Fear of the unknown wreaked my mind and nature took over my body. My heart raced out of control. The streets were empty in the early morning hour. The fresh autumn air filled my craving lungs. Mystery lay ahead. My beloved husband & precious little son & I rapidly gathered ourselves together for a new journey. They both lovingly patted me & rubbed my arms & back, knowing there was nothing anyone could do to change the events of the moment. No words were needed, though they came softly & kindly from both. The beginning of a new day: the "Dawn" was breaking, the surprise, the joy ruled. For GOD spoke LIFE ... blessing ...changed lives...and at exactly 5:34 AM a new little girl entered this earth... with a wrinkled up little nose, & tiny "rose bud" lips that whispered, "Happy Birthday, MOMMY ...(& Daddy)

Much Needed...

I need to take a blogging break. Too much going on in my life, my mind and my heart. Be blessed and know I will miss you!

Simple Woman #1

Outside my window...the summer air is extremely humid for where I live and not the norm.

I am thinking...about our little guy down in Haiti.

I am thankful for...God's mercies being new every morning. Last night was not so good for me. Very upset about everything going on in the last post along with the potties needing to be roto-rootered all of a sudden at 6:30PM. Didn't show very positive, uplifting qualities. Thank God for the freshness of a new day.

From the kitchen...I'm searching for my never-before-used fondue kit for my last Bible Study group tonight.

I am wearing...brown capris, black top, leopard scarf headband, brown sparkly flip-flops, jewelry.

I am creating...ways to make PandaGirl's first week of Kindergarten fun and enjoyable and NOT focused on us moving.

I am reading...The Traveler's Gift. PandaPop asked me to read it again. He likes to refresh with it when stressed and knows I need it right now.

I am hoping...for the Speech Therapy job!!!!

I am hearing...my bracelets clink while typing and the sound of PG's TV show.

Around the house...there are things just eagerly waiting to be packed into boxes....again.

One of my favorite things...getting a really good and creamy vanilla cappuccino from a convenient store.

A few plans for the rest of the week..get the cat and one dog vaccinated, find a home for one pooch, buy PG a lunch box and some new shoes for school, decorate for a bridal shower.....oh yeah, and find a place to live. ; )

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Another Plate, Please...

Unbelievably I am actually laughing about this. I have to. I am so grateful to be a Believer in Jesus Christ. God is my heavenly Father. Jesus paid the price for me. The Holy Spirit "has my back". I can live in peace admist a backdrop of CRAZINESS! LOL!

Last August on my 15th wedding anniversary, wanna know what we did? We moved. We moved from a luxury apartment that was far less than luxurious three months after moving in it. Not my idea of how to celebrate 15 years of wedded bliss to my beloved, but I was grateful to have my beloved, still be happily married, have our daughter, be at a wonderful new church on staff and be healthy.

Guess what we are doing for our 16th anniversary this year in a couple of weeks??? Moving. Yep. You read that right. This will make my #14 in 16 years. Granted, PandaPop likes to remind me that for three of those moves I was REALLY sick with strep throat twice and once with a bronchial infection. I was quarantined to a back room all three times. Don't feel sorry for us. It's the life of a renter, I guess. The payoff comes when we don't ever have to worry about selling our house like a couple of our friends are desperately trying to accomplish and we don't have to pay for any of the "biggies" when they break. It all balances out.

The timing of this move couldn't be any worse. The reason we have to move is because our landlord decided they wanted their house back. Hmph. Here we go:


~packing, moving, blah, blah, blah....had way too many t-shirts for this one.
~PandaGirl starts Kindergarten on Aug. 25th...want to make it special, not stressful for her by moving.
~I just interviewed this past week to be a Speech Therapist full time with our school district. Last minute work and worry over getting this job. It will pay for our adoption and then some. REALLY want this, but have to wait on them to decide.
~Will be working full time no matter what...either with the above job or subbing. Haven't worked full time since 2003. Can you say stressed?
~Had already committed to PandaPop at the beginning of summer to teach the huge 6th grade Sunday School Bible Study class this year. Didn't know I'd be working full-time, too.
~Just finished all our adoption paperwork with current address. All has to be changed. Lovely.
~PandaPop has tons to do to gear up the Children's Ministry for the fall. He's great, but I carry his stress, too.
~Add in all the ordinary daily things like finishing up the summer Bible Study I've had at my home, decorating for a bridal shower this Saturday, planning the table and stage decor for a HUGE women's event this fall at church, meeting PG's K teacher this week, buying school clothes (SUPER FUN FOR ME!!!!!), finding a home for one of the mutts, getting the other mutt and the cat vaccinated for the adoption home-study, gathering more info for the home-study, playing the waiting game over the job and the new home to live in.


It's all good and everything will work out. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Anyone else need a plate for the Crazy Buffet along with me? Do tell. ; )

I Leave for a Couple of Days and This is What Happens???

Last week at VBS PandaPop challenged the kids to raise a certain amount of money for our missions emphasis and if they met it he would dye his hair green. Well, apparently they did it. LOL!!!! I think he looks so fabulous!!!! We got the idea because our Spicy Family friends did this a couple of years ago with the children's ministry where they served and we thought it was a great way for the kids to really "get" that their Children's Minister was serious about his work.



I====ADORE=====THIS=====MAN!!!!!!!

Now, on to my girls' weekend.....

These little chickadees below were my college best friends for two years. We met up at our local junior college and then all headed on to other pursuits with university or career after those two years. I LOVE these girls! We had so much fun back then and were very close in that short time period. Lots of pictures, laughs and memories made way back then. Over the years we have talked about getting together, but you know how that goes...no one ever makes the actual plans. Well, one of my sweets did and wahlah!---we did it! They all know that we are trying to raise money for our adoption so they all pitched in and paid my part of our hotel expense. Thank you, girls!!! We stayed up both nights talking until 2:30 AM and 3:30 AM. Y'all KNOW I am NOT a night person, so for me to stay up that late...it must've been good! ; )

The weekend couldn't have been more blessed. We had all prayed that nothing would interfere with our plans to meet and left the rest up to whatever tickled our fancy. We ate chocolate, looked at everyone's pictures, strolled down memory lane, shopped, laughed, cried, listened to each others stories over the last umpteen years, went to the movies, ate some more, checked out our wrinkles and completely enjoyed ourselves when some college frat boys tried talking to us!!! (No, we are not cougars! HA!!!)

This is us in 1991 on our very last day to hang out since one of us got married and moved out of state. We actually met up again the next year for her baby shower, but other than that we haven't really seen each other except on a few occasions and never all of us together over the years.

Friday night we went to a great Tex-Mex restaurant, sat outside along a very busy metropolitan street filled with "Friday night life" people. Fun, but very eye opening to my little "Christian Bubble" that I live in. It wasn't like I was in some foreign country, but rather 15 minutes from my house! Dallas, TX is a happenin' kinda place and I saw waaaaaaay more than I do on a normal basis. LOL!

What better movie to see with your best girlfriends?! I have to preface with the fact that the first half of the movie I was NOT liking it at all because of the overt sexuality and inuendo. I don't like that kind of humor. BUT------the music is all fun and then the movie got REALLY good! The actual Mamma Mia scene is probably one of the best ones on screen! SO incredibly FUN! Then there is a song that the mom sings about her grown daughter who is getting married and she sings "Slipping through my fingers..." After the first verse all four of us (who all have daughters) were BAWLING and handing out the tissues! We all want the soundtrack as a memory of our fabulous weekend together!

Saturday after the movie we ate at this very chic Japanese restaurant. You know I have PandaGirl from China, one girl lived in Korea with her hubby in the military and another in Japan with her hubby in the military as well. Yeah, we're all pros with chopsticks. ; )

I don't even remember how it got started, but while in college we somehow started taking "bathroom pictures" at every restaurant or place we went, so of course, we had to have one this weekend! LOL!

My heart is so full of thankfulness right now and I am reeling in from the range of emotions over the last couple of days. Now, it's back to reality and I have to go unpack!

Summertime!

Not blogging too often this summer...Too much to do! Here's a rundown of the summer's activities:

~Mini-book study with co-workers of John Eldredge's Epic

~Hosting a small weekly Bible Study at my house for some women from church-lasts 8 weeks

~Children's Camp!

~Swim lessons for PandaGirl

~Several playdates with friends

~Saying "good-bye" to my two very best friends in the world. One moved three hours away, the other is moving to the other side of the world in August. Yeah, nothing fun about typing these two events at all. Very heartbreaking for me.

~My 20 year high school reunion in July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Details of that little diddy to come later! I graduated high school in 1989, but there's a rhyme & reason as to why the reunion is this summer...

~PandaPop's 39th birthday celebration

~Getting PandaGirl ready for Kindergarten and meeting the teacher

~Family visits, birthdays and anniversaries

~Training The Fur (the dogs) to walk on leashes
(and to stop that ridiculous B-A-R-K-I-N-G!!!)

~Vacation Bible School-leading the crafts for 1st-6th grade

~Going to the movies to see Kung Fu Panda, of course!!!!!

~Training for teaching at our Child Dev. Center again for the fall

~Celebrating mine & PandaPop's 16th wedding anniversary

~Getting a new mattress!!!!! First time in 16 years!!!!!!! Wooooohooooo!

~Refining ideas for fall medieval retreat for 5th & 6th grade at church

~Prepping for MOPS-Hospitality Coordinator for 2008-2009---most of my job will be done this summer before the year kicks off in September

~Leisure reading

~Scrapbooking

~Jeepin'!!!!!!!

All this only by the Grace of God, of course.

Ponderings

My heart is heavy. After reading about all the events with the Chapman family and all the love from all over the world during their time of unthinkable loss I have just pondered the wonderful honor it is to be a part of something so big. This adoption thing. My daughter. I am connected to so many people because of her existence in our life.

How blessed I am to have never carried a child in my tummy.

I don't think I would have ever thought of adoption for us if I were to have had biological children. God knew better. His plan was best. I am a better person for knowing each of the families I have met with a Chinese daughter. These girls are connected to each other even if they never meet. God is doing something mighty and wonderful by allowing these girls to become part of something bigger than themselves.

What a privilege to have a daughter from China.

That is not to mean anything negative to those who only have biological children. I just feel blessed to have walked this road and found friends along the way who share a connection to China. Despite any differences, we are bonded because of our daughters.

I don't really know the babies in the random pic above, but in a way I do. My daughter was one of those girls in a crib like that once. My life is filled with abundant blessings because she started out all bundled up like that. I feel connected to the Chapman family not just because of his amazing music, but because of our daughters.

Overwhelming grace, never-ending mercy. What a gift to be an adopted child of God. That's what we are as Christians. Believers. Once lost, now found. Adopted by the God of all creation. Bonded. Eternally.

The Chinese character for Daughter.

If You're Goin' My Way...

I know it sounds so cheesy, but I have to preface this post with "everyday is Mother's Day at my house". PandaPop shows his love for me daily. Because the weather was so fabulous my choice of things to do for the day was to go Jeepin'!!! PP was sooo gracious as to oblige my request. Wink. (Thanks for the sacrifice, PP. I know it was hard to go driving around all afternoon in your toy.) I am blessed to be his wife and PandaGirl's mommy.

I started out the day with this:

Yesiree, it was my choice for lunch and I wanted this:

Gorgeous sunny day, but with temps in the 70's....traveling at 60 miles per hour is chilly with the wind blowing so PandaGirl had to bundle like this:

Of course, while Jeepin' I look like this:

Along the way---Glory to God!---we saw lots of this:

Oh....and we certainly had some of this:

And ended with my darling pink & purple car window Bling-Thing!

Mother's Day

It's a hard day for some. I know. I've lived it. For most, Mother's Day is a light-hearted celebration. For those who can't conceive a child or who have been in a perpetual "wait" for their adoptive baby--it is heavy-hearted and painful.

I have prayed for you today. I've cried your tears and felt the pierce in your heart. I know. Better yet, God knows. He knows you intimately. His timing is perfect. When our road seems broken, He leads us to His will if we let Him.

I celebrate today because I am a mother. Mommy to my precious PandaGirl. She makes me laugh, cry, giggle, wonder, enjoy, ponder, cringe, sigh, desire, create, invent, think, purge, re-evaluate, plan, dream. She is my gift, my daughter. I am grateful beyond words. She might just be my only child...ever. Not my plan, but one that I have embraced.

Thank you, Lord God, that You saw it in your plan to bring my daughter from the other side of the world to live in my heart forever. I am blessed.

Happy Mother's Day. ; )

Making This Right

A few posts ago I shared my enjoyment for the book The Shack. I was offended by a comment and instead of taking time to think clearly I responded with another post as a disclaimer.

That was wrong and I am sorry.

I still love the book and stand by what I said about it, but please know that I am openly admitting that I did not respond in a grace-filled manner, but rather from my own defenses.

I want to thank my very close personal friend for gently speaking truth to me. We differ greatly about the book, but we still serve the same God who teaches forgiveness and repentance.

If there are those of you who read this blog and don't comment and were offended by my response then I truly apologize for misrepresenting Jesus Christ to you. He is good all the time.

I Felt 18 Again!

Saturday night I went to the first secular concert that I have been to since 1989 when I saw Erasure! My friend, Abby celebrated her 30th birthday a few weeks ago and her hubby bought her four tickets to the Kenny Chesney concert. So I went for FREE! She invited another awesome friend who just turned 30 as well and then her sister-in-law who is under 30. Yeah, me, the grandma went and had a blast! Leanne Rimes and Brooks & Dunn were there, too on the Poet's & Pirates Tour. I don't drink alcohol of any kind so to have beer spilled all over my foot from the guy behind me was a treat. Not. The sadness there was the countless people I saw who seemed to portray that the high from the concert was their only real joy in life. One girl in particular looked my age and looked really hot....meaning a great body and dressed darling...but she jokingly/seriously told the people in front of us that "yeah, my husband is out scr*w*ng somebody else, but it'll only take a minute."---while she gestured with her hands the "act". I was so sad for her that she felt like that's "just" the way life is. I wanted her to know the hope of Jesus, but did I say anything? No. I just prayed for her. I enjoyed myself, but I honestly kept thinking how awesome it would be to be worshiping my God with Third Day, Jeremy Camp or Newsboys on stage! LOL! I have loved country music all my life, but the lyrics to most of the songs are so sad and have no hope. I had a complete BLAST, though!!! I stood in my chair (like everyone else!) for two hours of Kenny (I wasn't going to stand in my chair for the other two acts!) and my calves are STILL killing me from balancing!

Mulan 2-The "New" Kick

PandaGirl has loved Mulan from the first time she saw the movie a year ago. Now she has discovered Mulan 2 and is even MORE in love with her! I love that she has a Chinese role model and the movies are so funny and sweet with lots of Chinese culture, landscaping and architecture in the drawings. I think she looks so incredibly cute with her hair like this. When I saw the little girl in the movie with the same "do" I just paused the TV and took a picture! LOL! (I know this is the second picture with PG's tongue sticking out, but she's on THAT new kick, too).






She loves dressing like Mulan with her blankets tied around her to make the long draping robes. The funniest thing is when she sticks a really honkin' big comb in her hair which makes me think of another culture and yet she thinks she looks like Mulan with her delicate little floral hair comb. PandaPop and I have to really make ourselves not laugh AT her because it is hilarious, but it would break her heart if she thought WE thought it was silly in a bad way. Soooo---while I'm thinking she looks like J.J. from Good Times (70's TV show for you young uns) she thinks she looks just like Mulan. I will try to get a good picture of the comb soon. It'll bring a giggle. ; )

It's All Good...

What can I say? God blessed me through you precious people. I won't make it to all of the blogs personally, but--Thank you for your kind words, encouragement and just the fact that--though most of you only know me through this blog--you cared enough to say something to me. I sincerely appreciate all of you.

God is using all these disappointments of late to mold and shape me more into who He created me to be. Growing pains are yuckie no matter what your age.

I am always reminded of Jer. 29:11 that says, "I know that plans I have for you," delares the Lord, "plans to prosper you not to harm you; plans for a hope and a future."

I also hold close to His promise from Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight." There is such sweet comfort in both of those.

I am grateful for my amazing husband who "coaches" me through my valleys. He is my rock.

I adore my precious daughter who challenges me daily. She is God's gift to us---on loan from Him.

Yet again, my plans didn't work out the way I wanted. Yet again, God is faithful to see me through. I don't understand some things, but I trust His heart. He let His Son die for me in my wicked & depraved state. I can stand before God in purity because of that. Glory. Everything else here on earth compares not.

I will be deleting some of the newer blogs I linked on which are homeschool focused. If you find that you are one of those in which I delete....PLEASE, PLEASE don't take it personally. Rather take it as a huge compliment to the fact that I must have adored your blog and life to even link it to my own blog. For my own sanity, though, I have to not have the temptation to want to lurk around your blog and be jealous or covet your homeschool life. Sorry, that' just a precaution I am taking. I am sad about that because I found some blogs I truly love. I know me and I know that I would get caught up in wishing I could be "there" when in fact I just can't and won't fight with my daughter on a daily basis just to homeschool. I still hold true and fast to my beliefs about homeschooling, but we have to opt for our public schools here.

To bring this blog back to it's fun self (after all the drama over the past few posts!) I must introduce you to my new found friend. We've become very close. ; )

Yeah! I did it!

My whole life I had hair to my waist until I was 25. Then I thought I was ready to cut it. Nuh-uh. Wasn't ready. But my hair was already on the floor of the salon when I realized that minor detail. Now I did go for a month with the whole "Rachel" do from Friends, but it did NOT look good on me. So I then got it cut up to my ears! YIKES!!!! I was H-E-A-V-I-N-G and doubled over while my sweet man literally carried me to the car. I cried and cried and cried. I thought life was over. Stupid? Yes, but very real at the time. I then went on to keep it that short for 12 years! LOL! I have tried several times to grow it out only to get it a little past my neck and HAVE TO get a haircut. A year and a half ago I decided to finally let it "grow out", well this is as far as I got and I just didn't want to go on anymore. I got this cut last week and like it alot. It takes effort and I am not used to putting much effort into my morning hair routine. Seriously. I have never taken much time and standing in front of the mirror with a round brush the size of a tailpipe with the hairdryer in hand for 20 minutes is NOT my way of getting ready! We'll see how long this cut lasts. For now though it is a happy medium of some flowing tresses and a short "do" all in one.

Personal Choice

OK. A few nights ago we watched "Super Size Me". Yuck. I felt so gross after watching this documentary. I felt like I had destroyed my body over the many years of eating fast food. Don't get me wrong. I totally knew everytime I shoved a piece of fast "FOOD" in my mouth that it was less than healthful, but to see what happened to this guy's body over the course of one month? Let's just say my perspective is forever changed about eating in joints like Mickey-D's. The fatness of America is completely mind-numbing. The jokes and instant need to laugh about the horrible food we eat has to stop. We are just as guilty with the whole "let's just laugh" our way to an early grave thing. PandaPop has joked many times about how he wants "to go with a Big Mac in one hand and a fries in the other!" YIKES! That has been our mentality along with "trying" to eat "right" every now and then.

I posted a couple of weeks ago (but deleted it because it linked to my Vemma website with my name on it) about our new super-duper healthy liquid vitamins, Vemma. We have been thinking about really getting healthy, but can't seem to get away from the pull of unhealthy eating out of mere convenience. I assure you. After watching "Super Size Me"...decided to do away with fast "FOOD" at most any cost. The stuff practically isn't even real food! I am aware that I will be an outcast at times and not the most popular mommy in the group when I won't let my daughter eat the crap served for children at these places, but hey, I already won popularity votes in high school and it hasn't really meant a hill-o-beans in real life. So as far as someone rolling their eyes at me for NOT indulging in the fat epidemic anymore...let them. I am responsible for me and my family not theirs.

I also learned from a doctor in the movie that people who are "addicted" to chocolate....REALLY ARE!!!!! THAT'S what's wrong with me. Seriously, I can't just eat a little chocolate. I can't stop!!! No amount of will power does it. I either have to go cold turkey and quit or else I just keep poppin' chocolate like a drug addict would pop pills. The doc said that the same drug given to a heroin overdose patient in the ER to stop the opiates from telling the brain to get high and pulls them out of a coma can be given to a "chocolate addict" and the drug will stop the addiction. Now don't go thinking, "Hey, I need that drug!" LOL! I have just decided that I have to think of chocolate as heroin to my body. I can't handle it. I have to go cold turkey and just say no to my chocolate friends. Bye bye. Oh, that hurts. Chocolate malts. Chocolate chip cookies. Ghiradelli. Dove. M&Ms. Smores. Oh my...I'm feeling weak. Anyway, I made a decision and feel great about it. I have already had ample opportunity to splurge in the past couple of days since my declaration against Sir Cocoa and DIDN'T HAVE ANY!!!!!! Yeah me. No---hold that thought---Yeah GOD! Only by His grace can I even dare to "give up" something so yummy. I know I am doing the right thing for me. Difficult? Yes. Necessary? You better believe it.

Since watching this documentary I have eaten well and exercised. Go me.

Please don't comment about how YOU could never give up chocolate. Believe me, no one is more addicted than I...WAS. I am excited to see a new transformation in me and PandaPop. It's about time.

Just One of Those Weeks...

Still no internet at home. Sporadically checking email at PP's office. Noticing that life goes on whether I can blog about it or not. Here are just a few of the things that have gone on in the past seven days.

1. I connected with a very close high school friend via MySpace where she tracked me down. She is gorgeous and skinny!

2. Was able to see God bring my MOPS group of ladies together and use me to help them see the joy in friendships with other women. Awesome.

3. Introduced to a life-changing vitamin supplement and made a new friend and walking buddy in the process.

4. Buried PandaPop's precious grandmother who was 88 years old. She was the most vivid example of living out the reflection of Jesus Christ every single day.

5. While spending time with PP's family was able to experience a 5 hour sing-a-along with his cousins who are gospel, bluegrass, folk singers. Two guitars, one banjo and about 40 people sittin' around singing in a tiny little living room of his Mema's home. Loved it.

6. Got news that my aunt died on Sat. The funeral is Monday. She was in alot of pain and is now whole in Heaven. Two funerals in four days.

7. Being in ministry means that we have lots of friends who are ministers. We are praying with our friend during a time of difficult decisions with his ministry. Been there, done that.

8. Another one of our best friends who is a minister is being questioned by his pastor over his integrity....falsely. PandaPop is shouldering the stress for both of his friends. Ministry is so un-glamorous, but God is GOOD.

9. PandaPop gave me the t-shirt for his children's ministry winter retreat. One of his CUTEST EVER!

10. Sang over my sick baby girl who was sick with fever and was able to soothe her.

11. One of my best friends blogged that she has lost 21 lbs since Aug. GO GIRL!

12. PP and I were glued to our TV while watching four episodes of the first season of "LOST". Go Netflix!

13. Worshipped God at church and home.

14. Cried over the struggle to continue building our family.

15. Watched PandaPop carry the burden of his family's loss of Mema and the stress of our two minister friends.

16. Got excited over PandaGirl's first loose tooth and a new one peeking through!

17. Was blessed by a dear friend, chatting and her buying me a Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks.

18. Took a great nap today.

Just a few of the events of my week. Nothing particularly stressful for me personally (except the struggle of getting another child), but when all added together...it seems...well, just emotionally taxed. God is good. All the time.

Not yet.

Nope. Still not on at home. PP's office is where I am for this little blurb. You know I don't like to blog without pics so you'll just have to wait until we are all hooked up again. I mean I have so much to tell...I mean show you! Just a little example...like when we had tickets to the Dallas Cowboys game a week ago and didn't get to use them, or how the weather has totally kicked into FALL, or how PandaGirl tried to check Miao's teeth with a glove on and he didn't like it, or how awesome Netflix is, or how the entire new jar of spaghetti sauce fell out of the grocery bag and SHATTERED on the kitchen floor, or when....you'll see later, I guess. Have a great weekend! (I probably won't be back on until then).

Yep...It's Official...I've Losted My Mind.

This is my bloggy friend over at Never Too Many. I've never met Steffie B. All I know of her is what she displays on her blog and what she comments to me. That's it. However, last night I had a dream that she wrote me a check for $11, 555.00 for our adoption. She mailed it and everything. Very clever, that girl, seeing as how she doesn't have my address nor does she even know my real name. LOLOLOL! I woke up laughing my head off! Even though I have had a hard time finding the time to blog or even visit other bloggers I guess deep down I really do live in bloggy land.

Steffie, if you could mail the REAL check today I'd be ever so grateful, honey. ; )

Sidenote: I am toooooo excited for words! We have been having problems with Safari (the Mac version of Explorer) so we loaded Firefox. All of a sudden I now have the capability of bold, italics and a host of other options which I didn't have before! Woohoo!

Well, I'm off to bake a horseshoe cake for PandaGirl's Birthday Party today!