I do not have anything profound to share tonight, I just want to get in the habit of blogging.

On the positive side, God has been good and has shown me some awesome things things week. Even though the were challenges, I think the gains completely out-weigh the negative.  My goal for this weekend, exercise twice. I want to have dessert on Sunday, so I really need to get with the program. I have not been exercising this year and needed to make this change.

Hold me accountable and wish me luck

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think —according to the power that works in you— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

William

1. Pray with Heather every day
2. Bless the kids once a week

Heather

1. Exercise regularly
2. Leave for work on time!
3. Go to bed/wake up on time.
4. Blog more frequently.

Alessa

1. Do not take things without asking.
2. Be more neat and tidy.
3. Be nicer to family.
4. Complete and turn in school work on time.

Chloe

1. Overnight potty training.
2. Listen to Mommy and Daddy the first time.

Family

1. Read through the whole Bible this year.
2. Keep the house clean.
3. Consideration for others in all areas.

Hours away from the tenth anniversary.  Very pensive, very reflective.

Ten years ago

• America was invincible.
• National security was not my personal responsibility
• American’s would not trade liberty for security
• War was fought over there and required guns
• Hero was defined as a movie or sport’s star
• Government had much less power
• Safety was taken for granted
• Hatred of Americans for no other reason than where we live was practically unknown

Perhaps naive in some of my thoughts listed above, I always have believed and hopefully always will believe that America is the best country in the world.  I love the freedoms that our founding fathers outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  But now, “Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness” means something different.  A simple drive to see the trains for the kids can be interrupted by the presence of men in turbans staring intently at the tracks.  A trip to mom’s house brings questions when a car drives by with a cooler strapped to the top and plastic tubing coming out of the cooler.

On September 11, I was working at Sephora.  I remember the first rumors of the attacks.  New York, outside of Pittsburg, and the Pentagon.  I joked with one of my co-workers that someone was angry at Sephora as we had stores in all three locations.  It was only later that I really started thinking about it.  The time between learning of the attacks and lunch was a blur.  When lunch finally arrived, my friend and I went outside on a break and I shared with her that I thought it was something like a terrorist attack (she could tell you better exactly  what I said).  I figured it would take two people per plane (at least) plus a mastermind because individuals probably would not be able to coordinate something like this without someone figuring out the details.  That lunch break was surreal.  She said she saw birds, but other than that, there was nothing in the sky.  We usually saw planes because of our location between New York and DC.  None during this break, though.  One other colleague joined us and shared his reasoning for the day of the attack:  September 11 = 9-1-1 (emergency).   Later in the day, when I got home and saw the footage, shock set in.  I could not believe what I was seeing on television.  As the days and weeks progressed after the attack, I just had to turn off the television and stop reading the news.  The grief was almost too much to bear.

Fast forward ten years.  I am now married, have two beautiful daughters, a home, and quite a few things for which I am thankful.  I try to share not just the events of 9/11 with my older daughter, but capture some of the emotion too – the shock, the despair, the fear and the awesome displays of compassion.  Not sure how successful I am at it, but if nothing else, I hope my kids will learn the following from this horrible event in our nation’s history

• Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.  And, that, extraordinary things can happen every day.
• No matter what is happening, God is with them.  I hope they will show others God’s love through their actions.
• A hero is a person of substance, not just a famous person.
• While we do need to be cautious, life is awesome and most assuredly worth living at every moment.  Memories are a great legacy to pass on.
• No matter how happy or sad, angry or at peace, love is important.  It should be expressed sincerely and frequently.

Through it all, when the inevitable questions come:

Mom, how can someone hate us so much to want to crash a plane into a building?  Why are people jumping out of the building?  Why are you sad when you see old movies showing New York (specifically ones where the Towers are still standing)? Could this happen again?

I pray that I will have answers to give my daughters.  I pray that God will give me the words to capture the feelings in my heart.

Gen

Those who would give up Essential Liberty
to purchase a little Temporary Safety,
deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. ~ Benjamin Franklin

We live in a fast paced world.  Birthdays are a time to slow down and really show someone how much we care about them because……

Not everyone gets as many birthdays as others.  Over the past few days, I have seen reminders on Facebook, encouraging users to change their status to show that they are taking a stand against cancer.  Here is my challenge to you.  I do not want to you to just take a stand against cancer in and of itself.  I do want you to fight for more birthdays.  And, in turn, this means taking a stand against cancer.

Cancer does not discriminate against anyone,  it does not care how old or young, male, female, white, black, purple or anything else that could be used to distinguish us from each other – Cancer just does not care about it.  So, what are you going to do about it?

Yes, you can post on your Facebook status about cancer and I do from time to time as well, but my birthday wish is that you would join me in fighting for more birthdays.  Please join me next year, when we start our Relay for Life team again, and walk all night to show that we are standing with those who are fighting, to celebrate with those who are winning and to remember those who are not with us because of cancer.  Join me in the Fight!

This is dedicated to all of my family members and friends who are survivors, because even if you aren’t with us now, you still are a survivor!

Is there anyone out there who legitimately thinks that going to McDonald’s is going to provide a well-balanced, nutritious meal?  If you are one of these people, can you please message me so I can better understand from where you are coming?

I just read that McDonald’s is adding apples to all of the Happy Meals and cutting the portion size on the French Fries. Kudos to McDonald’s marketing team for trying to promote a “healthier meal option”.  Now, with that said…..the parent side of me must ask….Have you ever taken a 3 year old to McDonald’s?  Seriously McDonald’s – trying going through the drive through with a very insistent toddler who knows what she wants.

For grins, however, let’ s put away the mom side and approach this analytically -

Per McDonald’s Web Site:

4pc Chicken McNugget Happy Meal (including small French Fries and 1% LowFat White Milk Jug) – 520 calories.  Replace the Chicken McNuggets with a kid’s hamburger and add 70 calories to the total count (590).  A kid’s cheeseburger adds 120 calories to the overall meal, for a total of 640 calories.  This is for the kid’s Happy Meal.  640 calories is more calories than I consume for breakfast and lunch combined.

For the sake of space and simplicity I am not going to list the other “nutritional information” (we could also say, there really isn’t any either).

Now, for the record, I do not take my kids to McDonald’s for the nutritional benefits of McD’s.  We usually go there because I am running late for something and we need to put something in their stomachs.  It is also the exception to our dining and not the rule.  My dinner menus are planned out for two weeks at a time and the ingredients are available for someone to cook a healthy and well-balanced meal more nights than not.

But, in all fairness, I must continue with the analysis of the New Happy Meal.

4pc Chicken McNugget Happy Meal (4pc Chicken McNuggets – 190 calories, 1/2 serving Small French Fries – 115 calories, 1/2 serving Apples with caramel sauce – 85 calories, 1% Low Fat Milk Jug – 100 calories) – Total caloric intake = 490 calories.  That is only 30 calories less than the original Happy Meal listed at the top of this post.

There are some other nutritional benefits like  a little less fat and a little more vitamin C, but let me emphasize little.   It is my opinion that McDonald’s is only placating those who feel that they must be the parent police.

To those who feel they must fulfill this role (and may I add, that I personally do not know anyone who meets this criterion): I know how to provide healthy and well-balance meals for my children.  McDonald’s is the exception to our food consumption, not the norm.  And when we do consume McDonald’s fare (which is rare, because my older daughter really cannot handle too much junk food, which is what McDonald’s serves), we do not concern ourselves with the nutrition.

This too, shall I ponder, while I work to apply some other things that God has shown me during my period of unemployment, now that I am working.

Gen

p.s. on a side note, do not wait a year between yoga sessons.

Starting Monday, I will be employed.

During the past 6 weeks that I have been home, I have learned so much.  Ultimately, the glory goes to God for all of the lessons He has taught me.  I think the biggest lesson is to step outside of my comfort zone to get a job done.  About a year and a half ago, I was hit with the reality of how fearful I was to take steps into the unknown.  I went into the city to attend a conference and was faced with doing things that were a large departure from my routine.  Needless to say, I was happy to get back to my small but significant life.  Over the past 6 weeks I have had to also step outside of my comfort zone, more than I could have ever imagined.  A lot of the steps would not have been a major event for most people, but I had to come face-to-face with some long-held fear, or venture into areas in which I had no knowledge.  Here is what I learned

1. Treat people with respect and kindness no matter how they look, treat you, or even what their body language shows.  I had not walked in their shoes and had to show them what things were like walking in mine.  Patience and kindness were the key words in overcoming these challenges.  I met some very nice and understand people as well as some who seemed to be annoyed.  A heartfelt “Thank You” also went a long way
2. My perception of scary things is much bigger than the actual event.  One word – Dentist.  Not sure if I am over my fear, but made some huge steps in overcoming it
3. Perseverance is the name of the game – especially in dealing with government agencies.  I think I have provided the same information at least 6 times to the same departments.  Keeping a folder with all of the needed information made the process go smoothly when I resubmitted the same paperwork over and over again.
4. Admitting you don’t know something is not bad, but be sure of what you do know.  I had to go to a used car parts store (and I use that term loosely) trying to find a new rear view mirror.  I wasn’t sure what it was they brought me, but I knew it did not match what I had.  They tried to convince me that it would work, but I was not buying - literally.
5. No how much you learn, there is always more.  God is showing me everyday that there are new things out there for me to learn.  I think the next couple years are going to be full of some major lessons from God, but these lessons will bring our family to a really good spot.  I am not sure what is involved, but I know that I know that I know – God’s got my back (well – front, sides, etc)
6. Pray and if you find that you have prayed enough, pray some more.  Arrow prayers are good in a pinch, but whatever you do, commit your plans to God – FIRST!  and then follow up with prayer.

I will miss the flexibility of doing what I want when I wanted, staying up late, hanging out with my kids during the summer days and the possible adventures that would stem from them, but God…… (‘nuf said)

Gen

7:00- Wake up, Family Scripture study, Get dressed, Make bed/Clean room

7:45- Morning jobs *before breakfast* 1 per kid (Unload dishwasher, H2O garden, Take out trash, H2O front plants)  Breakfast.

8:15  Clean up breakfast

8:30 Morning Exercise- walk, ride bike, roller-blade, run, ball game etc.

9:00 Clean Zones (see chore chart), Pick up house.

10:00 Practice Instruments or Personal reading

11:00 Outside Play or Swim

12:00 Lunch

12:30 Babies take nap

1:00 Brain Fun: Board games, friends, building toys, play outside, crafts or art activity.

2:30 Wii Free time

4:30 Pick up house

5:00 Dinner time jobs- set table, unload dishwasher AGAIN, dinner prep

5:30 Dinner and Clean-up

7:00 Babies to bed- Movie for kids who were kind, courteous, and civil to their brothers and sisters… violators go to bed.

I am encouraged!  The above schedule will need to be modified a bit to fit into my family, but I think this may work…….

7:00- Wake up, Get dressed, Make bed/Clean room

7:45- Morning jobs *before breakfast* 1 per kid (Unload dishwasher, H2O garden, Take out trash, H2O front plants)  Breakfast.

8:15  Clean up breakfast

8:30 Morning Exercise- walk, ride bike, roller-blade, run, ball game etc.

9:00 Clean Zones (see chore chart), Pick up house.

10:00 Practice Instruments or Personal reading

11:00 Outside Play or Swim

12:00 Lunch

12:30 Clean up from AM Activities

1:00 Brain Fun: Summer Projects / Nap time for Chloe

3:00 Wii/TV/Computer Free time

4:30 Pick up house

5:00 Dinner time jobs

5:30 Dinner and Clean-up

6:30 Family Bible Study

7:00 Bath’s and quiet down time

8:15 Bed time

I also think it may be time to start my own blog so I can have more of a girly interface…….oh HCS  :)

This schedule will also be modified on Fridays because I have some fun activities planned with the girls but for a day-to-day thing, I am optimistic.