1. Go ahead, there’s some leftover birthday cake in the kitchen. Please eat it so that it’ll stop screaming to me from inside its little plastic box.

2. The urge to clean: I keep hoping I’ll get that soon!

3. Don’t worry, God’s got this…whatever “this” may be! (Reminder to self...)

4. I have not yet eaten all my calories for the day. So I can, like, splurge on a carrot stick or something. Whee.

5. Pretty much have decided that trying to lose weight when battling PCOS sucks no matter how positively I try to paint it, no matter how I try to call it a “lifestyle change” or gear myself up for what basically amounts to a long period of self-sacrifice — wash, rinse, repeat. I hate the process. Hate it. But I want the result. So there’s no choice but to suck it up and carry on.

6. May the Lord richly bless all the poor souls who journey down this diet path with me, whether they volunteer or are inadvertently dragged along. For I am hungry and cranky and my last nerve is continually exposed.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to chatting with my friends in Uganda, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping for YUMMY DIET FOOD and Sunday, I want to enjoy church and hopefully come outta there with a better attitude than the one I have tonight! LOL!

Find fun Friday Fill-ins here!

And since I can stretch a dollar til’ it screams, I wasn’t going to buy one until I found a REALLY deep discount. If it had to wait, so be it.

So, here is what we got, complete with tons of trains, tracks, bridges and other accessories (only a few are shown in this pic) AND a storage bench –

All for $30. Thirty dollars! I was floored. Thank you, Lord!

For right now, it’s still in the living room, but by the weekend, will be in Jonah’s room.

So he has all these cool trains, all this fun stuff to play with, but what has he latched on to?

Two little wooden signs.

They are suddenly his best friends. He carries them everywhere. He tries to pick up other things while still holding onto them.

I had to pry them out of his tight little fists to put him to bed last night. He was not happy about that, but I knew I wouldn’t be happy if he rolled over onto one in the night and it woke him up.

The first thing he did this morning was go find his signs. He tried to eat breakfast while holding them.

It’s about as bad as the kid who plays with the box instead of the toy inside…

Oh well. Whatever makes him happy!

(Can you tell I’m procrastinating on a project?) LOL

But first, a pic from my files, because what fun is a blog post without pictures?

That’s my cutie-pie Zach when he was about two. I am still in denial that he is >THIS< close to turning 14!

Now, on to the questions…

1. How did you cope with your biggest heartache?

By writing about it, and by talking with (and looking for opportunities to help) others experiencing the same.

2. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?

It’s been so long, I don’t remember. I’m thinking it might actually be my grandmother, who passed away in August 2010!

3. How many jobs have you held in your life? How many of those were part of your chosen career field?

I am not up to counting how many jobs I’ve had — but there are a lot! Starting with Dairy Queen at age 16, to now, freelance writing from home and also doing face painting and cake decorating for birthday parties. My chosen career field was graphic design, and I do still use my art degree to some extent. But I only held two “official” graphic arts positions — one as a graphic artist in an in-house agency in Kissimmee, Florida and the other as an art director at a small sign company in Georgia.

4. How did you discover Saturday 9?

By searching Google for Saturday-themed memes.

5. If you could take the train from anywhere to anywhere, where would ‘anywhere’ be?

From here to San Francisco for a little vacation.

6. When was the first time you cooked for someone else?

I remember cooking for my family when I was about nine or ten. I remember the stove top being at chest level as I did so!

7. What is the worst beverage you’ve ever tasted?

Ooh, just one? I can’t decide on just one. Weak coffee or tea. Mint tea. Malta. That cucumber-flavored Thai version of Coke that they serve at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.

8. Is there anything in life you are “certain” about? Firm in your beliefs? Strong in your convictions?

There are so many things I’m certain about. God loves us all. He has a plan for my life and works all things together for my ultimate good. Salvation comes through belief in Christ. Caring for orphans and widows is everyone’s responsibility. Liberal political policies that appear to help ultimately cause more harm than good. And I should probably just stop because I’m an opinionated ol’ girl and feel quite certain about a whole lotta things!

9. Do you know anyone who has as very unusual pet?

Yes, several. More power to ‘em! Nothing in the rodent/insect/reptile/amphibian categories will ever be called a pet in my house. (Sorry, kids — I just can’t do it!)

How ’bout we close with another picture of my cutie from that day at the park?

1. It’s time to get another bottle of the pink stuff. Jonah has an ear infection.

2. Praise the Lord anyhow! … and don’t forget the gratitude!

3. I’m trying to fight off a touch of what my boys have been sick with this week. Blah.

4. “Didn’t realize that Nerf was also one of ancient China’s gifts to the world!”, that was the last funny comment I received.

5. Please send money to help the dear orphans and pastor at Blood of Jesus ministries in Uganda.

6. I hope my sons continue to enjoy homeschooling, cause I’m in it for the long haul.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing with the family and nursing my little guy back to health, tomorrow my plans include catching up on work and Sunday, I want to go to church, then celebrate the World’s Most Awesome Teenager’s 14th Birthday with our family!

For more Friday Fill-ins, click here.

Such as the little bottle of “sho-shun” that was on mama’s nightstand.

She left me on her bed — SILLY MAMA! — and went into the bathroom one morning.

I believe she thought I was still asleep. HA!!!

I immediately stripped off my pajamas, then grabbed the lotion.

I love pouring things. I love splashing in the things I’ve poured, and rubbing my body with them.

(I wonder if I put the cap back on, if she won’t notice?)

(Nah. This particular mess is pretty obvious.)

And once again, I am SOOOO cute that mama could only laugh at me, and strip the bed.

When Dad put away the Christmas stockings, he left all the goodies on the dining room sideboard.

Silly Daddy.

Doesn’t he know I’ve become a pro at unwrapping candy?

Even complicated Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! NUMMY!

If you look closely, you’ll see I reached the candy by dragging over a plastic bin to climb upon. I usually use my chair, but mom and dad had it shut up in the laundry room after I pulled this stunt too many times in one day:

So I’m a little OCD about wanting to wash my hands all day long. Is that so wrong?

The other day, I got in trouble for brushing my teeth! How crazy is that?

I think maybe it was the fact that I was IN the sink, with my pajamas on, that made Mom do that, “Oh, Jonah, NO!” thing she exclaims quite often…

Oh well. As I said, Stuff Happens when you’re two. But Mom says it’s OK, because I’m so darn cute!

1. Discussions about politics are already getting old. And it’s only January.
2. And yet I still feel compelled to say that this time next year, I hope we get to wish the Obama administration a hearty goodbye.
3. I think it’s time for me to have a couple of days alone.
4. Because having some refreshing downtime alone always puts a smile on my face.
5. Maybe sometime I’ll get to visit Uganda and the sweet orphans at Blood of Jesus Ministries.
6. God alone gives me strength.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to (I have no clue), tomorrow my plans include things yet to be determined and Sunday, I want to figure out what the heck I’m doing!

For more Friday Fill-ins, click here.

“Forget the former things;
   do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

-Isaiah 43:18-19

May 2012 be the best year of our lives!

Me: “Ohhhkaaayyyy….”

Eli: “My good deed is that I sneak around and refill the soap bottles when no one is looking!”

(Have I mentioned lately how much I love that kid?)

Me: (Laughing) “Well, I think that is awesome. I sure wish the Soap Spartan would drop by the kitchen today.”

Eli: “OK!” (Running off to get the refill bottle from the bathroom.)

I knew that I would love being a Mom, but I had no clue how utterly entertaining it could be!

I guess one could say that each number was cool, big, nice and “graet”.

When asked about the misspelling of “great”, he said, “Mom…you always taught me, ‘When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and says it’s name.’ So, it can’t be spelled ‘g-r-E-a-t’….then it would be pronounced ‘greet.’”

I just love homeschooling!