Personal Physical Challenge

So I have read two things lately that have brought me to this place. Through the Thanksgiving and Christmas season I will be drinking 3L of water a day and running at least a mile daily. The water I can do, I started it today. Its the running that is more of a challenge. I have run two 5Ks since August so I can run a mile, it is a time and logistics challenge. We don't have a treadmill or a gym membership which means I run outside. It was a challenge when Chip was out of town and proves to continue to be an issue even now. He usually leaves early and often gets home after dark or I am in the middle of cooking and cant leave. But, I have a plan and we will see how it goes. I am running a 10K in March so I must train this winter. I figure this "Run thru the Holidays" challenge would be good for me. Anyone else game???

Tired of it.

So, anyone else find themselves regularly saying, "I am tired of it!" about various and sundry things? Tired of the piles of dirty laundry on the bathroom floor, tired of the piles of clean clothes on the den couch, tired of the Goodwill pile that has been sitting in the foyer for at least 2 weeks, tired of the health hazard we call a van. It happened to me tonight. Actually I think it has been happening all day, I am just too slow to realize it. Today I took the Goodwill bag AND we cleaned up the van! But tonight I was washing up breakfast and lunch dishes before I could begin cooking dinner (this was not an isolated incident). Kind of like most mornings when I have to wash dinner dishes before I can cook breakfast. You might call this a discipline issue. That's another post. Well at this particular moment I was "tired of it". And then I had to ask myself, "How tired of something do you have to be before you make effectual change?" So I finished unloading and loading the dishwasher, put the salmon and broccoli in the oven...when I noticed the stove top. And at this time I was tired of it. And I really was tired of it. I cleaned it! I even moved the burner covers and wiped them down! So what brought this on. I think it was being sick this weekend. I was down and out with a stomach bug all weekend. Monday started rapidly with husband leaving town at 6am, texting the co-op director saying I wasn't sure my stomach was going to make it, making lunches, dropping the baby at the sitter at 8:30, co-op from 9-3:30 (which involves grading papers and teaching two classes), picking up the baby at 4, cooking dinner, soccer practice, flag football game, showers and bed. Then it was Tuesday. We did not leave the house and I did not get out of my pj's all day! Tues night, once the kids went to bed, I did my bible study rather than watching tv. Then I read from my current novel The Vinegar Boy--historical fiction about the crucifixion. I awoke Wednesday ready for the day. We did school, I showered (high five) without one interruption (double high five), fixed lunch, hit the bank, post office, grocery store, finished school and this bring us back to the dishes. (remember the hubs is out of town for the second week so this was all with 4 kids in tow). I say all that to say, I think I needed a recharge. I needed some down time, I needed two days of good personal bible study. God says we need a day of rest. Sunday I was sick. So, although I rested it was not really a renewal. Had I not been sick, I would have taught Sunday School to 1st and 2nd graders, prepared dinner for a new community group that we were hosting AT OUR HOUSE for 7 couples and 20 kids. (this would have been fun but not rest) I am learning slowly, that I need regular rest and restoration. This is not a deep discovery. It is basic truth from GENESIS. I mean, this was true for God and the first humans. We are no different. I am better equipped to face the day to day challenges that wear me down with rest, real rest, rest in His Word! And the challenges usually aren't challenging, they are monotonous, routine, constant...like sweeping the floor only for cheese its to be crunched on the floor two seconds later. Or mopping only to have who knows what spilled at the next meal. Its the little things that add up to the blow up. But hopefully, what I re-learned tonight, is that "tired of it" only really means "tired of it" when it leads to change. So, when the kids hit the hay tonight, it is just me and Hebrews! And thankfully, Hebrews is all about Jesus our High Priest and our Rest. Thank you Lord Jesus for being personal and drawing near and letting us get to the place of being worn because this is when we REMEMBER that we need you every minute of every day.

Start of School 2013-2014

School starts tomorrow.  This year I will have a Kindergartener, 1st grader and 3rd grader at home.  I just now sat down to write out a schedule and it looks like we will being "doing school" from 8-4!  And that is if all goes as planned!  My schedule didn't involve dealing with Lucy at all so I basically plan on her being a perfect angel all day every day...because she is 18mts old and that's what they do, right?! 

So, that being said, I am either setting myself up for failure or frustration.  Or maybe I will be pleasantly surprised at how fast we get things done.  Last year we worked hard from 9-3.  I was determined to be finished by 3 because that is when other school children were finished.  But, I actually think they get out at 3:30 around here and if we have to go till 4 it is really not a big deal since they will not have homework.

My other realization is that I am definitely going to need a set break every week.  Maybe Saturday morning, I don't know.  At least I have exercise now as an outlet.  It may be rough once the time changes but that is not until November.  So, until then, I will work hard with my children all day and hopefully put my feet to the pavement at some point between American Heritage Girls for Ella, soccer practice two nights a week for Nate, flag football and baseball two nights a week for Streed.  Hmmm, at least I am a morning person.  Looks like that will be my only option for some alone time.  But that is good because it will force me to get up and get moving.  Thankfully though, Chip is helping to coach Streed again so I don't have to go to that practice...unless he is out of town. 

I am also teaching two classes at the co-op this year.  3rd and 4th grade IEW--Institute for Excellence in Writing.  I am looking forward to this.  I enjoy being up at their school and this way I get to know more students and parents, as well as help my son and his friends learn the foundations of a valuable tool!  I was never taught to write, even though I took Honors classes.  I certainly did not start learning how to make key word outlines in 3rd grade.

OH! And Lucy is going to a Nanny on Mondays while we are at co-op.  This is a first for us.  The nanny is a friend of a friend who keeps teachers' kids.  She lives less than 5 minutes from my house.

So until then...we are going to go to a baseball pool party/cookout and pretend our summer is not over quite yet!!!

Beuler...Beuler...

08.07.13  It's been a while.  So here we go...

I told a friend the other day, who was asking me to please blog again, that I just don't have anything to say.  That is partly true.  What I figured out about an hour ago is that I don't have anything to say because I don't have (take) time to think!  I was in a mood earlier (that is a nice way to put it).  I already had my running clothes on, as dinner was finishing up in the oven, when a child asked me why I had MY Kindle on MY dresser.  They told me that was a bad place to put it because they may touch it.  I explained that it was MY Kindle and that was why I put it on MY dresser and that they could keep THIER hands to themselves.  They responded with, "Why are you being so mad at me?".  So, I took off for a run while the sun was still blazing, as was my mood.  At about mile 1 1/2 it dawned on me that the said child was begging me, in their own little way, to remove the temptation from them.  They knew they had a weakness and they needed their mother to help them to be strong.  I was just too selfish to see it.  I immediately realized that as I was working my physical muscles, God was working my spiritual muscles.  I prayed and asked God that I would always hear my children's cries for help.  Usually I am so frustrated at their behavior (and how it affects me) that I fail to really listen.  Oh Lord Jesus, forgive me where I fail you and in turn fail them!  Thank you for the restoration of the cross and the sensitivity of the Spirit to speak to us.  Thank you that I listened.

8/3/12

I cannot get pictures on here yet.  Not important why.  Today is one week since Mama died.  I have been reading Gone With The Wind for the past few weeks.  The day Mama died, I was sitting beside her bed reading this...
      She was less frightened also because life had taken on the quality of a dream, a dream too     terrible to be real. It wasn't possible that she, Scarlett O'Hara, should be in such a predicament, with the danger of death about her every minute.  It wasn't possible that the quiet tenor of life could have changed so comletely in so short a time.

La La Land

I watched a segment on Nightline tonight about human trafficking and the sex trade in America. It was alarming to say the least. I walked away sad, sick and scared for my daughters. What I also walked away with was something I am now very proud of.  It just came so easily in about 10 minutes.  I know it was from the Lord.
La La Land
Life is grand in La La Land
I like it here
I have no fear

In La La Land we're safe and free
And children are allowed to be

Life is grand in La La Land
I like it here
I have no fear

I wish to stay in La La Land
So I must watch what I hear
'Cause what I hear leads me to fear

This life is hard and far from grand
It truly is just sinking sand

Sin is real
And wrong is wrong
And La La ain't a happy song

What can I do?
What can I say?
What difference is there if I pray?

He says to ask; You will receive
I must have faith
I must believe

'Cause in this world I will have trouble
I do not live inside a bubble

This life is hard and far from grand
But if I walk, I will stand
And run the race and perservere
You drive out doubt, You cast out fear

This life is hard and far from grand
So we will long for La La Land
For it is real and we will see
One day when we are free to be

Our world

When clicking on the internet just now, these were the top headlines on the FoxNews page.  Does it get anymore disheartening?  Does it lead me to pray?  No, but it should.  Not necessarily for things to change, because I do believe things will continue to decline, but for believers to live as Christ and to share Him with this lost and dying world.

3 More Gone in Secret Service Scandal

• 
• Latest firings bring number of people forced out to six in the wake of the prostitution scandal in Colombia, where at least one agent reportedly hired a prostitute and brought her back to his hotel.
• Palin Has Message for Secret Service Agent Who Ogled Her

• Afghans Found Dealing Drugs to US Soldiers

  
  US soldiers caught buying drugs from the Afghan recruits they are training to take over, Army documents show
  • VIDEO: Are Afghans Recruits Dealing Drugs to US Soldiers?

 

• Christian Club Told to Allow Leaders Who Don't Believe

  
  Vanderbilt says university Christian club cannot require leaders to have 'personal commitment to Jesus Christ'
  • Campus Police Allow Students to Desecrate Crosses

for now

I have a million (maybe not) posts in my head but for now here are two pictures from today--Resurrection Day!

Consequences Jar

I saw a friend posted an "Uh Oh" jar she found on Pinterest. I needed something! The punishments I have been doling out have not been working. Therefore, I got on Pinterest too and found a few ideas. I don't have a picture of the container but it is just an old oatmeal cylindar that I wrapped with plain red wrapping paper. Inside you will find folded pieces of paper with specific consequences (either restrictions or chores). I needed to have concrete reasons for why and when they were to use the jar. I came up with 4. Here they are.

Why you would have to use the consequences jar:

Disobedience to a known rule
Anyone then who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it sins. James 4:17

Not obeying right away
Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
Colossians 3:20

Speaking in an unkind tone of voice
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn away from evil and do good: seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:13-14

Talking back / complaining
Honor your father and mother that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world Philippians 2:14-15

I like to know "why" things are the way they are so I figured my kids needed to as well. Plus, I wanted them to see what God had to say about their behavior. So far so good. My house is a lot cleaner for one, and two, I am yelling about 100% less. All I have to say is, "You need to come pull from the jar". And then we read the reason for the punishment along with the verse. AHHH! This is when Pinterest and social media are excellent!

Boo!

2 things

This picture is almost 2 years old. It was April of 2009 in Baton Rouge. Ella took it, of course. I just thougth it summed up this post. Contemplative yet tired. I am not that tired. It is just that my brain is.

The past few days I have been trying to figure out what I am doing as far as feeding this baby. People keep asking if I am nursing. My response is, "I don't know what I am doing. I am 99% pumping but trying to work nursing back into the equation." However, as of two minutes ago I now know. I am only pumping. I just nursed her for an hour and then had to feed her 4 oz of pumped milk to get her full. I have milk. She just does not get it out. Chip says nursing her is like giving her a tranquilizer. She knocks out and therefore does not get a full feed. I know pro-nursers with 1 kid would say to make her uncomfortable, put ice on her feet, strip her down etc. I don't have time. I nursed her all during school today. It ain't gonna work. My brain finally clued in that this is Nate all over again. He was a very lazy nurser and therefore he killed my supply. I want to keep up my supply therefore I will be pumping exclusively. Sometimes just having a plan is liberating.

This brings me to my second thing. I have been trying to figure out what to do about Nate and preschool next year. I thought about taking him out completely to save money and time and just to have him here with us. With homeschooling it would be way more convenient not to have to take and pick him up but rather just have him at home. I also thought about just putting him in MDO two days a week. It is time to register for next year so it has been on my brain (what little space is left) the past few days. Today I was also thinking about how and where I can squeeze money out for a maid. I know it sounds frivolous but again, I just can't do it. Maybe its because Lucy is just 6 weeks. But maybe its because I have 4 kids now and I homeschool. Maybe its because 6 people make a lot of laundry. Maybe its because at night Chip and I are tired and need to relax, not clean. So, as I looked at the MDO paperwork and the preschool paperwork and saw $115-$175 a month it hit me...there is my housekeeper money! I breathed a little easier once I had my epiphany. Chip will be thrilled when I pass this info on to him.

N is for Nate

(I took this picture upon his request)

Last week Nate's preschool teacher had to resign due to some family obligations. I was so sad. It is his first teacher and she loved him. She would allow him to be a boy which I think is just great. For instance, she thought it was awesome when he showed up at school dressed in a Power Ranger costume for his show-n-tell. It was pretty great. I wanted to get her a small present and I found something at Hallmark that was just perfect.

On the "N" page I added his name and a picture of him.

*Feel free to copy this idea all you preschool mommies out there.

We Love Lucy

Streed was helping me watch Lucy while I was doing something else, probably pumping. I love that Ella and Streed really can help. I can ask them to hold Lucy while I get something done quickly and I know I don't have to worry about her safety. I think when I took this picture I had asked Streed to sit by her for a minute. I came back in to find him laying beside her. He had even covered her with his blanket. So sweet.

5 1/2 weeks of life and this is her first picture with her Daddy. Chip has loved her from the get-go but is getting more entranced by the day as she gets more alert and vocal. Apparently she smiled at him today, again, while I was pumping. (I am glad I can pump. It seems at times that all I do is pump. I know this phase of life will be over too soon. Even though she is only a month old it seems to be going by really fast.)

I need a cape!

Chip has been out of town since Sunday morning. Therefore I have been handling the day to day and night to night business around here. My den is a disaster at the moment with 3 laundry baskets and a chair full of clothes. Not to mention the 3 super heroes running around with Nerf guns. Actually only one is holding the gun. I will let you guess who that might be! Streed and Ella are at a friends house today. Nate opted to stay with me under the pretense that his two buddies could come over. So, after I pumped 8 ounces,
I called my friend and asked her to bring her two boys over. I fed Lucy and then fed the 3 super heroes! Now, I am blogging. Not folding clothes, but I think I need a cape nonetheless!

about the pumping: At Lucy's one week appt we found out she was losing weight. She had lost from one of her bilirubin checks to the one week check. So, at that point I started pumping and feeding so that I could know for sure how much she was getting. At two weeks she was back to her birth weight--9 lbs 6 oz. I have since tried to nurse once but actually prefer the pumping. It has become a nice 15-20 minute break where I actually read and have a moment to myself. Besides the bottles I have to wash I cannot complain. I have 53 ounces stored up in the freezer already. Twice today I have pumped 8 ounces. (I actually spilled 3 of those!!!)Currently she only eats 4 ounces at a time so it is working out nicely.

Again, cape please!

Totally kidding but I am proud of how well this week is going. I was thinking as I was washing dishes earlier that really as believers we should not worry. He truly does give strength to the weary, be it supernatural or in the form of help from friends. Either way, worry is sin because it leaves no room for faith. Thank you Lord for once again proving yourself faithful in my life.

assumptions

I assume everyone has a facebook account, just like everyone assumes I have texting on my phone. My mom does have facebook but no internet at home. Therefore, she only gets to see pictures while at chemo or the very little time she is at work. Same goes for dear Donna who refuses to get on facebook. So, the previous post of 3 pics is for those who have seen very few pics of the newest Crooms.

The bottom pic is obviously her room. Ella has slept with her brothers for over a year now, so it was a no-brainer that I was getting her double bed out in place of a crib. It is going to be a really cute little room once I get a few things on the walls. The other side of the room has not been straight enough for me to get a picture as of yet. It is home to the changing table and an awesome pink chair that is on loan from a friend--who is also not on facebook!

a few more for gran

big brother

Guess who LOVES being the big brother! Nate loves Lucy so much. He comes to see her first thing in the morning. He has to hold her before bedtime. He calls her "sweetheart". It is amazing to see just how much bigger he is than her.



Lucy at 2 weeks

short and sweet

This is simply a post for my mom who is wanting to see her grandbaby while at chemo.

getting my first suntan (or lowering my billirubin)

going to get my billirubin checked.


Just snoozing this morning.

a sweet surprise

For months now I have been faithfully paying on all of our bills concerning this baby. I paid off the doctor first. Then I started paying towards the hospital. Then I found out the anesthesiologist was not covered in the $6000+ I am paying the hospital. The lady I talk to and pay via the phone at Little Rock Anesthesia is named Eva. She is super sweet and we have chatted a little each time I call and make a payment. Today she asked how much longer I had till delivery. I told her 30 days. Then I just happened to say, "So I have $400 left to pay between now and then." She then told me to wait and call her back after the baby is born and she would give me a discount. She said, "It won't be a big discount but you have been so faithful to pay along the way that I want to give you the discount." I thanked her and hung up the phone and immediately laid my head on Chip's desk and thanked God. I know Eva is sweet but that was straight from the Lord. Since May I have had moments of stress and fear and worry over all of these payments. But I have also had moments of victory where I was able to trust and just pay. I just had to post this for my own memories sake and to give God the glory.

Advent Week One

Our church posted this for week 1 of Advent. I am going to start tonight. I just wanted to post it incase anyone needed a guide. --Shelley

ADVENT WEEK ONE

Theme for the Week of November 27, 2011
Our Need for a Savior

Light the first Advent candle.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:7-3:7

Explanation of Scripture:
God made Adam and Eve in His image and gave them everything they needed. Adam and Eve lived happily together with God in their beautiful new home until one day they disobeyed God. Eve was deceived by God’s enemy, Satan, who disguised himself as a snake, and ate from the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil, which God had forbidden them to do. Adam’s and Eve’s disobedience of God was the first sin. Because of their sin, all of us now struggle with living apart from God’s plan for us and hurting other people and God’s creation. This is our sin. The only way we can overcome this sin struggle is if we are saved from it. But who will save us?

Songs: O, Come All Ye Faithful and O Little Town of Bethlehem

Family Activity:
Blow out your Advent candle and turn out the lights. As your family is sitting in the darkness, talk about when sin and darkness entered the world. Romans 3:23 tells us that we are all sinners. Therefore, we all have sin and darkness in our hearts and need to be rescued. God promised us that He would rescue us from this darkness by sending a Savior, His one and only Son. Light the Advent candle again. Light is more powerful and pierces through darkness. Read John 8:12 aloud. Ask your children who rescues us from sin and darkness.

Further Discussion Questions for Students & Adults:
Why was eating from the tree so appealing? (Adam and Eve had everything they needed).
What does this reveal about our hearts?

End with Prayer.