Suspending the blogging

I kept feeling bad that I haven't been updating my blog, and realized it is not something I have time to do now. I just need to commit to less time on the web and more time doing my responsibilities. Right now the main one is putting every business transaction since January into Quickbooks, and setting all of our 74 customers up on it as well for invoicing. Until that task is done I have no business blogging! So goodbye blogging friends, I'll have to see you in the real world!

Not getting very far

I still haven't made out my cards for my card file of daily tasks, weekly tasks, etc. Why? Because I have spent way too much time setting up my new Facebook account. I wanted to share really quick this great quote that was read at the Weekend to Remember on anger. I was angry at the time because when we got home the night before this transpired:

Me: I have a lot to do to get ready for being gone this weekend. (Implication - you should know to help me).

Damon: Oh. (Infers - great she will be busy and won't mind if I play guitar).

Obviously, I minded that he played guitar and just didn't intuitively know that the right answer was to offer to help me. So, this was fresh in my mind and I was feeling so happily sorry for myself that my mean husband wasn't learning anything so far at the conference and a good husband would be more helpful. Then I was slammed with this:

"Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you." Frederick Buechner.

Isn't this so true? The truth is I have a great husband who isn't perfect, but is my God-given gift. Thank you Lord!

We had a great time!

The Weekend to Remember conference was wonderful and it exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend it, even for those who have been to marriage conferences before. I think they had a fresh approach to things and I definitely walked away challenged and refreshed. We spent Saturday night there, and I am so glad that we did. It was great to just relax at the hotel and not have anyone to take care of! I think the main thing that God showed me through the questions and material was just how controlling I am, and how much I need to turn that control over to Him. I really am a person that likes to control everything about life to stay in my comfort zone, and I hate when there are any bumps to my plan. Being married means sometimes that spouse may have an idea of their own, but I don't always leave room for that! Conviction is good, and I know the Lord is faithful to teach me to relinquish my control and just enjoy life a little more.

My mom stayed Saturday night and was a busy bee while she was here. She cleaned my laundry room, refrigerator, mopped, did some laundry, and other things. Damon had some things on the side of the house for uncontained trash day and she even organized that. My sister was here helping her, and I am guessing that she watched the boys while my mom was working. It kind of bummed me out that she did that because my choice would be that she just play with and enjoy the kids, but it is her way of showing me love. I am enjoying the fruit of her labor now!

OK, so I am going to get serious about a daily routine instead of making it up as I go. That is the challenge for the day!

Ouch

In my last post I made reference to a waxing appointment.

Apparently, some people have a bad allergic reaction to the wax or wax removal lotion.

This will be a funny story years from now. Many, many, many years from now.

Marriage retreat

We are going on the Weekend To Remember retreat this weekend! I am actually so excited. We weren't planning on going, then it all just sort of worked out. Damon really wanted to spend one night at the hotel - our first night ever away from the kids - and my mom agreed to come spend the night. I'm a little nervous about that, but I think it will all be ok. So I am focusing on the marriage area of life this week in preparation. It's so easy to push that to the side when life gets busy, but it has been fun to put it to the forefront. I'm thinking champagne, music, candles, and I even had an appointment that included hot wax (ouch). Of course, this is totally breaking the budget and isn't the most responsible use of money right now. That said, I am glad we are doing it! Need to do a little more Flying, but the basics are getting done and it is a lot better than it was, and I think progress begets more progress. My main nemesis right now is the office and dealing with paperwork, and once I conquer that foe I think I'll really feel like things are coming together. It's funny to think that when my mom was mom age she had a 16 year old and seemed so middle-aged! I feel like by my age I should have already arrived somewhere further ahead then I am, but I guess I am a late bloomer! Oh, and a praise is that Ben didn't have one bad diaper at all today, so I think he is finally getting better! What a relief. I'm about to put 40 minutes into going through paperwork, partly because when my mom is here she'll probably snoop : )

Better than it was but a long way to go!

Since a cough was added to Ben's list of symptoms last night I called the doctor's office and they said to bring him in. In two weeks he has lost 2 1/2 pounds - which for him is 10% of his body weight. We are in watch and wait mode with him and I also get the joyful job of collecting stool samples the next couple of days to send to the lab. That's fun. I mention this because this morning became a flurry of getting ready to go to the doctor, getting ready for my friend Tricia to come watch Aaron, and getting ready for a lady to come buy a stroller I listed on Craigslist. I was in CHAOS - Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome - and that depressed me. There was definitely less chaos and running around than before, but chaos nonetheless. My choices to not do my routines added up to a hectic morning. It was a good reminder why I want habitual order in my home - so there are not many of these times. Tonight I need to do some work for the pool business, clean up the kitchen and exercise. On top of it all my weight is up and that is discouraging. I think it may have something to do with the overeating - I have heard that there is a connection between consuming massive quantities of junk food and gaining weight. There is also a connection between gaining weight and pants being too tight. There is a definite connection between pants being too tight and being in a grouchy bad mood, and of course there is a factual, proven connection between the grouchy bad mood and chocolate. Darn vicious cycle!

His Mercies Are New Every Morning!

Not a banner day here yesterday! Didn't get the control journal started, didn't do some laundry that needed doing, etc. Defrosted chicken for dinner, but didn't pay attention and I didn't have enough since my mom-in-law was also invited which meant a trip to the store to buy a rotisserie. Another example of disorganization costing $$! My real downfall though was just not turning my thoughts to the Lord and turning to overeating. I made an awesome dinner - Giada DeLaurentis' Chicken Carbonara recipe here. This is a very satisfying and filling dish, so why did I go on to eat a bowl of ice cream and two large bowls of fruit loops? Because I was a little on edge and rather than turn to the Lord I turned to favorite foods. Did I mention I was home alone? I do have my pride - I wouldn't pig out like that in front of Damon!

Today is a new day and I can choose to make today different. We are watching my friend's pre-teen boys while they do some marriage counseling for another couple, so I have built-in help with the kids and should be able to get a lot done. I hope you choose to walk in the Spirit today and in that ever-present battlefield of the mind stop the negative, life-draining thought patterns and go to the Word instead! OK, not to encourage you to overeat but Breyer's Ice Cream is on sale for $2.50 at Wal-Mart and the big box of Fruit Loops is on sale too! They also carry every ingredient for Chicken Carbonara at a good price and you should really try that!