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Thursday, December 24, 2009

The Shack

I heard from a few people that I should read The Shack by Wm. Paul Young.
I finally broke down and went to the library to get it because I didn't want to spend money on a book that for all I knew would be something I really didn't care for.

So as I said I borrowed it and didn't read it. I left it on my desk for a few days and said okay I got this book for a Christmas read so I better get to it.

What I read was a compelling story of a man who learned that there is no love greater than God's. To forgive is a process not done just in an instant. That even if there had only been one person in this world Christ would have still come to die just for their sins. He learned that lying for the sake of not hurting someone usually meant that that was just a cover up to keep from experiencing their own emotions.

There are some people who have said that this book has too many discrepancies. To that I say, this book shows God's grace. It shows that its all about the relationship. Not just the one we have with God but also the ones we have with one another.

I am so over joyed to have read this book that I plan to buy it.

There is a quote in this book that I would like to share.
"Faith does not grow in the house of certainty."

Thank you Wm. Paul Young for writing this book, God truly spoke through you.

God is love~Jessica

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Tea Quotes

Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea. ~Henry Fielding, "Love in Several Masques"

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Author Unknown


Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage. ~Catherine Douzel


I always fear that creation will expire before teatime. ~Sydney Smith

Bread and water can so easily be toast and tea. ~Author Unknown


You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~C.S. Lewis

Friday, December 4, 2009

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.

This title is so true.

Remember that we all have things going on in our lives.

But God has a plan, a plan that we sometimes don't understand.
But have faith. Because sometimes our problem is anothers lesson. A lesson that could only be learned from using us.

And when the Lord sends help. Let him. Don't fight it. I have learned this one the hard way.

Why is it we pray and pray and then when the answer arrives on our doorstep with arms full of exactly what we needed, we try to hide as if we aren't good enough.

Step aside let God be God. He sends certain people into our lives to bring us peace, laughter and most of all a glimpse of his unwavering love for us.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Sometimes you don't find peace, sometimes peace finds you.

These past 2 weeks have been mega stress time for me.
Things have blown up in my face that I was neither prepared for nor wanted.
And when I could take no more, I did something I don't normally do anymore, because I am a big girl now, and big girls should suck it up, YEAH RIGHT, I turned to my Mommy. Yes people at 30 years old I still call her Mommy.
A name that is earned not just given.
A Mommy loves you no matter what.
Is there for you when you can't even be there for yourself.
A Mommy wants nothing more than to see your smile and hear your laugh and know when they are real or fake and when they are real, they beam.
A Mommy knows how to give a hug better than anyone, and if you are lucky you get to learn how to be a Mommy from your Mommy.
Mommy's listen to you, not just hear you.
So this one is for my Mommy. I love her so much and she has raised not just me but my twin sisters who are 24. To the best of her ability. Yes she messed up here and there, but she did what she thought at that moment was right. And that is all we can ask at the end of the day.

Thank you Mommy and thank you Lindsey and Erin (my sisters, who have also helped to bring peace to my life)

God is Love~Jessica

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

what worship means to me

Worship to me is when you glorify God to the highest.
It doesn't matter if its just you at the grocery store thanking God for the food
that you are buying
Or you are at church with many, praising him in song.
You can worship anytime of the day. Its our way of showing our love and thanks to
our Lord!

~Jessica

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Life is like a snowstorm

I sit at my kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee at peace.

Peace because after the day I had, which included a long trip to the vet and some not so great news. I look around and see my daughter eating an apple, with the skin on I might add, watching a movie that she has been asking to watch for 2 days. It is finally cooler outside, but I have yet to open the windows (maybe I will do that after I post this). My husband is in bed with our pug Milo, who went to the vet today. They are both curled up watching some syfy show that is on. I think he said it is called V. All I know is he is very into it and for some reason so is the pug ha ha.

I pray that my little Milo will be okay and I am willing to do whatever it takes for that to happen. Seeing that my husband and I have one child who is 5 and no others, my dog has become what I call 'mommy's baby' and he knows it. But he also knows this mommy sets boundaries for him and my human baby ;)

I know without a shadow of a doubt that my Lord IS going to get me through all that lay ahead. And with his help I will get through it. Not just about today, but with everything that has been on my mind.

Peace is mine for the taking and I am taking it.

I was thinking the other night:

Life is like a snowstorm, we can't see where it is we are going and sometimes the walk is very hard, but with faith, in the end we are in the warmth of HOME.

God is Great~Jessica

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Book Hog

There was a time when I bought books and movies then I found out about this thing called the library. . .

Now I am a book hog, no really I am. I want them all to myself and they aren't even mine! I realized that I could reserve all of my books and movies online for the library and that was a big mistake on their part.

My request list is llllllooooooonnnnnnnggggggg *wink*

I have actually had the computer tell me I can't request anymore! What?! How could this be?!



I am at the library so much now picking up my 'orders' that they look at me like
SHES BAAAACCCCCKKKKKK. But remember this is their fault not mine. They created this monster I have become: the book hog ;)

For those of you out there that are fellow book hogs, and you know who you are, I might have to start a book hog anonymous ha-ha just kidding.

God Bless ~Jessica

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Glad Game

When I used to be really down my bff would make me play the glad game.
You have to name 3 things you are glad about.

Well I am so overwhelmed by the happenings in my life right now that I think I better play that game, Right Now!

1. I am glad I have an awesome healthy child.

2. I am glad that the laundry is almost done.

3. I am glad that we had some wine in the house to help calm my nerves.

I know its just 3 but I wanna add just one more:

4. I am glad that I have my friend back in my husband.

I feel a little better, still very overwhelmed, but a little better.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Homemade never tasted better!

I had to share this recipe with all of you. I made homemade mac & cheese for the first time and I have one question for myself, WHY haven't I made this before? There is a VERY good chance I will never make any other kind again :)

Here is the recipe:

Betty Crocker Macaroni and Cheese

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (7 ounces)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded or cubed Cheddar cheese (8 ounces)


1. Heat oven to 350ºF.
2. Cook macaroni as directed on package.
3. While macaroni is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.
4. Drain macaroni. Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Enjoy ~Jessica

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Sometimes Change takes some getting used to.

How do you get a child to act up and be completely out of the norm?

Take them out of a classroom that they LOVE and put them in a new one.

My daughter was doing AWESOME in her kindergarten class. She loved her teacher and met a little girl that I would be okay for her to call her 'best friend' and you know me I don't do that often. The last person I was okay with that was my sweet Timmy. (Heather, my BFF, her son)

So now she is in a new classroom with new kids. Her new teacher is a very nice woman. And I can see my daughter having a great year with her. It will just take some time for her to get used to her.

Her school sends home a notebook/agenda everyday that tells how your child has done.

This is an example of my child's for the past 2 weeks.

Monday (last week) : Gena pulled her pants down in the lunchroom today please talk to her.

(I was like WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is NOT my child! What is going on!

Tuesday (Last week): Gena punched a boy in the stomach today.
(WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


the rest of the week :)

Today: Gena was screaming in the lunch room today. Please speak with her.

Okay so I have to say my kid is a stubborn, fly by the seat of her pants kind of girl.

BUT THIS IS NOT FUNNY! I finally found out what was going on. She thought if she was bad she could go back to her old class. When I told her otherwise. Tears sprang from her face :( I feel bad for her but I also know enough is enough! So pray for me cause I am trying to be a good mom, and a prayer that comes out of my mouth more than not:Jesus help me to be a good mom.

Just thought I would share. God Bless ~Jessica

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Cook A Doodle Do

The Lord's Day, came and went.

I have been under the weather this weekend. AGAIN!

But I did manage to clean up the house some, baked some cookies (the break apart, got a good deal on them at my grocery story) and tried oh so hard to apease my child. Although I dont think that worked out so well today.

My daughter and I read


such a cute book :)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Simply Said

This is going to be a very short post today.

God Loves You! No matter what.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Saving Money

Okay so I don't know about you, but I haven't got the money to spend in the first place. So when I do have to spend it I try to find the best way to get the best deal.

First let me tell you my wonderful husband took me shopping for new everything this past weekend. It was well overdue. I don't think I have done that kind of shopping in years. And it wasn't even a lot in some peoples minds. But for me it was.

We went to Lane Bryant and I got 5 pairs of pants and 2 shirts for $50 dollars. Okay so drum roll please that was $200 in savings you all! I was SO proud of myself.

Then we went to Wal-Mart and I got 3 bra's, 10 pairs of socks and 12 pairs of underwear for $50. So excited (I know you wanted to know about that part right hahaha)

Then the next day we went to Sketchers Outlet
I got 2 pairs of shoes for what was supposed to be $130 for $60!

I have to tell you I am so excited. My husband never once, let me say that again, NEVER ONCE, complained about how long I was taking! He was such a gentelman.

So here is also another site that I have been using to save money with groceries.
I Heart Publix. It may take a little bit to get the hang of it but once you do, you can't help but be amazed.

I usually don't clip coupons. Why you ask? Well because I just end up forgetting them. Then I found this website and made my own Coupon Binder (Google it and you can find so many variations on how to make your own) and so far this is what the past 2 weeks has looked like:

Last Week:
Spent: $160 Saved: $61 Paid out of pocket$99

This week: Spent $128 Saved $40 Paid out of pocket $88

If you have/know of any other ways to save money please oh please leave a comment.
I would love to hear about them!

Have a blessed day~ Jessica

UPDATE: On October 2nd I went to Publix and spent $128, Saved $72 Out of Pocket: $56!!! So VERY proud of myself. And If the lady at I HEART PUBLIX ever stops doing her blogs I will have to go find her and BEG her to do them LOL

Monday, September 7, 2009

Turtle Park

We had such an amazing day at "Turtle Park" George C. McGough Nature Park Here are some pictures of me, my husband and my daughters adventure!








Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Learning

So I am learning about this thing called 'emotional eating'.

I have been researching it because I 'know' I have to be one. Well did I hit the nail on the head! Okay so Now that I know I am one whats next?

Well now I figure out how to deal with it and get through all moments in life without 'emotionally eating' and can I just say it is working.

I have lost 14 pounds in the past 2 weeks.

I never realized that when you are an emotional eater you suppress ALL emotions not just when you are stressed or sad. But when you are happy too!

Something in my brain was telling me I wasn't worthy enough to be sad.

So I ate.

I wasn't worthy enough to be angry. So I ate.

I wasn't worthy enough to be stressed. So I ate.

So you get the picture, but the kicker is this one.

I wasn't worthy enough to be HAPPY!

Of course I am worthy enough to be happy.

Ohhhh but was I wrong, well at least my brain was somehow telling me this.
When I am any of the above including happy, I ate.

And ate,and ate.

Why did I feel the need to reward myself with food. Simple. It was always there for me NO MATTER WHAT!

And I have the excess weight to prove it.

So now I am writing down in a journal: my food, exercise and best of all my feelings.

I am being a conscious eater.

I am not living to eat. I am finally eating to live, and with that my friends, comes a weight loss of 14 pounds.

I am excited to see what is to come. I know that the answers are right from God. And I am so thankful! I have been battling this for too long and I have been about to give up too many times but I never gave up on my faith in God that He would provide me with the answers I sought. And HE has.

God is love ~Jessica

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

walking in circles

It has been a week since my last entry. Its not that I didn't want to write as I have stated in previous entries its that time has a habit of getting away from me.

My days start at 6:40am some of you might say oh that is sleeping in and others may say sucks to be you. I say the latter too! Sleeping in ha! No if I was sleeping in it would be till at least 9:30am and I never thought I would say that again.

I remember when my daughter was little I wondered if I would ever get a full 4 hours of sleep straight through again. Well I do I am happy to say it only took her getting to her 5th birthday to achieve this goal. Makes me wonder why I am so crazy as to want more, like now more lol.

After I pick up my little one from school it is time to go home, pick up the house, getting ready for the next day, dinner, feed the pug, clean up, showers, take the pug out, and then check my email. I don't feel like I am accomplishing ANYTHING. I must be because my child, husband and I do go to school/work with clean clothes and lunches packed and my house is cleaned up, not as 'clean' as I would like it but it doesn't smell and there is very little dust. Would I let my kid eat off the floor? NO! Would I let the pug, all the time, never a crumb in my house!

So now I will say goodnight to my child one more time and watch a little TV-18 Kids and Counting is on tonight-everyone knows how much I love this show. So I will make it a point to stay up :)

And Remember: This is the day the Lord has made- Rejoice in it! ~Jessica

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A first

Today was the first day of Kindergarten for my daughter. I got up early and made sure everything was done for her. She DID NOT want to wake up. I stood there thinking to myself- Self what are you going to do?- so I did something I always swore I would NEVER do! I did what my dad used to do to me in the mornings to get me out of be because I too would NOT get up!

I pulled the covers off of her!

Well that didn't work she gave me the meanest look and went back to sleep WITHOUT the covers! So I wont do that anymore.

Finally we made it to school and I wanted to cry. My baby was going to school not just preschool but BIG KID school! With a wave a hug and a kiss my daughter was ready to start her day. I left and prayed many a prayer on my way to work. I knew she would be okay but I wasn't so sure about her mommy.

I went to the store before picking her up and got her, her favorite donut, boy was she excited when I picked her up and she had a treat.

I asked her how her day went and she said good then I asked what she did:
Mommy I played on the playground and slept on the floor at nap.
Me: did you eat your lunch?
Her: just my fruit snack, I didn't eat anything else.

No wonder the kid ate the donut in less than 60 seconds!

So with that we are to settle into a routine and a year full of sleeping on the floor and playing on the playground.

God is so good. No only did he give my daughter a good day but he also got me through her first day too :) God is Good ~Jessica

Thursday, August 20, 2009

If you leave it they will eat it.

Okay so I know better than to do this but did it anyway.
I cleaned out my purse and put the gum with the red dye on my desk and wal-la my child ate it. I can not begin to tell you what a crazy evening my husband and I had with her. So now my full pack of gum is gone and finally at 9:30 at night my child sleeps.

For those of you who are not aware my child can not have artificial dyes especially red dye.
I thought for a long time she had ADHD, then I found out about red dye.
An answer to my prayers.
I had NO idea how much stuff has artificial dyes in it. I feel bad that she doesn't get to enjoy a lot of those types of foods anymore but there is no comparison when it comes to my child not having the "junk".

Tonite she was so uncontrollable I thought to myself how did I do this for so long with her acting like this.

So needless to say the gum is in the trash, well what was left of the second pack, oh yeah I didn't mention that did I ha ha.

Things like:
Macaroni and cheese
cake mix
cream cheese frosting
cheese its
yogurt
some chips
and SO many more have dye in them and I wasn't even aware.


If you want more information on red dye here is a great link. http://www.red40.com/pages/allergies.html
There are so many other websites you can look into. But this one is for red dye #40 and I have learned over the past months that anything that has an artificial dye doesn't get to come into our house and now no longer my purse.

There are so many great products out there that are organic and cost very little more if not the same as the other foods. I have found Target to be a great place to find so many organic foods.

I hope this has helped some of you if not all.~Jess

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Wouldn't trade it

There are days when you want to pull your hair out being a parent and then there are days when you can't believe what a smooth day it is.

But most if not all would say what I am about to say: I wouldn't trade it for the world.

My daughter is such an amazing child.
She is so full of life.
She is stubborn like both her mommy and daddy.
She is bouncy like her Aunt Lindsey.
She is caring to her babies like her Auntie Erin.
She loves to learn.
She loves to laugh.
She loves to make people (especially her mommy) laugh.
She is the love of my life.

It always amazes me when people say they don't believe in love at first sight. I always come back with the reply: You obviously don't have children.
The moment you become a parent you cant help but KNOW there is love at first sight.

So whether it is the beginning of the day or the end of the day, I always thank God for giving me the most amazing gift ever: my daughter.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Survival it is

Okay so my blog is called A mom's guide to survival well I haven't been writing lately not because I don't want to but because I feel like I really am trying to survive here.

My husband, myself and our daughter went school shopping for her very first year in Big Kids School. She is going to be in Grade K and I cant believe it. It seems like yesterday that I had her and now she is 5 years old.

So we went to Super Target yesterday and got almost everything we needed seeing that she has to wear uniforms to school. They gave us the choice of navy blue shirts or white. HA white! No I do not think so, not unless I plan on buying 300 of them for the year. So 7 navy blue shirts later and pants and shorts and socks and underwear and $90 we were leaving in search of a oxygen mask for my husband and Denial Anonymous for me (I am going into denial about my child growing up but this too shall pass).

My sister, Lindsey, took Gena for the night at her house and my husband and I had a very quiet evening. I slept in till 9 am. But now my bundle of energy is home and I am very happy she had such a wonderful time with her Aunt and Uncle and their two basset hounds (Lucy and Ace).

Friday, August 7, 2009

It's alive!

Okay so if you feel like you are getting a play by play on my blog today, you might be right!
I was supposed to be up at 6:30 this morning, but with all the crazy, and I mean CRAZY dreams I had, but that's a whole 'nother story, I didn't get out of bed until an hour later than my scheduled wake up call, AKA Josh. So I finally made it out of bed and called Heather (my bff) to find out if she was ready because she said she was going to the gym for 5 am, yeah well apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree cause she too had just gotten up.

We finally made it to the beach for 9:30am and can I just say I would not have missed this for the world. To see the look on my daughters face that we were at the beach and she got to see her little friend Timmy (Heather's son) was worth everything. She had so much fun, this was a morning not to be missed.

So Heather finds this clam in the water, we look at it throw it back and it shows up again. So we think its dead, try to open it with some sea shells and all our sea shells break. We give up and throw it back. It shows up again (do you see a pattern here). So we decide we ARE going to open this thing, hell or high water. SOOOO I go get my house key and stick it into the clam, uuuggghhh I stabbed it! Heather takes the key amidst all my demands of "don't break my house key" and her "oh stop I'm not going to break it" well it didn't break THANK YOU JESUS! I can just see it now I have to go to my apartment office asking for a new key because I opened a clam with mine. Okay so back to my story. She starts to open it and says it wont open so I take it back (at this point we are like two kids on the beach while our kids are ummm I'm not sure because I WAS going to get this thing open) It finally opens and IT'S ALIVE! I killed the poor thing (Forgive me God) and Heather says your bleeding. I keep saying nope its not me its the clam I KILLED! Well Heather was right I WAS bleeding. I guess that's what you get for killing something I should have just left alone. So now I write to you with a band aid on my finger.

So with that my daughter is in her jammies on the couch curled up the the pug, Milo. Watching Sponge Bob. And I am going to go find some lunch. Have a wonderful day and remember ITS FRIDAY! Have you done your Friday Dance Yet????!!!!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Why'd she do that?

I took Genevieve, my little girl to her 5 year physical today. She was so excited that NO shots were involved. We went in and she got to wear her very first paper gown and did great.


Well the time came for her finger to get pricked. You would have thought this child got 10 shots! She looked at me and said "Why'd they do that?" and gave me the most adult look I have ever seen on her. She cried all the way home, the only thing that calmed her down was talking to her daddy on the phone. Poor thing.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Peace

God is so amazing in giving us peace. It probably helps that I am home today too.


I am cleaning house, almost done and so happy to have a house that not only looks clean but has that fresh clean smell to go with it. :)

I am watching my neighbors pug, Pugsy and she is so sweet. I have one pug on one end of the couch and the other (Milo) on the other end of the couch. Both SNORING! But in the midst of all of this I am an undeniable peace running through me. Thank you everyone so much for all of your prayers.

My child sits on the couch and is "testing" her mommy to see if I really will take away the TV if she doesn't clean up that pigsty of a room. It was clean last night and in the coarse of 3 hours this morning it looks like a tornado actually swooped into only her room to make it look like a state of emergency. Oh children, such a blessing and so much work all at once. So off to convince her that if her room is not clean "scooby doo cant visit for a fun filled marathon today on Cartoon Network. Wish me luck and lots off it cause I KNOW I will need it.

Remember Prayer is the best gift anyone can give someone. ~Jess

Friday, July 31, 2009

Laughter is the best medicine

Do you ever notice that when someone is giggly and happy you feel so much more at ease?
I find that if I don't laugh at times I would just plain old cry.
I love to laugh, I love to see people smile and hear what wonderful laugh they poses.
I know this is a short one today but remember Laughter is the best medicine!

OH and do not forget to do your FRIDAY dance! I did mine :)

God is love~ Jess

Thursday, July 30, 2009

When in doubt

So I am in the class room today and there is this little boy that just would not go to sleep at nap time. I tried everything. Being sweet, being stern, telling him to just plain go to bed. Well finally the light bulb above my head went off and ding ding ding, I had a great idea. When in doubt join in. So I thought well I will just talk to him, I learned a lot from a 4 year old today. But he learned something from me too- to meditate. Yes that is right people I had a 4 year old sitting 'criss cross apple sauce" with his arms held out to is sides and making the all so normal pose for meditation with his hands and we "ummmmed" for 10 minutes. This kid would open one eye look at me and go back to it. It was great. Kids are awesome. No matter whose they are.

Oh and not to forget today is Friday Eve!!!!

Tomorrow I will do my Its Friday Dance and mean every move I make!

I hope all of you had a great day. I had a much better one. God is so good to me, he gives great family, great friends and unconditional love. ~Jess

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Do you ever . . .

Do you ever have days of wanting to hide?
I remember when my daughter was little and I went to the ummm . . . potty as she would say, sometimes I would close the door for a 1 minute "break" then I would see these little fingers under the door wiggling and hear "mommy" for the sweetest voice I have ever heard. Well that is not the kind of hide I mean, even though I do love that story :)

I mean the kind when the world swirls around you and you feel like you are in the house in Wizard of Oz. I feel like the control I used to have over my life is gone. I do turn to God every moment that I just need to breathe and even when I just NEED Him.

Life is so short before you know it you are Graduating High School and college and then married and then sweet babies come along but somehow other factors come into play and you remind yourself that this is all Gods plan, his master plan. Who am I to question it? But when you are swirling around and you just want to "hide" then you realize you are only human and that he has more mercy and grace than we can imagine. He never said this life would be easy, just worth it!

Family is EVERYTHING, don't let anyone come in between that. God is love. ~Jess

Sunday, July 26, 2009

To Be or Not To Be

Okay so to be healthy or not to be healthy?
Dumb question huh?

Well I have struggled with my weight for all of my life. Then today I woke up and remember I said I was going to let God interrupt my life? Well He has. I am on a total kick about getting FAT off. As my husband would say though I do tend to not follow through. So with this blog I am thinking I will put in little hints about how my day has gone. And if you feel like cheering me on, all the better :) So don't think you have heard the end of that okay?

Well I know I haven't written in a few days. Our security on the computer went down, down, down. But do you think my lovely husband stayed off the computer. Nope. I had to renew it as fast as possible . So with that we are back up.

We have a new addition in our house. A PUG. Another one! Well she really isn't ours, she is our neighbors but we are bringing her over a few times a week for social time with our pug, yeah you know the fatty one, I guess that runs in the family. Come to think of it maybe Milo the pug will diet with me, oh how he will love that ha ha. So the new pug, she is a sweet little thing, named Pugsy. Her nose is squished in more than Milo, she sounds like a pig snorting all the time but that's okay its just how God made her.

Well I am going to go make dinner: Baked chicken, veggies and french bread.

Have a wonderful evening and remember today is the Lord's Day! ~Jess

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Something More

I used to think being a "peon" was a good thing. Then God messed things up, but in a good way.
I no longer want to be the peon anymore. I want to be in control, in charge but not more in charge than God. I want Him to guide my path and for me to have enough sense to follow.

Life is too short to just, be. I want to live life to my fullest. All people have different views on "the fullest" some want to have millions and live in lavish homes and show off all their name brands.

Me, I want to watch my children grow up, not have to pawn them off on someone else to raise them. Which I wouldn't do anyway. But some do. I want to have wisdom to live life the right way. God's way. A house and a career in writing my books would be a plus don't get me wrong. But its time to just let God be in control and stop fighting him on things.

Do you ever notice, that when you throw your hands in the air and say "Okay my Lord, its all you, what do you want me to do, cause I will do it, no matter what it is?" And you mean it. Everything falls right into place. EVERYTHING.

I have been taking a lot of time out of my days to just listen to Him. I am allowing myself to be interrupted. In a good way. When you finally allow yourself to be interrupted by God, amazing things happen. Try it. You wont be disappointed! ~Jess

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Give it away

Oh what a week and its only Tuesday. I actually told a parent this evening, Have a good weekend, then I said wait it's only Tuesday.

I keep telling myself to give my problems to God. Do I? Yes, and then, and then I somehow take them back. What is wrong with me? Okay so I have come to the conclusion I am just human. I strive to do this everyday and everyday I fail. But I am on a current and every moment walk with the Lord to do this.

My newest saying I tell myself: I am not responsible for others actions nor their responsibilities.

I am responsible for my own, yes. But ultimately not theirs. God wants to be God. He doesn't want me to be God. So this is part of my walk also. To give it over.

My prayer for myself and others: To show not just me but others the path, and lead us and for us to follow. In the whole aspect of it allow us to make it financially and emotionally and last but never, ever, ever least spiritually.

God is so good. Never failing. Awesome. Loving. The essence to my very being. How I love him.

Friday, July 17, 2009

True Story

So before I start my true story. I have to say ITS FRIDAY. Yes I did my happy dance. Even though I did it at 6pm today I still did it. My husband saw my dancing up the stairs and looked at me like I was a total dork but that is okay because he kept saying dont rub it in. Cause he has to work early, like 530 am early! But guess what?! ITS FRIDAY :)


Okay so my true story.
This involves me, and two 3 year old boys. Both of whom are now the proud big brothers of baby brothers. I will call them Ryan and Mark.
So it goes like this:

Me to Ryan: How do you like your new little bother?

Ryan: I like him but wait, Mark have you gotten yours yet?

Mark: Yeah I got him.

Ryan: Oh cool, I didnt know you got him.

Mark: Yeah I got him a couple weeks ago.

(It sounds like they sell baby brothers at the store now lol)

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Ticker Tape

So last we talked I was going to go to work on my mauscript for my book. I got the house all clean, made dinner, Gena was ready for bed and when my husband came home, off I went to Panera to get my 800 words I had left to do for the day.

I got there and treated myself to a soda:Pepsi, cause they don't have coke products. Because if you didnt know, I am so a Coke a cola girl.

So like I said 800 words and 2 1/2 hours to get them done. 8:30 rolled around and it was time to leave to go back home. And how many words did I have done? 50! That is it!!!!! I think somewhere there must have been one of the tickers that goes arcoss the bottom of your tv screen that said "Jessica is writing her book, CALL HER NOW!" because I am telling you EVERYONE called me and texted me! There was only 1 person I called. Oh well next week I guess I will have 1800 words to complete instead of 1000. Argh, the pirate will come out again come monday.

Oh and dont forget Friday is tomorrow!!!!!! Its Friday eve people. :) YEAH!

On an end note :I have been working all week until 530 and I have not been able to spend quality time with my little one. I think this weekend will do us good. Gena has a birthday party Saturday and then its off to the zoo on Sunday. So I look forward to just being with her :)
~Jess

Monday, July 13, 2009

Hot Poker

You know when you have those kind of days where you are so excited to have a calm day. I think I am having one of those. Think is the word be cause its only 1:47pm and I still have the afternoon to go.

Okay so I don't know if any of you have read my first blog on my site. But I am attempting to write my first historical romance. It is coming along a lot slower that I hoped it would. But I am optimistic. As I write today's blog I am actually in the midst of writing another chapter. I have been praying and praying that God gives me the UMPF to get this thing in gear. Well I think he is because I feel like I sat on a hot poker and need to jump up. I am so pumped up about my book that things are just coming to me. YEAH ME! (Borrowed from London Tipton, Suite Life of Zach and Cody)

I don't have to be back to work till 3pm and I left my sweet child there to get her nap so it is QUIET! That and the fact that she doesnt get a gummy bear (only the kids that behave get one) today because I guess she found it in herself to spank a child. I write this trying not to laugh cause if she spanked them maybe they needed it hahaha. We very, very, very rarely spank, we do that privilege ladder instead. So like I said if she did it maybe they needed it. Maybe not, she is only 5 and sometimes the loss of a toy can spark a kid to do unrulely things.

The pug is asleep and the only noise is my fingers hitting the keyboard. So I guess I better go write while I have it in me.~Jess

Friday, July 10, 2009

Ahhh it's Friday!

So if you read my blog from yesterday, I said I would do the happy dance when I woke up.
I did!!!! I am SO happy for Friday. When I was a at home mom everday was Friday, each day was so exciting. Well my days are exciting, well most are. But Friday has meaning again. It's kind of like before you become a christian you don't realize what so many people are so excited about for the Lords Day, Sunday. Then you become one and you are like OOOHHH I get it now! That is what Friday is for me, now that I am back to working. I told my lovely husband that if he wanted me to quit and stay home to tend to everything I would. Well if you think that worked let me just say I wouldnt be so excited about Friday. LOL.

Oh and not to digress which I do on a daily basis, but I went to Wally World aka Wal-Mart and I needed to get ONLY the things I on my list. Did I say ONLY, yeah well there were only 4 items on my list:bread, chips, panko bread crumbs (making ranch chicken with them mmmm), and toilet paper. So my reciept reads 22 items! Yikes okay so 22 items and $50 later I made my way out to my car aka the grass hopper (its a green element, you get the picture, right?). I just love how groceries and the crazy shopper, me, get together and help make the ecomey a better place, HA! I dread doing my checkbook now. I will wait till the morning and have donuts and coffee to ease the pain. ~Jess

Thursday, July 9, 2009

If HE brings me to it, HE will bring me though it.

I had a hard day. I am trying to de-stress but it is hard when your child is not listening so well. She has dropped 4 places on the privilege ladder in just 1 hour. I think an early bed time for her is in order. (And it deems so on the ladder too) I think it will do her and myself a world of good.

It has been raining all day but guess what my friends tomorrow is Friday! I wanna do the happy dance. But I think I will save it for when I wake up in the morning :) Oh how I love the end of the week. Saturday is church and Sunday is the Lords Day :) Oh how good it will be. I am anticipating what God has in store for me over the next 3 days.




I think I will imagine I live here (my cookie jar ;)) Doesn't it look great?
I am going to go finish a load of laundry, get the stinker kid in the bathtub and start dinner: Lettuce Wraps . . . my mouth is watering thinking about them. ~Jess

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Day Dream Believer

Do you ever have those days were you day dream about how wonderful something would be? Of course you do.

Today is my day.

Ahh I am sitting on the wrap around porch. In my own, did I stress own house. Not an apartment. I have over 3 acres and its my own pug farm. What would I name it you say? I have no clue but if you have any good ideas leave me a comment. My child is out on that farm playing until her heart is content, instead of rolling around on the floor with my 28 pound pug (now you know why I call him fatty!) and acting like a dog herself. I have a ice cold glass of lemonade and my husband is cooking on the grill (fat chance of that, he doesn't cook lol) I have a great book in my hand and I am totally enjoying the life God has blessed me with.

Okay so back to reality. I am enjoying this life God has bestowed upon me. And I am anticipating all the fruit that he is going to bless me with. But there is nothing wrong with a great dream. ~Jess

Monday, July 6, 2009

Another Monday.

So I started today with looking in my calander to see what my call was for the day.

I put a new calling on each day of my calander to try to be more Christ like.

Today's call was and still is To Be A Role Model.

This has been a rather rewarding one. My kids in my 5 year old class had an awesome day and I was more apt to being more aware of how I was acting. I was so proud of them and me. My work day ended at 3pm so now I am at home and getting ready to start dinner:Burgers and pasta salad.

Gena and I have been looking at the Weeki Wachee State Park here in FL because when my daughter was asked at her PreK graduation what she would like to be when she grows up she answered "A perfessional mermaid" that was the sweetest thing I had ever heard. So with that I decieded we need to make a trip to see the mermaids at the park. If you would like to see what I am talking about click on the above link.

Oh and how could I almost forget Gena and I did our piggys today. We used "toe polish" as my daughter calls it, not nail polish :)

Here is a picture of our toes.


Happy Monday. Remember being a role model is so awesome not only to children but to adults too! ~Jess

Sunday, July 5, 2009

I feel blessed.

Today is Sunday, the Lords day.

I feel so blessed. I have a wonderful husband, a healthy and sweet not to mention beautiful and smart little girl. And the little love muffin puggly pig Milo.

We (Josh, Gena, Milo and myself) stayed at my parents house last night.

They were out of town camping for the weekend and their dog, Jamie (1/2 lab&1/2 mastiff, not really sure if she is the latter but does look it) needed someone to keep her company and since both of my sisters and their families were there with them, and me getting over this thing I have been trying to overcome, my family didnt go. So I opted to help out.

When we got home this morning I was putting things away when I found the pug on top of a basket of laundry I planned to finish up today.


Cute huh?


If you look you can see his bed is right next to it. But no I think the laundry makes him feel better.

A quiet day, A calm day. A peaceful day. The Lord's day. ~Jess



Friday, July 3, 2009

July is here.

Okay so I am feeling better! Nothing a little antibiotic couldn't help :) I slept all night long before I knew it I had slept a full 6 hours without even waking. That was so awesome. I was in the middle of prayer last night when the little words came to me you forgot to write the rent check out. Thank you God for keeping me from a $50 late fee :) God is so good.

Woke up this morning to my sweet, persistent child asking to play the wii. Well of coarse I said yes I was asleep, then when I finally got my eyes opened I realized she wasn't on level 9 on her privilege ladder to have games. So there that went. Now she is back to pestering the dog. Poor Milo. No wonder he has little white hairs on his face at 2 years old.

I can not wait to get back to writing in my book today. My lovely husband gets off work today at noon so I am hoping he can keep the little one occupied while I work on another chapter.

I think I will finish off my morning drinking a cup of coffee, reading more of Jane Austen ruined my life, great book. ~Jessica

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Sick of being Sick.

If I lived to never have the flu or cold or strep throat again it would not be too soon.
I am totally over this. I was up ALL night long coughing and coughing and coughing. Just as I am now. I ended up staying in bed and kept Gena home with me. Why you ask? Why would a mom who hasn't slept and is sick keep her overly hyped up child home with her. Torture I suppose or the fact that I wouldn't have been able to drive her to preschool let alone drive home and climb three yes people three flights of stairs to get back into my what usually is a comfy, cosy bed, that I now do not want to lay in for the fact that i have layed there for more than 20 hours!

So now I sit in my Grama's lazy boy chair that I inherited after she passed. It is an old chair but I feel like I get a grama hug every time I sit in it. I type away, coughing. Barefoot Contessa is on the TV because God forbid that I actually turned it off, I might feel lonely. But you have the hellion child you say. Oh no my wonderful cranky husband came home early to take her to her best buddies birthday party. So the house is quite except for the snoring pug and oh did I mention my coughing. Oh I did didn't I?

I pray that I somehow make it up to see 18 kids and counting cause I just love this show. Will I make it up probably not should I DVR it probably if I had one but I am cheap or frugal whatever you would like to call it. I don't want to pay more than I have to for cable. In return my husband drops little hints at least 3 times a week about how great it would be to have a DVR. God Bless him for putting up with not just me but mini me (Gena) and the pugglypig Milo. Of coarse I am guessing it is fair game cause he has his faults too. Not just one but a few ;)

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Do over Sunday

Okay so let me start with I had the worst of the worst migraine all day. You know the kind that you have to upchuck to get rid of it. Yeah I know you wanted to hear that.

Well now that that is over with I can go on to other things. Josh and I started a new chore chart for Gena today. The Princess Chore Chart. Okay so this kid only has a few things on it and do you know half of them are still not done. She was not happy when she found out the cash flow would dwindle down. Then we also did the Privilege Ladder that I read on It Feels Like Chaos blog. Thank you so much to the lady who wrote that on her blog. Do you know that this thing helped out so much.
If you want to see what I am talking about go to It Feels like Chaos Blog

Okay so as you have already read I had a stinking migraine and so when I put out the chicken breasts to thaw it was already 1 maybe 2 in the afternoon so needless to say we had pizza delivered. It did help the headache some but then I thought I might vomit again so I stopped eating. Oh but it was good.

Do you ever notice that you are drawn to shows that would normally not appeal to you but since you do have a kid and you are so used to watching them that the next thing you know you are watching the Disney channel and The Princess Protection Program is on and you Liked it.
My child wasnt even in the room, no, the dog, who by the way is 2 whole years old today, big feat for a dog that I didnt think would make it through 1, seeing that my child treats him like a sibling, anyway I am off the beaten path now. So yes the pug, Milo, watched this with me. He snored more than watched but he is a great snuggler.

Oh and did anyone see that not only in 1 weeks time did Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson, and Farrah Fawcett pass but Billy Mays (infomercial king) passed too! God sure is busy bringing people home. At this point I am waiting to see who has passed on tomorrow. Morbid but true.

Well it is getting late and I have to get up early so I can teach a group of 5 year olds. Hip Hip Horray. No really they are great. Did I mention my kid is in that class too haha. This should be fun. ~Jess

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog spot. I am a mom of one, yes one but apparently is equal to at least two (according to my down stairs neighbor) and I have a great husband who interns as my second child and a sweet but very very stubborn pug named Milo. I am currently working at a preschool as a teacher/assistant. Loads of 2-5 year olds. Great kids but do cause White hair. I am currently working on my first novel. A historical romance. Can not wait to finish it and see what people think of my hobby that I hope to be a career. I look forward to writing about my day to day life. Sharing with all who are interested. ~Jessica