Doing "The Twist" With Chubby Checker

As a little girl I remember my dad blaring his oldies and singing as loud as he could and dancing around.  I would join him in doing The Twist for fun.  We also danced to The Twist at my sisters and my wedding.  I have to say, music from my parents' generation is definitely amusing.

When I heard the legendary singer and songwriter of The Twist was coming into town to try and break the record of how many people can dance to the song simultaneously I knew my parents would be thrilled.  Yes, they were thrilled and ordered tickets to the minor league game where Chubby Checker sang a beautiful rendition of The National Anthem and then came back out after the third inning to break that record, in which, we did!  With almost 7,000 people in the stands we all twisted for five minutes.  It was pretty awesome.  I'm glad to be part of it along with my parents, husband and kids.  This is going in The Guinness Book Of World Records, folks.  Big deal!  At least, I think so.

 

Happy Homemaker Monday - 4/25/16

The weather outside is:
BEAUTIFUL!  It's going to be in the 80's today.  YYYYYEEEEEESSSS!  Loving it!

On the breakfast plate this morning:
A cup of coffee and a bowl of cinnamon chex.

As I look outside my window:
It's so bright and sunny out today.  My flowers have bloomed and birds are flying everywhere.  I love this time of year.

Now I am:
I just finished watering the flowers outside and straightening up the inside of the house.  We had some ants by the front door so I quickly got rid of those.  Right now I'm just sitting and enjoying another cup of coffee and typing this up.  The kids are at school and hubby is at work.  It's my moment of peace.

As I look around the house:
I did some reorganizing and straightening up so things look clean and tidy.  This will not last long, folks, and if you have or had little kids you understand what I mean.

On today's to do list:
My parents are coming over today.  My dad has been helping me get a garden started in the backyard.  Today we are finally going to do the planting.  I can't wait to have fresh veggies to enjoy.

Currently reading:
Just my devotional.  I really want to get a new chapter book to read.

On the tv today:
When my television is on it's usually kid shows.  I'm not sure what's on tonight but I'm sure once the kids are in bed my husband and I will find something to watch.

On the menu this week:
Monday - gluten free meatloaf, mashed potatoes and a veggie.
Tuesday - crock pot ham
Wednesday - zucchini boats and salad
Thursday - baseball game
Friday - Bacon, spinach & tomato pasta

These meals are subject to change, as always.

What I am creating at the moment:
A garden.  Yay!

New recipe I tried or want to try this week:
zucchini boats 

Favorite photo from the camera:

 Last Saturday was opening day for my son's baseball league.  Here he is running down the field after his name was called.  They were announcing all the players.

Prayer, Inspirational Quote or Devotional:

Happy Homemaker Monday created by Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom

A Day At The Dairy

I now know what the term "It seems like only yesterday ..." really means.  As I escorted my daughter on the preschool field trip to Rutter's Dairy today I could remember walking through the same building and around the path leading through the farms with my son as if it were only yesterday ... but that was about three years ago.

My daughter was only a baby when my son was in preschool.  I would carry her against my hip every day I had to pick him up or drop him off to school and she would accompany us on most, but not all, of the field trips.  Now I'm doing all of this for her as she isn't a baby but a student of the same class.  Every paper she brings home and everything she learns is the same as my son.  Next month she will graduate and be on her way to the public school system.  I will no longer have any preschoolers or any little toddlers about to become preschoolers.  It's sad, actually.

Can we find a way to slow down time?

The field trip was a lot of fun.  The kids had a chance to learn where the milk comes from and how it goes from the cow and every step until it goes to the stores.  We even had a chance to meet some cows and a few goats too.

When my husband got home our daughter said, "That field trip was really great!"

I love these bonding moments I have with her. 

Happy Homemaker Monday - 4-11-16

I'm baaaack!  Haven't done this in awhile.  But I really wanted to get back at it.  Joining in with Sandra at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. 

Breakfast time ... what is on the plate this morning?
A bowl of Raisin Bran and a hot cup of coffee

On today's to do list
Laundry
Dusting
Playing with the kids

Currently Reading
Duck Dynasty devotional

On the TV today
Watching an episode of Gilmore Girls on Netflix

The weather outside is
Cloudy, rainy and cold. 

On the menu this week
Monday - Zucchini Parmesan with gluten-free pasta
Tuesday - Chicken Turmeric rice
Wednesday - Mini Meatloaves and veggies
Thursday - Stuffed peppers with chicken and mozzarella
Friday - Pizza baked potatoes ... not sure what to make with it yet

If I have a few minutes to myself I will
Actually, right now is my "few minutes to myself."  The husband is at work, kids are at school and I'm sitting on the couch typing this up while watching Gilmore Girls.  I'm also planning on doing more online research in regards to this new restricted diet my husband has to be on.  I'll type more about that at a later date.  Also enjoying some coffee and the kid-free peace.

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week
Chicken Turmeric Rice, zucchini Parmesan, pizza baked potatoes ... this week will be filled with new recipes and I will make sure I post all about them this week so stay tuned.

In the garden
Oooh, I'm so excited that I am in the process of growing my own garden this year.  Because it's not quite planting weather yet there is nothing growing as of now but the garden is dug out and ready for the next step.  Hopefully the warm weather arrives and planting season shows up soon.

Favorite photo from the camera
My son had his Cub Scout Blue & Gold banquet last Saturday and received his Wolf patch.  He's now moving to the next rank of Bear.  So proud of him.

 

Praying for

My husband and the issues he has been dealing with.  How I can be a better wife. 

Bible verse or devotional

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeing; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" -- Proverbs 31:30

 

Just call me Miss. Indecisive

Hello ... I haven't updated this blog in a long time.  I have been blogging since 2002 and when Xanga made the decision to start charging their users I decided to move here to Blogger.  I had this one for awhile and for some reason decided to change to a new blog with a new name.  I've been using that one for awhile but because I have no followers on there and because I've put so much time and effort on this blog I decided to come back here.  Yes, very confusing I am!  The other blog was solely for family life but on here I can make it about a mix of everything.  So I'm back!  And I'm sorry for the inconvenience, not that I have many readers anymore ... not like I did when I was on Xanga.  Oh, I miss Xanga.

So, if you haven't been following me on the other blog titled The Tiny Tornado Chaser I'll give an update on some of the events going on in the last several months.

My son turned 8 in the winter and has been doing very well in school.  He's above average in reading and math.  His handwriting can use some work and I've been trying to help him with that but he can't seem to get the knack.  Another season of baseball has just started and this will be his final year with "coach pitch."  He's also completing another year of cub scouts and will be receiving his wolf patch this weekend.

My daughter turned 4 last summer.  She's been doing great in preschool and has come so far in the last year.  She knows the letters and can write them.  She's also become a pro at writing her name and she can also write MOM.  She can also count pretty high.  I registered her for kindergarten and even though I've had some doubts about her readiness I am becoming more confident that she will be okay.  She can't wait to join her big brother on the school bus in the fall.  This is also her first year doing dance and she loves it.  I'm hoping this is something she chooses to continue doing for a long time.

My husband is doing well.  He's been having some stomach issues and after some tests figured out what was going on.  We've changed our diet and it seems to be helping.  I won't go into further details on that right now.  He has been busy with work, being a cub scout den leader and has now started back as an assistant coach in baseball.  That man has a lot going on.

As for me, everything remains the same.  I try the best I can to keep  things functioning at home.  The house isn't always as clean as I'd like it to be but I'm always on my feet cleaning, cooking, playing, etc.

We are now into spring but so far the cold has stuck around.  I knew it would happen.  Winter weather started late this year.  We were lucky with that.  I'm ready for the warm weather to come and stick around.  I do not do cold weather very well.  Oh, no!  Luckily it was a mild winter with just one huge snow storm giving us about 30" of snow.

Spending three days shoveling the driveway was not fun at all but I shouldn't complain.

That's just a small update of what has been going on.  I'll attempt to update more often and move the stuff I wrote on the other blog on here and stick to this one permanently.

Briannaisms

I wish I would have kept a book with all the funny things both my children have said since they first learned how to speak.  My son has said a lot of funny things but unfortunately most have been forgotten.  My daughter has now been coming up with some funny things and I jotted a few down on Facebook but I really should start a written journal.  She's quite a character.

A few months ago we were in the front yard playing and she walked away from me and then stopped, turned toward me and said, "You are ruining my life!"  I had no idea where she got that from or why she said it.  It left me shocked but I also couldn't help but laugh.

Last week she asked, "When is Daddy's birthday?"  I answered, "In 4 days."  Her response was, "Ugh!  That's like a million days away."

Another last week was during her big brother's baseball game.  We sat on top of the grassy hill next to the other parents and grandparents when she loudly asked me, "When I'm bigger will I be a mom?" and then she added, "and have boobs?"

I wish I can remember all that she's said in the last year or two.  It's never a dull moment with her. 

Will You Let HIM In?

Last Sunday at church we had a guest speaker.  She is a woman who regularly attends the church and hosts a bible study group there.  The pastor asked her to give the message for that day.  She did an excellent job.  It's definitely noticed that she is a woman of GOD and knows so much.  So much that I have yet to learn but hopefully will as I grow older.

In her message she talked about how GOD made this world perfect and HE intended for man to be perfect as well, but HE also gave us free will.  The will to choose to live how we desire without a certain way being forced upon us.  HE didn't create us to be puppets; moving and making us do what HE wants.  HE gives us the choice.  Isn't that amazing?  HE created this world and all that's in it for us.  For man.

"Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." -- Genesis 1:26 (NIV)

When GOD created the world HE created it to be perfect and wonderful.  When HE created man HE intended for man to be perfect just like HIM.  However, Satan came and created sin.  When GOD told Adam not to eat any fruit from the tree of good and evil Satan came and said it was okay to take fruit from that tree (Genesis 3).  Adam decided to listen to Satan instead of GOD and that is why sin was brought to man.  We are all born with sin.  Because Adam had the free will to choose which path to take he chose the path to sin.  And here we are.  Living in a world filled with sin created by man with sin.  Yet, whenever we find trouble and whenever we see disaster in the world we say, "Where are you GOD?" and we say, "If there is a GOD why does HE allow this to happen?"  

Yes GOD has allowed all of this to happen because of the free will HE has given us.  However, GOD also wants to take it away from us.  HE's just not going to automatically come into our lives and help us.  HE's not going to take away our burdens and frustrations without us coming to HIM first.  We can't expect GOD to take away our problems without us going to HIM in prayer.  

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with ME." -- Revelation 3:20 (NIV).  

HE's there, waiting for us, but HE won't come to us unless we allow HIM to.  HE wants to hear from us and to help us.  HE wants to take away our burdens and sorrows.  HE wants to be included in every moment of our lives.  HE wants to deliver us from the sin and evil that lives inside us and around us.  

I hear people say, "If there is a GOD then why does HE allow cancer and other diseases?  Why does HE allow sadness and anger?"  Again, GOD created the world to be perfect.  It was Satan who came and convinced man to destroy that perfection.  Then the LORD said to follow HIM and HE will "deliver you from all your enemies" -- 2 Kings 17:39 (NIV).  

GOD gave us a choice and although man chose the way of sin HE still loves us and wants to deliver us from that evil.  It's so easy for anyone, even those completely devoted to their faith, to fall to sin.  I can't even say how many times I've done so and continue to do so.  I'm not perfect, yet GOD still loves me and HE still waits for me to let HIM in.  HE's also waiting for you to let HIM in.  Have you?  Will you?  

After hearing the message on Sunday I felt compelled to share it on my blog.  I can't take all the credit for everything I have written here today.  It just spoke deeply to my heart.  It seems GOD has a way of speaking to me through these messages from church, especially lately.  This one, however, HE felt it was necessary for me to share as well.