Courageous Joy

Thursday

I woke up a bit late as I headed for bed when Jamin woke up, after my sleepless night. I didn’t get a bike ride in but I did the 8 minutes in the a.m. routine. Today was biceps and triceps. I decided I really don’t plan to do any part of his eating program. I know that counting; measuring and restrictive diets are not going to work in the long run for ME. I’ve been there/done that/ got the t-shirt! There was some good info in the book on omega 3, 6 and 9…..but he totally lost me when he said to limit your fruit intake to one serving a day. :::snort::::

Our day began as most our days begin – with school.

Arielle and I ducked out at 11:00 a.m. to go buy a gift for a tea party she is attending on Saturday. We found the exact book the girl requested AND found another one that Arielle wanted to buy for her. It will be fun.

We had enough time at home for lunch and then the five younger ones and I headed for speech. Today has been beautiful. Yesterday was as well. It’s been 100* but yesterday and today it was in the 80’s…what a treat! After speech we headed for the park for “homeschool park day”. Unfortunately (for ME) there was a meeting that all the moms were involved in and so I didn’t get to visit…but I had a lot of fun watching the kids and walking….I walked two miles by the time I left the park, which helped to make up for missing the bike time this a.m.

Our baby bird saga is sad. ANOTHER one fell out of the tree…and Zander accidentally (totally – we saw) stepped on it. It squawked and flapped and hopped all over and terrified all the kids….and we feel sick about the bird. We only see one of the other babies in the yard now. I hope that is a good sign and he flew away.

I was watching Janae today at the park and started to realize that THIS is how courtship could be such a blessing to parents. Wouldn’t it be cool if your son ended up marrying a little girl you had hugged and cuddled and adored when she was a child? Not sure how God will work all that out in our family…but I’m totally happy with the choices our daughters and now sons are making. NO – I’M NOT ARRANGING A MARRIAGE BETWEEN JANAE AND ZANDER OR NOLAN – frankly Janae and Zander are both so strong willed……then again life wouldn’t be dull. {G} Just dreaming…..I have a friend whose sons have married…and she’s just had her 3 and 4th grand child and I’m realizing that within the next 10 years I’ll be nudging into that season of life. Is that o.k to say Bre and Krista? You are 21 and 19….so I’m not pushing…just thinking 10 years and who knows who else will be a part of the family. ::::snort::: Oy vey – I should stay out of the sun!

I made a scrumptious dinner tonight. Porsche (Adrienne’s daughter – and Janae’s sister) had made a lunch for their family this week that they all loved. An alfredo sauce….well….tonight for dinner I made penne and then made a white sauce and added a big chunk of asiago cheese and romano cheese…garlic, onions, oregano, basil and pepper mix…..and served it over the penne. It would be company fare if I added some baked chicken breasts to put on top of the Penne for those who eat meat…and would have been heavenly with some mushrooms – but I was out. Tomorrow is produce co-op! Yippee!!! I think some broccoli would be nice in the sauce too….I think I’m getting this healthy cooking thing down.

Zander started the day fairly o.k. He seemed to have a 12 hour flu bug. He’s on day 2 of being “clean”. Wow…I can’t believe the change we see when he eats the synthetic flavors, colors and petro chemicals. He gets aggressive, mean, anti-social, poops his pants (sorry to be graphic), won’t wear clothes…and I can’t believe how smooth life is when I am sure to keep him on his diet….I will be more diligent. I had bread and hamburger buns and hoagie type rolls in the freezer before vacation but hadn’t made any since being home. I need to stock up again.

OH – I made some of those yummy “no bake” chocolate cookies last night. I used honey…they were good but didn’t’ really set up like the “real” ones. I need to experiment some more.

Well…the kitchen clean up crew is almost done. I’m going to begin *The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe* with the kids tonight and then hopefully they’ll all go to bed at a decent hour (Stacia is the only questionable factor here). A good night’s sleep and tomorrow is day 3 for Zander being clean…his reactions seem to last 2 – 3 days….and I’ll be much more diligent again.

I want to sleep and read the Tamar Myers book I’m reading.

OH – Jen G. – if you are reading….I finished Heaven’s Wager. I’ll journal now. I was going to offer it here…but Josiah has begun reading it…..so in a week or so….

Another Oh – after messing up my thyroid meds on vacation (by forgetting to bring them along) I’ve been trying to remember to take them daily. I’ve put them in one of those little pill keepers. BUT imagine my surprise to find out that TODAY is Thursday and I took that pill yesterday…in fact I took Friday’s too….I must have been popping one each time I walked into the bathroom. I really need more sleep than I’m getting. I’m pretty sure my stop in weight progress has to do with this thyroid thing…but in a week or so it’ll be back in progress…….

Good night for now….pray I get a good night’s sleep if you read this before bed time. If you read it on Friday a.m. Don’t pray that I fall asleep because I have things to do. LOL