God Said Whoa!!!

Ok as all mom's know, even when you are sick, you don't take time for yourself to truly rest and recuperate. I've been battling allergies/sinus infection for two weeks. after waking up this morning feeling like poo yet again, I had a feeling God was telling me WHOA!!

In the past month we've had a freak snowstorm that kept us out of school for a week, my master's class loaded us down with assignments, kids were sick, and then not working out like I should be, and add to it some stressful situations at work...well it all caught up with me.

So today - I called in sick to work, stayed in my chair and watched trashy reality tv and read some books. I did get a few loads of laundry done. But the majority of the day I rested and did no homework - just went to the doctor and got a big shot and came back home.

I have to learn, I can't run..run..run..run..and stress and expect to be good to anyone. There are times I feel God whispering to slow down, and if I don't listen then he pretty much forces me too like today. I'm slowly learning the lesson and sometimes I listen more to the hints I'm going too fast, but then sometimes I don't. I'm trying to learn to

1) Take time to rest and listen to God's little nudges that I'm outrunning him and need to slow down
2) Exercise at least 3 or 4 times a week - it keeps me sane, keeps me healthy, and helps me sleep, why am I not doing it???
3) Take time away from my studies to be with my family or to stop cleaning, laundry, etc to spend time with the kiddos & the hubby
4) Take time each day to spend quiet time with just me and the Lord. I always feel so much better in the mornings when I do and it helps  put my day into perspective
5) Take at least 15 minutes a day to do something I want to do - I feel guilty not reading a schoolbook and reading something just for pleasure. But to give my brain a rest and read something that either lifts me up or takes me away like a good book can do

Hope to keep you up to date on how my journey to keep myself healthy goes...

Weekend Wrap-Up

Well yesterday I put away laundry, schoolbooks, my homework, and packed a few things and went out for a night with the husband.

We left our small town for the big city. We went to Austin for the weekend. We drove down there Saturday afternoon and hung out at the outlet mall in Roundrock, bought some new tennis shoes for both me and Damon and walked around eating ice cream. Drove a little ways and came upon a Harley Dealership. My husband has always wanted a Harley. So we didn't have anywhere to be so we went in. We browsed bikes and a salesperson caught us outside. Now initially I though "OH NO!" now we are going to get pressured to buy, yada, yada, yada. But the gentleman was really nice. He showed us around the shop, through the parts house, let Damon sit on a Harley or two, and let us go without pressuring us to buy. We left there and went to our hotel.

We stayed at our hotel a few hours and then got cleaned up. We were going out to eat, now I'm not someone that has to go somewhere all fancy for a Valentine's day dinner. We went to Joe's Crab Shack...yup we are living large!! Then we made our way to Sixth street in downtown Austin. I've never been there, and my husband hit there with some friends from work when they were down there for a conference several months ago. We went into several little bars before settling into the Blue Moon with an awesome blues band playing. This gentleman was jamming on the harmonica and another guy could wail on a guitar. It was so much fun!! We stayed there for a couple of hours sipping on drinks and listening to music.

We then made our way back to the hotel and slept in this morning. But we got up and drove to Cabela's so my husband could look around. We stayed there a couple of hours looking at ammo, guns, the aquariaum (definately my favorite part), fishing lures, and etc. Then we drove and found something quick to eat, we tried to go to Sam Moon, but they were closed :(  And that was an experience because we drove by it twice before we could get in there. Then we stopped to buy groceries on the way home.

I can say I'm so happy with how the trip went. We blew through some money but it was money I had laid aside for this trip, and we didn't get to crazy. The blues band was absolutely worth going down to crowded Sixth Street, although people watching down there alone is worth going. And most importantly, I got to spend some quality one on one time with my hubby. I didn't take any magazines or books, it was just him and I, and a roadtrip. I think it did us some good to get away and be dating again. It was fun, I think we need to do it again in another month or so, but maybe send the kids to the babysitters for the night, and just get some movies, some steaks, and have a night in...hmmm maybe a tradition to start??

Friday Prayers

Well I wish I could write a happy feel good post on this beautiful Friday, but I can’t.

My cousin, Jami, was overjoyed to find out she was pregnant seven months ago. She lost her gorgeous, vivacious sister, Niki, in an accident last March. Our family was devastated by the loss, and so this baby was a joyous occasion.

Apparently little Austin was a little too eager to meet our eccentric family, and he came into this world at 25 weeks. He’s 1lb 11oz, and so far everything seems good and he appears to be healthy. His kidneys and liver appear to be functioning and there is no blood on the brain.  Then the same day, another cousin of mine was put in the hospital with complications from her diabetes. She’s doing well, but is still requiring hospital care.

Please Lord, lay your healing hands on both of these children. Please send your best Angels to watch over and care for them in these trying times. Keep Austin fighting hard, because you know you blessed us with a stubbornness. J Please cover both of these children with your healing touch and love.

 (Matthew 9:35 NKJV) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

(Psalms 30:2 NKJV) O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me


Pictures of little Austin

My cousin's cell phone - so you have an idea of how small his diaper is

Today I found this song, “Stronger” by Mandisa and I thought it summed up any situation we face. I recommend it for download. It has been on repeat on my songlist since I downloaded.

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you ...

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/stronger_lyrics_mandisa.html
All about Mandisa: http://www.musictory.com/music/Mandisa

Just be a mom...

Well my day was going along great yesterday until around 6 o’clock. Miss E’s temperature skyrocketed to around 103 and for the longest time it wouldn’t go down. I felt so helpless holding my little girl who was lethargic because she was so hot and just wanted to make everything better, but couldn’t offer anything but popsicles and cool-aid.

The fever waned off and on all night and she woke up this morning better. But Mr. L who’s been coughing an awful sounding cough since yesterday morning started running fever early this morning around 2:30. I gave him medicine and went back to bed. My dear husband agreed to spend the day with them and we took them to the doctor and got medicine and they went back home. I’m at work playing catch up after all, we missed a week due to freak winter storm that blew through. (This never happens) then last week I was gone three days to a conference and was only at work two.

Then yesterday I was gone an hour or so out to Mr L’s Valentine’s day tea party. It was so much fun. The kids danced together and then you paired into mother/son or father/daughter and danced. It was so sweet and I loved it.

So needless to say missing today because kiddos were sick would be a big inconvenience for me. I would do it, but I really don’t need too. I also had plans to go to the funeral home tonight because my supervisor’s mother passed away last week. They are having the funeral several hours away on Thursday so I intended to pay my respects today. I text my supervisor earlier and said, that I might not be there, explained the situation with sick kids and offered my prayers. She said thank you and “just be a mom.” Even now typing those words makes me tear up.

How many times do I worry about cleaning or mopping instead of “just being a mom?”

How many times do I worry about the people looking at me with sideways glances because my kid is playing race car driver while I push the grocery cart around the store instead of “just being a mom?”

How many times do I say not right now I’m too busy to play a game instead of “just being a mom?”

You know people say that these are “long days but short years,” and I know they are but with so many things to keep us busy in this life, sometimes it’s hard to remember that. So today I busted out of my office as soon as allowed, no staying late to finish stuff because I have tomorrow to work hard and get stuff done. I’m going home to give my husband a break from sick kiddos and not only be a wife, but “just be a mom” and hold my kiddos to let them know mommy loves them.

Weekend Wrap-up

Well another weekend has flown by. Mr L & I went to the grocery store together Friday and spent some time together. I've spent the weekend with my books & computer. However, I have torn myself away to take miss E to the park while the hubby took Mr L with him to his mom's to work on some projects. One project was a new cross that he welded for me for valentine's day. :)

Made cupcakes for Mr L's valentine's day party. I can't wait till tomorrow. It's a dance & Mr L danced with me last night, showing me how he's learned to dance. It was so sweet.

Well gotta Go read & do some homework - just gotta big hug from my son & baby girl fell asleep in her father's lap. Life is good.

- Just a small town girl on the go

Fantastic Friday

Friday has just barely begun, and I hope its a good day.

1) It's supposed to warm up this weekend to 60+ degrees!! So excited about that.

2) Gonna treat the hubby and I to a special V-day surprise, will let you in on it later. But I'm so excited about it!!

3) Downloaded Brooke Burke's new book to my ipad, and I've been wanting it AWHILE, do NOT want to put it down to get ready for work.

4) I've been at a conference three days out of five this week, so I'm behind on my studying for class, and wouldn't you know, the prof expects us to make up all this work (when he hasn't been around) in a week.  Uggg, I know what my weekend is going to look like, books & my computer.

5) Coffee & Cream this morning and getting kiddos chocolate donuts when they wake up. :)

6) hoping this warmer weather will break me out of exercise funk. It's been three weeks, ugg, first I had a back injury, then the Winter Blizzard of 2011 hit, then this week driving for two hours one way, two hours back three days of the week didn't leave much time to exercise. I'm crossing my fingers I can sneak away for an hour this weekend and go to the gym. I'm itching to get out and do SOMETHING!!

7) My UpperRoom Devotional today was on Isaiah 55:6-13. It spoke of how God's no, may actually be a blessing in disguise and how we need to have patience in Him as we wait on Him, and trusting in His wisdom. I really needed to hear that today as some things have not turned out like I have planned, and maybe that's a better way in the long run.

"Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near...Let men turn to the Lord and he will have mercy on him." Isaiah 55:6-7

May everyone that hears a no from God remember that there is a bigger plan!!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

I realize it's not Wednesday but here is my picture for wordless Wednesday in a few hours

My dear hubby dragging our kids in a John Deere Tractor hood behind a John Deere lawnmower last week during the great winter storm of 2011. :) They had a blast!!

Snow Day

Like most of the country we are stuck at home today because of this winter weather. School was cancelled so we spent a good bit of the day indoors because it was too cold. So I spent the day mainly working on homework and reading. The kids played video games and watching cartoons. Then as we were watching the Princess & the Frog, I look over and I see this

Apparently it was a little too much for Miss E. She tuckered herself out.

Here's a shot of the kiddos in the sleet and ice this morning

This girl was made for warmer weather. Not this cold stuff. Going to go heat up some chili and cozy up to the fire.  Everyone stay warm!! And be careful.  God's Blessings for you all..