HI!  I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OF YOU LADIES OUT THERE HAVE EVER SUFFERED A RASH DUE TO MENOPAUSE OR PERIMENOPAUSE?  I CURRENTLY HAVE ONE JUST BELOW THE BRA LINE, BIKINI AREA, INSIDE ELBOWS AND ARMS.  ITCHY WITH LITTLE RED BUMPS.  I AM HOPING ANYONE OUT THERE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE THIS CAN SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND GIVE ADVICE.  THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS TO ALL WHO LEFT SUCH KIND COMMENTS ON MY LAST POST.

MELANIE

I WAS SICK BOTH YESTERDAY AND TODAY WITH "THE D WORD" AND SOME VOMITING.  I REALLY HATE IT WHEN I AM SICK...IT MAKES ME REALLY BEHIND ON EVERYTHING AND I FEEL REALLY DISCONNECTED FROM MY CHILDREN.  AND TO TOP IT OFF...TODAY WAS MY BIRTHDAY.  MY SWEET ANGEL YOUNGEST DAUGHTER MADE BREAKFAST IN BED FOR ME AND BROUGHT IT TO ME ON A TRAY AND I HAD TO TELL THE SWEETHEART THAT MOMMY COULDN'T EAT IT.  BUMMER!!!!!!  IT REALLY GETS ME DOWN EMOTIONALLY TO BE SICK AND OUT OF COMMISSION.  I REALLY USE THE WORD REALLY ALOT, DON'T I?  HERE'S HOPING THAT TOMORROW IS THE BEGINING OF BETTER DAYS.

MELANIE

Instead of writing down every little thing we consume each day, I thought about writing things down as they are used up, such as a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, etc., but I am finding myself falling behind on even that, so I think I will try to find some online information about how much of what to store for a family our size.  I'm sure the information must be out there somewhere.  In the meantime, we are really stocking up on soda and juice bottles full of water.  The bathroom closet is about one third full of water, and I also found a shelf in my son's closet to start filling. 

I mentioned in an earlier post that I want to make changes for the new year, but haven't really put anything into action yet.  I know what books I want to read, what organization skills I want to utilize, etc, but haven't really taken any action yet.  I want to make big changes from last year (and previous years), but found myself this morning falling into a habit which I hate of rising too late and then proceeding to tell my husband his "faults" and why they are making me miserable.  I would really love to see the change in myself of waking up on Sunday mornings with more than enough time to make it to Bible class and worship, and not criticizing my husband.  I think Sunday morning is the time of the week when I really allow Satan (or whatever negative entity it is) to really work on my attitude.  I must stop this from happening and I know I can do it!!!  I will not let Satan have the victory in this. 

We start homeschool back up tomorrow.  We will be doing science for two weeks and then back to history.  I don't have to work at the store until Tuesday. 

Actually, it does seem that my husband and I have gotten a little closer as we have been agreeing that we need to work on having more financial wisdom together.  He also has more time at home as a result of being laid off from his part-time job, so he doesn't feel so much like a stranger who joins us for a quick dinner and bedtime. 

Have a good week!

Melanie

I have started a list of things that our family is consuming on a daily basis and it is tedious work.  I want to keep track for a month and then multiply my list by three to get a three-month emergency food supply list.  Not only do you have to list "coffee", you need to also remember that you used water to make that coffee and list that also.  And any cream and sugar you may use in your coffee.  Now, I don't know that cream or sugar would be considered something needed in an emergency, but I figured I would list every little thing we consume (don't forget vitamins and supplements!) and decide when I am making the 3-month list if it is really necessary.  Also, we had hamburgers for dinner, and we season our beef with chili pepper and garlic salt, so there are those kinds of things to consider.  Of course we are also using toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodarant, etc.  I am just going to guess on those things.  I use quite a bit of hand/body lotion for dry skin, but am I going to care that much about it in an emergency?  What about chapstick?  There is a lot to think about and decide on.  Don't forget bandaids, hydrogen peroxide, first aid cream, etc.  And I suppose we would use different things in different seasons.  For instance, we may drink more coffee in the winter and more kool-aid in the summer.   Or just more water in the summer. 

I also want to be a better follower of Christ this year.  I want to be more appreciative and joyful, especially around my children, and understand the Bible better.  I think I should have been worrying more about being an example than whether or not they learned a Bible verse perfectly. 

The other thing I want to improve on this year is housework/organization/chores.  I am going to attempt the recipe file box organizer method and hopefully learn to be more consistent. 

And I also hope to sell a lot of things we no longer use or really don't need on ebay. 

Happy 2009!

Melanie

Hi!  My husband, son, and I all had bad colds for the holidays!  My hubby and I had both just gotten over bad colds we received at Thanksgiving!  Now that I feel better today, I think my daughters and I will be baking Christmas cookies to make up for the times I either had to be at work or just felt too sick to do it.  I am also going to use this week to prepare for the restarting of homeschool on January 5.  I also need to sit down with myself and plan out my goals for 2009.  Our sermon yesterday was about having a better attitude about the church, others, and ourselves, which I thought was a pretty good start. 

To be honest, I am harboring a really bad attitude about the coming winter months.  Last winter was really hard on me; I began having perimenopausal symptoms mixed with the winter blues.  I am afraid it is going to happen to me again this year so I am trying not to think about it and plan fun things we can do inside when we can't get outside or I can't even get to work.  I am taking some natural supplements which seem to help. 

Hubby will be calling the pizza place at 3pm today to see if he is needed there.  In the meantime, he and my oldest daughter are out shopping for workshoes which he so desperately needs for this winter.  And he may buy her some winter-ish sneakers if she can find some on clearance.  CLEARANCE--one of my favorite words.  My other daughter is playing with her Littlest Pet Shop animals she bought with a gift card from Grandma and my sons are taking advantage of their school break and relaxing...but I will find somthing for them to do soon. 

Does anyone have family-friendly or scriptural-based plans for bringing in the new year?  I would love to hear about them.

Have a good week!

melanie

HI!  I'm just going to make a quick entry today.  I have a lot to do to get the house ready for Thursday and I work today and tomorrow, both shifts later in the day.  Hubby has been completely laid off from his part-time job, but I am thanking God that he still has his full time job, plus the pizza place where he delivers on Saturday has offered him steady Tuesday evenings (eight hours) and "on call" Monday evenings.  (His part time job was Mondays and Tuesdays).

I have so many ideas for self-improvement swirling through my mind for the new year!  I hope to get working on them soon!

Better go and get some laundry started and do some homeschool review with my youngest, then we are finished with school until after the first of January. 

Have a wonderful week!

Melanie

  I haven't blogged in awhile but have been reading the last 100 entries and getting inspired by your ideas, recipes, scripture quotes, etc. 

  We are feeling quite an economic pinch as my husband now works one less day a week.  My hours at the grocery store never go over 15, but I shouldn't complain; I love the time at home.  I babysat for my next-door-neighbor a few nights while they went out to Christmas parties and it is kind of hard seeing all the comforts and extras they have and then to hear her complain about not having enough.  If she would only stop, look around, and realize how easy she has it.  I consider myself blessed, and my hubby works twice the hours hers does and we don't have half of what they do.  Honestly, sometimes it is just easier to avoid people like that.  Okay, I am finished whinning.

  I am looking forward to my eldest son coming over this weekend for some relaxing Yuletide activities.  Maybe baking, crafting, and watching "Ernest Saves Christmas".  You would not believe what a big Ernest fan I am; he is my comic relief.  On Sunday after worship, we are going down to my brother- and sister-in-laws for cooking, crafting, caroling and fun!  I am really looking forward to this weekend! 

  I have been asking God to help me make him a constant thought and priority in my life each day and to reflect that to my children.  I want them to see a mom who is appreciative and joyful because of what Jesus has done for me. 

  Well, I have some cooking, homeschooling,  and laundry to do and it is off to work early this evening.  Have a great day!

Melanie

  This is a different kind of day... I had a dentist appointment and brought the girls with me.  We are now in the library using the computers and will go to the health food store afterwards; I need to exchange L-Carnitine I bought there for some flax-seed oil caps which I need to get back on.  I think I do better all around when taking them.  Yeah Omega-3!

  Hubby and I have been doing well in our relationship; feeling closer.  I am doing better with actually sitting down with my youngest son and doing school work together instead of letting him muddle through on his own; I have finally stopped denying that this is what he needs.  Work is going well, I am thankful to have a few extra bucks to buy food for the family while hubby catches up on bills and I work in a nice atmosphere.  I am just not looking forward to the months ahead when I will be trying to drive there and back home through the treacherous winter weather I know will be coming. 

  I bought a few stocking stuffers for the kids yesterday.  They have been told that there will be no "big" presents this year.  It's just as well, I am trying to get out of the Christmas mode anyway and concentrate on the more "scripture approved" holidays.  I guess Thanksgiving would be about the only one I can think of.  Any comments on this, pro or con, are welcome. 

  We are feeling the pinch of the economy but are kind of seeing it as a challenge in that we are trying to make our food really stretch and also the dollars we use to buy it.  We have also started water storage in case of emergency.

Have a great week!

Melanie

  Just wanted to kick in a short blog to let anyone interested know that I am still around.  Our whole family has been sick and there is always work to deal with and the usual family chaos.  I am still feeling thankful for all that God has blessed us with--we live humbly, but have so much!!  I had the girls make thankful plates last night in Bible class.  It was good to be back with the congregation after not being able to for a few services.  I had better sign off--it is going on 9 pm and one load of laundry still needs to be done!

Melanie

  My hubby, Shane and I hosted Thanksgiving yesterday, athough we both had symptoms of a bad cold.  We muddled through and had a good time with relatives anyway, but we both had a fitful night of coughing, waking up,etc.  Now I am thinking we might have the flu.  Yuk!  My oldest daughter was coughing too much last night, I gave her a medication to quiet her cough so she could sleep.  Thankfully, both girls slept through the night.  My oldest son seems fine and my middle son spent the night at a friends and seems to be okay as well.  This has put the brakes on so many activities for me.  I'm just kind of lying around and letting the children do their own projects.  Thankfully, they are all old enough to get their own lunches and such things.  I hope to be well enough by tomorrow to go to work.  Shane went ahead to work this morning and I asked him if he felt better.  He said "I have to", which I just took to meant he didn't, but he was determined not to take a sick day.  I think that man would go into work with a freshly amputated limb.

Well, better go rest some more; being on the computer isn't all that relaxing. 

Have a great weekend!

Melanie

  All through my shift last night, I saw the disappointment on my manager's face.  He told me that he had expected us to be a lot busier than we were; it was written all over his face that he was really disappointed.  He is optimistic about today, however.  I will see when I go in at four today.  Hopefully, everyone is waiting until the last minute to get their last minute Thanksgiving items. 

  I am thankful that after going back to his first day of work after vacation, my husband hasn't called me to tell me he got laid off.  (One of the people they laid off got the news the day he came back from vacation). 

  I'm sure I won't be blogging tomorrow, so......Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Melanie

Hhhmmm.....not sure what I'm thankful for today.  Maybe that I'm not going to be a part of all that Black Friday craziness the day after Thanksgiving.  It's like "Whew, the day commemerating when the pilgrims chose to give thanks to God is over--let's go shopping!"  If you watch any tv at all, I'm sure you've noticed that the cell phones, blackberries, big screen tvs, jewelry, etc are all still be advertised just like last year as if there are no financial worries at all.  "Yeah, I know you just got laid off, but please go out and get deeper in debt anyway.  Your (children, wife, brother, friend) will love you on Christmas day for it!"  I think this Friday, I will get down the craft box and the needlework box and the children and I can do some crafting/gift making.  We can also gather up any unused frames we have (I know we have some floating around) and put photos in them to send to relatives.  I already bought shirts for my nephews (on clearance for a dollar), sleep pants for my bil (with a gift card), and am sending my sister a sister-themed photo frame that I didn't realize I had until I cleaned the space next to my bed.  Other than that, most of our gifts will be homemade or "Look what I found in the closet!"  Don't forget baked goods!  No getting deeper in debt for us!

  I work from 5 to 10 tonight and 4 to 9 tomorrow (p.m.).  As my job is being a grocery store cashier, I imagine I will be pooped tonight and tomorrow night when I get home.  I wonder if anyone will wait until Wednesday to buy their turkey.  It will be interesting to see what people are buying at the last minute. 

Melanie

  My main thought on thankfulness today is food.  I want to thank God for all the abundance of food we have.  There is a turkey thawing in the fridge, there are plenty of other food items such as leftovers, juice, milk, cheese, in the fridge as well.  Just glancing into the canned food cabinet, I estimated there are at least 15 cans of things such as beans, tuna, pineapple, peanut butter, and tomato sauce.  They are accompanied by almost a full loaf of bread and a package of flour tortillas.  Plus we have cookies and crackers to snack on.  Thank you, God, my heavenly Father, for the blessing of plenty to eat. 

Melanie

  Alot to be thankful for today!  We participated in Bible class and worship and we just got home from a nearby park/nature preserve.  We walked the trails in the woods and my husband played with the girls on the playground.  I took pictures and am going to email them to his co-workers so they can see what a fun time he had on his vacation.  HEE HEE.  He's got one more day of vacation and it's back to work Tuesday.  I work Tuesday also as well as Wednesday and I imagine I will be pretty busy it being the two days before thanksgiving at a grocery store.  I'm glad to have this job and also glad it doesn't take me away from home full time. 

Well, I need to start working on straightening up the living room which is not really used as a living room; it's more like a computer/play/toy/library/all purpose room.

Melanie

  Sorry I have blogged for three days!!!  My husband is on vacation so I am try to spend time with him this week, plus regular homeschooling and working.  I picked up my paycheck at the grocery store and bought 80 dollars worth of food for the week--I hope we don't need much more because the budget is $100.  My husband just decided on that amount yesterday when we were putting things down on paper.  I hope my spending was just high today because I was buying things I normally wouldn't due to the Thanksgiving feast.  Also, the store I work at is a little pricer than the other chains in our area, and I went ahead and did my shopping there for convenience sake and they had the majority of what I was looking for on "sale".  Sale prices as far as that store goes, anyway.  I was thankful to be able to fill my cart and have the cash in my purse to pay for what was in it.  I am also thankful for propane because it is mighty cold tonight!

Have a great weekend!

Melanie

  Today I am thankful that my husband and I both have the day off!!!  Yeah!!!!  This happens like....never.  Well, it happens every Sunday, but  we are so busy with worship and catching up on what needs done that we don't have time to enjoy one another.  I made bacon and eggs for breakfast and we sat down and had that and coffee together before the children got up. 

  I am also thankful that my husband still has a job.  He is connected with the auto industry (selling parts in a dealership) and a few others have been laid off where he works.  And I'm sure you've heard all the fuss about whether or not to bail out the industry.  Crazy and scary.  BUT....... as always, God is and will take care of us. 

  Well, better go.  It is so seldom my hubby has a day off that I think he is waiting for me to tell him his next move; kinda cute.

Melanie

  It has turned wintery here in east central Indiana!  I froze all day at work yesterday, but kept busy and enjoyed my time there. 

  I am thankful for the good day I had yesterday.  After I came home from work, everything seemed to fall into place--time with children, dinner, time with husband, the load of laundry I needed to do, etc. 

  I have a load of towels/undies/socks in the washer now.  Hope to get that completed, make chili for lunch, get through my 4-hour shift at work, read a Bible chapter, do school with children, make dinner.  That is all I am requiring of myself today. 

  My youngest daughter has been begging me to let her make spice cake.  I found a simple recipe on this website so hopefully I can fulfill her wish today or tomorrow.  She loves to crack eggs open!

Have a great Tuesday!

Melanie

  I am mighty thankful for my washing machine; I am using it right now to wash sheets for two beds and some towels and socks.  I am also thankful for warm coffee and the warm water I will be using in a little while to take my shower.  Thank you, heavenly Father for various sources of heat! 

  Another thing I am thankful for that is very precious to me is the fact that my youngest daughter wants to sing at worship.  She can read very well now, so she sings the words as she is reading them.  I love to hear her little girl voice sing praises!   Sometimes I sing very very quietly so I can hear her! 

  I work at the grocery from 11 to 4 today.  We will have something with ground turkey for dinner; either tacos or turkey with noodles. 

Have a great day!

Melanie

  Today I found myself being thankful for "church friends".  People of like faith whom I can exchange encouragement with. 

  Took Rachel to Walmart to buy winter shoes and warmer socks for the upcoming month.  Many of the shoes they had for girls were just too "summery"; not suitable for mid-Indiana winters.  She did manage to find some sturdy shoes she thought were cute. 

  My mind is so full of what I need to do,  ways I wish I could be better, and so on.  Chore systems for myself and the children need to be set up, plus the things we want to get to do such as seasonal baking and crafting.  And I still want to learn to knit to make dishcloths!  I could be so much better at homemaking, being submissive to hubby, quality time with children, following God, and trying to be joyful.  I find myself wanting to be like those people who response with such enthusiasm to others.  Sounds like I need to pray like it all depends on God, and then get up and work like it all depends on me. 

Well, my computer time is up; have a happy week!

Melanie