You ARE going to eat that!

This week, I decided that I'm tired of being a short order cook. I'm tired of hearing, "I don't like that" or an hour after dinner, "I'm hungry" because they didn't eat. So, I decided that this week, we are going to eat what is put on our plates -- at least try it. I'm not loading their plates up with things I know they won't like. I'm just giving them enough for 3 or 4 bites. They at least have to try that many bites before they can say they don't like it.

Night 1 was AWFUL!!!! It was terrible!! I made this soup that I had been craving. The only thing is that it has beans in it -- which Aaron will not eat. And, not just 1 can of beans, about 6 cans of three different kinds of beans. I called to see what Aaron wanted for dinner and he didn't know. I was craving it and decided that's the way it was going to be.

Everyone gets to the table and the whining begins. "I don't like this." "I'm not going to eat it." "You know I don't like that." "Fine. I just won't eat." Aaron didn't say a word. He put VERY LITTLE in his bowl and he ate it. He also made himself a PB&J sandwich. I didn't say anything. The kids didn't eat. My poor brother-in-law had to be here on night one of the "new rules". Sorry Eric!!

Night 2 was the biggest power struggle I've had in a long time! Pork chops, rice, & mashed potatoes. I know it's 2 starches, but that's what Aaron wanted. My brother-in-law, again, had to endure the whining. But, after about an hour of not budging, plates were clean and Payton and Evan both decided they like rice. Payton still hates mashed potatoes.

Night 3 was MUCH better!! Country style pork ribs, green beans, & sweet potatoes. I know what you're thinking -- I'm just trying to punish them!! Not so!! Sweet potatoes are good and they're good for you!! They walked in the kitchen with very little whining. I did hear "I don't like that" a few times, but I just kept going. They ate all of their pork chops and their green beans and Payton was ready to play XBox. I told him there would be no video games until those sweet potatoes were gone (I gave him probably 3 bites). He took his fork and took the tiniest bite I've ever seen. I turned my back and they were all gone. He brought me his plate and said, "Can I have more of those?" pointing to where his sweet potatoes WERE. He ate 2 helpings of them!!! Even Evan decided to give them a try and proudly exclaimed, "Mommy! I wike them! Those are doooooood!!!"

Things I Learned On Snow Day . . .

Everyone else wrote about the snow, so I won't go on about that. I will list the things I learned today with both boys home from school:

• Payton is definately a DC personality. He is in charge of picking the game and you have to play it just the way he says or it's wrong.
• Spiderman can't thow webs using only 1 finger. It's impossible.
• Using PAM spray to replace the butter to make a grilled cheese sandwich just doesn't work. Not even if it's BUTTER flavored.
• If your heater starts blowing cold air on a cold & snowy day, it could be several things. One of which is a red button that doesn't exist on your unit, but you don't figure that out until you've made several trips outside in the FREEZING COLD. I do know how to make your heater quit blowing cold air now!!!
• It doesn't take a whole Sunday newspaper to keep a fire going in the fire place!! Just put some logs on there and eventually they will catch on fire. Who would have thunk it?
• Now I know why they make sure you are 18 when you buy Sharpies!! The high from those things is NO FUN!! I'm not sure why people would want to do that to themselves!!

I'm sure there are more things I've learned today. When I went to make lunch today, I wanted grilled cheese and soup. I didn't have any soup, I was low on bread, and I didn't have any butter (see bullet above). The main thing I did learn today was that I wished I had been better about making lists yesterday!!

The MASTERPIECE is finished!!!

Oh my goodness!! Today Aaron sent me an IM that said, "You can do anything you put your mind to today." I IMd him back and said, "That's just it. I have to put my mind to something."

So, I got off of my computer and decided to clean my house. I quickly got distracted and decided that I would finish the boys' room. It's been weeks in the making and after who knows how many bottles of paint, 46 sponge brushes, and 2 Sharpies, IT IS FINISHED!!!

Fun In The Bathroom . . .

I almost don't even want to share this, but the more I think about it, the more crazy it seems. . .

Today, Evan and I went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. It's our usual lunch spot after our morning coffee with Brandi & Krissy. Today was no different. So, we're sitting there eating lunch and I had to go to the bathroom. I told the lady that we would be right back and please don't throw our things away and headed towards the bathroom.

Evan was NOT excited about leaving the playground so I could go to the bathroom. I couldn't let him stand outside the stall. As soon as I got in there, he would have hit the door running. So, I convinced him to go in the stall with me, but I had to give him a little incentive. I told him that he could take pictures of different things (NOT ME) with my phone while I went to the bathroom. I know you're probably thinking "What?!?!" I know, I know . . .

So, in the VERY short amount of time we were in there, he took pictures of the door, the lock, the lights, the toilet paper holder, his feet, and my feet. We even took a few pictures of him being REALLY silly!!!

Anyway, we're about to walk out of the stall when I hear the main bathroom door open. Right when Evan said, "Mommy, but I'm not done taking pictures! I want to take pictures of you now! CLICK!"

I wonder what that lady thought about the two of us in a stall and him saying he wasn't done taking pictures?!?! We just washed our hands and walked out. I was almost embarssed that I let my 3 year old take pictures while I used the bathroom (remember -- no pictures of me!).

Oh the crazy things you can take pictures of in the bathroom!!!

November 15th

Today's date . . . For some, it's one week until company arrives for Thanksgiving!! For some, today is payday!! For some, today is just Wednesday! For some, today is the day we get to play Deal or No Deal!! For some, it's an anniversary! For me, it's a birthday.

Not my birthday, not my husband's birthday, not Payton's and not Evan's birthday. It's the son that I gave up for adoption 12 years ago -- his birthday. 12 years. My goodness!! 12 years!! It seems like it was just yesterday (or maybe last week), but 12 years ago!!

I've been in some kind of "funk" lately and I couldn't really figure out why. I am living in my dream house, have an awesome husband, awesome kiddos, awesome church, etc. As I looked around me, I couldn't figure it out. Today I think I put my finger on it.

I think about him every year on his birthday (and many, many other days of the year), but why is this year different? Why does it seem to hurt more this year? Why do I feel all of those emotions that I felt 12 years ago? Why do I grieve so?

He's living in the perfect home with an awesome life. He has awesome parents and I know he is an awesome athelete. I do get to see him occassionally and he's mighty handsome!!

Today at intercessory prayer, I asked them to pray for me because I have been having chest pains (like a stick through my chest and out my back) and have been really light-headed. It hasn't scared me -- like I'm not afraid that I'm going to have a heart attack or anything. It isn't scary. . . just annoying. As they prayed for me, one of the intercessors said that she thought this was a physical manifestation of a spiritual matter. Another lady said she felt like I had a wound that I had covered up and I wouldn't let anyone near it. Kind of like when your child hurts themselves and all you want to do is clean it and make it better -- get out the infection, but they won't move their hand. It will heal, but there could still be junk in there. She said that she felt like there was a wound that I wouldn't let anyone get close to because it hurt too bad. I was holding my hand over the wound telling God to get away because it was too painful to heal.

She is right on and it didn't hit me until then. As I'm sitting here writing this, my chest is hurting. Is it because I miss him so? Is it because I'm finally grieving the "loss"? Is it because I'm finally taking my hand off of the wound to let God heal it?

I'm mad because somewhere in our million and one moves, I've lost a box that had stuff in it about him. It had a picture of him when he was just a few days old. It had letters from friends of the time. I had pictures of me in it when I was 17. I had pictures of his dad and us together. I had hoped that one day I would be able to show them to him -- prove that I did love him. Now, the box is missing. I haven't seen it for a few years now. I'm not sure where it went, but I hate that I don't have it now.

So, God, I'm taking my hand off now -- very slowly, but I trust you. I have to. Let the real healing and cleansing begin. Most of the time, I want things to be painless and that would be great, but I have a feeling this is going to take some pain to get the junk out. But, God, I'm trusting you with this. I just have to know you haven't left me and that you're going to finish this work you've started in me. Make me stronger in this! Let me be able to use this to Your glory!! Let me go through so I can be the whole me on the other side of this. I want to be the woman that you've created me to be. I want to be the children's pastor you've created me to be. I want to be whole -- like you've created me to be.

Happy birthday, J.

So, Here It Is . . . Or at least part of it

So, some of you have been wondering what my current housing situation is!! (WOW! I make it sound like I have a ton of faithful readers!!)

Well, I will say that I am now living in my dream house. God did what He does best and we got the house!! It is a really forever long story and I'm going to try to write it all out this weekend, but something I've learned through the whole ordeal is that sometimes it's not about what we think it's about. God has bigger plans than our minds can wrap around. This whole thing has made me want to dream bigger.

For instance, we found the house and made an offer at what we could afford. They said no. We were $15,000 different in our offer and their counter-offer. We were patient. We sold our house and signed the papers on Oct. 9th with no definate place to go just the day before!! We moved in with Tim & Erica for 2 weeks while we waited for all the "official stuff" to be done on the house.

You know what? I'm really botching the story and it's late. Maybe I'll continue this tomorrow. . . but for now, know that we are in THE HOUSE and we are loving it!!!