Validation

What a title for today's post, huh? hee hee :) Today I am fighting back my sinuses from what I think is developing into a sinus infection. I realized that I have had a cold for over a week now, and am just feeling quite tired and rundown. I am also developing some sinus pain. The way I am going to attempt to avoid the doctor, is by flushing out my nasal passages with salt water. I make a little solution of warm water and salt, and put a little in the cup of my hand and snort it. It kinda hurts, but I think it might be working. I am feeling myself perk up a bit. I am also using a spray decongestant, because I can't stand how the oral medications make me feel. I'll let ya know if this works... I am also increasing my fluids, which isn't hard for me since I love tea. I drink a few cups a day. I usually drink herbal, like Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger. But, I found an awesome black tea by Lipton called "Vanilla Caramel Truffle." Ohhhhh.....put a lit...

I was thinking the other day how different it is going to be when I eventually finish school and start working. I am hoping to have a work schedule that fits with my family, but it's still going to be a big change. I feel blessed that I have stayed home with my kids thus far. They are little for such a short, short time, and I am so grateful that I haven't missed a thing. Plus, I know it's been good for them on many levels. Staying home hasn't come without "sacrifices," which I almost can't call them that. In our younger days, it was very, very tough financially, but God always provided for us. We didn't have nice cars, and we didn't buy our first home until we were married for 10 years. We're doing better today, but we still don't live extravagantly. There's just things we don't buy, and places we don't shop. We've learned how to make decisions about things we just don't NEED or HAVE to have. We have learn...

On Saturday, Joe and I decided to purchase new appliances for our kitchen. Our fridge was starting to malfunction, as well as our overhead microwave. All of our appliances are about 10 years old, and we had been talking about updating them for the future sell-ability of our house. Since we probably won't move for three years, we thought we could at least enjoy them (rather than just buy new for the next owners!). Anyway, we shopped around for the best deals, and found a set at Home Depot. We also wanted a new washer and dryer, as ours are also 10 years old, and the dryer kept putting little burn lines on all of our light-colored clothes. But, we decided to wait on those. HOWEVER. The very NEXT day, we were washing clothes, and the motor that drains the water out of the washer died. We have a washer full of water and wet towels. So, on Sunday, Joe and I went out shopping for a new set. Since we will probably take this set with us when we move, we went for higher quality th...

I had a weird dream last night. In my dream, I was with my counselor and she was telling me that I needed to be in a spiritual battle right now, or something like that. So, I was half awake, and a little scared from the dream, when I responded by quoting scripture and praying silently in this half-dream state. I kind of opened my eyes and looked around, which made me feel a little creepy, and realized my husband had come to bed at some point. So, I put my hand on his back, and continued my half-dream-state-praying-silently thing. Then, I started getting more scared that there was really WAS some reason I had this dream (was something in my house?) and was trying not to be scared, and trying to go back to sleep, so I just kept praying the name "Jesus," over and over again until I fell asleep. As I kept praying His name, though, I got less and less scared and actually more confident. That part was cool. Huh.

Hello People. I know! It's been awhile. Ben is all recovered from his surgery, and things are looking good. He even has half of a front tooth that seems like it keeps coming in more and more each day. No other teeth in sight yet, but I'm hoping we'll see them soon. Melanie finished her gymnastics season at the high school. Her team actually went all the way to the State championships, which has made history for their school. The top six girls went to districts, and after that, the top two went the rest of the way. Melanie wasn't in those top girls, but she hopes to work her way there in the next three years. We're going to look into her working out at a local gym during the off-season, so she can continue to work on her skills. I think we figured out that we're not the kind of people to make our lives all about gymnastics, so she won't be on any local club teams. Being on the high school team seemed just about right, and I'm happy for Melanie...

Wow. I just finished reading a post from Anne Jackson. Please click on the link "Flower Dust" on my sidebar and read today's post. She is on a trip to Uganda at the moment, and has taken some pictures of some living conditions and people they have spoken with. She also shares the story of a woman. It's quite a reality check for all of the things that we think are stressful and hard. It's a keen reminder that there are people who need our help. I am going to talk to my family about sponsoring a child. Check out Anne's website for a link where you can sponsor a child in another country who desperately needs money just to go to school......

I have to add this post today, to tell you about the Bible study. Yes, I went. It is a Beth Moore study on Psalms. There are about 500 women who attend, watch the video, and then split off into little groups all over the campus. I really enjoyed the video and I like my little group, too. In fact, one of the women happens to be a good friend of mine. It was a big step for me, but a necessary one. I shouldn't have allowed myself to go so long without connecting to people at my church. That fact is, I need people. I need the support right now. God orchestrated this thing, and I'll tell you the quick version of that. First, I had gone down to the church office for prayer one day. The pastor's wife was there, and encouraged me to come to the Bible study, and asked if she could pass on my number to one of the leaders, named Ruby. I said yes, and the leader called me a day or two later. I was really needing to talk to someone, when I discovered Ruby's number on my...

It's Over. That feels good to say! Ben had his oral surgery on Thursday morning, and is doing great today. I have not been great, anticipating this whole thing, and waiting in the waiting room during the TWO hour surgery did not help alleviate any of my chest pain. BUT- HE is fine, and that's all that matters to me. The doc removed four supernumerary teeth (extra baby teeth) that were up in his upper jaw, as well as four more baby teeth on top so the permanents can have an easier time coming in. Ben asked him to save the teeth, and they put most (some were too broken) of them in an envelope. He couldn't wait to cash in! I can't tell you how good it felt to finally see them walking my boy out to us in the patient pick-up room. I helped him to the car and into his booster. He started whimpering and did so all the way home. We had to stop by the pharmacy for his meds, but when they said it would be a half hour wait, we grabbed him a milkshake and took him home. ...

My son is downstairs playing with one of his buddies. His buddy said, "Oh my G__." So, Ben says, "Could you say 'Oh my gosh', please?" Isn't that cool?

Hi. I feel funny because I'm typing this post at my college computer lab. It's weird to be somewhere else, other than my home office. Anyway, I just wanted to post a poem for myself. It's a poem I've posted before, but it's my life right now. Life just isn't perfect, and people aren't either. All you can do is what YOU can do, and that's it. Maybe we should be reminded of this everyday. That we do not live in Heaven yet, I mean. People are going to do mean things to us. We're going to make mistakes. People will get sick. Your kids will have supernumerary teeth (oh, wait, that's just me). Maybe if we can let go of the fact that we are GUARANTEED to have sucky stuff happen, it won't hit us so hard when it happens (oh, wait, that's me, too). It's at times like this when a certain four-letter word is the best word I can think of to describe my existence to date. It starts with an "S," if you'd really like to...

My mountaintops today: *I received a 92% on my A&P test I got back today! YAHOO FOR ME!! I'm so proud of myself. *I made a new friend (over the phone!) and I am going to go to a women's Bible study on Wednesday night. Big step for me, but God orchestrated my "meeting" this lady, so I have to go! *I went with my gut and made the right choice and took my son to the doc today. I skipped classes, but my teachers are working with me and a fellow student is giving me her notes. *I helped my daughter decide on her high school classes she will be taking next year. *I finished my taxes, and am getting a nice refund. *My blog friend said she is praying for me, and my new friend from church prayed for me over the phone. It feels so good! My valleys: *My son's throat culture was positive for strep throat. *My son is also having oral surgery on Thursday. *I think a relationship is pretty much ending today (no, not me and my husband). This person recently attacked me...

Hi, I'm Jodi and I'm a Chocoholic.

I guess I have been tagged by "mix'd equally," (see link on the sidebar). Here's what I'm supposed to do: The Rules:- Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. Find Page 123. Find the first 5 sentences. Post the next 3 sentences. Tag 5 people. Here's mine: "Well," said Mack sarcastically, sitting back in his chair. "We sure seem to have adapted pretty well to it." Sarayu was quick to reply, "Don't confuse adaptation for intention, or seduction for reality." "So then, ah, could you please pass me a bit more of those greens? So, then, we've been seduced into this preoccupation with authority?" -"The Shack," by William P. Young If you read this, you have been tagged!! You may leave your post as a comment here! :)

Amanda and Brett had their Winter Formal dance last night. One of their friends' parents hosted a dinner for their group, and a lot of the moms came over to take pictures. The kids' faces were hurting from smiling so much. HAHA! :) They set such a pretty table, and the food smelled so GOOD! The mom wrote each person a little note and left it on their plate - how cute! This family had a huge, beautiful home. This staircase made a perfect setting for a group picture. Amanda borrowed a dress from her friend, and we bought her some new shoes. Amanda always looks good in halter dresses. Brett opted to dress in all black with a silver tie to match the silver glitter in Amanda's dress. I think they looked pretty great!