Angie's Answer

Safety Products

Thurs. July 17th

Whoa, sorry it has been soooooo long friends.  I have been thinking of things I want to blog/share with you but just have not slowed down to sit in front of the computer and type away.  But you folks are the forgiving kind and so I will begin to catch up on the life of the Rugh Zoo (that's what we loving call our family of 5)

Wacky Wednesdays

Yes, these have continued.  These days just set aside for Mom to invest in her kids has been somewhat of a pressure, trying to come up with something cool that everyone will enjoy.  But God has been faithful each time to give me an idea that ends up fun for all.  On the 9th we had a hard time deciding what to do, and I came to the computer to search Letter Boxing, to which my youngest 2 balked.  I can not tell you how we ended up on the web where we did,  BUT somehow we ended up reading the story of the Red Paper Clip.... this is the guy who in 1998 traded up a red paper clip for a fish pen.  He continued the trading up till he ended up with a house.  Yes, that's right ..... a HOUSE!!  YOu can look it up for yourself if it interest you.  So my kids thought this was fascinating and wanted to try a little trade themselves.  We ended up putting  "One Golden Jester Coin" (plastic 1 1/2 " diameter) on www.swap-it-now.com .  Within the day, no kidding, we had a trade for a CD set titled Hymns 4 Worship.  So now we are trading the CD set with anyone who would like to make a trade.  You can do it through www.swap-it-now.com or you can just comment here.  We have no clue where this may lead but it is fun seeing how this plays out!

Now for yesterday, July 16th we were having an even harder time trying to decide what to do.  I am thinking to myself around noon, why did I start this! More frustration over the "W" thing than any.     See so far we have made it Wet Wed., Wacky Wed., Wood-Working Wed. etc.  To add to the frustration, I had some ideas but they all included a good amount of gas which we all know is not real cheap at this time (probably never will be again!). So, I could come up with nothing.  At last I made a Wild Scavenger Hunt using the alphabet.  THey had 2 hours to find something for every letter in the alphabet.  They started with eating Apple slices, then we headed to the $ store to purchase a Bible. This was the kids idea thinking we could Give it away when we got to the letter G.  As we were purchasing the Bible the cashier commented on my "How can I pray for you?" button.  She said, "Very long".  Of course it took me a few minutes to get her point that she needed lots of prayer.  Well as my kids had planned we returned to the store later to Give the Bible to her.  My oldest felt led to leave her an inspiring note about the Lord's Word inside the Bible just for her.    The day continued on with eating IceCream for I and singing You Are My Sunshine very off key (on purpose) to a friend (the letter S.).  We went begging at a friend's house for something Yummy for the eat, as we ran out of time an needed a Y ..... Yellow cheese was the perfect answer!  Last we got a picture with our young friend, the now famous ZOE!  All in all it turned out to be a memorable day I think. 

School Decisions

There have been no definite decisions made toward school except that we will homeschool all 3 kids this coming year.  THe oldest may go elsewhere for a day or two, or not at all.  Time and Prayer will lead us further into this year with Highschool, Middle school and Elementary school all blended together for the first time (for us that is).

Weight Loss

Now there is a touchy subject!   Oh that this battle were already behind me.  But the only thing behind me at present is the same behind (becinol !   spelling?) I had at the beginning of the year.   I have fallen again in to running to food for....?  Hmmm.  That is where I get stuck.  I am not sure WHY I run to food.  I know it is wrong thinking, but what exactly I am thinking wrongI do not know.  This downward spiral began again when I was getting ready to go to SC to see family at the end of May.  Though I love to be with them, an anxiety about my weight started to build.  Even though I had lost weight, I was thinking that no one would really be able to see it.  WHY is that so important???  I guess because I get big praises when I loose and  a feeling of approval.  WHY is that so important?    Instead of being more strict as I intentioned in the last few days before the trip I began to eat more.  By the time I left SC I had gained 5 lbs and then over the month of June, with very little trips to the gym ( or around the block) I put on another 5 lbs.  Yikes that is almost back where I started from.    AND I did not see it coming.  It is like when you go to California, you can not see on the surface that you are on a fault line.  But in the hotels, there are signs warning you because they know that there is an issue under the ground.  I now know that though things seemed to be going well in my weight loss efforts (though I was constantly frustrated by the slowness of it), I had not completely dealt with the big problems lying beneath.  Otherwise we would not have had this huge break in my control over my eating.

Somehow a friend's comment early this week struck a chord.  I was telling her how I have blown it again and was frustrated with myself.  Her comment was that is why she does not try anymore.  Though I totally understand that feeling of giving up .....it just did not sit well with my spirit.  I thought about it.  Is that what I should do?  Should I just quit trying?  Well first of all that IS what I had done.  I had just stop fighting the fight.  And the result was I was loosing the battle big time!!!  I began to think that I can not give up because deep in my spirit I know the Lord has shown me I will overcome one day.  I will have victory one day.    So on Wednesday morning (before anything Wacky) I forced myself to the gym.  Oh how wonderful!!!!!  I do not know why I let myself put other things before this wonderful experience.  I get so charged when I work out.  I spend the time listening to Christian teachings, praying and praising God.  I leave feeling not only like I am making a difference in my physical being BUT I feel revived in my spirit as well.  I have said it before in my blog, but I feel as if I am breaking through a wall when I am working out and filling my spiritual tank.  No amount of chocolate of food did this for me this past month.  It seems silly again that I let it control me so.  I must let the Lord work out this earthquake

Now I am working through my reasons for getting back on track.  I know in part it is because I know I am going to New Orleans for the Shaklee Convention in less than 3 weeks (Wednesday was exactly 3 weeks).  Because I have eaten foolishly for weeks now, I can not wear the outfits I had planned.  If I am diligent, I can take 10 lbs. off in 3 weeks.  Now .......am I setting myself up again?  I am trying to pray through this.  I know I must lean on the Lord to help me and to keep my focus on the important long term goal.  I need to take care of myself, not IMPRESS others.  One good thing is I feel a peace from the Lord.  I did not fall back into that old lie that God is not pleased with me again.  I know that He is my biggest cheerleader.  Yes He loves me if I am obese, and He loves me enough to want me to be an over comer so that I will not be obese.  He is an awesome, faithful God.  I do not know what the future of this year holds or if I can make it with less falls than in the past.  But I do know that one day, by His grace,  I will overcome this mess. 

And on that note I will end my very long blog today.  Be Blessed, not Stressed.  Angie

Home From Camp Sandy Cove

Home From Camp Sandy Cove

Yes we are back from our family vacation.  It was a wonderful retreat and we should thank our friends who recommended it to us.  Set on a cove in Northeast, VA it was beautiful.  The only slight flaw would be the hotel accomendations which were just fine, but could use a little updating with wallpaper, linoleum, etc. to give the rooms a more polished, clean feel.  There was sooooo much for the kids to do and the best part was since it is a Christian camp (even when it is not homeschool week), it was safe enough for the kids to come and go as they pleased for the most part.  Here is a sample of what a day would look like:

MONDAY

8:00am Breakfast for all (eggs, bacon, bagels, hashbrowns, cereal, etc. )

9:45am Worhip for the families

10:00am Kids go to Cove Crib, Cove Kids, and the Crosswalk (teens and college)       Parents go stay for the talk wtih Todd Wilson if they want ... which we did because he was halarious!

11:00am parents have time alone to process the talk, take walks, or whatever till lunch when they go to get their kids.

12:15 Lunch for all (chicken tenders, potatoes, deli meats, bread, fruit, dessert, etc. )

1:00pm - 5:00 Free time for families (tubing, canoes, putt-putt, ping pong, rock wall, rip line, trapeze, craft room, etc.)

5:15 Dinner

7:00pm Special time (Monday the parents and the elementary kids made Rockets with their kids and they launched them. Tues we did something spec. with our teens, and Thurs. the parents got a kid-free dinner and concert with Michael Card (teens did join us for the concert)).

9pm-10:30pm Pool late swim (Thurs. night they put up a huge screen and you could watch Veggie Tales' Jonah while you swam).

We were concerned that our oldest was not going to enjoy himself, but he woke up the 2nd morning there and seemed to come back to life and his spirits lifted with his energy level.  I guess going to Church camp for a full week, returning on a Friday, doing an all day soccer camp on Sat. and leaving Sunday for Sandy Cove wasn't the smartest trick for his poor body. 

Our youngest 2 really had a blast.  Our Jojo loved the craft shop where he painted a ceramic hedgehog that he named Sylvian.  I was surprised that this was one of his favorite things he did.  Christoher made a rocket there also since he was not with us when we made air rockets with the younger kids on Monday night. His however, was a powered rocket and it went so far into the woods when it was launched that he did not get it back.

Well that was our week.  I am home now and it is time to get busy with my homebased business and with nailing down plans for the coming year of home-schooling. 

Wacky Wednesday

Wacky Wednesday Went Well

           We had a fabulous time on our Wonderful Wacky Wednesday.  It was a little different not having the 14 yr. old with us (he is away at church camp), but we had fun just the same.  We ended up Watching a movie, Firehouse Dog, and then we ate Waffle fries at Chick-fil-A before going to Whack a ball at the putt-putt course at the bowling alley.  I'm not really sure why, but we make everything on Wed. our fun day, start with a W.  I guess it just adds to the creativity and the fun for us all.   Any ideas that you guys have for future adventures are appreciated.

            Today will be a busy day.  I have calls to make this morning.  I need to call Sandy cove, then I have a conference call, and after that I need to straighten my home and we are supposed to enjoy having friends come over. 

            I have been trying to make decisions about what to do with my oldest child's education this coming year.  Gas prices are really effecting the cost of some of our options!!!  To send him 2 days a week to a cooperative for part of his 9th grade schooling has some advantages.  for example he can do his science experience with other kids, he can experience learning away from home with a variety of teachers, etc.  He can do all he needs to do at home though as well and that may be where he will do the best and keep his focus, but I do not want us to make that decision on the fact that the gas price makes the other choice double the price.  I will just keep listing pros and cons in my head and know that if we lean on Christ He will enable us to make a wise decisionHave a great day. 

                        Be Blessed, not Stressed!                   

                                    Angie

My little Brother

My Baby Brother

            I want to highlight some wonderful things going on since the trip to SC.  My brother is recovering well from his surgery.  He is doing PT now to get that knee bending. He can put 25% weight on it now.  He is also back in church and walking with the Lord.  I am so happy about that I could ........... scream? ............. spit? (eewww! no, yuck!).... BLOG (that's it)!!! He took people with him to church this past week. Plus he became a grandpa duing his recovery, so he is very excited over this little girl!

         Thanks for all of you who prayed for my brother! His leg looks like a battle field, but it is exciting and amazing to believe he is getting really close to walking on his own with out the use of crutches, etc. anymore. 

           I am working on my mindset again too.  I have prayed again that with God's help I can stop this sinful pattern on overeating.  It really is a sin and I must see it this way. I could use tons of excuses for why I turn to food emotionally but they would negate the fact that it is still wrong of me to eat this way.  Also this sin puts me by choice back into bondage again.  If a friend was turning to drugs, alcohol, or sex due to emotional issues I would not encourage them or make light of it.  Therefore if I want to walk in victory I believe I must see my sin for what it is and truely turn from it.  If you would like to pray for me pray that I will turn to the Lord and not the food.

             Well that is all for tonight.  I am going to go to bed and pray that tomorrow will be one of self-control and joy.  I am tired of feeling beat because of my foolish eating.  Good night all.

Angie 

I'm Here

Well I am back.  Back again and not quite sure where to begin after such a long time away.  I guess I should start from the beginning.  My purpose in this blog was to gain support from others as I tried to gain control over my weight.  And to have a written history telling the story which hopefully is leading up to victory; that I might share with others one day, who are where I am now. 

I feel like a natural diaster has happened, my thinking has been shaken again and I am not sure what I am doing.  Everything looked good on the outside.  I was loosing weight, although slowly, but it was a good steady decrease.  Then as if a volcano had been brewing below the surface, my behavoir just went wild.  I think it may have been preparing for the trip home that started the activity on the rictor scale.  Going home is a wonderful thing for me, but it also brings up a lot of insecurities in this area of self esteem/ weight loss.  As I tried to figure out what I was going to wear whilein SC and thus what I should pack in the suitcase, two things happened.  #1) I lost my true focus and tried to be stricter diet-wise in hopes of loosing just a few more pounds before I got home .... thinking people could see then that I have been trying to loose weight.  #2)  I blew it instead and emotionally overate, sobatoging myself even before left on the trip.

While I was there I ate horribly.  There were lots of sweets around and I fell right into that trap again.

Whaaaaaa! That's me crying.  Actually I am not at the moment.  But I have a few times over the last few days.  I have been back home in VA (back from SC) now 3 weeks, and I still can not get the mindset I had before.  I've been to work out only once and on a few walks, but for the most part I have stopped exercising.  So how am I doing? HORRIBLE!  That is what confuses me the most.  If I feel so horrible ... I am aching again every morning, with my hands going to sleep around 4 am every night.  I'm not sleeping well.  My eyes are puffy again, every day etc. etc.  I have gained 1/2 of what I lost back too. And I miss my workout time listening to Godly teachings.  That was a sweet time with the Lord.  So what I was saying is It confuses me why I keep overeating.  I know that there is sooo much more joy and peace when I am self-controlled.  I know that I physically feel better and wake up energized.  I know when I get back on track that I will say to myself  "This is easy and satisfying, what made it so hard to begin?"  But right now I feel like I have fallen in a huge, dark, evil pit.  I know there is a rope to climb up dangling somewhere here in the dark, because I have used it before.  But right now I just can't seem to put my hands on the rope.  I grap and grap but it seems to not be there.  That's how the trying to start over every morning and not making it past noon before I binge feels! 

In case you are wondering if I am okay.  Yes I am mentally stable.  But I am very angry with me.  I am not doing what is best for me.  I am being led, not by the spirit of the Lord, in this area and I know I have power to overcome by the blood of Jesus..... .... but for some stupid reason I refuse to do it WITH ALL MY HEART.  That is the key.  I have cried out but not with my whole heart. 

One of these days I will learn to walk in victory.  I still believe that.  But for now there is a lie I have to recognize and line it up next to the Word of God and decide which one I will choose to believe with my actions.  Please pray for me my cyber friends.  I need it!

How do I change my avitar picture?

How do I change my avitar picture on my blog?

                 Perhaps I should be happy with my sheep avitar that was given me when I started this blog.  But I am not particularly fond of the guy.  I guess I just do not feel very sheepy.  Yeah I know maybe it is perfect because as a Christian I am often refereed to in the New Testament as a sheep.  You know sheep are not smart animals at all but they do faithfully follow their master's voice.  Maybe a sheep is perfect for me afteralll. 

               Not too much new here to blog about.  I will have a pretty tight schedule of washing clothes, packing, finishing up school,business appointments, etc. this week if we are to leave out on Thurs. morning.  We are heading to SC to see our families. I have excitement and hesitation about it at the same time.  I can not wait to see my parents and brothers.  I always stress over clothes to pack for such home visits.  There is some relief that I have lost 12 lbs. and 3.5 " in my waist.  Mom and my sister in law have been on a weight management program for several months as well. She is doing well. 

Angie

A Terrific Birthday!!

A Terrific Birthday!!

Today was just fabulous.  The fact that I am a year older (42) pales in the view of all the blessings I have obtained in those few years.  The blessings I refer to are not material, but family and friends.  My day started out with one of those marvelous friends snatching me away from my daily duties to have coffee and time alone with her at a real bonofide coffee shop ( not to downplay the best coffee house around at M's house!).  Oh and she brought me a neat flower in a coffee cup as well ... a huge coffee cup... too bad it has a hole in the bottom for a planter.  Oh well that would entice me to consume way too much caffiene if I could really use it as a mug. 

            After that I went to Suffolk to have my Birthday pedicure, a gift given by another dear friend.  This was wonderful!!!  I so enjoyed the pedicure; slow, gentle, relaxing, well done!!!  No razor blade either!!!  My feet for once do not feel like a cheese grater.  

I came home to find my Hubby had shampooed the den carpet, fixed the toliet handle in our bathroom and left me yellow roses with a card.  Yellow roses are my favoritest (yes I know that is not a word according to Webster, but who died and made him king of the language.)!  My darling did well.  He even got me a new hair dryer to replace my old one that has started cutting off after a minute of drying.  I wonder if he and Donnie have been talking??  Hmmmm?

But that is not all.  He went to take our children to someone else's house ( yep another blessed friend), so we could go out for a dinner date and walking downtown.  Yep, he got lots of brownie points!!!!!!!! 

              One day I will share what a miracle God has worked in me when it comes to my marriage to my Darling James.  He is the greatest guy and I almost messed that up completely.  Praise be to the Lord who does miraculous things in us all (if we submit and are willing).  You can ask my friends and they would tell you what we have now, did not look this good 5 years ago when I was sitting in M's kitchen crying day after day.  I am blessed to be able to realize/understand that My darling husband is wonderful and my God is AWESOME!!!! 

To all of you...... Good night, Don't let the bed bugs bite, and turn out the light ( you will sleep better... really).  Angie

a small victory

A little Victory!

I am glad to report that I did not loose heart and give up on my wieght loss efforts.  In fact I was encouraged by a few other Homesteaders here.  I am happy to report that the scales have begun to move downward again.  YEAH!!  I am more concerned with inches though, suibce that is a real measurement of fat lost. Only problem, is that is harder for me to measure. I think I have a measuring tape deficincy.  I can never tell if I did it right, so I do it a 2nd and 3rd time and get a different measurement each time.  Oh well even though it comes in very small increments over time you can not help but tell you lost. My clothes fit much different and I think I have lost about 4 inches off the waist now.  The hips and legs have been slow to respond but they are starting to slim down as well. 

I am so glad that I did not give in the feelings of frustration over my ugly habits that kept coming back up.  I knew I was overeating at times (simply eating when physical hunger was not real the issue). I turned to the Lord and He was faithful to give me some words to guide me back on track.  I could have been overcome with hopelessness and just threw the towel in ( and I may find myslef wanting to do that next week) BUT again, I am sooooooo thankful that I went to the Lord when I realized I was headed into trouble and that He knew just what it would take (scripture wise) to shake me, see myself as victorious in Him, and get refocused.  I know I will make it to the much smaller sizes, but I also know it will not be by my strength, but by His Spirit that works in me.  " Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord."  Amen to that!

My brother is going through a struggle with healing from this motorcycle wreck.  This week past he ran out of meds before his next appointment or refill.  He is going nuts my mother said.  Very uncomfortable and not a happy camper at all.  I hope today things improved as he was supposed to go see the doctor.  They my take some hardware off the leg in exchange for different hardware, so tht the knew can bend now and start some theraphy.  Not sure if they did that or not.  I will talk with Mom in the morning to learn more.  I do not know when he is suppose d to be able to try putting weight on that leg again.  I will actually see him and this crazy apparatus on his leg in a few more weeks.  We are going home for Memorial Day weekend.  My middle brother has a huge cookout at his house 1x a month to keep all the local family in close connection.  THey changed the date and will do it when we are there so we can see everyone and fellowship with them as well.  I am looking forward to that.  We will also see a lot of my husband's family as well that weekend.  We will see them for a big family cookout being thrown in honor of his nephew and wife who are pregnant with their first.  They are the first kids on his side to marry and have children.  The men will go golfing all day. Meanwhile the women will throw a baby shower for Amber.  A big cookout will follow the golfing and the shower where everyone will come back together. 

Well I am ready to retire now.  It's 11:30pm and I am pooped.

Good night,

Angie

Breakthough!

Breakthough!

I did go spend that time soaking in the Word looking for some wisdom.  And you know what?  THere it was... just the word I needed...waiting for me!  I ended up in Ephesians chapter 4.  There is Eph. 4:22-24 it says "You were taught in reguard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be  like God in true righteousness and holiness." 

That verse was just what I needed to apply to my heart.  The eating habits I have had since I was a teen are just that... old habits of the old self.  I need to be made new in my attitude/mind and put on the new self (new spirit) that is like Christ.  I must aim to think like a healthy lean person that has self control (one of the fruits of the spirit).  

Well I went to work out at the gym with this verse in my head.  Again, as I worked out I got the strongest sense of OVERCOMING, as if I was in battle.  I feel strong again.  Thanks to my friends who were praying for me.  Seems from conversations, that a lot of people have had varying degrees of spiritual and physical battles this weekend.  Well I pray that each of you gets a breather tomorrow and has a blessed Mother' Day.  Angie 

Decisions, Decisions, Everday!

   Decisions, Decisions, Everday!

              This morning I am not weepy, angry, or overly emotional in any way. I stepped on the scales and they are up again this morning.  Normally this would mean feelings of failure, and anger with myself ..... followed hopefully by determination to change OR, unfortunately more often in the past, it would result to more food to deaden the hurt of my own self hatred.    So, I am questioning myself about my feelings today.  Am I apathetic to the fact the scales are going up instead of down? No, I do not think so.   But I am glad there is not the emotional baggage either that so held me captive.  Now it is more of an understanding of what is happening (weight wise) and that it is MY decision to make changes to loose or keep gaining.  Point blank –do I want to loose or not?

    Well,  I made a decision last night before crawling into bed to journal this morning and pray and seek the Lord’s counsel because I DO want to loose.   I know there is another hurdle I must go over in order to obtain the healthy body I desire.   It is not just the hurdle of good calories vs. more bad calories.  There is a desire in me to overeat, good or bad calories.  There is a hunger that is not physical and/or a sensation that I am going for that I can not put my finger on.  I do not know what it is.  But I do know that my God sees the whole picture.  He knows where my disconnect in eating started, what mental breakthrough I still need, and He is my source of strength to get through this.  Today I am deciding I must make some changes.  But what changes?  What is it that I am doing wrong? Or more appropritately, WHY?  What needs to be laid at the cross?  Why was I willing yesterday to continue to make such rotten choices knowingly?  Is it arrogance that I think I can get by with it and not suffer the consequences? (you would think I would know the answer to that by now!) Is it procrastination?  This is a horrible evil I have noticed causes people to put off salvation, let their homes fall into disrepair, their health & teeth crumble, etc.  This may be my issue.... thinking I can get serious tomorrow…. at least in part.

So let's assess things:

·        Exercise   - doing it and getting more consistent (fluctuates between 2-4 times a week)

·        Weight training – started this put got off track

·        Eating Habits – this is where I falter!  Habits / desires/ cravings come in to play … coffee, carbs., chips, pizza.  I plan to eat one way and change at the sight of a more desirable dish!

So it is the eating that has to change.  I knew that.  How is the question.  How do I make it permanent?  Maybe that is just it.  It will never be permanent.  There may always be a struggle to not let food rule me.  I have grown up using food for fellowship with others, to reward myself, to deal with anger, to celebrate, to dull pain, fix boredom, etc.  I do not have experience since being a teen of anything else.

                 This lack of self- control that destroys my body is not God’s plan for me.  This is not how He made man to function.  Sin is sitting at the door waiting to be invited into my life for lunch at any moment.  I need to visualize this.  If I eat with the Lord, I eat moderately…. I eat to satisfaction of life giving foods.  If I sup with the enemy, I gorge myself throughout the day on empty, life draining, nutrient-void substitutes with satisfaction that quickly fades.  Dining with God gives me life and strength and feeds me both physically and spiritually.  Dining with the enemy is like a constant overdose of poison.

 Life and death are set before me daily.  I need the Lord’s help me to choose life. 

"LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS"

"LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS"       

 Today was a very heart-wrenching Friday with the CHGs.  One of our dear friends was bearing her breaking heart with us as she is trying to discern the correct way (God's way) to deal with her teenage daughter and the related issues.  This led to lots of advice and finally another dear friend bearing her heartache over a wayward adult daughter. 

           I was reading All About Mom (an Assemblies of God Mother's magazine that comes out every May) and there was an article titled "LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS".  To quote: "As mothers, it is easy to allow the demands of daily life to consume every moment, leaving us feeling disconnected and unfufilled.  Our lives may be full of activity and yet there is an unexplained emptiness.  In my years as a pastor's wife, I have been approached by many women who are confused by these feelings. Yet I have observed a common thread among the women who experience this type of discontent.  All too often we have been neglecting the most essential aspect of our unique design as women - our need for satisfying, intimate, life-giving relationships. 

       "Women are relational - it is part of our design.  At the creation of the world, God call everything " very good."  However, in the second chapter of Genesis says something is "not Good."

      "It is no good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him.... So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took one to he man’s ribs... Then the Lord God made a woman form the rib.    and he brought her to the man." (Genesis 2:18;21;22)  Whereas Adam was formed in an untamed world, Eve was created to meet a relational need.  As women, we were made in and for relationship. " (unquote)

               The article went on to say that men find great fulfillment in their jobs, but women for the most part find their greatest fulfillment in our relationships with others.  This is so true for me!!!  And I think of other women.  The author also commented that "withourt helathy relationships with other women, we may inadvertently puyt too much pressure on those relationships closest to us - our husbands and children."  This is so true for me as well.  Having a healthy handful of gal pals to relate with has actually improved my relationship with my husband.  I do not expect him to act like a female when I am talking to him.  I do expect him to listen to me, but I do NOTexpect (at least not anymore) uncharateristic enthusiasm in some of the things that my girlfriends would understand and comment on with heartfelt emotion.   However, we do have to make sure that those oh so needed freindships are healthy.  If you and your girlfriend are doing nothing but berating your husbands, it is not a God honoring use of your time.  I must say that I was guilty of this in the past.   God was thankfully paitient with my arrogant/hurt heart at that time.  I now see the wrong in all that bashing, but then I was hurting.   I am still friends with the lady who listened to me pour my heart out several times a week.  Thankfully there has been a change of heart, to have been witnessed. in both my husband and Moi! God is so good.  I have a wonderful, faithful, God-honoring husband ......AND my wonderful lady friends.  My cup gets refilled almost every Friday.  And occassionally if it really needs it I may even get the cup cleaned!!

****************************************

              So here is a relationship checkup:

1. How is your relationshop with God?  Are you spending time alone with HIM?

2.  How is your relationship with your husband?

3.  How is your relationship with your children?

4.  Are you taking Time for relationships with your freinds?  If not you may want to organize your own GHCs.  If you commit to it then over time there will be the sweetest friendship to on which you can rely.

              Well that is it for tonight.  My eyes have started to close against my will.

REFOCUSED .......... HOPEFULLY

HOPEFULLY REFOCUSED

             Today I was encouraged by TractorChick and Gypsy_____,.  Gyspy left me a comment and so I checked out her and her friend's blogs as they both have a weight loss challenge to themselves to make healthier choices and get the weight off.  I had not lost my desire to loose but I have been off focus and not willing to make the total changes to keep seeing those inces fall away.  I am no where near where I am heading so deciding to stop be focused at this point is NOT a good thing.  I am challenging myself to pay more attention to my portion sizes, only have one coffee out a week (I wonder if I am serious even as I write this... social drinking (coffee) is so hard to obstain from) , and to stick to my exercise plan.  Exercise is so important to keep our healthy bones,  Whether we walk, run, etc. getting up on our feet tells our bodies that it needs to keep pulling calcium and other bone building nutrients into the bones.  This keeps them from looking like swiss cheese and becoming brittle.  I know I want to stay strong, but if that is true I have to keep my bones and get some (a lot) of this weight off my bones. 

Okay I am ready to go to my friend's home for Coffee.  Not fru-fru kind though.  Mostly fellowship there.  Can't wait.  Oh Yikes... I forgot the dough rising....

gotta run for sure now!. ............................................

Do you have days where you question everything? 

 That is where I am at in my weight loss efforts right now.  I have not lost or gained anything in weeks, so I am frustrated.  But maybe not frustrated enough with my habits.  I am thankful that I am not dealing with feelings of shame and thinking I am not loved because of my weight.  Shew, I am so glad that part has changed!! I AM desiring to continue this battle because I want to have a healthier, leaner body, not because it will get me love.

  But as for the weight loss I just seem to be hanging on to too many bad habits.  For example, I have had a lot of meetings lately AND they all seem to end up at coffee houses.  Now putting me in a coffee house and asking me not to order or drink is like asking a flea on a dog not to partake of the canine blood.  I am getting my daily quota of caffiene but I am not getting enough veggies in.  This is the hard part for me.  I am still working out (I got back into the groove this week again after missing almost a whole week.)

My girlfriend, Marianne told me it would be harder after I turned 40, but I did not want to believe that.  Now I see how true that may be.  I started this blog because I wanted to be an encouragement to others who may one day be where I am now ( in the act of trimming down) and because if I did not write my feelings and struggles down , then I may forget.  Well right now is one of those bumps in the road I knew would come along.  I have to make some more changes and I do not want to.  I am thinking of stopping the wheat (do NOT hold me to that yet Marianne!) because it might be part of my health issues.  When I grind my wheat I notice I get congested and sneeze for hours.  I do not know if others do this or not but it is obvious every time I grind the flour.  I am also thinking I am going to have to say no to coffee houses so that I can say no to the additional coffees...or help me.... drink it black!!  I don't think so.  I am also going to try to go back to the guideline: "Eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full."  That is harder than it sounds. 

My daughter had friends stay over tonight and it sounds like they are finally asleep, so I am going to bed now as well.  I need to get going early in the AM if I hope to work out and do school before going to see my CHG.   Angie

Thougths and Storms

A Young Man's Thoughts

This morning my 14 year old boy got up and came to me to share something he had been pondering on since waking.  He reminded me that the scriptures tell us to be "fishers of men".  Then he proceeded to talk about how if we, the church are the nets and if we do not keep our nets mended and in good condition, then the fish (lost souls) can not be caught.  They just swim right through the holes.  Then he said, again referring to the church, that if your net is weak then it will tear when you try to catch a large load. 

Well least to say, he got my mind thinking.  He has not experienced a church split, so his thoughts did NOT come out of that kind of experience. He would tell you he was just thinking and the thoughts came to him. I tend to think it may be more.  I know I need to check my heart constantly and keep it well mended by the Lord so that I am strong and usefull for catching men, lost souls.  How about your net today?  

Another Thought  

This morning's sermon was on "the Storm", referring to the storms in the Bible and the ones we face daily in our lives.  I am from Portsmouth. VA and many of you I am sure are aware of the Tornadoes that touched down here and in Suffolk this past Monday.  A man in our church was in the Oncology office that was hit.  He was on the 3rd floor and still hooked up to the machines when all of the windows started popping and glass, 2x4s, etc. began to whirl around.  He could do nothing... no place to hide, no closet, he could only watch.  It was not till it was all over and they went outside to see the damage all around that it really hit him.  The car lot looked like someone scraped peas off the plate he said.  THe car was gone (found later much further away and totaled).  The houses behind the medical complex was devastated and the strip mall was laid flat!  Only by grace had they survived with all the others on that 3rd floor. Everyone knows you get LOW and center for a Tornado. THey were high and on the outside corner!

This all seemed to fit perfect with the Sermon as the Pastor planned it.  The first storm he read was of the disciples on a boat with Jesus: Mark 4:35 ( see below for the passage) Then he retold the story of Paul on the way to Rome as a prisoner via boat.  THis storm was not quieted!  In fact Paul was told by an angel that it would tear the entire boat to pieces!  But there was peace in this storm as well.  It was in Paul's heart.  Paul knew that he would be fine and so would the rest of the crew.  He knew that it would not be easy but he had to keep his mind on Christ.   

The storms that hit our area did a tremendous amount of damage, but there was no loss of life. As you look at the pictures of the area and hear of the totals of damage you are just as amazed as we are.  THe fact that this happened when it did right when school is letting out and people were on the road was just truely incredible.  

This morning I began to think even deeper.  What is happening that I do not know about yet in relation to the storm that hit here?  Sometimes all we hear are the destruction reports but I wonder....Are their lives being transformed and turned over to Christ?  Paul was shipwrecked (and still a prisoner) yet because he ended up on the island of Malta the people of the island became followers of Christ Jesus. 

Jesus Calms the Storm -

 Mark 4:35-44

 35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 40He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

 41They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

The Storm Acts 27:13 -28

 13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. 15The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. 17When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

 21After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."

The Shipwreck

 27On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic^[b] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet^[c] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet^[d] deep. 29Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.

 33Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven't eaten anything. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

 39When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

 42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.

Wha-hoo! 

           I am so excited, our business just finished out with another terrific month.  Hope you do not mind me doing a little dance here for a moment.   Oh that felt so nice.  

                Tomorrow I am taking a group of women to a Woman's tea where they will be talking about how Women can effect healthy changes in their homes and with their loved ones, even themselves whom Ladies tend to not take care of very well.   I can tell that I am personally more confident talking to people about healthy changes because I am making wiser choices (but I am not saying I am talking at this tea as a speaker).  Even though the weight loss is not very noticeable yet I know that I am walking my own talk now more consistently.  I really do believe we are to take care of our health and that is a treasure from God not easily replaced!!!  I so want to help others wake up, stop bad habits and take care of God has given them.  It is not just as easy as knowing what to do and then doing it (well for some it is). I think I can relate to others who want to change and need to be encouraged to just start, even if it is something small, like never buying Margarine again, or switching to whole grain breads.   It has taken me 10 years but I have switched from a lot of harmful eating habits to better alternatives.  Like my friend Marianne convinced me to stop using artificial non-dairy creamers.  I do not know why that took much convincing. I would not even consider an artificial sweetner in my coffee or tea, but artificial flavored creamers seemed okay ( wierd I know)??  But finally I saw the light and my friend's wisdom. 

So I will leave you with a thought:

Do you like where your health is now?  If not and you keep doing what you have been doing (living with major stress, eating lots of processed or fast foods, eating too much, not exercising....just fill in the blank) will your health improve or continue to get worse?  Or do you live in fear of getting ill because you know that seems to be the American promise?  An old saying goes.....

If you always

do what you’ve

always done,

you will always

get what you’ve

always gotten.

Thurs. May 1

"Signs, Times and Appointed Times"

My friend Jessica said this in a conversation awhile back.  At the time I was like, "Huh?"  But over time it just begun to resonate in my spirit over and over.  Can any of you relate to that?   Well it happens to me sometimes where this phrase of words will just seem to take root and then God uses it to teach me things.

Just at the beginning of this year I told my husband I wanted us to think about getting a new van in the spring.  April was the month on my heart.  Now you have to know we had been praying for our van to continue to last (even though the last mechanics to look at it had given it a death warrant over 15 months ago).  Ohter than an oil leak and a sluggish transmission she runs and gets us where we need to go guite sufficiently.  But I was ready and I told my hubby so.  He on the other hand told me he was going to pray for it to last another year.  Eeaks!!!!  Really I was tired of standing in Faith over Besty and I had a peace that that was okay.    Well in February, Besty began to have a siezure (electronic spasms; lightrs blinking, bells dinging, locks locking/unlocking, etc.)  on the way home from a trip to Mount Vernon.  My husband says well maybe it is TIME to start looking for a new vehicle.  Yeah maybe!

           So in April Besty is not having her spasms anymore, in fact my kids missed the "singing praises" (that's what they called it when it would start).   But we began to look.  At first it looked like we would find nothing decent.  If it was in our price range it had @ 100K on it or it was repainted PURPLE ( I had prayed for red or blue which together make purple!  , or had an obvious oil leak.  So we went back to prayer, went out looking again and that's when we found our new van "Mrs. Plum" which we purchased just a week ago.  I am so enjoying seeing that new blessing in our driveway each day.  She has less than 55K mi, beautiful engine, great start up sound, no leaks,  pretty deep plum red (hince the name, but definetly not purple), and she is clean!  I am so grateful and the timing is perfect!!!

            As for the timing to loose weight that is another thing that has been bouncing around in my head.  I have tried to master this issue for years..... most of my adult life in fact.  But for some reason it seemed this was the year, the appointed time, to break free from this bondage.  It began with such sweet love from the Lord.  And then a true desire of mine to exercise self-control and go for it one more time!  But really I did not feel like it was one last ditch effort at loosing this time.  It is a change that is so deep in my heart.  I have not been the perfect eater and I wouldn't say you could really call my behavoir dieting.  If it was I might would be loosing faster.  But I am pleased.  I have lost about 12 lbs. which is about a 2 lb./wk. average.  But it is so much more that is going on in my life.  It is the peace I feel.  I just know this is my APPOINTED TIME to overcome.   And when I am on the Precor (eliptical machine at the Y) I have been having the most awesome times with the Lord.  I usually have a time alone with the Lord first thing in the AM with my tea.  But now that I am working out I am adding a teaching time since I am listening to teachings via my MP3 while on the machine.  I can not explain it any other way than to say that when I am listening and praying and working out, I get the strongest impression that I am just bursting through the enemy's camp.  I am breaking those wrong thinking patterns that have held me captive for so long.  I am claiming my healthy body back and I am conditioning it for the glory of the Lord.   There are other things I am praying for though that have nothing (or nothing directly)to do with weight.  Oh there is so much in my heart that I wish I could explain.  Some of it I just do not have words for yet.  And some of it. well.... it just is not time to tell it yet.

          Planning (future times?)... my son has been talking about going on Mission trip since he was little.  He has decided that next year is the year!  And he has started his own website.  He is cutting grass this summer to earn money for this and he is making doll beds like the one he made for his ister for Christmas this past year.  His website is : www.freewebs.com/headedtothefield .   I am tickled that he has a passion to do this.  Sometimes it is hard to motivate a teenager to use any of his/her energy in a constructive way.  If you have a teen then you will know what I mean!  They wake up at 10am ( if allowed to sleep at will), then wake up and eat everything/anything, then procede tp  bounce around and bang on walls (mine loves noise!), and finally crash like sleeping beauty at 10:30 am!!  

           Not sure how often I am going to be able to blog.  Just doesn't seem like there is TIME to consistently blog daily. but hopefully it will be a little closer than a week apart like it has been for the past 2 weeks.          

Another Glorious Day!!

Another Glorious Day!

What a beautiful day outside.  I did not make it to the gym today because I wanted to get my home clean and then do a few other things.  So I jogged a little in my room and danced aroung trying to get my heart rate up there.  Then I put on a Nicole C. Mullen CD and began to clean vigerously the bathrooms, sweep, etc.  I even went and picked up the backyard.  I could have sent the kids but I knew what I wanted done and they were doing school.  When that was accomplished I packed the boys up and took them to pick up some wood that someone gave them.  A friend had a neighbor throwing out a buch of nice wood that came from his home that he is gutting.  The boys were so excited to have such a blessing toward the building of their tree house.  The have the frame up and have started on the flooring.

Meanwhile my daughter got a playdate today as well.   As did I.   While everyone was playing I put potatoes in for the dinner and by 6pm we had perfectly done baked potatoes.  Yumm!

My husband got the garden tilled and has gone now to pick up some plants.  It would have been nice to do it from seed but if you have been reading my blogs you would know that March and early April pass me by at a 100 MPH each year and then it is too late to do seed.  Just the same we will have tomatoes, peas, cantelopes, and watermelons.

I hope your day has been good also.  Angie

Oh What a Wonderful Day!!

Oh What a Wonderful Day!!

Today was just a fabulous day!  First I had my normal sweet time waking up with the Lord and my hot tea in my yellow recliner.  Then we got the kids up and headed to the bank before going on to the homeschool coop picnic and lesson at the park.  We had to go by the bank to get a cashier's check to purchase our new (although pre-owned, it is new to us!) van.  I could hardly wait for the picnic to end so I could go pick her up.  She is a nice deep wine or as my friends fondly say "Mrs. Plum", is plum cherry color (almost like the typing color I chose for this blog).  We decided on another Grand Caravan.  I think I told this yesterday, but my memory can't say for certain.  Anyways it was our best option and we are very pleased.  I expect to get much out of Mrs. Plum in the years to come; mileage and maybe even a few lessons.  The lesson today was "Our God is a faithful supplier !"

Now on the way home a strange but not unfamiliar thing happened.  My husband drove the new van and I drove the old one following him since he had no tags yet.  I began to takin negative thoughts like " we should have done ___ with the car."  "What if they car is really stolen?" (we never met the actual seller because he is bed-riden)  "What if...?"  After a few minutes of fretting I suddenly thought, "Wait a minute, I have been here before!" These are the same kind of lies that haunted my husband and my decision over our current home.  Once I realized that and began to thank God for the van and His goodness the doubts just flew away.

Well if that was not a nice enough day, it ended up a my darling friend Jessica's home where we prayed for our husbands.  WHOA!!!  What a neat time with the Lord.  I prayed what was on my heart and knew the Lord was faithful to be there with us.  All my prayers were sincere, but it was not till my normally quiet friend, the Ladybeale  began to speak that I flet the most amazing sense of the Holy Presence in the room.  She prayed with such fervor and passion that I know it was the Lord himself that gave the words and that He was pleased.  There is a powerful thing that is happening and does happen through prayer.  We are believing for jobs, provision, healings, restored property, wayward children returned back, bold & confident Godly men, and so much more. 

Well my energy is starting to fade so I am going to run along to bed.  Good night my "web"bie friends.   Angie

Tuesay April 22

Tuesday, April 22

I feel like I have not blogged in a month.  Not so, but it has been too long.  Lots has been happening.  Seems like March and April are always like this for me.  It starts with the Tax due date on the horizon, then our oldest son's Birthdya on March 25th, then our anniversary on the 30th of March.  Then we are totally absorbed with taxes that still are not done till around April 10th or so.  Finally we exhale and realize it is Spring.  But this year we added van shopping to our list and boom it is already April 22!

Can you relate?  Can you believe it is this late already in the year?  Before you know it it will be time to wrap up our Christmas shopping.

Well we did find a van.  A nice deep maroon Grand Caravan 2003 with less than 60K on it.  We are very excited because it is just what we were looking for.   I know GC have issues and that the Toyota Seianna has better reports.  But we narrowed it down to one of each of those and we decided that even if we got a few less years out of it, the GC is just a lot roomier for our family with 3 kids and all the traveling we do.  Still we hope for at least 150K. We got 181K+ out of Betsy ( yes we named our old van).  We will pick it up Thurs. afternoon.  I can hardly wait.  1 1/2 more days!  Yeah!

 I am doing a daily shake that gives me energy, helps with weight loss, and is helping with cravings.  I think of it as  another gift from the Lord.  I feel so much better when I know I am giving my body good stuff. 

The weight is coming off slow but it is coming off.  I am focusing on NOT focusing too much on the food.  I allow myself to have a lot of freedom in what I eat but I do try to have things that are good for my body.  Yes I splurge and have creamer in my hot tea or coffee. etc.  I am trying to make exercise a big permanent habit.  I have enjoyed it so much.  However, I got out of the habit with all the car shopping we were doing.  I should have started back Monday or even today, but I did not.  I must find a way to get it in tomorrow.  

We have kids staying with us for the week while their Mom and Dad go for a little anniversary week away.  I have been amazed that the kids have all stayed on track and got so much school done.  All the boys have been very diligent.  We began a new schedule about 2 weeks ago and my youngest just loves it.  He gets up and immediately looks at what he needs to tackle for the day.  And that is exactly what he does..... TACKLE it!  The older one is not so excited that his brother can focus so well or that he has less difficult work to do.  My daughter... well she is reading much better now. She had such an independent spirit.  I think she may be a biologist one day ( she is not the least afraid of blood, worms, bugs... spiders are different though).

Speaking of kids... my son, the oldest one, has a passion to wood work.  He has a passion to go to the mission field as well.  So he just got a website up and running a couple of days ago.  When we can find the digital camera, he will take pictures of his projects and put them on the site as well .  He is promoting his doll beds ( for 18" dolls, like American Dolls) and hoping to sell a few to raise money for a missions trip in 2009, when he will be 15 years old.  He also has some cool videos and plans to share other stuff as well.  Yikes he is not a little boy anymore. 

You can check it out at www.freewebs.com/headedtothefield

Another thing I recommend you check out is what is going on in the schools this week.  Look at the site below:

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080422/32060_Christians_Find_Alternatives_to_Pro-Gay_%27Day_of_Silence%27.htm

Well time for me to retire so I can go to the gym tomorrow.  Then I have a Wed. coffee house.  We had to move our Friday event due to Marianne going home for Greek Easter.  Just not having a coffee house day this week was not an option, so we changed the day.  

Good night, Angie

I'M BACK!!

I'M BACK!!  Wow I feel like it has been ages since I blogged.  I was having a rough day the last time I blogged.  Although I do not have the time or energy to catch you up on all that has happened since then I did want to let you know that I am fine.  I had a tough day and God helped me to come out of the negative worry and forge ahead again.  Thanks for the notes of encouragement you guys sent as well.  It is so neat having friends I have never met via the web caring and lifting me up in prayer.  Too cool !!!

I have been out every day except one to look at vans.  I was about to give up on finding one in our price range.  THen we prayed, checked the budget again, and asked for discernment.  And wow, there it was, more money than we can really explain left over for the month, and a car at an excellent price under 60K.  We are going to sleep on it, but I feel this is the one and that it came after praying for discerment means a lot to me.  But we are listening for any unction from the Lord that we could be wrong.

My girlfriends Marianne and Natasha are away on a leader's retreat for their church.  I am looking forward to hearing that great things happened there this weekend.  I know that I have been very blessed on their church's retreats in the past.  I think it is just the time away to meditate and hear his voice above the clutter of life that is so good for me.  Twice I have gone with them and had very clear Words of truth spokent to me via the Spirit. 

I have been feeling more pulled by food lately.  THis has been a very different week.  But still pray for me that I will turn to God and not food when the cares of life start pressing in on me.  I am loosing slow due to my lack of exercise this past week, and eating when I am not hungry at times.  However, I have not gained and I am thinking that it is better to loose slow so that the body adjust to the new weight and then starts down some more. 

Well I have to run along.  I wil be sharing my son's website with you guys soon.   He is hoping to raise enough funds between now and next summer to pay for a Misions trip overseas in 2009.  He is going to cut grass and make doll beds for the 18" American dolls or the like.

I will give you the website tip and you can check it out.   If any of you need a website and can not afford it, there are free websites at www.freewebs.com Perhaps this tip will bless some of you. 

Have a blessed day, Angie