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My current blog is actually over at typepad....

http://iammommy.typepad.com

PLease come and visit me!

Remember that every week I have new polls... so check out this weeks please! love you!

Amanda

Did you get the notice?

Hello all! I am praying that this entry reaches you successfully... that is, that you were alerted of it. This new blog is really testing my computer abilities, and I have spent quite a bit of time trying to figure everything out! I really appreciate you coming along for the ride, being patient with all my new "goings on", and not complaining! I know it seems like an awful lot of work for just a little ole blog...


This weekend was fun. We had our neighbors over for dinner of Saturday night-a spur of the moment thing- and it was so wonderful! I wish we could do that more often. I LOVE spending time with couples who are saved... it brings me endless joy.

OK..well..more later. I must go do some more tinkering to make sure everything is OK.

Please let me know if you were NOT alerted about this entry! (At YOUR earliest convenience. no rush!)

God Bless-
Amanda

Happy Saturday!

Hello.... I am feeling a bit like rambling today, so bear with me!

Chad and the kids and i went to a local organic dairy farm this morning. We got milk (in glass containers) and butter and cheese and ice cream and hamburger and chicken. I am so excited to try it all!

I got SOOOOOO sick starting about 7:00 Thursday night. I got a sinus headache that was the worst one I have ever experienced. I ended up sleeping about a total of 3 hours that night. Well, Friday I got up totally fatigued and sensitive... my muscles were tense and aching and I couldn't breath through my nose and I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head from the pressure and pain. I knew there was no way I could take care of the kids by myself, so I asked Chad to stay home, but he didn't.

Then I emailed my aunt Cheryl and told her I was sick and she prayed for me and prayed that Chad would come home! (I think she has God's direct line....ha, ha just kidding) So, thank God, Chad got home about 11:00. It was such sweet relief knowing I could close my eyes and relax my neck and not stress for a moment.

I slept for most of the afternoon, had some protein for dinner, then went to sleep a little after 8. I also took 2 fish oil caplets and only ate all natural foods on Friday.

Well...(insert dramatic pause here) I can hardly believe it, but I feel TOTALLY better today! Its like by eating all natural foods and taking the fish oil and getting rest, my body was working at its optimum levels, and I was able to heal much faster than normal! No fatigue! No sensitive muscles! I still have a runny nose and a little congestion, but even that is much, much better.

Oh, I am sorry, I also prayed and prayed and prayed that I wouldn't be sick to long and the kids wouldn't get sick from me. So, although I am thrilled with the immediate results of eating healthy and taking care of my body, I know that ultimately God was the one in control!!!

AND GUESS WHAT? I lost 5 pounds. In two days. lol. That's what no sugars and starches will do for me I guess. I am going to try and maintain this way of eating for as long as possible. NO FAST FOOD! No Hamburger helper! No potato chips! No Reece's peanut better cups!

Wait... I don't want to get all crazy or anything...

I can't tell myself NO to huge group of food or I will want that... so, for now, I am just going to limit the amounts consumed by me dramatically. But NONE for the kids. Getting them on a good healthy diet now is SOOOOO important to me!!!

OK...I told you I was gonna be a ramblin' fool today.... :)

We are going to the in-laws tomorrow. I told Chad that I almost felt like his parents would prefer it if I didn't come. He asked me why and I immediately felt guilty for saying anything. I don't want to be negative about his family to him. He doesn't need that!

But the truth is... It will be Chad, Colton, Parker, Chad's brother Ryan and son Jakob, and Chad's other brother Jason. Whenever they all get together (I have always been there in the past) I feel like such an outsider. They kind of separate off into groups and it ends up being me and the baby (Parker) when everyone else goes off and chats or watches the Twins or goes outside and talks or takes a walk in the woods and talks about upcoming hunting trips. I just don't fit in anywhere.

Its been super hard with Patty lately, because she has gotten more bold with her dislike of my choices and I have gotten more passive hoping they would just accept me!?!?!!! I honestly feel like everything I say, they automatically have an argument for. Now, in all fairness, they disagree with me on lots of bigger issues, like vaccinating and the kids diets and the kids daily activities, what kind of wife and mother I am, and of course, the BIGGY, the Lord. They think I keep making all the wrong choices, and have told me-to my face- that I will get it right when i am older and know better.

Ugh. I don't want to dwell. I just go through this every time I am supposed to spend time with them, and what I really need to be doing is just praying! Pray for the Holy Spirit to dwell within me and guide my speech, and pray for peace and serenity so they may see Jesus within me!

If you can, pray for me please!

Well, better go. God Bless you all!

Amanda

My Boys

I have like two seconds... just had to post a couple pics of Colton... I shaved his hair off and I love it! lol...and of course Parker...

God Bless-

Amanda

Thursday is my favorite day...

Good Afternoon world! Its me, Amanda! lol Hi all...

I am thinking of napping... both my kids are down right now, and it would be so easy to just slip in one little nap today. I went to bed late last night, and was up eary with Parker... no one would mind would they? :)

I will have to post more later about my day yesterday. It was fun, but very full!! Going from "son up until son down"...

God Bless you and yours!

Amanda

Parenting 101

Parenting 101
Successful Parents are . . .
Not perfect; They make mistakes, but observe and learn from both their own, and the mistakes of others.
· Personally involved with teaching and training their children. They know God holds only the parents solely responsible for overseeing their child's moral and spiritual development.
· Praying and studying for the job of parenting! They form their ideas about child discipline from a disciplined and prayerful consideration of Bible principles -- not from popular but unproven humanistic ideas!
· Refusing to delegate their God-given responsibilities for their own children to the state, the church, or others.
· Taking personal charge of their children's spiritual education to make sure they receive proper Biblical instruction.

I received this info. from ChristianParents.net. I think it is really spot on and hope that I can always implement these qualities into my parenting. I would hope that it becomes habit.

I think that if I do want to learn form my own mistakes, I need to have daily parenting reflection.
What did I do wrong today?
What could I have done better today?

Lord, how can I better a better child to You..therefore making me a better parent to them?
And prayer. I must never forget the awesome power of prayer, and how much I need it in my parenting journey.

(Written in March of 2007 from my previous journal)

This seamed to be the issue of the day today. It was a hot topic at Bible study, and then on my mind at home. I, like every other parent, want the best for my children. My greatest hope is that they have a relationship with the Lord. I believe if they have that, everything will fall into place.

I sat at Bible study and observed other parenting styles, and for the first time ever, didn't feel the need to judge. I know I have discussed this before... but I really trust that the women in my study are good, Christian women, and I feel that their motivations are good. It was refreshing to see how different we are, but how we are all the same at the core. Its that love of Jesus that bonds us.

Anywho, I am exhausted, as Chad is not home until late. God Bless you and yours-

Amanda