Thankful Thursday- So Many Things

Today is Thankful Thursday and there are so many things I'm thankful for, but I'll just give you a few of the highlights:

1. Remember my exciting retreat plans? Well, today is the day! Just a few more hours and I will be here, enjoying a 3-day sweet fellowship with the Lord and my sisters in Christ! I'm bringing a camera so I can fill you in on all the details when I return. Thanks to everyone that sent me their prayer requests...look for God to do it!

2. I am also thankful that today is my first pre-natal appointment! I know...12 weeks is a little late to be going for a first appointment; nevertheless, after watching this and experiencing that, I was completely transformed and decided I wanted to give birth naturally, with a midwife. Therefore, I had to spend some extra time finding a new hospital close to home where midwives actually deliver the baby. I'm on my way this morning and I can't wait to hear the baby's heartbeat and meet the midwife!

3. I am thankful for my gracious husband who has taken today and tommorow off to stay home and "hold down the fort" and care for "the troops" while I'm away being spirtually rejuvinated. God bless his ministry:)

Need more ways to incorporate chocolate into your diet?

Of course you do! Who doesn't?

I found this recipe for "Chocolate-Strawberry Smoothies" in Bob Greene's book, "The Best Life Diet." Perhaps this suggestion will be a healthier alternative to the chocolate ice cream, chocolate brownies, and chocolate cookies we all love so much!

I've tried it a few times and found it to be a healthy, yummy, chocolatey treat (when what I really want is a chocolate shake)! The ingredients are affordable, and the recipe easy to make. 2 servings are only add up to 192 calories!


Here it is:

2 cups of chocolate soymilk. (The book suggest 8th continent, but I like Silk Light Chocolate).

1 medium banana, cut into chunks.

2 cups (10-ounce bag) frozen unsweetened strawberries. (I use the ones from Aldi...tastes great to me!).


Place soymilk, banana, and strawberries in a blender. Cover and blend on high speed for about 1 minute. Wait until the smoothie is smooth and enjoy!


Photo by: tofutti break

Children or Debt: Which would you prefer?

"The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing;

but in our culture, we apply for a curse and reject blessings.

Something is wrong with this picture."

~Doug Phillips

"We" Homeschool

Well...not me specifically (although I'm strongly considering it). But, "we" as in African Americans in general, homeschool our children. Although homeschooling is becoming quite popular at my local church, which is predominatly African American, I was a bit surprised to find out that the number of homeschooling, African American families was on the rise!

Here is an interesting interview from NPR that gives a little insight into why this is the case.

None of the women in the interview expressed any faith-based reasons for homeschooling their children. However, my reasons for considering it are very much rooted in my not wanting my children to be "subltly" and "not-so-subtly" molded and brainwashed by all of the anti-christian propaganda floating around traditional schools nowadays.

How about you? Are you a potential and/or active homeschooler? Why are you homeschooling and/or considering it?

Just 3 more days!

Notice the picture below. Isn't it beautiful? In just 3 days I will be one giddy, pregnant, christian, wife, and mother as I make my way there for a 3-day retreat experience!...excuse me while I jump in the air and kick my heels together!



Oh, did I mention to you that my husband and children won't be accompanying me at this retreat? Nope, mama is going alone! No diapers, no crying, no cooking, no cleaning. Just rest, fellowship, prayer, praise, and SLAM-DOWN worship with the Lord!

Of course, I will miss my family. I realize their not being there also means: no little hugs, no little kisses, no silly little giggles, and no "mommy look at me" requests accompanied by cool new toddler skills. These I will miss. I also know it means 3 days without the warm hugs, loving kisses, and charming wit of my sweet hubby. These will be missed as well. Nevertheless, I'm sure the absence will only make the heart grow fonder;)

The retreat is a splendid annual event sponsored by a prayer group at my local church and is known as the Noon-day Prayer Retreat. Not only is this a great place to still away to for an intimate time with the Lord, there are great praise and worship services, wonderful speakers, singing on the lake, beautiful fellowship among christian women, and (let me not forget to mention) great food too!

Prior to last year, I attended the retreat 5 years in a row and it was beginning to be something of a tradition for me. However, last year I had to forego the experience because I had a 3 month old baby at home. Next year this time, our new addition will be only be 6 months, and I think that's too young to leave for 3 whole days. Thus, this year's retreat is one I'm looking forward to immensely and I plan on savoring every moment! Any prayer requests?

"I can do it by myself..."

...is my almost 3 year old's new favorite phrase. Although not perfect, she has attempted and done a great job at:



-Putting on her shoes.
-Washing her hands.
-Feeding her little sister with a spoon.
-Making herself a ppj sandwich (she loves these!)
-Getting herself a cup of water by pulling her chair to the sink to stand on.

When she asked me if she could do these things by herself, my first instinct was to say no because of all the possible messes that could potentially be made and the extra time it would take for me to clean it, help her and/or go behind her to cover anything she missed. But, I realized if I don't let her try, she won't learn! Now, I amazed at all the new things she is learning to do.

I read an article at Ask Dr. Sears.com on this subject and found this part to be very interesting:

"By age three, a child's imagination and creativity will allow him to be able to have fun with anything. Keep toys simple and basic – building blocks, balls, dolls and blankets, cars and trucks (no batteries, please). A four-year-old alone in a room with nothing to play with will figure out how to use shoes and socks as cars and people or as cradles and dolls.

By the time your child is six, you will have reached what one psychologist we talked to calls "planned detachment." Your child will check in for breakfast, be out the door, check in for lunch, and be gone again. You'll say "You're looking well, dear," you'll write a note to remind him of chores, and finally at dinner you'll get to talk some. After dinner some card playing, singing, or other family-oriented activity reconnects you with the individual who used to stick to you like Velcro."

What! Is he serious? Is he saying that this same little person who person who once needed me for EVERYTHING, followed me around all day from room to room, literally held me at the ankle while I washed dishes, and now calls my name every 5 minutes will turn 6 and then become so engulfed in her own doings that she will only check in with me from time to time?! I don't know if I believe that one. What do you think?

Pregnancy Brain

This was sent to me by one of my good friends who is also expecting. It's so funny how once you've been pregnant there is a certain humor only those who have shared in that experience can appreciate:)

Thanks db!

I'm convinced...

You don't really know how well behaved your kids are/or aren't until you take them out to a resturaunt.

Sunday was my mother's birthday so we decided to take her out to the Olive Garden. Oh, what a time we had!

My one year old wiggled and giggled in the high chair that was brought for her. She kept on trying to stand up, and we had to keep making her sit down. She wanted to grab whatever she could get within her reach (including a hot cup of tea!). She literally "whined and dined the entire time!"

I kept thinking, "Who is this? She seems to be so much more well behaved at home." Perhaps that's because she is in an enviornment where she is free to roam and play? I'm not sure, but my husband and I realized we needed to tighten up on our discipline with our one year old. In fact, her behavior made our two year old seemed like the "picture of obedience" that night.

I do remember having similar battles with out oldest daughter when she was about the same age, and God brought us through that time. I have used alot of information from a website called Raising Godly Tomatoes and have found it to be helpful. Are others familiar with that site? Has it been helpful for you? Do others have strategies for keeping the peace while dining with toddlers? I'm all ears!

Our Silly Family Photo Shoot

We took these pictures a while ago when we first discovered all the cool features on this computer. I ran across these and was thinking that soon there will be another little face in our family photos!

Confessions of a Delinquent Blogger Mother

Okay, so I have a some confessions to make:

1. I have not written a blog post in about month.

2. I've quite often been utilizing television and dvds to entertain my children while I sleep.

3. I still haven't potty trained my 33 month old. In fact, I haven't even attempted in about a month. (it gets worse...)

4. I haven't cooked dinner for my family since....uuummmm...see, I can't even remember.

5. I've been on quite the emotional roller coaster (and what fun would that be if I didn't drag my poor husband along with me for the ride?;)

James wrote: "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed"(James 5:6).

So there you have it.

What would drive me to such behavior? I'm sure some of you seasoned parents have already guessed it...

YES!...WE'RE HAVING A BABY!

I have not had my first prenatal appointment just yet (a whole other story of delinquency). However, based on my calculations I should be between 10 and 11 weeks pregnant and due sometime in March. The nausea, fatigue, and the moodiness I've been feeling are not at all unique to this pregnancy. I pretty much felt this same way during the first trimesters of pregnancy with our girls. Thus, its hard to say if there are any tale-tell signs that this might be our first son or not!

How about you? Did your pregnancies differ based on the babies gender?