{ A bit of a busy week }

I am so glad that it is Friday night.  So, so glad.

It has been a super busy week, I've been running back and forth, trying to keep up with schooling, housework and everything in between.  I haven't had a chance to get on my blog and sit for a few minutes, to write a post, to put down my thoughts, my memories from my days.

*Sigh*

It's just been busy, and along with that we've also had very high winds which have kicked up my allergies.  The asthma cough came back, the congestion, and the ringing in the ear even got louder.

I think we forget how well we feel during the months where allergies are not an issue, because when the winds started howling and the niggling symptoms started rearing their ugly head, I knew immediately that things were about to change.

So, I've tried to not go out in the wind unless absolutely necessary, which was not an easy feat since this whole week I was driving my girl back and forth.

Let's just say that Allegra and Singulair are on rotation.  Again!!!

Hopefully for not too long because Spring is right around the corner, and boy is that a tough season for allergy sufferers.  Am I right?

I have however, kept up with my housework and cooking meals.  No matter how busy things get there are chores and tasks that we can't just set aside until things slow down.   As the weather has warmed up around here, I am pulling out the drying racks and making use of them.

This past week, I washed all the rugs and mats.  On days where the wind was quite strong, I set them outside for about an hour and then brought them back in to finish drying.  I actually love the scent of clothes drying inside, that amazing laundry softener smell is like having a candle burning.

I've also been moving my plants around.

For years, I could not grow anything. You know that if you've followed me for a long time.  It was a struggle and I used to feel completely defeated when it came to plants.  I've always wanted a house full of plants, I just love greenery.

Much as it used to frustrate me, I was also to blame.  I didn't understand anything about plants and I wasn't invested enough to try and learn either.

Over the past, I would say maybe 10 years or so, I really became invested and wanted very much to grow things, to plant, to watch and to enjoy.

I started researching, learning, and trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.   Since then I've had a lot of success not only growing vegetables and flowers, but also keeping my inside plants alive.

Plants are a funny thing though aren't they?

They all have their quirks, likes and dislikes, and they will let you know if they're not happy.

Take my Peace Lily above.  My mother in law gave her to me when my grandmother passed away almost two years ago.  I've learned what she likes and dislikes.  Usually when she is needing water, her leaves will wilt and I know to water.

I've also moved her around, put her in different rooms, different windows and so on.  I can't say that I have found her favorite spot yet, but when I do, she will let me know.  I do think I need to move her to a bigger planter, so may need to do that this weekend.

The few moments that I have had for myself, about 30 minutes here and there and usually between chores or while waiting to pick up Jasmine, I have spent reading.

I have a pile of review books that I have to get through but my all time favorite book author released a new book and as soon as it arrived, I dove right in.

It's like visiting with an old friend.  I just love the way Nancy E. Turner writes.

This past week, the days have also started getting brighter earlier and staying brighter later in the day.  A sure sign that Spring is on it's way.

Oh Spring, I am eagerly awaiting your arrival.

I've also been baking and cooking up a storm.  My usual meals have been made, along with a few treats here and there.  My plan is to start updating my food blog again, I miss having new recipes to try and recording them online for future use.

I have 3 recipes right now that I need to get up on the blog, and that's for my homemade garlic bread, a copycat Starbucks Banana Bread and some delicious sauteed squash that I made just yesterday.

Now, next week is going to be much easier for me, as I won't be as busy, at least until Thursday and Friday.

Friday I actually have my mammogram booked in.  It was supposed to be in April but I was able to book it for March and why not?  At least it will be done and out of the way, especially with how I always feel so anxious before it.

It's one of those appointments that stresses me out and I'm not sure even why, I shouldn't let it, but you're women and you know exactly what I mean.

Anyway, it is now 7pm, so I'm going to end this post, lay down and read a bit more or watch some TV.  I do plan on having an early night, the past two nights sleep has not been my friend.


Goodnight friends :)

{ Winter Watch }

My day started very early, as always.  Lately I find that when the alarm goes off at 6am, I feel like I have slept for only about 5 minutes.  It's so hard getting out of a warm comfy bed, to dark skies, freezing cold and rain.

{ On the go all.day.long }

I like to think that I'm easily adapted to change, at least in my family I seem to be one of the few who doesn't freak out when things completely change or routines fly out the window.  You know I'm learned over the years that sometimes life will throw you for a loop and you can either adapt and roll with it, or you can fight and complain and be absolutely miserable.

{ Sleeping away from home }

Hello everyone.

It's after 10pm and I'm sitting on my brother's couch.  I just finished editing today's pictures and am only now getting this post up.  It's been a long day, my word.

So I'm house sitting for tonight, my son didn't want to do it anymore, he is a 14 year old teen who would much rather be in his own bedroom.  As he calls it, his "safe place".   My brother and his family will be back home early tomorrow morning, so it's really the last night we need to house sit and watch their dog.

It's so strange though, I don't mind visiting people, I don't mind going on vacations and staying at hotels etc, but it's never quite the same as being in your own house, is it?  I've been here just 2 hours and I'm so ready to go home to my own bed hahahah

I did bring my book with me, it's one that I am finishing for a review and I'm absolutely loving it.  I love the style, I love the story, I love how the author's writing just flows, but yeah, enough on that, I'll tell you more about it when I review the book.

As I was saying, it was a long busy day for me.  I didn't have to go anywhere, but I did a lot of work around the house, mainly tackling a project that has been needing some attention for about 2 months or so.  It will be featured in tomorrow's Tackle it Tuesday.

While in the middle of that big mess you see above, I had a knock on the door.  It was the postman delivering yet another few packages.  It's been my life the past month, I see the postman every single day, or every other day, with a package or two of books to review.  I love it.

The books that came in today were, The dress in the Window by Sofia Grant and two cookbooks that I'm super excited to review.

Here's a little sneak peek....

I've been trying really hard to up my water intake again, I've been abusing the sodas and I can feel a huge difference.  At my age I shouldn't be abusing the bad stuff anyway.

For dinner tonight we went to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate my husband's new job.  We haven't gone to a good sit down restaurant in a very long time.  It felt good sitting with my husband and kids, talking, laughing, and sharing an amazing dinner.

I ate too much though and am paying for it now.   At one point, right at the end of the meal as we waited for our ticket, I actually thought I was going to be sick.  Never happened to me before, and I hope it never happens again.  That was a bit of a scary moment there lol

I kept looking around to see where the exit was and how I could make it out of the restaurant quickly without embarrassing myself or ruining the meal for others.  That would have been awful.

Well it's 10:35pm and I'm thinking I need to get some sleep as I need to be up bright and early to leave this house, go back to mine and make coffee for my husband before he leaves for work. 

I hope you all have a wonderful, restful night :)

{Staying busy and 31 Days of Prayer} - Day 17

Oh I've been really busy, being a mom and a wife and a military spouse. It's hard work and it's time consuming and there's days that no matter how well I plan my schedule, it still doesn't leave me enough time to sit down with my blog or anything else for that matter.

So has been my life for the past week or two, just running full speed, stumbling along the way and trying desperately to clutch the Lord's hands to keep my balance at times.

I'm a mother, first and foremost and I say that with absolutely no disrespect for my husband who I love dearly. I say it because he's an adult and can take of himself....for the most part *snicker*

When you have a sick child everything comes to a screeching halt, suddenly the toilets that need to be scrubbed can be overlooked for a few more days, the floor that needs to be mopped becomes a distant thought in your mind, not even the sticky spots you constantly walk over and softly yell at under your breath, mean anything.

My focus has been on these two amazing human beings that rely on me to take away the boo boo. To make them well enough again, and it's easily done, but while I'm in that frame of mind, I have to remind myself that I too am sick with a cold and I too need to take some time to unwind because honestly what good will I be to them or anyone else if I'm too sick to get up from bed?

But while all this is going on, I am also a military wife, and that comes with it's own set of rules and obligations. We live on base and they are repainting all the houses and removing all the old fences to reinstall new ones....which means as tenants we have certain things that need to be done in order for the process to run smoothly. So I'm seeing to that, and I'm also being supportive as can be while my husband delves into books and books of testing material, trying to make the extremely difficult Tech Sergeant promotion. It's the HARDEST exam in the Air Force.

I could very well curl into a ball and wish it all away but I find that in hard times is when I most learn about who I am and it's when I most soak up all the experience and lessons needing to be learned. So while my first thought is to run away, my reaction is to sit tight and ride it out.

I've been staying busy and I'm happy that things are slowing down and getting back to normal and I'm happy that tomorrow I will get to spend the day scrubbing toilets and mopping floors and doing laundry, because you see, that means that everyone is feeling better and life is back on track.

While I've been sick, I've been snapping pictures just for fun, oh and I've also actually managed to squeeze 20 minutes into some stitchery that I wanted to make for my photograph wall in the hallway.

It's not perfect and it's full of faults here and there but I love it.

So now you know what I've been up to and I promise to be back to normal blogging tomorrow, for now I'll just leave you with our 31 Days of Prayer while I head on to the Full Bellies, Happy Kids to post tonight's recipe for Pork Chops Supreme. YUMMY!

To find out more about this journey, read here.

Day 17

Pray that your husband will enjoy his manliness as he patterns his life after Christ and strong men in the faith. Pray for his physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 10:11)

Ephesians 3:16 (King James Version)

¹⁶That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

1 Peter 2:21 (King James Version)

²¹For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Corinthians 10:11 (King James Version)

¹¹Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

For those who are starting late, or who may want to keep track of the prayers we've done so far, I actually found all the 31 Days to print online. Remember I told you that this prayer was done on some blogs last year? Well I found the link on the Revive Our Hearts website, which is a wonderful site devoted to women's ministry.

Boy was I busy yesterday!

I wanted to sit down and blog and never got a chance to get near the computer at all. By the time I slowed down it was 9pm and I was NOT going to do it, I don't think you would understand a single word I typed, I was exhausted and pretty much incoherent.

I got my groceries done yesterday and while I was at the commissary I found something that made me flip out....completely.

Just the other day I was telling Jasmine and Nicholas that I miss my favorite candy bars back home in South Africa, they wanted to know which ones and I told them that I LOVE Flake and Crunchie bars from Cadbury.

Well I'm walking down the aisle with all the imported products and I see some flakes just sitting there all sad, waiting for me to pick them up. I did a double take, ran back, grabbed a bunch of those and then spotted crunchie bars right next to them....I think I yelled or Woohoo'd or something because the people next to me gave me a very weird look. LOL
I DON'T CARE, I've been craving these and I didn't think I would ever taste them again, at least not for a few months until I go back home.....so I'm a happy camper today. I will have to go back and get more soon because mine are gone, but that's neither here nor there LOL

So as you all know Jasmine just turned 8 but I swear it's like she turned just 2 years old, where does this laziness and not wanting to do anything come from??? I don't want another 2 year old, I thought I was past all of this. This girl really knows how to work my nerves. The day will come when we can get out of the house in the morning without having to fight.


The sibling rivalry is also getting out of control, apparently wanting the same things to eat in the morning *or any time of the day for that matter* is a big NO NO. It's called being a COPYCAT??? *shrug*

Or God forbid one smiles at the other, that is also a punishable offense according to the Sibling Rules Memo. It's just so frustrating to have to hear them bickering at each other constantly....just last night Curt said to me "boy do I feel bad for you when summer comes" LOL
Yeah, thanks Curt, you get to run away to work and I have to be home listening to the fighting and the "I want to watch tv"....."no I want to play video games"...."but it's my turn on the tv"....."you played 2 turns, it's MY turn now"...."I want to be peach, no I want to be Yoshi"....DARN MARIO GAME DRIVES ME INSANE!!! LOL

I want to thank ALL the ladies who dropped by with wonderful advice for the homeschooling.....as I said it's not a sure thing, I'm just trying to get as much info as possible so that if I DO have to homeschool I'll know where to go and what to do. All the great insight and info you gave me has been saved to my computer and I'm looking into it all, I had no idea there were such great christian curriculums available. Thank you again.

Last night I fixed Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas for dinner and then I whipped up a ton of Barb's Breakfast Burritos, I LOVE them and we eat them for breakfast or lunch. It doesn't take too long to fix them and it's great to have a bunch in the freezer, especially on those busy days.

Alright, I'm leaving you, keep an eye out because I'm posting a book giveaway after this post.
I leave you with my plans for today:

WHAT ARE WE EATING

For dinner tonight I'm fixing Baked Penne with Meat Sauce and a salad.


WHAT I'M WATCHING

Thank God You're Here - *New* - NBC 7pm

Guest performers in unscripted comedy are Tom Arnold, Angela Kinsey, Fred Willard and Fran Drescher.

American Idol - *New* - FOX 8pm

Bon Jovi perform, and two of the six remaining finalists are voted off.

Medium - *New* - NBC 9pm

Neve Campbell begins a three-show guest appearance as Allison's friend. Here, Allison helps put away a man (Jason Priestley) accused of murdering his wife. But Allison is mightily puzzled when dreams about the crime continue to haunt her.

WHAT I'M DOING

Sweeping and Mopping floors
Clean Bathrooms
Sort through clothes to donate
Do a little more packing
Get my paperwork prepared for INS interview
Take out meat for tonight's dinner