Memories of Dad and Blue Suede Shoes

Sometimes, songs bring back special memories of happy times.  Sometimes, songs become like life or vice versa.  And sometimes they do both.  Today I saw a video of Carl Perkin’s singing  Blue Suede shoes and My Dad danced &  sang as I closed my eyes.  

“Well, it’s one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready now go cat go!   But don’t you step on my blue suede shoes.  Well, you can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes.”  Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins.

I can remember my Dad singing along with Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins as he danced around the house.  I guess that is where I get my love for dancing around my house singing along to songs…happy memories of happy days.  I hope one day, my boys will say the same about me and some of my favorite songs.  It is funny how my life has become like one of my Dad’s favorite song lyrics…

One for the money – we are now a one income family.  My role used to be as a participating bread winner… now it is more focused on the shrinking of expenses and living frugally.

Two for the show – we have two wonderful little boys who are showing us a new world through their eyes and experiences.  Daily, I am amazed by the wonders in this world that I was taking for granted…just the other day Cole and I (with Will sleeping in the stroller) spent thirty minutes watching ants (or Annnts as Cole calls them) walking between stone pavers at the park.  He was amazed by the ants as they traveled along the “ditches” between the pavers.  Cole found so much joy in putting bits of twigs and rocks in the path and laughing when the ants got out of the ditch to walk around the road block and then got back in the ditch.  When was the last time I watched ants and laughed?  Usually I see them and scream ant spray … we have fire ants in Louisiana and my standard is kill them all upon site if they are red & fast.

Three to get ready—as the Mommy & Wife, I spend a lot of my time getting the boys and myself ready to go… whether it is the park, a stroller/wagon ride, to church, to mother’s day out, or to visit family.  Getting everyone ready is a Mom job that I never told my mother thank you for… “Thanks Mom”… it is definitely an un-appreciated task.

Now Go cat go! – Going… that is all a Mom does these day… go to the store, go to the doctors, to Church, to Mother’s Day out, to the park, and finally to bed.  So I can get up and go again tomorrow.

My life may be like the lyric but at least my Dad is still dancing & singing for me even if it is only when I close my eyes.  

Samantha

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Samantha… are the statistics accurate?

All through my school years, I was the only Samantha in my class and the only one in my school.  Not until college, did I actually have a friendship with another Samantha… and she went by her middle name of ‘August’.  So I was totally floored when I read on Wikipedia that the proper name ‘Samantha’ ranked among the top 200 names for girls since 1965 and among the top names for girls since 1976. ^{[1^ http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi]}

I have to ask myself, if the statistics are right… then where were they?  I never remember a Samantha A or Samantha B in school… but we did have a Lisa G and a Lisa L… and of course being from the South we had both a Missy S and a Missy W.   So were all of the Samantha’s born during the late 60’s living on the West Coast? the East Coast? above the Mason Dixon line (aka the North)?  Where were they then?

And where are they now?  As an adult, I personally know of one other adult Samantha.  I do know of several under the age of seven… but they are usually Samantha Grace or Samantha Faiths (remember I’m in the South) and I think that is a reaction to the popular Mary Grace – Mary Faith craze that was rampant among parents of Southern girls about six years before.  Then there was the Britney – Brittney name craze and the Katelynn – Caitlin—Kaitlin name craze that was rampant the years before that.  We have two nieces both named Caitlin – Caitlin B and Caitlin C.  But I can’t ever remember a Samantha naming craze.  Can you?  So the question I put before you is this where did all of the ‘Samantha’s go?

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Does the World revolve around a fictional character?

While reading about the proper name, Samantha, on Wikipedia… I had an ‘aha’ moment….  Maybe my mother was wrong… Maybe I was right when as a young girl, I thought the world revolved around Samantha… I just had the wrong one in mind.  It was the fictional character of Samantha that our culture was revolving around.  

In 1964, the fictional character Samantha Stephens was the main character of the hit TV series ‘Bewitched’. Taking a look at our favorite witch…she was a Stay at home Mom, supportive wife of a bumbling husband, loving daughter of an overbearing mother, devoted daughter to a playboy Father, intelligent, beautiful, and funny.  She left all that she knew for the love of her man.  Despite the comic traits of the witch scenario… the show was primarily focused on a Stay at Home Mom trying to reconcile family issues and trying to support her husband.  Family and Marriage was the main focus.  The importance of family and the traditional husband/ wife roles were still prevalent in the early 60’s… yet the fact that Samantha had to continue to help her ‘bumbling’ husband shows how the traditional husband/wife roles were slowly and subtly being eroded.

Then in just twenty years…the 1984 character of Samantha Micelli from “Who’s the Boss” fame became the Samantha that people knew.  She was the product of Single parenting,  a fun loving, mistake making teenager who strived to please her loving father.  Despite the teenage antics that the character constantly was involved in… the show was primarily focused on family issues.  Yet the scenario of the relationship between her father (as a live in maid) and his divorced employer along with the sex maniac grandmother (Mona) character was not the same wholesome family issue environment from twenty years earlier.  The family was still the primary focus yet the traditional husband/ wife roles and parenting roles along with the sanctity of sexual relationships were once again being eroded away… still subtly but not as discrete as the earlier Samantha.  

Just fourteen short years later, in 1998 the fictional character Samantha Jones of Sex and the City fame arrived on the scene.  A fast talking street smart sex crazed power hungry career driven woman focused on self gratification.  The focus on the show was not about family issues or values nor did the traditional husband / wife roles play out in a positive way.  All subtlety and discretion was gone…family, traditional roles of husband & wife, sexual sanctity, and self control were no longer being eroded… they were tossed out the door and replaced with the cultural “me-ism” that was prevalent in both the show and in the late 1990’s environment.

So did the fictional characters predict the cultural changes that were occurring or were they mimics?  And the real question is what will the fictional Samantha of 2018 be about?  Where will family values, the traditional husband / wife roles, sexual sanctity, and self control be in seven short years.

Samantha

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One is the loneliest number

According to the song "One"  by Harry Nilsson (I know the 1969 Three Dog Night version the best)... 'One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do.'  But the real question is One the loneliest number? 

As a Stay at Home Mom of two young boys, I embrace the concept of 'oneness'... I don't just embrace it ... I actively crave it and go running after it at times.

I yearn for the time of the day, when my husband comes home and I get a few precious moments of solitude to finally go to the bathroom in peace  without that sweet little voice asking "Mommy...Mommmy...MOMMMY"

I count the days, until my Zumba class as it is a twenty minute car ride with no children, no husband, no dogs, and for some reason my cell does not work on that trip reliably.  Yet I still play my son's cds... can't cut the cord too soon.

I love the late hours after the teething baby is asleep and before my husband calls me to bed, when I can think in quiet.  Quietly thinking while rocking a sleeping baby is one of the perks of Motherhood.

I have even been known to make elaborate dishes for parties just so I could have the kitchen to myself.  The added benefit of being "super Mom"  has nothing to do with it.


No... to all of the "lonely Ones" out there... it is not a lonely number ... it is a much need, closely guarded, and strongly desired time for a Mom.  Yet... I wouldn't trade even a second of my Mom time for even just one more day of 'oneness' ... it is not a lonely number... it is just not the "Best number"...the best number is when I am surrounded by those I cherish and love... a minimum of 4 but the more the merrier.  As long as I have had a couple of one time prior to and just after my best times... I think "I will survive"  ((oh... No... another old song reference that shows my age...oops now I have it running around in my head...argh))

Samantha

Only one more day to go... till it is here. 

Sam

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It's 2 a.m. ... where are you?

In my early twenties  (before marriage)and it was 2 a.m., I was usually coming home from a date or hanging out with friends.  The time seemed to be early evening for me then.

In my late twenties (post marriage) and it was 2 a.m., I was sleeping in my new husband's arms dreaming peacefully.  I was too tired juggling a new marriage, new household responsibilities, and graduate school to be awake.

In my thirties and it was 2 a.m., I was trying to get to sleep while my mind was racing and solving the latest "Work" related problem.  Up at five and in bed by twelve... the life of a career focused/driven professional.

In my forties and it is 2 a.m., I am either rocking a teething baby to sleep or looking up and realizing that I have become obsessed with twitter, face book, and blogging.  This is the life of a blogging mom of two boys under 2 1/2 years old.

When I am in my fifties and it is 2 a.m., both of my son's will be teenagers... so I will be up with worry and prayer over them.

When I am in my sixties and it is 2 a.m.,  my son's will be in college... so I will be up with worry and prayer over them.  And praying on how we are to finance both college and retirement at the same time.

When I am in my seventies and it is 2 a.m., I will have insomnia  as I will have never been used to sleeping at that hour... so I guess I had better keep my twitter, face book, and blogging obsession.

Who knows about in my eighties as I never seem to sleep past 2 a.m. or get to sleep until after it.

Samantha

By the way in just 2 days, the new layout will roll out.  Excitement is building in my house... I hope you like it as much as I do.

Sam

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It takes Three

It takes Three to make a marriage... God, husband, and wife.   Without all participates being active, the marriage suffers and will eventually fail.
It takes Three to be good parents... God, daddy, and mommy.  Without all being on the same page, the child suffers and will eventually feel the pain.
It takes Three to make a blog... God, blogger, and reader.  Without all participating, the blog suffers and fails.
It takes Three more days for the blog layout to arrive... please comment and help this blog strengthen and succeed.

Samantha

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Four Letter Words

The four letter word?  When I was growing up whenever the phrase “that’s a four letter word” was spoken, soon a bar of soap was going to be wet and a mouth cleaner.  But what about all of the thousands and thousands of positive four letter words, do we ever consider them.

Some of my favorites are:

Nice       Cool       Rain       Sons      Love      True

What are some of your favorites?

Samantha

Oh… keeping in consideration of the new layout some new four letter words for me could be:

Blog       Roll         Outs      Four       Days

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Got Your Six

“Got your six, Boss” is DiNozzo’s catch phrase to Gibbs on NCIS (my favorite TV show… I named my two dogs, Leroy and Jethro ... does that say anything).   So what really can happen in six?

In six seconds, this post will have been read and tweeted.

In six minutes, this post will be on the face book page “A Spoonful O Sugar”

In six hours, this post will have been commented on (always the optimist am I)

In six days (April 2^nd), the new layout will be rolled out.

In six weeks (May 5^th), the impact of Zumba will be shown in my waistline and the sixth week of Couch to 5K will be beginning.

In six months (September 2011), Cole will be ending his first 30 days in Preschool. 

In six years (2017), I will be turning 50 and both of my boys will be under 8 years old.

A lot can happen in six.

PS... for those of you who are not familiar with NCIS (the blog sphere gasps with shock that their are people who have deprived in such a manner)...you can get the series on Amazon. 

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A week to a Mommy

Only one week to go till I roll out the new layout.  Trying to put this in proper perspective..

To the rest of the world one week equals:
7 days
168 hours
10,080 minutes
604,800 seconds

To a Mommy one week equals:
9 trips to the park to swing & slide
28 sippy cup refills & 35 formula bottles
63 times singing "EYO aka 'Ole MacDonald had a Farm'" to Cole
84 diaper changes
91 times Cole requests "Parumpapapum aka 'Little Drummer Boy' to be sung"
700 giggles and grins and hugs
70,000 memories 

as the saying goes "Priceless"

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8 and its significance in "Samantha-isms"

As my new layout is arriving in just 8 short days… I started thinking about the number 8 and what it means to the world and what it means in “Samantha-isms”.  Samantha-isms are what Bill call’s the words and phrases that are I say which are unique to me… they are not found in any dictionary or phrase book and unless you have known me for a very long time, it seems that I am speaking in a different language.  This is what I found out according to Wikipedia:

a)      8 is a composite number, its proper divisors being 1, 2, and 4.  It is twice 4 or four times 2.

b)      8 is a power of 2, being 2³ (two cubed) and is the first number of the form p³

c)      8 is the base of the octal number system, which is mostly used with computers.  In octal, one digit represents 3 bits.  In modern computers, a byte is a grouping of eight bits, also called an octet.

d)     A polygon with 8 sides is an octagon

e)      A cube has 8 vertices

f)       A figure 8 is the common name of a geometric shape, often used in the context of sports such as skating. 

g)      The number eight is considered to be a lucky number in Asian cultures

h)      Hanukkah is a Jewish festival holiday that lasts eight days and eight nights.

Samantha-isms of the Wikipedia definition of 8:

a)      8 is a composite number illustration of my life… first it was me then Bill and I fell in love and the 1 became 2, a couple (DINKs-dual income no kids)…and after the adoption of our sons now we are 4, a family (OIMEs-one income multiple expenses).

b)      2³ (two cubed) is marriage, a man and woman united by the Lord.  A trinity based upon God’s love and desire for His children. 

c)      Byte is when Will is teething and gives me love kisses on my shoulder… currently I have multiple bruises as proof of Will’s love. 

d)     Stop signs are the octagons in my life, and right now my life is all about stopping.  Stopping the health disaster path I was on by dieting and getting fit.  Stopping my backsliding controlling ways (another disaster on the way) by turning all over to the Lord and actively seeking His Will for my life.  Stop working as a Controller but working harder than ever as a SAHM (and future Homeschooler) of two active boys.

e)      Rubik cubes are a lot like life, you can let it beat you or you can just remove the stickers and put them back in order.  Some may call it “cheating”, I called it “improvising”.  Now I call it removing the sins in my life and letting God put me back in order.

f)       Zumba is my main exercise these days and after all the dieting and hard work, my hips can now make a figure 8 that is recognizable as one.  It would have been hard to see a figure 8 in my hip motion 100 lbs ago. 

g)      Samantha has 8 letters in it… I guess that is why I have been so blessed in my life.  The Lord has given me a wonderful husband that adores me and that I adore.  Two fantastic little boys that I have been given the honor of being their Mommy.  A family that loves and supports me and last but not least, Salvation through His Son.  To read more on “Samantha” see my series on the name… the first post is “Samantha… what’s in a name?"

h)      The festival of lights is not a Jewish celebration but the Natchitoches Christmas Festival where historic homes and the Red River are lit up.   Remember “Steel Magnolias”?  then you know what I am talking about.

So remember that in 8 short days… the new layout arrives. Come check it out and let me know what you think all comments are appreciated.

Samantha

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Samantha… what’s in a name?

According to Wikipedia…  Samantha is a feminine given name. In the western world, it is believed to have originated in the 18th century, perhaps from the masculine given name Samuel^[1] and anthos, the Greek word for "flower".^[2] It may have been intended to be a feminine form of Samuel with the addition of the already existing feminine name Anthea.^[1] "Samuel" is a Hebrew name, and means "heard of" in Aramaic or Hebrew.  Having arisen only in the latter part of the 18th century, Samantha is a relatively new name in comparison with Biblical and other names which may be thousands of years old. It was consistently popular in English-speaking countries throughout the 19th century.

Wikipedia’s definition sounds great… but what is in a name?  That is a question that I have no answer for… as my name changed over the years as I changed.  

When I was a little girl…it was Sammi or Sam…Sammi by family and close friends and Sam to the rest of the world.  

As a teenager, it was Samantha or Sam…Samantha when I wanted to be treated as an adult and Sam when the little girl wanted to play.   

In my twenties it was Sam…a fun loving college co-ed focused on having fun, falling in love, and surviving College.  

In my thirties it was Samantha… career women focused on professional growth and infertility treatment.  

In my forties it is Sam or Samantha… a well rounded lady focused on God, family, home, and health.  I wonder what it will become as life goes on?

Samantha

Wikipedia footnote references

1.       ^ ^{a b} "SAMANTHA". Mike Campbell. http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=samantha. Retrieved 2008-03-08. 

2.       ^ World Almanac, 2009 edition pp.697-698, Dr. Cleveland Kent Evans, Bellevue University

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Stylish Blogger Award

Thank you, Janis for this award!

Yesterday was my husband’s birthday,  yet I am the one who received a gift…as I was honored to be named a “Stylish Blogger” by JBM Thinks. I really appreciate being given this encouragement and honor.  As a new blogger, I have come to realize how much my blog has room to grow and with that in mind… I have been working on remodeling my site and refining my blog goals & vision and blog schedule.  This has been a long tiring process with much searching for God’s guidance… and just when I was getting discouraged and wondering if maybe I should hang up my “blogging” hat … Janis brightened my day with this award.

Janis’s blog JBM Thinks is one that I love to visit as it opens a window into a world that I have never experienced…that of a “Sports” Mom… yet I have a feeling that as active and ball crazy as both of my boys are… it is a world that I am destined to be living.  I have been prepping for that day by reading Janis’s blog.  Thank you, Janis, for adding some encouragement to my day!

As with all awards… there is always some rule and regulations that need to be followed.  The Stylish Blogger’s are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

Samantha’s Seven things

1. God is the rock that I lean upon and He is in control of my life not I.
2.  Every morning I watch “Curious George” even when the boys are playing in another room.  It makes me smile and laugh.
3. I love watching old Doris Day movies… and yes, I sing along with her.
4. My heart leaps into my throat when my husband walks into the room and after 19 years, his voice over the phone makes me smile when I hear it. 
5. My favorite exercise is to dance around the living room with my two year old to “Feliz Navidad”.  And we dance almost every day even though Christmas has been over with for months.  I dread the day he doesn’t want to dance with Mommy as it is one of my daily joys.  YES… Bill has a video of this that he loves to play for family and friends.
6. I love to do jigsaw puzzles... I hate to go to bed with one not finished.
7. I can make homemade lasagna or bake a six tier cake, yet I usually burn rice when I make it. And I always have to look up how long to boil eggs.

Requirement # 3 was extremely difficult for me to do as I had a hard time limiting myself to fifteen bloggers.  These are the fifteen that I read, follow, and look forward to their posts.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1.  Mom in Management
2.  Budget Savvy Diva
3.  Rockin’ Deals
4.  Mom in Orbit
5.  Bless Others with Cards
6. A Day in the Life of a Wife Mom & Author
7.  Little Boys are Made of Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
8. Superglue Mom
9. Infarrantly Creative
10.  Single Mom on a Budget
11.  Its Okay to be Weird
12.  Semper Fi Momma
13.  Holiday Haven
14.  Leann Vineyard Cooper
15.  The Happy Housewife

 This award is for bloggers from bloggers.  I want to take a moment to thank the “unknown” creator of this award.  Thank you for taking the time to develop such an encouraging tool.  It is designed to encourage and to be the sugar for the other blogger.  It is your chance to pay it forward.  So go and be the sugar… let the other blogger’s know how “Stylish” they are.

Samantha

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Couponing with Grace and Kindness

Over the last year, I have heard a lot of negative comments from cashiers whenever I pulled out my coupon binder. I have to admit that I no longer use a binder as I got tired of the paper folding requirements and just went to a shoe box... but that is a time constraint issue with 2 small boys... I digress...

Back to the comments...I never understood the hostility that I was experiencing at one of my favorite stores to shop at.  Over time, I have developed relationships with several of the cashiers and they are always talking about this one "binder" lady... that they all dread dealing with.  And after working with me for awhile... the hostility stopped towards me and I started receiving hellos and heads up regarding unadvertised deals.  Yet I have always wondered why it occurred in the first place.

Well today... I finally understood.  Clarity came in a chance encounter.  I was happily shopping trying to remember what I had come for even though I had a list... (another digression... we had double doctor appointments today that were over an hour travel away from each other... so it was a long day of car rides with two little boys and I probably should have shopped tomorrow) and realizing that I was not making the best deal choices... when my favorite cashier came up with another couponer.  This has happened before and I usually end up with a new friend and sometimes we swap coupons in the store.  NOT this time... it seems the couponer that I met was the rude binder lady that the cashiers were always talking about.  I had always discounted their comments as just spilt milk.  Now I know why couponers have a bad name... this was the rudest encounter full of tension and attitude that I have experienced in years.  I was totally shocked.  If this is how she talked to another couponer or even just another person...I can only imagine her response when a cashier tells her that a coupon is not scanning.

And the real irony is that this person actually teaches couponing classes around my local town for a fee. (side bar... I have no issue with someone charging a fee to teach couponing.  I, myself, don't do it for a fee... but that is my choice as currently I only teach friends on a one on one basis)....so the person who is partially responsible for giving couponers with binders a bad reputation in the local stores is also the person who is teaching (leading) others through this process.

Please, for the sake of all couponers that go after you... be nice and polite to the cashiers and fellow customers.  Grace and kindness are valuable commodities.. or as a former boss used to say " you can get more flies with honey than with vinegar."  After experiencing this chance encounter... I know that I will be praying for grace and kindness to spill out of my mouth when I am shopping.

Samantha

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My journey to Physical Fitness -- The beginning (Motivation)

This is a picture of me at my heaviest (it is from a cruise that my husband and I took to Alaska in 2008).  During that trip, I ran from cameras and Bill had to force me to take any pictures.  Pretty standard for most women when they are over 300 lbs, size 28, and trying to force themselves into size 3x clothing.  As you can see in the picture... Bill can barely put his arms around me. 


Yet this is not what motivated me to start becoming physically fit.  I had convinced myself that I was happy with my body at this size... even though I was in constant pain from my knees, ankles, and back.  Even though I had nightmares about falling down (which as I was very clumsy... I fell quite frequently) and Bill not being able to help me up.  I was sure that I was happy because I had a good happy marriage.  There was no way, I could be happy in the rest of my life and not happy in me... Could there?  But I wasn't happy in the rest of my life.  I was working over 60+ hours a week sometimes to 80+.  Most nights and weekends I was working as I brought work home.  I was miserable as I was unable to get pregnant after years and thousands of dollars spent on infertility treatment.  I was happy?  No...I was hiding my unhappiness behind layers and layers of FAT.  And I was slowly killing myself. 

After we adopted our son... I still did not lose the weight.  After I was laid off... I still did not lose the weight.  This is a picture of me three months after I was laid off and at my oldest son's first birthday party.  As you can see... I was still my happy self.  Still working myself into an early grave.  Was it the adoption of my second son that lead to me finally beginning to care about myself enough to stop this cycle?  I wish I could say that is was the actual adoption event of either of my sons... or the fact that God had granted me my wish to become a Stay at Home Mom.... But I cannot.

What finally convinced me that I was killing myself and that if I kept on this way I would be visiting an early grave.  It was a grave ... actually it was my father's grave site.  In August, I went to my dad's grave site to put some flowers on it.  I was amazed as I am each time I go there at how young my dad really was when he passed away. (he was in his 60's).  As I was driving back, Cole was talking to Will (babbling actually as at that time you could only understand about every 2 to 3 words... but they were happy words) and I realized that I was putting their happiness in jeopardy.  In 20 years I will be in my sixties and they will only be in their twenties.  I did not want my baby boys to go through at such a young age the pain that I went through when I was forty.  And that lead to my journey to physical fitness.  I am not there yet... but as this picture shows... I am no longer in size 28 / 3X clothing.  And after loosing  90+ lbs (now in size 14 / xl/lg clothing) , I am happier and healthier than I have been in almost 20 years.  My knees, ankles, and back don't hurt anymore.  I can keep up with a 2 year old and a 9 month old without falling down from exhaustion.  And Bill can put both arms easily around me... which he couldn't do in the first picture (added benefit... I am no longer ducking away from Cameras).

My goal for this journey is to be at 150 lbs (size 8/6  or  med/small)  that is over half my original body weight... I don't know if I will actually go down that far but we all must have goals.  In my next journey post... I will go over how I lost the 90+ lbs and what I am doing to lose the last 50 lbs.  I hope you will follow along with me on this journey and pray for me at the same time.


Samantha

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Motherhood and a law that I want to see on the books

Motherhood was something that I dreamed of, prayed about, cried about, and finally submitted to God’s will upon for over seventeen years of marriage.  This doesn’t count all of the years growing up dreaming as young girls do.  During that time, I never realized that Motherhood is really a cycle of highs and lows all covered by a blanket of love.  I think that the love I feel for my sons must be but a small fraction of the love that the Lord feels for His children.  How sad we must make Him every day when we disappoint him.  I know that when my son, Cole  is disobedient I feel very upset and sad.  I cannot imagine what the Lord must feel when I disappoint Him daily.  

Now I don’t want to make Cole out to be a little terror… no he is just a typical two year old boy… very confident and very curious.  He is always doing the typical two year old activity of pushing or testing  all boundaries.  I just had to stop typing this post to pull him off of our bookshelf that not twenty minutes ago I told him not to climb.  But of course, he saw that I was distracted (or so he thought) and began to climb… six shelves are three to many full of temptation.  These days he reminds me of Curious George rather than the newborn we adopted two years ago.

And that brings me to the purpose of this post I have experienced such highs in my life these last two years of being a Mother.   I never knew my heart could be so full of joy and happiness.  But until this weekend, I don’t think I fully understood the low points of motherhood.  I now have a definition of the “rock bottom low point” of motherhood… 

"one child sick with a bacterial infection, one child sick with a viral infection, one husband sick with either a bacterial or viral infection (we don’t know as of course he won’t go to the doctor and men are never good patients) and one mom sick with either a bacterial or viral infection with a house that is now dirty after only three days.  My doctor didn’t bother to do the blood work as we would have to wait too long to get it, he just prescribed antibiotics.  Sounds like not much of a big deal… but I forgot to mention that the boys began their antibiotics and other medicines on Saturday and I wasn’t able to see the doctor till Monday… so they have a head start of two days of feeling better  While all I want to do is crawl into my bed and block out the world… my two (much desired and beloved) sons are as hyped up as if I had been feeding them caffeine and sugar for a month."

I am proposing a new law rather than all of the healthcare proposals that nobody has the time or energy to read anyway… this law is that doctors are NOT allowed to give children medicine which will hype them up unless they do the following:  

1. They give Mom a triple dose of the hype medicine
2. They provide maid service, laundry service, meal order selection service, and babysitting
3. A spa package for 12 hours free downtime

I think if a doctor violates this then they should be subject to the penalty of watching the kids while Mom sleeps the much needed sleep of an exhausted Mommy.   

What do you think?  Exhausted Mom aka. Samantha

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*Warning* Private information available for all to see.

I read the following post from one of my favorite bloggers... Jill at Single Mom on a Budget...and thought... this can't be a big deal... but I would check it out.  I was shocked when I found information about everyone in my family including my father who passed away in 2006.  They limit the number of removals you can do on each e-mail... I believe the limit is 2.  So I am using all of my alternative emails to make sure that my family member's personal/private information is not listed on this site.  What this site does is pull all of the information that is out on the web about a person and list it in one spot.  Is it illegal?  No.  But is it something that doesn't need to be out there for just anyone to EASILY pay $2.95 to get...NO!!... this may not be illegal but it is something that I will try to limit my exposure to... and I do think this should be illegal..but until it is whenever I find out about a site like this... then I will take the steps to remove my family's exposure.

Have you heard of Spokeo.com?  You NEED to know about it. Head over there, type your name in and look for yourself.  

Did you find yourself? Your address? Your phone number? Age? Value of your house? Your kids names listed?   At the click of a button?  FOR FREE!!!!

Imagine what people can get when they pay $2.95 or more!?  I did and it made me sick.  I have no idea what their information source is, but it is dead on.

I’m active on Twitter, I’ve mentioned that before, and I see people that constantly update their twitter and facebook feeds with where they are at.  Whether it’s home, the grocery store, a restaurant… and when you click on a link it shows their street, zip code.  It shocks me.  In fact, I don’t even say the city I live in outloud on twitter.

If you are one of those people on twitter that do this – STOP DOING IT!

Thankfully, Megan of Half-Pint House, tweeted the answer on how to remove it all.  Thank goodness!!!!

Here are the steps to making your information disappear:

1. Search for yourself and/or child(ren).
2. When you find yourself click on your name.
3. Copy the URL (up in the top box of your webpage).  It will say something like “www.spokeo.com/search?q=YOUR NAME….”.  Copy that.
4. Now go here: http://www.spokeo.com/privacy
5. Paste that URL into the “URL” box.
6. Enter your e-mail and type the code shown.
7. You will receive an e-mail that you have to click to verify.  Do it.  Immediately.

I followed these steps and all information is gone.  GO DO IT.  NOW!
Now click that little e-mail button to pass this information to your friends and family.

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Warning ***Please Read For Your Protection~ Facebook Settings Have Changed

Please Read for your protection and the protection of your friends, family , and loved ones.

On January 22nd, the new FaceBook Privacy setting called “instant personalization” goes into effect.
The new setting shares your data with non-FaceBook sites and it is automatically set to ‘enabled.’
To fix this go to Account> Privacy settings> Apps and Websites> Instant Personalization> edit settings and UN-CHECK “enable.”
Right when you click on Instant Personalization edit settings – a video pops up and looks like you are in the wrong spot, scroll down under it…
By the way if your friends don’t do this, they will be sharing info about you as well.

.
Thanks,Sarah

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Five Ways to Bless Others

Five Ways to Bless Others
by Penny Zeller

Looking for some simple ways to bless others? Below are five easy, yet important ways to make an impact in the lives of another.

What can you do with all those items that are no longer needed, but are still in good condition? Why not bless someone else with those items?


1. Clothing – experts say if you haven’t worn something in the past two years, pass it on.

Check your community for places that take used clothing. Homeless shelters and the Salvation Army or Goodwill are just a few suggestions.

Dress for Success accepts nice women’s clothing that can be given to disadvantaged women, those exiting the prison system in search of employment, or those in need of clothing for a job interview. God has used this organization to bless those seeking a second chance. For more information or to locate a Dress for Success program in your area, see http://www.dressforsuccess.org/

2. Toys – why not bless a needy child with a gently loved toy?

Know a foster parent? Might their foster child(ren) need toys or clothes?

You can also check with your community Department of Social Services to see if there is someone in need. Because of confidentiality laws, it is likely you will be delivering the items to Social Services to be delivered by one of their employees.

Many missions organizations are in need of small toys and stuffed animals to take on mission trips.

The Salvation Army/Goodwill are good choices as well when considering finding new homes for gently loved toys.

3. Books – If you have extra Bibles or other books in your home, there are plenty of places in which to donate them.

Love Packages accepts Bibles, Christian books and magazines, tracts, and hymnals. They distribute these items to numerous countries and into the hands of those who are hungry for the Word of God. Be sure to check their website for a detailed list on what Love Packages does and does not accept at http://www.lovepackages.org/.

Send your books to Hands for Christ. They found Lending Libraries in other countries and lend out Christian items to new believers. More information can be found at http://www.handsforchrist.org/Site/Join_Us.html

Why not donate some of your items to your church library? Be sure to check (and double-check!) your items for content. The Bible warns us in 1 Corinthians 10:32 of causing others to stumble. Make sure your donated books, DVDs, and videos are clean and wholesome family-oriented material.

4. Using your talents to bless others – Do you have a talent for sewing? Why not use your talents to donate a new blanket or quilt to benefit a traumatized child through Project Linus International. For more information, please see http://www.projectlinus.org/

There are a variety of opportunities to bless a child at http://hatsfororphans.org/Home.php

Are you able to change the oil in a vehicle or winterize a car? Why not start a group through your church that winterizes/maintains cars once a year for widows and single moms?

Do you have a knack for organizing events? Why not form a group to gather individually wrapped store-bought goodies for college students or for our soldiers?

5. Miscellaneous ways to make a difference – Have some clean plastic cottage cheese or butter containers? Check to see if your church needs these containers for leftover meals at funerals, etc. Also, if you have other clean “Glad” or “Tupperware” containers you aren’t using, these can be donated as well.

What to do with all those Christmas cards (as well as other occasion cards) you receive this year? Donate cards to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children at their Card Recycling Program. More details can be found at http://stjudesranch.org/help_card.php

Could your local Habit for Humanity use your gently used household items, such as ceiling fans or doors?

Feeling inspired to help others? Before you get started please check out these rules of thumb:

Always ask someone in your family, immediate and extended, if they need the item first. First Timothy 5:8 tells us to first provide for our relatives.

Do you know any widows or single moms who could use the items? James 1:27 instructs us to take care of the widows and orphans.

Do NOT pass on anything you wouldn’t use or wear yourself (i.e., junk). Clothes with stains and holes, books with pages ripped out of them, scratched DVDs, or expired food that doesn’t have a place in your home certainly won’t be welcome (or appreciated) in someone else’s.

Always call first to see if donations are being accepted. Some places are inundated with items and are therefore not accepting donations at this time. Please be respectful of their donation criteria.

Most importantly, pray for God’s guidance as you seek to find who could use your gently used items.

Now involve the entire family and bless someone today!


Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous articles in national and regional publications. Penny’s most recent book is a Christian historical romance titled “McKenzie”- the first in her Montana Skies Series (Whitaker House). Penny is also the author of “77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others” (Beacon Hill Press). Penny loves to connect with readers through her website at www.pennyzeller.com or her blog at pennyzeller.wordpress.com.

McKenzie

McKenzie (Whitaker House) is a Christian fiction historical romance and the first in a series of three in the Montana Skies Series. Release date: September 1, 2010

Read on for a synopsis of this touching and heartwarming novel:

“Desperate times call for desperate measures” is the reasoning that prompts McKenzie Worthington, a young lady of Boston’s high society, to respond to an ad for a mail-order bride for a man in the Montana Territory. McKenzie is desperate, after all, to save her beloved younger sister, Kaydie, from her evil, abusive husband, who robs banks for a living. And so, it is with reckless determination that McKenzie runs away from the comforts of home and hearth to head West and meet her new husband—whom she’ll divorce, of course, after she rescues her sister.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures” is the reasoning that also prompts Zachary Sawyer, a rugged rancher after God’s own heart, to post an ad for a mail-order bride in various newspapers across the country. Managing a ranch and caring for his adoptive son, Davey, has become more than one man can handle alone, and Zach prays for God to send him a wife with whom to build a life and share his dreams.

When McKenzie arrives at Zach's ranch, she immediately puts her plan in motion, searching for her sister and doing all she can to keep her new husband from forming an attachment.  But his persistent kindness and significant self-sacrifices begin to change her heart-and ruin her plans.  God has a way of working things out to the good of those who love Him, though, as McKenzie will soon see.

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Inspiration

I just read an article in Inspired Women Magazine, that I just had to make a shout out on…  Praise God for Christian Women Writers like Penny Zeller who has inspired me.  I really recommend that you read her article on “5 Ways to Bless Others”… not only is it inspirational it is also biblically based.

As many of you may know, I have in the last year transitioned from an Accounting Controller role in the Corporate world to a SAHM role in my wonderful world.  With that change, I have a lot of unused Business attire.  I have also over the last year lost 73 lbs so even if I was in the same “Corporate” mode of dress… I could never wear these clothes again. 

Being on a garage sale mindset regarding getting rid of excess stuff… in my first post I explained how much extra “material compensations for childlessness” that I had acquired over the years… the 2^nd floor of our house is supposed to be useable space – craft room and workout room instead it is wall to wall storage of junk mainly.  So I am on a mission to go through it and sell it… Okay I digress a little bit, sorry. 

Being on a garage sale mindset, I had intended to sell this clothing… but Penny’s article has touched my heart that the organization  “Dress for Success” could use these clothes better than I could use the little bit of cash that I would get.  Lately, God has laid several issues on my heart regarding my desire to take care of family income and that it is not always His priority for how I need to handle an item.  In this case, I know in my heart that these clothes will be going to where He wants them.  And as God is the real owner of everything I have… then it is my duty to follow His wishes.

I would like to challenge you to (1) read the article…I pray it will inspire you as it did me and (2) follow God’s will with not just your spiritual life or your tithe but also with everything you own and all that you are.  I am working towards this… and for those of you who know me personally… I am only at the beginning of this journey as I have a tendency to want His will to follow mine. ..which is definitely the wrong order of things.

I have added hyperlinks to the magazine, to Penny’s website, to the article, and to the organization that God wants my clothes to go to.  I hope you take the time to read this article and let it have an impact on your life.

Samantha

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I say Yes

Thank you Super Mom and The B.M.C. Report, I loved your blog posts so here is mine.....

I say YES to a Sonic Route 44 Diet Dr.Pepper...I deserve one!
I say yes to running around the living room with my two year old dancing to Felix Navidad.
I say yes to one more song and cuddle before sending them off to bed.
I say yes to making sure that my I tell my boys "I LOVE YOU" each day
I say yes to making sure my boys know that GOD loves them too!
I say yes to taking an extra 5 minutes of me time with my husband each day.
I say yes to taking my quiet time with God each morning.
I say yes to taking 5 more minutes petting my dogs while the chores wait.
I say yes to putting my boys (both 2 legged and 4 legged) first above my chores.
I say yes to marveling at the beautiful day God made for us.
I say yes to getting ALL the laundry and dishes done.
I say yes to a fun walk with the family each afternoon.
I say yes to enjoying watching Curious George with my boys each morning.
I say yes to staying calm while all around me is chaos.
I say yes to inspiring others.
I say yes to find a positive in every situation.
I say yes to giggling.
I say yes to learning something NEW.
I say yes to taking time for me to get exercise each day.
I say yes to making sure I blog each day with SOMETHING even if it isn't a huge post.


What do YOU say yes to? 

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