Life with me...

OH...I am here, I am here. It is so sweet to know y'all are wondering about me...OK, about all two of you!! haaa

Things have just been busy, trying to keep my head (the family's head) above water.

JW started to sleep through the night a bit better. And I didn't really have to bear the CIO thing. Actually, we started using a fan and that lasted a few nights. Then my mom took the kids for a night and she didn't use anything and he slept through the night, and has continued to sleep, without any kind of noise. Then we tried the fan again...so I would say 4-5 nights a week he sleeps through. But now he is up at 5am...and not wanting to go back to sleep. But, I really won't complain...better to sleep 6 hours straight then to be up a few times a night.

So JW is 10 months!! I cannot believe it!! Miss J was walking at this age, and JW is well on his way. Standing, cruising...and kind of walking with help. So any day...I tell you. The great (OK, really scary) thing is, is he is going to be a dare devil...not scared of anything. You know our new swingset...well Miss J loves to go down ths bump slide head first. So JW saw her do this, and started jumping and getting excited, so Dad took him up to the loft of the swing set, and off he went. He crawled over to the slide, and with no hesitation, put his arms out in front of him and down he went...arms/head first, with no fear!! Ahhh, I could not beleive it. So he did it over and over again. We got video because we couldn't believe it...and it was so stinking funny!! Boy, what are we in store for?

Miss J...yea...terrible threes. I just want to squeeze her because she pushes all of those buttons that kids do. Bedtime, meal time, getting ready in the morning. "I don't want to", or "But I want it" are her two favorite things to say right now. Showing her independence no doubt. I think some of it has to do with the fact that she is now the oldest kid in her class at daycare. She is still in her twos room while all her other friends, whom she moved with from infants to tods to 2's, have all moved up to the 3's room...but not her yet. So I think some of this is because she is the "head of the class" and is able to do more things and lead more than the others. So she thinks she knows it all and knows what is right and wrong. Ugh...I think she does so much better when she is surrounded buy older kids that she looks up to and "fears", you know, that good kind of fear...respect. So, in a couple of weeks she will be up in the next room...and I hope to see a change.

All this does is really confirm that we want to try to test her into kindergarten early. Her birthday is Sept 3rd and the cut off for kindergarten is Sept 1st. She is so stinking close...so I am going to look into testing her in and seeing what is involved with trying to get her in early. I know the controversy about all of that...but when I see the difference between the two, I think we need to seriously look into it. We have thought about this for awhile now...and of course, we think she is the smartest stinking thing in the world...but this just confirms it more. So we will see in a couple of weeks if her moving up makes a difference.

Last weekend we went to our church's Leadership Conference. Willow heads up one of the largest worldwide leadership conferences each year...and we got to be at the main sight...pretty cool. This is my second conference, and I was so influenced by all of the speakers and leaders. Wow...I have found this heart for the poor and the impoverished children from those under resourced countries. It has been the past year or soo that my heart has just ached for these people. I don't know where it came from, but to say it came from God. He is working on my heart and showing me things I never thought would tug me. A Hole in our Gospel, is a book that started it all. Written by the CEO of World Vision...his story is just amazing. I am sad that I still have yet to complete the book...it has been a few months...but I really want to and every time I even get to read a few pages I leave with tears. So at the leadership conference, there was yet another speaker/book that I was called to read. The CEO of Compassion International was there to tell his story of his childhood and how it impacted him and called him to help those under resourced. He wrote Too Small to Ignore, Help a Child and Change the World. So when I heard he was speaking and saw the book, I kind of said to myself...hmm, yea, I should read that book too...but I haven't finished that other book yet, so really I shouldn't run out and buy another one since I haven't finished the first...and then...the said that everyone at the conference would be getting a free copy of the book...OK, God...I guess I need to read this too. His story just tore me apart too...gosh.

I wish you could have heard even just one of these speakers...

So, lots of stuff, I don't know what else to share with you because there is a lot.

Miss J's 3rd birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks. She picked out her theme of an Elephant Three Ring Circus.

Her idea, course it will be a circus.

And then she also chose a theme for JW's first birthday in October.

And I was able to find free...yes free custom invitations from Shutterfly with the same construction truck theme. Just has to pay shipping. So, I did it...how fun, huh.

Work is busy, and I am trying NOT to do too much online and not kill time, that is a difficult one.

I have been back on Weight Watchers...lost almost 10 lbs in about 8 weeks and have another 10 to go!! I know it could come off quicker if I were more disciplined...but I just LOVE food and am trying to balance it out. I am working on building up that running endurance, and doing the same Couch to 5K that Maria is doing...so encouraged by her...I think she just ran her first 5K too...I need to check her blog.

Trying to stick to a budget...ugh...hate that word. Not easy, especially when you look at the income and outcome and it is negative...but some how God continues to bless us each week. Hopefully some options with daycare, and a new neighbor down the street who has an in home daycare. May use her for a couple of days a week to save some $$$.

OH...and how do I give up my cat. My cat of 12 years (she is 13)...and just does not like the new additions to the family...and she is letting us know. We are trying everything to not have to get rid of her...but once they pee in once place, they continue to and nothing can stop them. No cleaner, no blocking the area...nothing. Some of it could be her age though too. We took her to the vet and she is overall healthy, obese, but healthy, so we put her on some kitty Prozac which worked a bit, but didn't solve the problem. And I can't find any no kill shelter that will take cats, let alone senior cats. So my option is to try to find anyone that would take her (which is difficult if I tell them she is starting to pee in the house...though I don't think she would do that in a home that didn't have a husband, two new kids, and a dog to p#$@ her off). I sent an email out to friends and family to ask if anyone knew anyone, my next resort is to put random ads out, and my last resort will be to, ahem, put her down. I just don't know how to do that without the moral and guilt implications that come along with putting down an otherwise healthy cat. Ugh...

So, I guess that is a good summary of my life for now. Prayers are welcome for all that is going on for us. We both have grandparents in the hospital and having health issues. And just like most/all of us, struggling with this economy. But, honestly, I cannot and will not complain when I think about the children and families in those under resourced countries, who may go days without food, who have parent dying daily of Aids and health related issues, who live on less than $1 a day...yeah...I REALLY have it good. Thank you and Praise you God!!! Please bless these families and children who don't even have a fraction or any awareness of what I have or struggle with every day. Amen!

Prayers for each of you...I know not many of you blog any more, most of you are on FB and I don't even have an account so don't keep up. Miss you and miss hearing about your lives. Keep in touch.

Oh, and I have so many pictures to download...so one day soon I will do a photo blog to catch up.