It's been so long

It's been so long since I've posted. BUSY BUSY and more BUSY is the best way I can describe it.

I wish I had something really interesting to post, but honestly I don't. We are actually in the middle of a whirlwind of a Family Crisis, but I can't really go into the details quite yet.

I will try to get something posted in the next few weeks but I make no promises.

In the meantime, I'll post a few pics of what we're up to...

E-Mealz

Okay, I know it's been a LONG time. That's the life of a teacher. The Spring Semester always FLIES faster than I want it to and I never have time to get everything done.

This week I have used 5 new recipes! I think that's more than I have used in our entire marriage combined! We have discovered the art of E-Mealz!!!

I recently got into Dave Ramsey material and have really been trying to find ways to save money so we can be DEBT FREE! With that, we have learned that we need to cut back on eating out. The problem has never been that we can't cook, but that neither of us can ever decide what to make. We spent a lot of time staring into the pantry thinking, "What should we fix?" And we are not too creative, so the weeks we did a menu ended up being a repetitive cycle of tacos, spaghetti, baked chicken, or steak. I love all of those, but they get REALLY old!

WE'VE FOUND OUR SOLUTION!! E-mealz is a cheap, easy way to get a balanced menu on your plate! Basically, you sign up, visit the site once a week, download the menu and shopping list, go to the store, follow the isle by isle/section by section grocery shopping list, go home, post your menu, and each meal follow that step by step instructions. The meals are EASY to fix and most are pretty quick! They are GREAT recipes that are very filling! We are pretty picky eaters and have loved most of the meals! We even crossed one off this week that we didn't like, and it was simple to mark off the grocery list what we didn't need.

It is really awesome! It's only $5 a month and the groceries run about $75-80 a week! There are all kinds of menu choices: meals for 4, meals for 2, low-fat, low-carb! It's GREAT!!! And the best part is we haven't went out to eat in over a week! YES! Think of the money we are saving!!!

Check it out and make sure you give me referral credit! deanfamilync@hotmail.com The link is on the side bar!

What we're here for...

I've been spending alot of time in prayer lately for some little boys who I've never met, but who've stolen my heart.

I began following a blog last summer of a little boy named Stellan. MckMama is a mother of 4 whose youngest has a heart condition. Although he was not expected to make it, he was born fully healthy with no problems. Recently, he is back in the hospital with a heart rate off of the charts and his poor little body is starting to have problems. This little 5 month old has captured my heart, not only because I feel for this family, but because his parents are such Godly people. His mommy bears her soul and tells of her deepest thoughts on a blog that reaches MILLIONS of people. She never loses sight of God and his purpose for us. Her honesty and deep relationship with God is truly inspirational.

The other little boy is a sweet little guy named Jonah.I used to work with his mommy and since then we have moved in opposite directions. This family was touched with tragedy when their first child, Gabe was stillborn at 37 weeks last year. Jonah entered the world in February with a skin condition called EB. His poor little skin cannot be touched because it flakes off. There is a lot of uncertainty about his future, but his family pours that heart out to readers in a way in which we must ALL look to Jesus. They are so thankfully each day with Jonah.

I also follow a few other blogs, including one of which an 8 month old little boy recently passed away from SIDS. We've also experienced our own loss from SIDS with our niece, Bailey, at 7 months a few years back.

So why am I writing this? All of the troubles, trials, and grief lead me to just one conclusion about life. We should never take for granted each day with our loved ones, especially our little ones. We should live each day for the reason that we are here. That one reason is to spread the love of Jesus and await his arrival or calling of us home. We shouldn't waste a single minute of this precious time. For very soon, we will be rejoicing with Jesus in Heaven!

Pray for Stellan

I can't put it all into words right now, so please go to the site and PLEASE pray!!!

www.mycharmingkids.net

Pray for Jonah!!!

Jonah Alexander Williams, son of Matt and Patrice Williams, was born February 27, 2009. Jonah is a welcome blessing after the loss of Gabriel Matthew Williams, their first son, who was stillborn in April 2008.

Jonah is afflicted with what doctors think is some kind of rare genetic skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa. There are two degrees of this: severe and mild. The doctor said from looking at Jonah's lesions, he guesses he has the severe version.

Please continue to pray for their strength, that Jonah is the toughest baby ever, and for a miracle. Our God can do all things.

You can read about it at www.patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com

Play Time

Here is a cool idea we took from MckMama, the author of my favorite blog, www.mycharmingkids.net

Some indoor play with shaving cream and cars! It's like playing in the snow!

Roman's School Report

Tim met with Roman's teacher today, as she was meeting with all parents. We gained a little understanding of where Roman falls in his class as far as developmental skills.

Apparently he scored higher on just about everything. He has analytical skills on a 5th grade level, which is crazy, his comprehension skills are on a 3rd grade level, and his writing skills are on a first grade level. I had no idea he was so brainy. Every parent thinks their child is smart, so we fall in that category, but we had no idea he fell so high on the spectrum.

His worst score came in the gross motor skills. He had problems hopping on one foot and switching to the other. He must get his leg coordination from me. Hee hee!

And finally, his favorite toys in the class are puzzles and action figures, and his teacher seriously thinks the only reason he plays with action figures is to associate with being a kid.

CRAZY! We are so proud, but we'd love him even if he was the class idiot!

Random Thoughts

I know it's been a while, but you'll just have to forgive me.

So...

is "Crappy Toiletpaper" an oxymoron?

is it reasonable for Carteret County to put nothing on the bridges and roads since they only have snow every 5 years?

do all 2 year olds go through major stages of defiance and will they all in fact outgrow this defiance to the point that they can then be disciplined again?

will we lose our sanity before we get there?

will Carteret County Schools ever have workdays during the school year?

does the inaguration of this President more like an all hail the king, Messiah, than just a Presidential inaguaration?

do Obama's ideas sound much like the false prophets and the AntiChrist mentioned in the Bible?

what happens next with the United States?

...just a few thoughts.

New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions are made to be broken, so let's not call them that, okay? Well, if you want to call them that, I guess you can, but it's my blog and I say NOT. Call them what you wish on your blog.

Anyway, I like to just call them goals. Tim and I ventured out on a limb last year and attemped our own version of The Bigget Loser. It lasted only a few short weeks because of various reasons, but the goal is still there. I'm not voting for a huge biggest loser edition this year, but I do have some goals that are very similar, just a little less pressure. I also have a really exciting goal that you can get involved with! So, without further ado, I give you...

Renata's Goals for 2009:

1. Lose down to my ideal weight category (I'm only slightly overweight, but I'm tired of being this way)

2. Pay off 1/2 of our debt (I do the finances in our house, and we're aiming to pay off our debt before Tim start seminary. We've started paying down our debt, but this will be the first year to really make a dent in it.)

3. Complete as many Random Acts of Kindness Deeds this year. (This is the one you can get involved in. Well, you can help with number one by not sending me baked goods or talking about yummy food I'm not supposed to eat, and you can help with number 2 by sending me money. WINK WINK. But I really only expect help with number 3.)

How can you help you ask? Well, I first need to compile a least of Random Acts of Kindness Deeds. For example, paying for the person behind me's food at a drive-thru. They pull up to the window, ready to pay, and BAM! Never knew who did it, but they get a free meal. Or another, have you ever really wanted a soda but didn't have enough change or you were spending time trying to count out your change and you were getting frustrated? What if someone had put extra change in the machine before you got there. Or finally, what if you went to your mailbox and there was a gift card to Walmart or Target with a note that only said, Pass on this good deed?

I need some more ideas! Hit me up!!