Hi y'all!!
This time of the year is always an interesting and frustrating time for me. See, I haven't celebrated Halloween since I was 10 years old. This year has been particularly difficult, as both girls are in school now and have started asking why.
While the current "traditions" (if we can call them that) surrounding the holiday, historically, Halloween finds its roots based in fear. According to www.history.com;
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
By 43 A.D., the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of “bobbing” for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.
On May 13, 609 A.D., Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III (731–741) later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1. By the 9th century the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted the older
Celtic rites. In 1000 A.D., the church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It is widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. All Souls Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The All Saints Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
While it is well known that the Roman Catholic Church utilized and often supplanted native holidays and traditions the world over as a tactic to convert those in the new lands they were conquering, Christmas (which I'll discuss in a later post) is another example of this, the traditions of Halloween, as noted above, were originally based in fear and have very much remained based in fear. Not just trick (dressing up so that evil spirits don't recognize the person) or treating (leaving treats so the spirits pass by the house), but think about the movies that are shown on almost every possible cable channel throughout the month of October. Instead of celebrating the harvest and the change in seasons, we, as a culture, much like the ancient Celts and Romans, celebrate death and fear.
We do not want our girls to learn that ungodly fear is a positive thing. As I said early in this post, the girls have started asking questions about why we choose not to celebrate Halloween, and I have struggled with how best to answer those questions. My good friend, Klancy, put it in the best way possible. We believe that love drives out fear and that we should not operate out of spirit of fear, but of love. Since history shows that Halloween is not only rooted in fear, it also encourages celebrating fear, that is reason that we don't celebrate this holiday.
I refuse to judge those who disagree with our decision, and I would request the same courtesy be extended to our family. I am simply outlining our reasons for making this decision.
That's all for now! Thanks for stopping by!
{Becky}
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
My Love Hate Relationship with Apartment Living
Hey y'all!!!
So, I have this love-hate relationship with apartment living. I know, that might be normal, but lately it's been really bad. Up until recently, it's been mostly a love relationship. I love not having to worry about maintenance, and everything that comes with not having to be responsible for a house and all it's trappings. I also love the convenience of our current location in relation to the girls' school and church and everything.
Z and I lived in an apartment right after we got married and it was not a good experience, and we really didn't want to live in an apartment again. Our experience this time has been much better, with the exception of the last several months. Our apartment is on the end of the building with only one other apartment connected. Our upstairs neighbors. They are young guys, who while out of college, are still somewhat young and stupid, for lack of a better way to say it. They are loud at random hours in the middle of the night, waking us and the girls up and they like their weed.
Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with marijuana, given that those indulging are of age, but in an apartment setting it doesn't just affect them. See the biggest problem we've had in the last few months, really almost year, since they moved in is that every time they decide to smoke, it filters down into our apartment through the vents. And it's really strong. The girls have complained of stomach aches, their behavior changes, they complain about headaches, and they don't sleep well, complaining of nightmares on the nights when the neighbors are smoking. I know that nightmares are not typical symptoms of marijuana, but headaches are and when your head hurts, it can cause nightmares.
I started this post almost 3 weeks ago, one day when it was really bad and I had complained to the apartment manager. My biggest beef with that conversation was that she tried to tell me that marijuana smoke was no different than cigarette smoke and that there wasn't much they could do about the problem, especially without a police report. I was so frustrated that night, that I called the County Sheriff's office and ran the scenario past a Sheriff, who instructed me to call every single time, immediately upon smelling the smoke. I had to do that about a week and a half ago, one night after Z got home from work. They had their windows open and you could smell it outside. Unfortunately, the smell dissipated before the officers could get here, but when we talked with the officers, they said not to hesitate to call if it happened again.
Things had been mostly good since then, with only whiffs here and there, but nothing that was overly potent or that I could definitely say was marijuana. At least until this afternoon. The girls and I were at a class at church after school, and when we got home to eat dinner before going back to church for their piano lesson, I walked into a "smack in the face" wall of marijuana smoke, giving me an instant headache. I checked to see if the neighbors upstairs had their windows open and they did. I immediately called the County Sheriff's non-emergency phone number. They sent out two Corinth Police Officers. The officers spoke briefly with Z and me upon arrival and then went upstairs to talk to the guys. I started hearing lots of slamming doors and needed to make sure I could get the girls out to the car to take them over to piano lessons. When I went outside to check, I noticed that a third officer had arrived in the meantime and the smoke was really bad at the stairs to go upstairs.
I knew the officers needed to talk with me, but needed to get the girls to their lesson. Thank God, our lessons are at church and we have friends who could sign them in. I left the girls with my friend Ashley and headed back home. When I got there, one of the officers asked how I was, and I said good with the exception of the headache from the marijuana. He said he got a "nose-full" of it too. At that point, he relayed that they had issued tickets and confiscated the marijuana that they found in the apartment. He stated that they did not tell the neighbors that we had complained, just that they had gotten a call. At this point, I don't care if they know or not, but I'm pretty sure they know it was us. He also told me that the guys are moving out in December when their lease is up. Thank God!!
Z stopped in at the management office to relay what I had told him about the doors slamming and the smell. The manager actually apologized for everything! I'm glad she apologized, but I'm actually more glad to know that I'm not crazy and they really were smoking marijuana. She also told Z that they were moving out in December. I'm just glad we only have to deal with them for another two months.
See here's the thing, I know that because we are choosing to live in an apartment for the time being, I know that there are things that we can't control about our environment and that we just have to accept. Cigarette smoke is unfortunately one of those things, as is random dog barking, and people who walk really heavily in the apartment above us. The problem I've had up until today is figuring out where the line is for having to just put up with something because we choose to live in an apartment and where our rights start as tenets. It can't always just be that we have to deal with it, because what someone does in the privacy of their own "home" is none of our business, at some point, I have to start speaking up for my right to comfort in my own "home". Today I won that fight, and I'm pretty DAMN proud of myself!!!
Lesson learned: Don't back down and don't feel bad about being "That Neighbor" when it involves something illegal and the health and well-being of your family.
That's all for now!
Thanks for stopping by!
{Becky}
So, I have this love-hate relationship with apartment living. I know, that might be normal, but lately it's been really bad. Up until recently, it's been mostly a love relationship. I love not having to worry about maintenance, and everything that comes with not having to be responsible for a house and all it's trappings. I also love the convenience of our current location in relation to the girls' school and church and everything.
Z and I lived in an apartment right after we got married and it was not a good experience, and we really didn't want to live in an apartment again. Our experience this time has been much better, with the exception of the last several months. Our apartment is on the end of the building with only one other apartment connected. Our upstairs neighbors. They are young guys, who while out of college, are still somewhat young and stupid, for lack of a better way to say it. They are loud at random hours in the middle of the night, waking us and the girls up and they like their weed.
Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with marijuana, given that those indulging are of age, but in an apartment setting it doesn't just affect them. See the biggest problem we've had in the last few months, really almost year, since they moved in is that every time they decide to smoke, it filters down into our apartment through the vents. And it's really strong. The girls have complained of stomach aches, their behavior changes, they complain about headaches, and they don't sleep well, complaining of nightmares on the nights when the neighbors are smoking. I know that nightmares are not typical symptoms of marijuana, but headaches are and when your head hurts, it can cause nightmares.
I started this post almost 3 weeks ago, one day when it was really bad and I had complained to the apartment manager. My biggest beef with that conversation was that she tried to tell me that marijuana smoke was no different than cigarette smoke and that there wasn't much they could do about the problem, especially without a police report. I was so frustrated that night, that I called the County Sheriff's office and ran the scenario past a Sheriff, who instructed me to call every single time, immediately upon smelling the smoke. I had to do that about a week and a half ago, one night after Z got home from work. They had their windows open and you could smell it outside. Unfortunately, the smell dissipated before the officers could get here, but when we talked with the officers, they said not to hesitate to call if it happened again.
Things had been mostly good since then, with only whiffs here and there, but nothing that was overly potent or that I could definitely say was marijuana. At least until this afternoon. The girls and I were at a class at church after school, and when we got home to eat dinner before going back to church for their piano lesson, I walked into a "smack in the face" wall of marijuana smoke, giving me an instant headache. I checked to see if the neighbors upstairs had their windows open and they did. I immediately called the County Sheriff's non-emergency phone number. They sent out two Corinth Police Officers. The officers spoke briefly with Z and me upon arrival and then went upstairs to talk to the guys. I started hearing lots of slamming doors and needed to make sure I could get the girls out to the car to take them over to piano lessons. When I went outside to check, I noticed that a third officer had arrived in the meantime and the smoke was really bad at the stairs to go upstairs.
I knew the officers needed to talk with me, but needed to get the girls to their lesson. Thank God, our lessons are at church and we have friends who could sign them in. I left the girls with my friend Ashley and headed back home. When I got there, one of the officers asked how I was, and I said good with the exception of the headache from the marijuana. He said he got a "nose-full" of it too. At that point, he relayed that they had issued tickets and confiscated the marijuana that they found in the apartment. He stated that they did not tell the neighbors that we had complained, just that they had gotten a call. At this point, I don't care if they know or not, but I'm pretty sure they know it was us. He also told me that the guys are moving out in December when their lease is up. Thank God!!
Z stopped in at the management office to relay what I had told him about the doors slamming and the smell. The manager actually apologized for everything! I'm glad she apologized, but I'm actually more glad to know that I'm not crazy and they really were smoking marijuana. She also told Z that they were moving out in December. I'm just glad we only have to deal with them for another two months.
See here's the thing, I know that because we are choosing to live in an apartment for the time being, I know that there are things that we can't control about our environment and that we just have to accept. Cigarette smoke is unfortunately one of those things, as is random dog barking, and people who walk really heavily in the apartment above us. The problem I've had up until today is figuring out where the line is for having to just put up with something because we choose to live in an apartment and where our rights start as tenets. It can't always just be that we have to deal with it, because what someone does in the privacy of their own "home" is none of our business, at some point, I have to start speaking up for my right to comfort in my own "home". Today I won that fight, and I'm pretty DAMN proud of myself!!!
Lesson learned: Don't back down and don't feel bad about being "That Neighbor" when it involves something illegal and the health and well-being of your family.
That's all for now!
Thanks for stopping by!
{Becky}
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Weight Loss Wednesday
Hi y'all!!
It's Wednesday, which means an update on my weight loss progress. I know I missed last week's update, I wasn't feeling well and didn't do much blogging last week at all. I've lost 3 pounds in the last two weeks. I'm so happy that I'm still losing and not hitting a plateau. Here's the progress pictures from this week:
Here's a comparison picture of before and today.
How are your goals coming?
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
It's Wednesday, which means an update on my weight loss progress. I know I missed last week's update, I wasn't feeling well and didn't do much blogging last week at all. I've lost 3 pounds in the last two weeks. I'm so happy that I'm still losing and not hitting a plateau. Here's the progress pictures from this week:
Here's a comparison picture of before and today.
How are your goals coming?
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Menu Plan Monday
Hi y'all!!
In case you're wondering, I actually do my Menu Planning on Friday or Saturday and sometimes on Sunday, before Monday. Why? Because it allows me to add to the grocery list and get the shopping done before the craziness of the week starts. Here's this week's plan:
Monday
B: Oatmeal
D: Burgers
Tuesday
B: Oatmeal
D: Chicken Nuggets & Fries
Wednesday
B: Oatmeal
D: Sandwiches
Thursday
B: Oatmeal
D: Hot Dogs & Chips
Friday
B: Oatmeal
D: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Saturday
B: Oatmeal
L: Leftovers
D: Steak & Potatoes
Sunday
B: At Church
L: TBD
D: Pizza
What's on your menu this week? Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
In case you're wondering, I actually do my Menu Planning on Friday or Saturday and sometimes on Sunday, before Monday. Why? Because it allows me to add to the grocery list and get the shopping done before the craziness of the week starts. Here's this week's plan:
Monday
B: Oatmeal
D: Burgers
Tuesday
B: Oatmeal
D: Chicken Nuggets & Fries
Wednesday
B: Oatmeal
D: Sandwiches
Thursday
B: Oatmeal
D: Hot Dogs & Chips
Friday
B: Oatmeal
D: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Saturday
B: Oatmeal
L: Leftovers
D: Steak & Potatoes
Sunday
B: At Church
L: TBD
D: Pizza
What's on your menu this week? Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Weight Loss Wednesday
Hey y'all!!
It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for a weight loss/wellness update. So, here goes!
I lost another 2 pounds this week!! Check out the other blog for more details on my workouts. I'm going to start doing weekly measurements in addition to weight loss updates. I'm pretty excited this week, because I realized this morning, that I've been working out because I want to now, not just because my "kid" brother is pushing me. I'm going in on my own, even when I don't feel good, I've added an extra day and a dance class on Wednesday nights too. I'm also designing my own workouts using the exercises that Jon provided early on. I'm pretty proud of that!
Here are this week's pictures.
How are you doing on meeting your goals?
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for a weight loss/wellness update. So, here goes!
I lost another 2 pounds this week!! Check out the other blog for more details on my workouts. I'm going to start doing weekly measurements in addition to weight loss updates. I'm pretty excited this week, because I realized this morning, that I've been working out because I want to now, not just because my "kid" brother is pushing me. I'm going in on my own, even when I don't feel good, I've added an extra day and a dance class on Wednesday nights too. I'm also designing my own workouts using the exercises that Jon provided early on. I'm pretty proud of that!
Here are this week's pictures.
How are you doing on meeting your goals?
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Thankful Thursday on Saturday (Catching Up)
Hi y'all!!
I was sick on Thursday and yesterday was a crazy day!! So, I'm playing catch up this afternoon and this week's Thankful Thursday is super simple. Just a picture from the first day of school.
What are you thankful for this week?? Grab a button below, link up and share!!
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
{Becky}
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Weight Loss Wednesday
Hi y'all!!
Guess what day it is?! Yep! It's Wednesday and that means an update on my weight loss/wellness journey! I lost another pound this week!!! AND I started learning Hula tonight. After today though, I will definitely make sure that I don't schedule leg day for Wednesdays anymore. Too much leg work for one day, and holy mother of quad burns!! But it's soooo good!!! Here are my progress pictures from this week.
Here are the pictures from this week compared to the pictures from 2 weeks ago.
How's your journey going? Making any progress? Mine's been slow, but it definitely happening. Find today's workout and others on my Fitness Journey blog.
Hope you have a great day tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Guess what day it is?! Yep! It's Wednesday and that means an update on my weight loss/wellness journey! I lost another pound this week!!! AND I started learning Hula tonight. After today though, I will definitely make sure that I don't schedule leg day for Wednesdays anymore. Too much leg work for one day, and holy mother of quad burns!! But it's soooo good!!! Here are my progress pictures from this week.
Here are the pictures from this week compared to the pictures from 2 weeks ago.
How's your journey going? Making any progress? Mine's been slow, but it definitely happening. Find today's workout and others on my Fitness Journey blog.
Hope you have a great day tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Here's to Horizons and New Things
Hey y'all!!
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about where I'm headed, what God has in store for me and my family, and what I'm "supposed to do when I grow up". Without going into a really long story about my history, during my undergraduate studies at a small university in Michigan, yes it was a Christian university, I had multiple people whom I trusted confirm a call to ministry. Not that that call was specifically defined, but it was defined enough to change my major and minor to focus on ministry instead of business, broadcast journalism or computers (I changed my major about 5 times in the first four semesters before I finally acknowledged the proverbial 2x4 to my head.) The one huge thing that I learned during my undergraduate years, is that God just wants us to follow Him one step at a time, even when you can't see any further ahead than the spot where He wants you to plant your foot for that step. Like many "kids" who attend liberal arts schools, I struggled to find a job in my field. I worked at the YMCA in my hometown for awhile and I also was a substitute teacher. I loved that job, BUT it confirmed that while I may be a gifted teacher, I am definitely not called to teach elementary school and now that I have my own kids, elementary school teachers are heroes to me even more. Shortly after I graduated, God revealed the next step to me. I was to go back to school and get my Master's in Counseling. It took me 7 years, an engagement, a wedding, a couple of jobs, unemployment, and two babies (one born during my internship) to graduate, but I did it. I gained fantastic experiences working with families, kids, and teens for just over 3 years after that. In 2014, God moved us to Corinth, TX.
I took a job working as a DoD Contractor with the Navy Reserve providing resource referrals to reservists and their families. Through my work with this program, I met some incredibly amazing people! One of those people was Alee. Today, she announced that she is not re-enlisting when her contract is up on 7 months, and was also moving to the IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) to finish out her time with the Navy. She said it was bittersweet, and I don't doubt it. Currently, she has approximately 40 comments on that post, and a lot of those comments come from her shipmates.
One of those comments struck me tonight and really made me think. Andrew V. said: "You know why people always suggest to focus on the horizons? They are constant, calm, and can never be reached. They drive us forward and prevent us from focusing too much on the troubled waters that may surround us. Keep your eyes to the horizon sailor, and eventually all shall be fair winds with following seas."
I never thought about horizons like that, but it's so true, and much like just taking the next step in front of you to keep moving. Life always has waves, but having something that is constant to keep your eyes on definitely helps. For me that's God, His love, and His Plan. Troubled seas have been almost a constant for our family, and while you have to focus on them for periods of time to make sure your ship doesn't sink, moving forward to the horizon has definitely helped me, especially recently.
I'm no longer working with the program I mentioned. God decided that my next step was going to come sooner than we planned and I'm now "working" for my girls and hubby. And I'm loving (almost) every minute of it. This change is allowing me to find something closer to home, that doesn't involve traveling as much, and eventually I'll return to the traditional "workforce". For now, I'm "keeping my eyes to the horizon" and taking it one step at a time, until God decides to show me more of the picture.
Alee, I pray for God's blessings on your new endeavors and can't wait to see you next time you're back in Texas! Andrew, thanks for letting me use your words! Hopefully they inspire others too!
That's it for tonight! Thanks for stopping by!
{Becky}
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about where I'm headed, what God has in store for me and my family, and what I'm "supposed to do when I grow up". Without going into a really long story about my history, during my undergraduate studies at a small university in Michigan, yes it was a Christian university, I had multiple people whom I trusted confirm a call to ministry. Not that that call was specifically defined, but it was defined enough to change my major and minor to focus on ministry instead of business, broadcast journalism or computers (I changed my major about 5 times in the first four semesters before I finally acknowledged the proverbial 2x4 to my head.) The one huge thing that I learned during my undergraduate years, is that God just wants us to follow Him one step at a time, even when you can't see any further ahead than the spot where He wants you to plant your foot for that step. Like many "kids" who attend liberal arts schools, I struggled to find a job in my field. I worked at the YMCA in my hometown for awhile and I also was a substitute teacher. I loved that job, BUT it confirmed that while I may be a gifted teacher, I am definitely not called to teach elementary school and now that I have my own kids, elementary school teachers are heroes to me even more. Shortly after I graduated, God revealed the next step to me. I was to go back to school and get my Master's in Counseling. It took me 7 years, an engagement, a wedding, a couple of jobs, unemployment, and two babies (one born during my internship) to graduate, but I did it. I gained fantastic experiences working with families, kids, and teens for just over 3 years after that. In 2014, God moved us to Corinth, TX.
I took a job working as a DoD Contractor with the Navy Reserve providing resource referrals to reservists and their families. Through my work with this program, I met some incredibly amazing people! One of those people was Alee. Today, she announced that she is not re-enlisting when her contract is up on 7 months, and was also moving to the IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) to finish out her time with the Navy. She said it was bittersweet, and I don't doubt it. Currently, she has approximately 40 comments on that post, and a lot of those comments come from her shipmates.
One of those comments struck me tonight and really made me think. Andrew V. said: "You know why people always suggest to focus on the horizons? They are constant, calm, and can never be reached. They drive us forward and prevent us from focusing too much on the troubled waters that may surround us. Keep your eyes to the horizon sailor, and eventually all shall be fair winds with following seas."
I never thought about horizons like that, but it's so true, and much like just taking the next step in front of you to keep moving. Life always has waves, but having something that is constant to keep your eyes on definitely helps. For me that's God, His love, and His Plan. Troubled seas have been almost a constant for our family, and while you have to focus on them for periods of time to make sure your ship doesn't sink, moving forward to the horizon has definitely helped me, especially recently.
I'm no longer working with the program I mentioned. God decided that my next step was going to come sooner than we planned and I'm now "working" for my girls and hubby. And I'm loving (almost) every minute of it. This change is allowing me to find something closer to home, that doesn't involve traveling as much, and eventually I'll return to the traditional "workforce". For now, I'm "keeping my eyes to the horizon" and taking it one step at a time, until God decides to show me more of the picture.
Alee, I pray for God's blessings on your new endeavors and can't wait to see you next time you're back in Texas! Andrew, thanks for letting me use your words! Hopefully they inspire others too!
That's it for tonight! Thanks for stopping by!
{Becky}
Monday, September 12, 2016
Menu Plan Monday
Hey y'all!!!
Here's our Menu for the week! What's on your menu??
Monday
B: Toast
D: Nuggets and French Fries
Tuesday
B: Oatmeal
D: Mac & Cheese and Hot Dogs
Wednesday
B: Oatmeal
D: Sandwiches
Thursday
B: Toast
D: Chick-fil-A Corinth Elementary Spirit Night
Friday
B: Oatmeal
D: Burgers
Saturday
B: Oatmeal
L: Leftovers
D: Steak
Sunday
B: Toast
L: @ Church (nursery Staff Meeting)
D: Pizza
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Here's our Menu for the week! What's on your menu??
Monday
B: Toast
D: Nuggets and French Fries
Tuesday
B: Oatmeal
D: Mac & Cheese and Hot Dogs
Wednesday
B: Oatmeal
D: Sandwiches
Thursday
B: Toast
D: Chick-fil-A Corinth Elementary Spirit Night
Friday
B: Oatmeal
D: Burgers
Saturday
B: Oatmeal
L: Leftovers
D: Steak
Sunday
B: Toast
L: @ Church (nursery Staff Meeting)
D: Pizza
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Thankful Thursdays
Hey y'all!!!
It's Thursday! Guess what that means?!?! Yep, Time for Thankful Thursdays! Grab a button below the text and link up! Share what you're thankful for this week; it doesn't have to be much, but there's ALWAYS something! Here's my list, with pictures too!!
- Our fall schedule of activities officially starts this afternoon with Piano Class for both girls! They are so excited to learn how to play, and I'm excited, because now maybe they'll fall asleep quicker at night.
- Yesterday, the girls went to the dentist for the first time since we moved to Texas. Yes, I know, major Mom-Fail. Don't judge!! That said, it was a great success! No cavities, no plague even, one tooth that should fall out soon, and two more that look like they'll be coming out in the next 6-12 months (Which M is very excited about)!!
- MINT Dentistry - Denton was amazing! Ms.. Jen and Ms. Amanda were wonderful with the girls! Check out the pictures below!
- I've lost almost 35 pounds since I started working out and watching portion sizes.
- I LOVE hand-me-downs!! Just got three new shirts from my MIL!!! She's the best and I couldn't ask for a better "bonus" mom!!
That's my list for this week! What are you thankful for! Grab a button below and share!!!
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Weight Loss Wednesday
Hey y'all!!!
I lost about 2.5 pounds this week!!! Even with it being a holiday weekend!! I know I promised to post progress pictures, but I'm bloated today and am NOT taking pictures. That said, with the 2.5 pounds lost this past week, I'm almost at 35 pounds lost; which leaves 65 pounds to go to meet my goal.. I worked out this morning, but because I am not feeling well (Girl stuff), I didn't do a full workout today. Here's what I was able to do this morning. I will be working on a Button for Weight Loss Wednesdays in case anyone wants to start doing this with me. I plan to adjust the name to Wellness Wednesdays once I've met my goal, so will be making a button for both and will include both in case someone wants to participate, but is already at their goal weight and is more focused on overall wellness currently.
That's it for now! Thanks for stopping by!
{Becky}
I lost about 2.5 pounds this week!!! Even with it being a holiday weekend!! I know I promised to post progress pictures, but I'm bloated today and am NOT taking pictures. That said, with the 2.5 pounds lost this past week, I'm almost at 35 pounds lost; which leaves 65 pounds to go to meet my goal.. I worked out this morning, but because I am not feeling well (Girl stuff), I didn't do a full workout today. Here's what I was able to do this morning. I will be working on a Button for Weight Loss Wednesdays in case anyone wants to start doing this with me. I plan to adjust the name to Wellness Wednesdays once I've met my goal, so will be making a button for both and will include both in case someone wants to participate, but is already at their goal weight and is more focused on overall wellness currently.
That's it for now! Thanks for stopping by!
{Becky}
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Fall Fun & Chores
Hi y'all!!!
We officially start our fall schedule this week, minus a normal Monday due to the holiday yesterday. We have added several activities for the girls this year, along with specifically scheduled chores. The chores have been working pretty well, although, we didn't get much arguing to begin with. Check it out:
A's Schedule:
Monday
Strip bed - AM
Make bed - PM
Homework - PM
Dishes - PM
Tuesday
Homework - PM
Kitchen floor - PM
Wednesday
Homework - PM
Class at Church - PM
Piano Class - PM
Thursday
Homework - PM
Art - PM
Dance: Modern - PM
Friday
Bathroom - PM
Dishes - PM
Saturday
Dance: Hip Hop - AM
Laudry - PM
** Any additional chores as Mom or Dad request
M's Schedule:
Monday
Strip bed - AM
Make bed - PM
Dance: Pre-Ballet - PM
Tuesday
Dishes - PM
Entryway: Shoes & Floor - PM
Wednesday
Class at Church - PM
Piano Class - PM
Thursday
Dishes - PM
Friday
Laundry - PM
Saturday
Dance: Hip Hop - AM
Dishes - PM
** Any additional chores as Mom or Dad request
It looks like a lot, but we tried to work it so that they had at least one complete day off from activities, and actually managed to get two full days off from scheduled activities.
I'm definitely ready for activities to start again, the last two weeks, I've had two tired kiddos, who don't want to sleep, because they "aren't tired." At least with regular activities scheduled, that shouldn't be too much of an issue moving forward.
Alright, time for me to get back to my to-do list for the day.
Have a great day!
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
We officially start our fall schedule this week, minus a normal Monday due to the holiday yesterday. We have added several activities for the girls this year, along with specifically scheduled chores. The chores have been working pretty well, although, we didn't get much arguing to begin with. Check it out:
A's Schedule:
Monday
Strip bed - AM
Make bed - PM
Homework - PM
Dishes - PM
Tuesday
Homework - PM
Kitchen floor - PM
Wednesday
Homework - PM
Class at Church - PM
Piano Class - PM
Thursday
Homework - PM
Art - PM
Dance: Modern - PM
Friday
Bathroom - PM
Dishes - PM
Saturday
Dance: Hip Hop - AM
Laudry - PM
** Any additional chores as Mom or Dad request
M's Schedule:
Monday
Strip bed - AM
Make bed - PM
Dance: Pre-Ballet - PM
Tuesday
Dishes - PM
Entryway: Shoes & Floor - PM
Wednesday
Class at Church - PM
Piano Class - PM
Thursday
Dishes - PM
Friday
Laundry - PM
Saturday
Dance: Hip Hop - AM
Dishes - PM
** Any additional chores as Mom or Dad request
It looks like a lot, but we tried to work it so that they had at least one complete day off from activities, and actually managed to get two full days off from scheduled activities.
I'm definitely ready for activities to start again, the last two weeks, I've had two tired kiddos, who don't want to sleep, because they "aren't tired." At least with regular activities scheduled, that shouldn't be too much of an issue moving forward.
Alright, time for me to get back to my to-do list for the day.
Have a great day!
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Monday, September 5, 2016
Menu Plan Monday
Hey y'all!!!
Here's the plan for this week!
Monday (Labor Day)
Breakfast: French Toast and Eggs
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Burgers
Tuesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Dinner: Spaghetti
Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Dinner: Grilled Chicken & Green Beans
Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Dinner: Grilled Salmon & Green Beans
Friday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Dinner: Ham & Broccoli Quiche
Saturday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Homemade Mac & Cheese and Hotdogs
Sunday
Breakfast: At Church
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Pizza
That's all for now!! Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Here's the plan for this week!
Monday (Labor Day)
Breakfast: French Toast and Eggs
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Burgers
Tuesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Dinner: Spaghetti
Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Dinner: Grilled Chicken & Green Beans
Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Dinner: Grilled Salmon & Green Beans
Friday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Dinner: Ham & Broccoli Quiche
Saturday
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Homemade Mac & Cheese and Hotdogs
Sunday
Breakfast: At Church
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Pizza
That's all for now!! Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Friday, September 2, 2016
Shabbat Shalom and Shoelaces
Hey y'all!!!
It's Friday! Shabbat Shalom or Sabbath Peace to you!
Two posts in one day! I walked to pick the girls up from school this afternoon. It was a nice walk, approximately a mile, it was just slightly too warm today. It will be good in about a month, but until then, I'll stick with my air conditioned car.
Then girls and I celebrated Shabbat (Sabbath) with Eggo waffles, scrambled eggs and cheese and bacon. Uncle Jonny came over and shared with us. In case you're wondering, we recently found out that we have a Jewish Heritage (on both sides of the family, mine and Z's), but that's not ultimately why we celebrate Shabbat. Also, we celebrate slightly differently than Jewish tradition, but the point is to rest and celebrate. And yes, we are Christians who do not have a problem eating Bacon at ALL.
That covers the first part of my title, now on to the second. Up until this year, we have used primarily velcro shoes for the girls. They're easy and the kids can put their shoes on alone. But when we went shoe shopping (which is a HUGE chore for us, because A has a genetic condition that affects her ligaments and muscles, specifically her feet) we found that A has pretty much outgrown velcro shoes. So instead of getting velcro for one and not the other, we just got tie-up shoes. The only problem with that is they don't know how to tie their own shoes. And we don't live near Aunt Rita anymore, for the family tradition of having her teach them when they turn 5. So after two school weeks of tying shoes for the girls every morning, I decided to find a simple way to teach them how to tie their shoes. Thank goodness for Google and YouTube! ;) I started with A, she picked up the concept pretty quickly, but like a typical first born (myself included), got frustrated when the first time didn't go so well. She was finally able to do it, but definitely needs some more practice, especially to help with the confidence. M, on the other hand, tried twice and picked it up almost immediately. We will be working on this more over the weekend. It will probably take a little more time for me at first, but at least come Tuesday when it's time to go back to school, I'll only have to say, "Get your shoes on." instead of having them come to me to tie them before we leave. If you're interested in the tutorial, you can find it here.
Alright, I'm out - gonna go watch my movie and enjoy my Muscato!
Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic night!
{Becky}
It's Friday! Shabbat Shalom or Sabbath Peace to you!
Two posts in one day! I walked to pick the girls up from school this afternoon. It was a nice walk, approximately a mile, it was just slightly too warm today. It will be good in about a month, but until then, I'll stick with my air conditioned car.
Then girls and I celebrated Shabbat (Sabbath) with Eggo waffles, scrambled eggs and cheese and bacon. Uncle Jonny came over and shared with us. In case you're wondering, we recently found out that we have a Jewish Heritage (on both sides of the family, mine and Z's), but that's not ultimately why we celebrate Shabbat. Also, we celebrate slightly differently than Jewish tradition, but the point is to rest and celebrate. And yes, we are Christians who do not have a problem eating Bacon at ALL.
That covers the first part of my title, now on to the second. Up until this year, we have used primarily velcro shoes for the girls. They're easy and the kids can put their shoes on alone. But when we went shoe shopping (which is a HUGE chore for us, because A has a genetic condition that affects her ligaments and muscles, specifically her feet) we found that A has pretty much outgrown velcro shoes. So instead of getting velcro for one and not the other, we just got tie-up shoes. The only problem with that is they don't know how to tie their own shoes. And we don't live near Aunt Rita anymore, for the family tradition of having her teach them when they turn 5. So after two school weeks of tying shoes for the girls every morning, I decided to find a simple way to teach them how to tie their shoes. Thank goodness for Google and YouTube! ;) I started with A, she picked up the concept pretty quickly, but like a typical first born (myself included), got frustrated when the first time didn't go so well. She was finally able to do it, but definitely needs some more practice, especially to help with the confidence. M, on the other hand, tried twice and picked it up almost immediately. We will be working on this more over the weekend. It will probably take a little more time for me at first, but at least come Tuesday when it's time to go back to school, I'll only have to say, "Get your shoes on." instead of having them come to me to tie them before we leave. If you're interested in the tutorial, you can find it here.
Alright, I'm out - gonna go watch my movie and enjoy my Muscato!
Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic night!
{Becky}
Thankful Thursday on Friday
Hey y'all!!
So, I ran out of time yesterday and didn't get this posted. I am so sorry. Things have been crazy this last month, but there is always something to be thankful for. Here's my list for this week:
- Z has a great job that is currently allowing me to stay home and be a full-time Momma for a while. (Don't get me wrong, I WILL eventually go back to working)
- A & M are finishing up week 2 of this school year and so far are loving everything about it.
- The Jewish month of Av is over tomorrow at sundown!!! If you need more information on why that's something to be thankful for; check out the information here. However, that link is only good until Sunday, September 4. So, if you read this after that day, go here for more information.
What are you thankful for this week?!?! Grab a button and link up! See what others are thankful for!
That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by.
{Becky}
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Weight Loss Wednesday
Hey y'all!!
I started my weight loss journey back in April, when I saw some pictures of myself that I did not like. Here's one of those pictures:
I was pushing 250 pounds and did not feel good about myself or healthy. I started watching my portion sizes and limiting my carb intake (for the record, I'm only limiting bad carbs, not carbs from fruits and vegetables). I also started working out with my brother, Jon Scott, at the gym at our church where he works. I asked him to help me get ready for our upcoming trip back to Michigan for our baby brother, Isaac's high school graduation. I had lost about 15 pounds at that point. Here's a picture from Commencement while we were there. I'm in the blue dress in the front.
It's not a close up picture, but I can see the difference. I couldn't work out the same while we were in Michigan, but I didn't gain any weight back either. I consider that week a wash..
In June, I started noticing muscles ripple in my arms when I put my hair in a ponytail. I took the below pictures on June 22. Definitely made progress.
I am currently working out 5 days a week and I have lost just over 30 pounds. Here are pictures from today. :)
My weight loss has been pretty steady at about 1 pound a week, which I am definitely happy with, because it will minimize sagging skin. I still have about 50 pounds to go, but I am excited so far.
I started a fitness journal blog where I am posting each days workout, but I will be doing progress pictures and posts each Wednesday. Find the link to today's workout here.
That's all for now!! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!!
{Becky}
I started my weight loss journey back in April, when I saw some pictures of myself that I did not like. Here's one of those pictures:
I was pushing 250 pounds and did not feel good about myself or healthy. I started watching my portion sizes and limiting my carb intake (for the record, I'm only limiting bad carbs, not carbs from fruits and vegetables). I also started working out with my brother, Jon Scott, at the gym at our church where he works. I asked him to help me get ready for our upcoming trip back to Michigan for our baby brother, Isaac's high school graduation. I had lost about 15 pounds at that point. Here's a picture from Commencement while we were there. I'm in the blue dress in the front.
In June, I started noticing muscles ripple in my arms when I put my hair in a ponytail. I took the below pictures on June 22. Definitely made progress.
I am currently working out 5 days a week and I have lost just over 30 pounds. Here are pictures from today. :)
I started a fitness journal blog where I am posting each days workout, but I will be doing progress pictures and posts each Wednesday. Find the link to today's workout here.
That's all for now!! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!!
{Becky}
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Why We Only Allow Our Second Grader to do 20 Minutes of Homework a Night
Hey y'all!!
I had an interesting conversation this past weekend with someone. A had mentioned that she had homework on the first day of school. For the record, she's only in second grade! In the teacher's defense, it was a quick math worksheet, along with some (20 minutes) reading. But still, it was the first day of school. During the conversation, I mentioned that I started the timer on the microwave for 20 minutes and then instructed A to do the worksheet and that whatever amount was left would be what she would need to read and if she chose to read more than that, it was her choice. After that, a statement was made that I was encouraging her to disregard the teacher's authority.
Authority is a tricky thing. At school there are lots of different authorities. There's the teachers, they have authority in their classes. There's the aides, they have authority in their respective areas. There's the secretaries, who have authority in their area, and the principal, who is the authority in the whole school. I would never encourage either of my daughters to disregard an authority figure while at school. In fact, we've repeatedly told our girls, that unless an adult asks you to do something that will hurt someone else or themselves or is wrong, they are to follow instructions given. In the event that they are asked to do something that they feel is wrong, they are to calmly and respectfully explain why they are refusing to do something, and while we will back them up when appropriate, they know that their choices have consequences that they have to face.
See, here's the thing, at home, Z and I are the authority, and since research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance. See recent article about a North Texas Teacher (Second Grade, hmmm) who canceled homework for this reason here. I have no problem with making my second grader complete school work after school if she doesn't get it done in class, but as parent's Z and I made an informed decision, based on research and conversations with his dad, who is an elementary teacher, that we would only allow our children to do 10 minutes of homework a night for each year of school (starting in first grade). First Grade = 10 minutes, Second Grade = 20 minutes, etc. This does not include work that for some reason doesn't get done in class, but frankly, that's not typically a problem with our girls. They LOVE school. We are not raising a child who feels that she can buck rules. In fact, just the opposite, she follows the rules and accepts discipline when she's made bad decisions. We are, however, raising both girls to understand that there are different expectations for the many different roles they play and at home, chores and being a positive part of the family are more important the fight that often ensues in order get excessive (over the 10 minute/night rule) homework done every night.
Stepping off my soapbox now.
Thanks for stopping by!!!
{Becky}
I had an interesting conversation this past weekend with someone. A had mentioned that she had homework on the first day of school. For the record, she's only in second grade! In the teacher's defense, it was a quick math worksheet, along with some (20 minutes) reading. But still, it was the first day of school. During the conversation, I mentioned that I started the timer on the microwave for 20 minutes and then instructed A to do the worksheet and that whatever amount was left would be what she would need to read and if she chose to read more than that, it was her choice. After that, a statement was made that I was encouraging her to disregard the teacher's authority.
Authority is a tricky thing. At school there are lots of different authorities. There's the teachers, they have authority in their classes. There's the aides, they have authority in their respective areas. There's the secretaries, who have authority in their area, and the principal, who is the authority in the whole school. I would never encourage either of my daughters to disregard an authority figure while at school. In fact, we've repeatedly told our girls, that unless an adult asks you to do something that will hurt someone else or themselves or is wrong, they are to follow instructions given. In the event that they are asked to do something that they feel is wrong, they are to calmly and respectfully explain why they are refusing to do something, and while we will back them up when appropriate, they know that their choices have consequences that they have to face.
See, here's the thing, at home, Z and I are the authority, and since research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance. See recent article about a North Texas Teacher (Second Grade, hmmm) who canceled homework for this reason here. I have no problem with making my second grader complete school work after school if she doesn't get it done in class, but as parent's Z and I made an informed decision, based on research and conversations with his dad, who is an elementary teacher, that we would only allow our children to do 10 minutes of homework a night for each year of school (starting in first grade). First Grade = 10 minutes, Second Grade = 20 minutes, etc. This does not include work that for some reason doesn't get done in class, but frankly, that's not typically a problem with our girls. They LOVE school. We are not raising a child who feels that she can buck rules. In fact, just the opposite, she follows the rules and accepts discipline when she's made bad decisions. We are, however, raising both girls to understand that there are different expectations for the many different roles they play and at home, chores and being a positive part of the family are more important the fight that often ensues in order get excessive (over the 10 minute/night rule) homework done every night.
Stepping off my soapbox now.
Thanks for stopping by!!!
{Becky}
Monday, August 29, 2016
Meal Plan Monday
Here's our plan for the week. Plans changed and the girls and I figured out this weekend.
Monday:
Burgers & Tator Tots
Tuesday:
Pepperoni English Muffin Pizzas
Wednesday:
Homemade Lunchables
Thursday:
Homemade Mac & Cheese and Hotdogs
Friday:
Waffles, Bacon & Eggs
Saturday:
Breakfast: Chick-fil-A (DFW area Chick-fil-A's are having a pajama party with free breakfast for kids in pajamas)
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: Spaghetti
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: Spaghetti
Sunday:
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Pizza
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Pizza
That's all for now.
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
Sunday, August 28, 2016
I'm Back At It
Hey y'all!!!
I've had some crazy changes in my life over the last three and a half weeks! They're definitely positive changes, but creating major transition not just for me, but the whole family. It's definitely been an adjustment. To make a long story short, I'm currently back to being a "Stay At Home Mom/Wife" again. Thankfully, God took care of everything, so that this change doesn't make for major monetary issues. I spent the last two weeks of the girls' summer vacation with them. We made cupcakes and frosting for Z's birthday, cookies for meet the teacher night and we went to a water park one day to see all of their daycare friends. Those two weeks may have been the longest weeks of recent years, as the girls have been used to being separate from each other for most of the day and just playing with their friends. Last Monday school started and I officially have a second grader and a kindergartener. A was very excited to get the teacher she wanted for the year, and M has settled in with her teacher and was very excited that two of her buddies from daycare are in her class this year.
Since school started, things have settled into a sort of routine, with adjustments being made as necessary. I have a cleaning schedule for myself, and we have set up a chore schedule for each of the girls. They help with laundry, dishes, cleaning the bathroom (A helps in their bathroom with the floor and the counter/sink), cleaning the kitchen floor and cleaning the foyer floor. They are also responsible for stripping their beds every Monday morning and putting sheets into the washer. This won't last forever, but for now, I'm enjoying the ability to be at home with the girls after school and actually getting to spend time with them instead of picking them up from daycare in time to feed them and put them to bed.
I've been planning how to get going on the blog again and I think I have a schedule figured out. I will also be starting a couple of new blogs. The first will be called "But God" and will focus on what He is doing in our lives and what He is saying to me, both for myself and for others. The second will be a fitness blog. I haven't named it yet, and any suggestions would be appreciated. This blog will focus on what I am doing to get more fit and I will use it as a sort of workout journal. Feel free to steal workouts (developed by my brother, Jon Scott) you are interested in.
I may not post every single day, but here's the plan for this blog:
Sunday: Sunday Funday - What we did over the weekend for fun
Monday: Menu Plan Monday - Enough said
Tuesday: TBD
Wednesday: Weight Loss Wednesday - weekly check in on how my weight loss is going
Thursday: Thankful Thursday -
Friday: TBD
Saturday: Sabbath - no post
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
I've had some crazy changes in my life over the last three and a half weeks! They're definitely positive changes, but creating major transition not just for me, but the whole family. It's definitely been an adjustment. To make a long story short, I'm currently back to being a "Stay At Home Mom/Wife" again. Thankfully, God took care of everything, so that this change doesn't make for major monetary issues. I spent the last two weeks of the girls' summer vacation with them. We made cupcakes and frosting for Z's birthday, cookies for meet the teacher night and we went to a water park one day to see all of their daycare friends. Those two weeks may have been the longest weeks of recent years, as the girls have been used to being separate from each other for most of the day and just playing with their friends. Last Monday school started and I officially have a second grader and a kindergartener. A was very excited to get the teacher she wanted for the year, and M has settled in with her teacher and was very excited that two of her buddies from daycare are in her class this year.
I've been planning how to get going on the blog again and I think I have a schedule figured out. I will also be starting a couple of new blogs. The first will be called "But God" and will focus on what He is doing in our lives and what He is saying to me, both for myself and for others. The second will be a fitness blog. I haven't named it yet, and any suggestions would be appreciated. This blog will focus on what I am doing to get more fit and I will use it as a sort of workout journal. Feel free to steal workouts (developed by my brother, Jon Scott) you are interested in.
I may not post every single day, but here's the plan for this blog:
Sunday: Sunday Funday - What we did over the weekend for fun
Monday: Menu Plan Monday - Enough said
Tuesday: TBD
Wednesday: Weight Loss Wednesday - weekly check in on how my weight loss is going
Thursday: Thankful Thursday -
Friday: TBD
Saturday: Sabbath - no post
Thanks for stopping by!!
{Becky}
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