Just say no!

I just have to shout it to the rooftops! I said "No." And it felt good!

In my quest to be super mom, I rarely say "No". In fact, I usually say, "Sure. I'll do it (bring it, provide it, pay for it, volunteer for it, etc.)"

Oh, sure, I say no to my kids all of the time. In fact, my first answer is usually no, then I stop... think about it, then sometimes change my answer to a yes or 'what does your daddy say?'.

Sometimes when I am asked to do something that I don't want to do, I sometimes take the passive approach and allow others the opportunity to step up. It doesn't always work out... but I tell myself in the end that if no one offers, I'll step in and help out. It's my little way of helping others say yes some of the time. Wish it worked more.

Some people don't have any problems at all saying no. I am not one of them.

Recently I was asked to do something that I did not want to do. I had no desire to do it! And you know what? I straight up said "No." I was not "No WAY, forget it!" I just politely said, "You know what, that just doesn't work out for me and my family." And you know what? It felt good! Oh, baby, it felt good!

So, my question is... are you a yes'er or a no'er?

So close...

I can feel it coming... we're almost there... 3.5 more days til school is out! What a relief it will be.

• No more 12 mile = 30 minutes commuting in horrendous traffic... and that's just one way!
• No more out the door at 7:25 a.m. and not returning home until 4:00 p.m.
• No more homework!
• No more emails from the room moms (although, the room moms so totally rocked this year!).
• No more school related events to try to keep up with.
• No more lunches to make, backpacks to keep up with and school uniforms to wash!
  

Can you tell I'm so excited to finally catch a break? Ahhh, I can't wait!

Of course, with me working this summer, we'll have to adjust to a new summer schedule, but working 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday - Thursday will be a cinch. Plus, the girls will have a nanny this summer, so I'm relieved that they will only have to spend a nominal amount of time in childcare this summer!

So, aside from giving 1/2 of my paycheck to the nanny... I think it will be a great summer!

End of School Teacher Gift

Who doesn't love personalized note cards? I know I do!

Sunday, I began looking around for ideas for notecards. This is "inspiration" note card that I found on the world wide web...

Here's my version:

I'm going to format 4/page and bring them to Kinko's. It costs $1.25/page (or .$32/each). I'll probably make 16 note cards for each teacher.

I'll then wrap them in a pretty cellophane bag w/matching ribbon, enclose the gift card and there ya go... simple, pretty and fun!

Running!

I'm so proud of myself! I actually left the confines of my home and ran around the neighborhood as my form of exercise. And, I did it twice!

For those who don't know me... I loathe running! But, I loathe more the fact that my jeans are snug... so, I've hit the pavement to try to slim down a bit.

The first time I ran, it was for 25 minutes (or 2.2 miles). I burned 200 calories. The second time I ran, I ran another 25 minutes (a different route - I need to calculate the miles) and burned 260 calories! I kicked it up a notch on the second run and only walked to recover my heart rate down to 160 bpm and then I would start running again. My friend Cyndi would be proud!

Since my gym membership expires at the end of this month and I won't be renewing my membership until September, I'm needing find alternatives to working out, aside from lifting weights - which I can still do at home.

I've also purchased Jillian Michaels "30 Day Shred". However, after looking at the DVD, I'll be honest... I've done all of those exercises before in gym classes and I wonder if the level three format will challenge me. (I know... roll your eyes Anna...) But, I'm still going to do the 30 day workout. I mean, it won't hurt and at least it will give me something to do each day. (I haven't tried it yet... I plan on doing that today... I'll keep you posted, Anna!)

The girls have 7 school days remaining. They are getting excited to be off for the summer. We've hired a nanny to come everyday to care for the girls while I'm at work. She has babysat for us on various occassions and my girls love her! I work with her mom too. She comes from a great family and is heading to Texas A&M in the fall to study pre-med. She wants to be a criminal pathologist. I think what sold her on the idea of working for us this summer was this comment from me, "Seriously, all we want you to do this summer with them is feed them, make sure they don't burn the house down and take them to the pool every day." What 18 year old could resist that? Making money AND laying by the pool?

How do you know?

"God did not make me a mother to fail as a mother." - Christine Caine

Ever since I found out I was pregnant with Elisan, I questioned God about his choice to give me a little girl. I have not always been the ideal daughter and wondered what God saw in me, to give me a girl. Then, Kyla came along and I really thought, "Wow, God must really be trying to show me something here!"

It's no secret that I feel incredibly blessed to be the mother of two beautiful little girls. Yet, there are times when I wonder if I am the mother that God set me out to be. Am I making the right decisions... Am I making the most of my time with them... What kind of role model am I for them?

Just like most moms, I am so in love with my children, it hurts! It hurts me because I hope I am doing 'right by them' and oft times wonder if I will ever know. It hurts me because I wonder if I am equipped to raise them up to be Godly women, because truth be told, I haven't always been such a Godly woman myself. It hurts because I fear my choices today, will affect their forever. It hurts because time is quickly slipping away and I know that I will never get this time back.

And honestly, will we ever know? I seek God for the answers, but sometimes His voice just isn't clear enough for me. I do know that God has equipped me with wisdom. James 1:5 says that all we have to do is ask for wisdom and God will freely give it to us. And I do know that God doesn't intend for us to fail.

As I am heading into (nearly my eighth year of motherhood) I realize, that yes! God did know what He was doing by giving me girls. My prayer is, that as I navigate this life, God will be alongside of me, imparting spiritual wisdom and understanding. That He will pick me up when (not if...) I fail. That He will give me the energy to be the mother (wife, friend, daughter, sister, volunteer, employee) that He intends for me to be, because it is not with my strength, but with His strength.

God did not make me a mother to fail. Thank you God, for trusting me with your daughters.

Mother's Day Tea!

My girl and me!

Look at the sweet smile!

A moment to brag...

I have to brag on Elisan today!

On Monday, she ran up to me after school wearing two medals! She could hardly contain her excitement when she told me why.

She won a 1st place medal for "best story" for a book that she wrote at school. She also won a 2nd place ribbon for best illustration of the same book.

(I say book, because it actually is a book. The school had a fund raiser event where they sent the stories to a publisher to be published in a hard bound book. The parents had the option to purchase books, etc.)

She is also in an advanced class called "Discovery" and they wrote a story in this class as well. In this class, she won a first place medal for the illustration of the her story (which is also now a book!)

I could not believe my eyes! She won two first place medals and a second place ribbon for her work. I'm so proud of her!

I'll post pictures of the books when I get them. The first place book for "story" will be on display until the end of school. I haven't even read the story yet! I can't wait!

Ever had one of those days... weeks?

I am in a bit of a funk... slump... whatever you want to call it. And it's been going on for days now... perhaps even a week by now.

It's not PMS... well, it isn't PMS this week...

Anyone know how to get out of funk that doesn't require working out (I'm already doing that), eating ice cream or spending money?

Um, Yeah.