Thank you, Dr. King

As the mother of African children I thank you.





  
         

 

 
   


 

Healthy Changes

This last week I joined Weight Watchers for the umpteenth time. I'm going to devote until August to lose the weight I need to lose. I'm doing this for my health. I was advised years ago to lose fifty pounds, but you moms know how it is. We take care of everyone else but ourselves. This is the year this mama needs to reclaim her health.

I was surprised when I weighed in heavier than I thought I was. Our at home scale is obviously light........ I'm on track now with 29 points a day. I've done really well so far, and I've gone out to eat almost every day.

I went out to Panda Express twice (I couldn't resist the second time). I changed up the fried rice for the vegies which are a big fat 0! Added the Black Pepper and Mushroom Chicken for a points value of 10. When I went back the next day I had a Panda bowl with vegies and Black Pepper Chicken and that was only 5 points.

We went out for bbq and I ordered the steamed vegies and 1/4 chicken with sauce. The chicken was breast and a wing. Since this restaurant isn't in the WW Eat Out book, I guesstimated that it was about 7-8 points for the meal, add in an ice tea and I was set.

We got pizza for our Friday night in-house date. Two pieces of that with raspberries and water, came to about 14 points.

On Thursday we went out for our weekly get-away-from-the-kids date and ended up at Olive Garden. I looked on the Lighter Menu and found a Lasagna Primavera and it was really scrumptious. Turns out that was eleven points. So I've been able to enjoy my food, I'm just making healthier choices.

I needed to go to the grocery store so I ended up in the misc. aisle. I bought the cup featured above. You can find it at Cool Gear. It has been my faithful friend all week. I just wish it were bigger so I wouldn't need to keep filling it up all the time.

I did give up Diet Sodas in 2010 because my joints were always so sore. Getting away from the aspartame fixed that problem for me. I switched to Iced Coffees at home recently and have shied away from those too this week.

The next thing I did to make a healthy change was to buy myself some new tennis shoes. I've been looking for months, but I hate to commit to shoes and purses so it takes me forever to decide on the right one. I found mine on the clearance rack at Famous Footwear for only $30-Nike's to boot! My husband is convinced I like them more than him, but I don't. (not yet :-) )

Then tada!!! I joined the YMCA yesterday. I signed up as a one-parent family and all nine of my kids get to go too!!!! Sarah will get to go to since she is moving home in May. Her husband is going to Korea for a year, so we get her for a whole year! The boys are excited since their friends go, and Joe wants to train for possible entrance into the Coast Guard. He passed the first round, next is the ASVAB.

Look out 2013, here we come!

Enjoying my older kids

This last week has found me spending time with adult kids. It's such a reward for all the training and parenting that we did. The reward being that we can now enjoy one another's company and just be together.

For Christmas our oldest son bought his dad tickets to Rain: The Beatles Cover band. The show was excellent. If you like the Beatles and you're ever able to go, you should, you won't regret it. It was so much fun. They sounded and looked just like the Beatles.
These pics are from from the Rain Website. Rain  He and his wife went with us to The Old Spaghetti Factory and then to the concert. It was fun just being with them.

  

  

In the middle of the week we went to Phil's BBQ to celebrate our second son's 28th birthday. We met him, his wife and little guy there. It was the first time for his wife, and about our fifth time or so. We always get the rib tickler with some added onion rings. Big greasy onion rings dipped in ranch dressing-oh so good!

Phil's BBQ

This weekend we headed to Luke Air Force Base where my daughter's family lives. We went for an overnighter so Grandpa could meet his newest granddaughter. We had fun playing with our grandson too. He is only two and so full of energy. I think we were welcome playmates.

We were able to go to Cracker Barrrel TWICE!!! Yes! In California we don't have Cracker Barrels so we can't go to one unless we're in a different state, that means if we hit Yuma or Phoenix we always go. It was Fish Fry Friday which is my FAVORITE so I was able to indulge my taste buds.

I'm having trouble uploading pics, but when I'm able I will post a new picture of the little Miss and her brother.

Today is my third son's 23rd birthday and he is stationed in Baltimore. We were able to call and chat with him for awhile. We so enjoy him and miss him since he's all the way across the U.S. When I went to Ethiopia this summer I stopped at his house for half a week on the way back. I get to see him in June when they come home for a few weddings.

Hopefully you have a relationship or will with your older kids. It's one of life's greatest blessings.

My new granddaughter!

My daughter delivered her baby girl a few weeks ago. Since she was being induced I was able to drive out the day before so I could be there with her to help. Sarah walked into the hospital and found out she was already 5 cm. She wasn't in labor or even having contractions.

 

After being on the pitocin for a bit she was checked again and was at 7. The next time she was checked she was at 9-9 1/2 so the nurse did what nurses do, and she was at 10 and ready to push. A few pushes and Elizabeth was here. Sarah did a fabulous job!

 

Meeting her little gal.

                                              Look at all that hair!

                                                 Joy!

                                            So happy!

                                           First pout

Wonderment and awe like only a newborn can give.

                                                  Meeting daddy

Beach in November

 

My extended family lives in Washington and Florida and the Washington contingent couldn't wait to see the ocean. I had Joe take them while I was out with Joel. They went to La Jolla Shores and some other beaches. My mom loves the ocean and everything about it.

                                   My brother heading down to the water.

                            My mom and my niece Sierra heading down too.

Mom and Sierra

                                             Sierra looks cold.

                                                My brother Joe and Sierra

                                          Cousins! Kylie, Sierra & Joe

This is how we make stuffing

 

Kylie, my niece, and Joe mixed the stuffing for me. I tripled my recipe so we had to use 27 cups of bread cubes. Thus, the big stock pot to mix in. We outgrew regular mixing bowls many kids ago.

This is the recipe I used, but I tweak it here and there; http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/classic-bread-stuffing/129aa22f-2203-483e-a7a9-dde5b5c6b715

Happy Birthday, Son!

My youngest son celebrated his 12th bday while our family was in town. He and I went to breakfast, and then did some bday shopping. Later in the afternoon we took him, one of his brothers and three of his friends to Phil's BBQ for an early dinner. We all had the yummy rib tickler plates, and finished them all. Once we got back home we had cake and ice cream with everyone.

Family Reunion

This Thanksgiving I was reunited with my mom, my younger sister and younger brothers. It was the first time in thirty-two years that we had all been together in the same place. I had seen my siblings or my mom at different times in different places, but we were not all together until Thanksgiving. I also met my niece for the first time.
To add to the fun my other niece from Florida came out for a few weeks.

 Joe the youngest, Teri my younger sister by 12 months and 3 days, and then my younger brother Steve. I'm the oldest if you didn't catch that. (That's why it's easy for me to be so bossy.)

                                    My mom with her four kids.

Free Adoption book on Kindle

This Mean War: Equipping Christian Families for Fostercare or Adoption



I bought this book in print form several years ago and loved it. It's offered for free today on Amazon for Kindle readers. Don't have a Kindle? You can download the app to your computer and read it there. Here's a write-up I did on it a few years ago.

This Means War Write-up

Starbuck savings & recipe book

I subscribe to The Krazy Coupon Lady. In today's email she has an article on how to get more savings at Starbucks. Since I didn't know about these savings I thought maybe you didn't know either. Sip and Save is where you'll find out the ins & outs on how to save more at Starbucks. There is also a 32 page recipe book that is available at Starbucks Recipe Book. Unfortunately they don't have the recipe for the iced coffee that I love and my 15 year old son knows how to make perfectly, but I did find the recipe for their frappucinos. Enjoy!

World AIDS Day 2012: Five Things You Should Know

World AIDS Day 2012: Five Things You Should Know

World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day. I don't know anyone in my everyday life that has Aids or HIV, but I do know plenty of adoptive families that have brought HIV+ children into their homes. Knowledge is the first step away from the fear of this disease. We are approved to adopt a child with HIV+. I wanted the approval just in case we needed it. We haven't, but I did get a bit educated in the process. We're not in the 80's anymore!




Project Hopeful video:
Truth Pandemic

You can also visit: The Farmer's Wife Tells All
to see how one family lives with a daughter who happens to have HIV.

Upside Down Christmas?

As the mom of a large family I do not look forward to Christmas for the above reasons. What if we celebrate simply? Do my kids remember what their third gift was last year? I'm already thinking that we will go to the thrift store and let the kids pick out $5 or $10 worth of gifts for their family gift swap. I do need to read with my kids more. We should play more games. That's what they'll remember. Not all the stuff that was in their stockings. How did we get to where we are? Get us off the merry-go-round, please!

For more on this topic go to That We Might Be Adopted

Miles Family Adoption Puzzle Fundraiser

An online friend is fundraising for her currrent adoption. Please read their story below, donate if possible, and/or share on your blog if you can!


Hello, we are Michael and Megan Miles! We have been married for 3 years and began our first international adoption when we had only been married 1 year. We currently have three beautiful girls.





Our youngest Ammar-Juliana, was brought home from Ethiopia this past February. We feel so blessed by the love she has shown us that we wish to do this process all over again.

We are now in the midst of our second international adoption from Ethiopia and are hoping this time for a son! Some may wonder if we’re crazy or if we are trying to start a baseball team, but neither are true! We have a deep passion for defending the fatherless and feel nothing but gratitude to be able to open our hearts and home to them.   



Of course with all of these adoptions under our belts many may wonder where the money is coming from. With Ammar-Juliana we were lucky enough to have the money needed, but this time around we have to do a bit of fundraising. One of our largest fundraisers is our “puzzle fundraiser.” We have purchased a puzzle that we wish to frame once completed in order to hang in our son’s room. We are selling each puzzle piece for $5. Once you have graciously provided us with your donation we will send the piece(s) you way!  


 You are more than welcome to write a note to our precious boy or simply sign your name on the back of the piece. Once you are done with that just pop it into the mail (stamped envelope provided) and your part is finished! Once we have completed the fundraiser we will display the framed puzzle for all to see! …A simple way to change our lives and our son’s life forever, right?


               http://meganandmichaelmiracle.blogspot.com/


Thank you so much for taking time to read our story. We are forever changed because of all of the support that surrounds us.