More Thoughts about the Election

We all know who won the presidential election and if you read my previous post you know how I feel about it.  Over the past few days, I've had time to think about it.

• Although I have strong feelings about Obama being president of our nation, God's word tells us to pray for our national leaders, so that is what I am doing and going to continue to do.
• I also believe that God's word tells us that He puts our national leaders into place for a reason.  So, I am trusting God, not man.  I just pray that Obama's heart is open to receive from God and then act.
• I'm really sad how our state (Michigan) and country are voting for ungodly values and morals like embryonic stem cell research and legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. The second one I'm sort of torn about because I think if marijuana can help ease pain and such, then why not. But, when I look at the statistics from other states that have already legalized it, I don't think it's a good idea. There have been increases in robberies and thefts, murders and so on. 
• It also concerns me that the road this nation is heading down with its ungodliness and immorality that we will no longer be able to say "God bless America".  I truly believe the reason God has blessed America is because we built this nation "under God".  He's been our covering, our protection. If we take God out of our nation like we have our schools and other public places, He will no longer bless us or protect us.  Look at Sodom and Gomorrah in the bible.  Those cities became so immoral and Godless that God destroyed them.  Think about it people.
• If people don't like what I'm saying or how I feel, well I'm sorry. I'm not sorry for saying it or feeling it, but I'm sorry for you and our nation.  I will be praying. This nation needs to turn back to God and our leader needs to be led by God. 

Celebrating Ethan's 2nd Birthday!

Today after church, the family gathered at Trisha and Ben's house to celebrate Ethan's 2nd birthday.  Click here to read all about Ethan at this stage in his life.

Trisha chose the theme, "Yo Gabba Gabba" because that is one of Ethan's favorite shows. Trisha's mother-in-law painted the characters faces from the show on balloons and hung them from the ceiling with streamers in the dining room and then hung some more streamers with the cut-outs of the characters right over the table. She also had some cut-outs they printed off the Internet and taped to the plastic table cloth. Pretty cute, and inexpensive way to decorate!

All of the grandparents were there, Trisha's 3 siblings, Ben's only brother and his wife and 6 year old son, my niece and her 9 month old daughter and my 5 year old nephew were also there. So there were lots of small kids running around and it seemed very noisy in the house, especially from the 3 boys!

Ethan got some cool toys! He got a guitar from Grandpa Rick, some Yo Gabba Gabba vehicles and people from Grandma and Grandpa Stefanic, an Elmo video from Uncle Andy and Aunt Rachelle, a Speed Racer steering wheel and Elmo ball from cousin Cory, and a Diego trike from Jeff, I and the kids. He loved all the toys!

Trisha made chocolate cake with cream cheese icing and white cupcakes with vanilla icing with sprinkles.  It was all very yummo!

Ethan and Auntie Karlie

Opening the present from Uncle Andy and Aunt Rachelle

On his new Diego Trike!

Future Rock Star!

Learning to blow out candles!

Dylan, trying to sleep through it all!

Ethan turns 2!

Two years ago today, Trisha gave birth to Ethan Gabriel Stefanic.  I can't believe he's already 2 years old!!! My how time flies!

We are having a party for him Sunday after church and I didn't get to see him today so I don't have a 2 year old picture. The one above is just a couple of weeks old, so I guess it's okay to use for now.  He's holding his baby brother, Dylan, who was born Sept. 11.

Ethan is so smart! He talks up a storm and repeats everything we say.  My favorite things he says are:

• "Hi Nana!" when I walk into his house
• When we say, "Are you cute"? He replies, "Yes I am", in the cutest 2 year old voice EVER!
• He says "Diwan" for Dylan, "Baby Brudder" for Baby Brother, oh and the best thing ever, he says "I wub you!" for I love you.  It's soooo cute!

Ethan's favorite shows are Yo Gabba Gabba, Blues Clues and Veggie Tales. His favorite movies are Nemo and Da Munks (Alvin and the Chipmunks).

Ethan is learning to count and can count to 8, sort of, with a little help. His favorite number is 6.

He can jump up and down, lifting both feet off the ground at the same time! Something most kids don't do until they're 4!

Ethan knows the sounds of animals like bears, lions, doggies, cats, horsies and frogs! When he "ribbits" like a frog its oh so cute!

He knows all his body parts, and Dylan's and Alyssa's and Papa Jeff's and Nana's and everyone elses, and is sure to point them out as he names them.

His favorite foods are bologna, pizza, chicken, pickles, and cheese.

Ethan LOVES to play outside! He loves to run around in the grass and would stay out all day if he could. He also likes to play "catch me/hide-n-go-seek" with Karlie in the house.  He loves it when she crouches down and then suddenly jumps up and says "BOO"!

Ethan is a born drummer, like his daddy.  He makes "sticks" out of anything and everything that remotely even resembles a stick: forks, spoons, butter knives, rolled up paper, anything and everything.  He even plays the air drums and air guitar!

He also sings some of his favorite songs from his favorite shows and "Jesus Loves Me"!  I'll have to try to get some video of all this cuteness to post in the near future!

Happy 2nd Birthday Ethan! Nana loves you!

Budgeting Woes

After struggling with our finances because we have 2 mortgages and 2 Home Equity Loans, I finally found a budgeting system that I think will work for us: Pearbudget and the old fashioned envelope system.  I signed up for the free 30 day trial on PearBudget. It's simple and easy to use! Then I was reading another blog, Simple Mom, and she really lays out how to use the envelope system.  So combining the two ought to make it budgeting a little easier for me and the rest of the family.

I set up our plan for October and when we get paid I will be taking actual cash out of our bank accounts to fill the envelopes with.  When we need money for groceries, personal items, haircuts, fun money (yes there is an envelope for fun money), lunch money, gas, gifts, or miscellaneous, we will take out the cash from the envelope and use that money and only that money. 

Because our income isn't exactly the same every month, we will have to adjust accordingly.  And we are going to have to be very frugal when it comes to things like groceries, gas, personal items, dining out, fun money and miscellaneous.  But, I know once we start sticking to it and get used to using cash only, we will see how much money we are saving and we will like it! Ha ha.

I will keep you posted as to how it goes over the next couple of weeks.

Walk To Emmaus-Men's Walk #34

I spent the last weekend in Indian River at the United Methodist Church, serving men "taking their walk" and those on the team. It was a God thing that I was even there.  When I was asked back in July to serve on the walk, I accepted a little hesitantly.  I was only hesitant because A. I knew Trisha was expecting her baby on September 17 and I didn't know how all that would play out.  Two years ago when I was working a walk, I had to leave early because Trisha had Ethan.  B. because we are so busy with my new VA business, youth ministry, The Chosen Conference, work, kids, family, etc. etc., I just didn't think I'd really be "into" spending 4 days away from home, away from the world.  So, as the time approached, sure enough a meeting got scheduled for Chosen the first night of the walk, so I had to arrive at the walk late.  I didn't think it would be a big deal, as I was only scheduled to help in the dining room; I wasn't head of a department or anything.

After the Chosen meeting, I headed to Indian River; it was about 8 or 8:30 when I arrived at the church.  I unloaded my suitcases and headed for the dining room.  As soon as I got there, the head of the dining room, Betty, informed me that I was head now because she just got back from a long trip.  Apparently someone was supposed to contact me to let me know I was going to be the leader of the dining room team. That is why I live by the motto, "Blessed are the flexible for they shall not break". 

I have worked in the dining room several times, as leader and as a team member, but I have never had such an awesome team as this! Sue and Jim were amazing and needed very little instruction.  The awesome board members just went through and totally reorganized everything, including the manuals.  Sue and Jim just looked at the manual and took it from there.  We were able to get everything done an hour or two ahead of schedule! It was amazing and the dining room looked great!

Friday night, Trisha called me and told me she and Ben were fighting, so I told her I'd pray for them.  Well, recently I have been struggling with some stuff from my past.  I was raised a Jehovah's Witness, and I've had some thoughts along the lines of, "What if they have the truth; What if what they teach is right and none of this (Christianity) is?" So as I was praying for T & B, I told God; "If you are the God I am supposed to be worshipping and that I am going to the right church and doing the right things, then give me a sign! God, show me some how some way, so I know that what I'm doing it right!"

Saturday morning I got up, had some coffee, awaited the rest of my team to arrive (they all stayed at their homes or with nearby relatives), and got the drink cart ready to serve.  Betty, Sue and I were standing, waiting for the Pilgrims (those taking their walk) to enter.  Frank, one of the pastors helping with the walk, entered.  He headed over to me, stretched out his hands for mine, and started to pray.  In his prayer, he said that I was going to minister to those hurting, that God would show me those who need His comfort. He also said that I "was right where I belong." As soon as I heard those words, I knew God answered my prayer! I was so excited and happy, and felt a huge sense of relief! I knew I was on the right path and I knew that God was guiding and directing me. And I knew that the God I worship is the true God! Frank doesn't know me, and I don't know him. My prayer was silent, so no one else heard it, so it couldn't have been faked.  Only God heard my prayer, and only God answered it!

If you have any doubts about the God I serve, just ask me about all the miraculous things he's done in my life! I don't know why I ever doubted, when I look back at what all he's done in my life, for my kids and my family.  I know it was Satan attacking me, trying to get me to lose my faith in God.

Three Years of Marital Bliss

Three years ago today, I married Jeffrey Scott Lutz, the man of my dreams! Literally!!! The last three years have been exciting, interesting, and challenging.  Exciting because we've grown together in Christ, watched our family grow in Christ, had two grandsons (Ethan and Dylan), moved from Gaylord to Boyne Falls, changed jobs (Mary - twice), started a new business as a Virtual Assistant (Mary) and have become more involved in the youth ministry as leaders. Interesting because we've helped some others out financially and spiritually, are commuting from Boyne Falls to Gaylord, have a third driver (Karlie) so we are working out ways to get everyone where they need to be. Challenging because we are renting out Gaylord house out which isn't working out how we hoped, are commuting from Boyne Falls to Gaylord, working out driving challenges, and all the stuff that goes with raising a family!

Jeff is the man of my dreams because he is Godly, strong, loving, patient, funny, dorky, goofy and CUTE!!! And he has a gotee!!! All of the things I asked for when I told God what I'd like in a husband.  I lived by Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." As did Jeff (which we later discovered after we started dating).  That scripture doesn't mean that God gives you what you desire, but when you lay down your life and delight in the Lord, your wills and desires become his and line up with his Word.  When I laid my life down and surrendered completely to Him, only then did He and could He bring the man of my dreams, the man he created for me and knew would be everything I need.

Jeffrey Scott, I love you and I would marry you all over again!!! Thanks for being the man God created you to be! YOUR! Mary Karen

A Birth Story-Dylan Richard Stefanic

As promised in my previous post, I am here to tell you most of the details of the birth of Dylan!

It was a typical Thursday It was September 11, 2008, a beautiful day in Northern Michigan, but I think everyone in America thought of the events of September 11, 2001.  I know I did.  However, I got up as usual and went to my part time corporate job as a bookkeeper for a charter aviation company.  I was busy working, talking to my boss who happened to stop in for a few minutes, when my son-in-law who also works there as an airplane mechanic, came in and informed us that Trisha was having contractions 20 minutes apart.  She was calling her mid-wife and Ben was waiting to hear back from Trisha what the mid-wife had to say.  A few minutes later, Trisha called and said the mid-wife said to just stay at home for now, unless the contractions get closer together and stronger.  They weren't very painful yet.  Well of course Ben and I couldn't concentrate on work any longer so our boss said we could go.  I went over to Ben and Trisha's and just hung out.  This was about 11:45 or noon-ish. 

About 2:00 the midwife called back because she hadn't heard anything from Trisha.  Contractions were still about the same.  The midwife said she wanted Trisha to come in so she could see what was going on. So, Ben's dad came over and got Ethan (their almost 2 year old).  I headed to Jeff's office to pick him up because we had ridden in to work together.  When we got back to B & T's, I got in the car with them and headed for Petoskey, while Jeff headed home.  Karlie was at school, and Jeff was going to wait to see what the midwife said before he got Karlie out of school.  T planned on Karlie being in the delivery room for the birth.

When we arrived at the Dr's office, they checked her cervix right away and she was dilated to 6 cm and 70% effaced. Then they hooked her up to the fetal heart monitor to see how the baby was doing and monitor the contractions.  She was having contractions a little closer together now, but still not very strong or painful.  So, the midwife gave her her options: She could go home with the chances greatly being she'd have to turn right around and come back or they could admit her, break her water and go from there.  Trisha really wanted to stay and have the baby, so she chose the second option.

Just as the decision was being made, Jeff called to see what was going on.  So, he waited for Karlie to get home from school as it was about 3:30 now.  Ben, Trisha and I headed for the OB dept. They checked her in, put her in a gown and pretty quickly the midwife came in and popped her water (about 4:00).  They then had her get up and do some walking around and some nipple rolls to stimulate the uterus.  Karlie had arrived by then, and she and I waited in the room while B, T and the midwife were out walking.

After about 1/2 an hour they came back in the room and Trisha was in active labor.  You could now see the pain in her face when the contractions came and they were much closer together.  Trisha laid on the birthing bed and didn't move from it until Dylan was born.

After just a couple of hours of "hard" labor, the midwife checked her and said the baby's head was right there so she could start pushing.  She pushed just a few times (not nearly as much as she did with Ethan) and out came his little head.  I noticed the umbilical cord was over the top of his head and wrapped around his neck.  They immediately unwrapped it and then they let Trisha continue to push him out the rest of the way.

The baby was born at 6:44 pm, weighing in at 7 lbs. 3 oz and 19 3/4 inches long.  But we didn't find that out till later.  After Trisha delivered the placenta, the midwife noticed she was bleeding continuously and not from the uterus.  So she had Karlie and I leave the room "for just a couple of minutes". After about 1/2 an hour, I headed back toward the room Trisha was in, but was stopped by the midwife.  She said it was going to be a few more minutes.  Of course I was getting worried. Ben's parents, Ben's brother and his wife, my mom, Jeff, Karlie and I were all in the waiting room, waiting to hear what was going on.  And we were all starving.  So, we called Pizza Hut and Jeff went and got some pizza. Still no word.  This time Karlie and I went to the room again, only to be stopped again.  We went back to the waiting room and after I don't even know how long, the midwife finally came in and told us what was going on.  The baby had knicked her cervix on his way out so they had to have a surgeon come in to stitch it up.  She said it was just a small knick requiring only a stitch or two. 

So, finally after a few minutes again, they said we could go in.  Of course as soon as we got in there, they chased us out and made us wait in the hallway by the door.  Ben came and got Ethan first so they could have some family alone time.  We waited patiently for that and then it was our turn to go in. 

Trisha was a little loopy from the drugs they gave her while they stitched her up, but she was doing well, and so was the baby. 

Then the nurse came in and wanted to bathe the baby (who still didn't have a name at this point) and I got some photos of the bath.  They got him all cleaned up and then we all headed to the room where Trisha would spend the rest of her hospital stay.  We stayed only a few minutes because now it was like 10 pm or something like that and everyone was tired. 

Baby still didn't have a name.

The next morning, we got up around 11 and headed to the hospital.  We were meeting Ben's parents there so we could take Ethan for the night until T got out of the hospital. 

Baby still didn't have a name when we arrived, nor did he have one that whole day.  Finally, on Saturday, two days after his birth, Trisha and Ben had to decide on a name for the birth certificate.  So he was named Dylan Richard Stefanic. Dylan is just cute and Richard is after Ben's dad's middle name and Trisha's dad. And Dylan goes with Ethan really well-ha!

So, now 9 days later, things are going pretty well.  Trisha is doing just fine, losing her baby belly quite nicely and Dylan is gaining weight well and nursing really well, which Trisha is excited about.  Ethan is tongue tied so he didn't ever latch on very well.  Dylan has been a little jaundicy so they had his bilirubin checked and he's been wrapped in a bili blanket for the last few days.  Trisha had him checked yesterday, and his bilirubin count went down 2 steps so he's doing better, but they want him to be wrapped in the blanket over the weekend and go in for another check on Monday.

Grandson Number 2 Arrived Today!

Here are the highlights:  I will post a more detailed story later, but wanted to get some info and pics up now.

Baby Stefanic number 2, (called so because he does not have a name as of yet!) was born at 6:44 pm, today, September 11.  Weighing in at 7 lbs. 3 oz., he is cute as a button!  I didn't even get his length, bad Nana!  Ethan already loves him! 

Trisha's labor was much shorter than with Ethan, but she had a minor complication afterward.  Baby boy was sunny side up and when he came through he knicked her cervix so she had a small tear in it, which was oozing non-stop.  So, they had to call in a surgeon to stitch it up.  We all were a little nervous about what was happening because we didn't have much information.  Finally the midwife came in and told us what was going on.  Jeff, Ben's parents, my mom, and Ben's brother and his wife, were all there, waiting patiently, faithfully, to hear that everything was okay. 

Finally we were allowed to go back in the room.  We took some more pics, got to see the baby bathed for the first time, then we helped move Trisha to her room for the remainder of her stay.  It was a fulfilling day.

Here he is! Baby Boy Stefanic, number 2.  (I can't wait till he has a name!)

Ethan hugging his mama! Awe!

Awe! Here he looks a lot like Ethan.

For comparison, this is Ethan fresh out of the womb!

And back to baby boy number 2

Nana holding her new grandson for the very first time!

Papa Jeff and ...

Auntie Karlie

Highlights of the Fall '08 Youth Leader Retreat

This past weekend was the youth leader retreat for the main leaders (aka planners, visionaries) of our youth ministry, //twentyfourseven.  A couple from our church kindly let us use their summer home on Burt Lake for our retreat.  They cooked dinner for us both nights and supplied the food for the rest of our meals.  It was awesome.

Here are the pics and explanations that will pretty much describe the weekend!

This is the first meeting on Friday night. We are all busy taking notes (aka doodling!).

Our fearless leader, James.  He looks so official with his flip chart!

Um, supposedly they were making us breakfast! LOL. Zach and James

Out on the "veranda" (aka the deck). Yea, yea, we were planning and focusing on youth ministry! Yea, uh huh!

This is Jeff, trying to get Zach to focus! LOL

The view from the back deck. Awesome!

The beach! (This is their back yard!)

Cherie on the dock.

The view of the back of the house from the dock.

Me and Jeffy!

Cherie and Terry...oh so cute!

More focusing and planning (yeah right!) on the beach.  The fresh air helped clear our heads.  Sounds good, right???

Zach and James need a little extra fresh air! They took the row boat out. It was hilarious! Windy and wavy!

Zach. His tummy needed  more fresh air, eh

Nick, Sandy, Cherie and Terry. Awesome youth leaders!

Zach and Carson, the homeowner's son.  Carson loves Zach and was his little shadow!

Speed Scrabble, oh yeah!

More Speed Scrabble!

Planning by campfire! Somehow campfire's on the beach really do help you focus better!

Proof we really were working! See the laptop screen!

Here we are. I'm typing away on my laptop.  After this, my laptop smelled like campfire! It's better now.

The fire. Mmmmm warm and toasty!

Zach and Sandy, paying attention. (miracle of miracles!)

Ah, James.  See, we really did work! See all the papers hung on the fireplace and railing?

Why Should Teens and Youth Leaders Attend the Chosen Youth Conference?

First of all, what is the Chosen Youth Conference? Obviously it's a conference for youth, but it is more than that.  It is not just another big teen event with bands and speakers created to draw a big crowd of teens, get them fired up for a weekend, then send them home just to go back to doing the same things they've always done. 

The vision of the Chosen Youth Conference is to have students and adults alike have a life-changing encounter with God, like never before. All of the bands and speakers at Chosen will be performing and speaking on the issues that teens and youth leaders are facing right now and how they can be over-comers, enabling a closer relationship with God. When teens and youth leaders leave the Chosen Youth Conference, they will be equipped with the tools necessary to be an over-comer in their schools, communities and youth ministries that will not fade away after a week or two.

How do I know this? Because I attended last year's Chosen Youth Conference and I've seen great changes in my 16 year old daughter that I know come from the things she heard at the conference.  She still talks about some of the messages she heard from both speakers and musicians. And yes, I help (voluntarily) with some of the administrative duties for the conference, but I would not even begin to work for an organization that I did not believe in. And I believe in the Chosen Youth Conference for both students and youth leaders.

Go to ChosenNow.com, check out the videos, read the bios from the speakers and musicians, and register your youth group, students, family or church friends for this life-changing event.

My Diet

As you may or may not have read, I started the Revival Soy Protein Diet. I really want to lose weight and get on the road to healthiness before I leave for Africa, March 27. I started out about 2 weeks ago, just drinking a shake in the morning, having a granola bar for a mid-morning snack, a piece of fruit, or a small bowl of oatmeal for lunch, another small snack for mid-afternoon, and a regular dinner. Then my Revival products arrived a week ago Saturday, so I began having a shake for breakfast, some of the soy nuts for mid-morning snack, a Revival Soy Protein Bar for lunch, some Revival Soy Chips for mid-afternoon snack, and then maybe some more nuts if I need them for late-afternoon snack to hold me over till dinner. And for beverages, I have water and black (yes, black!) coffee, and an occasional diet soda. So, I decided to weigh myself Saturday, being that it had been a week. Guess what? I didn't lose a pound! Nor did I gain anything, but my weight is exaclty the same! I was kind of disappointed because I feel thinner. My fingers feel smaller, my waist feels a little different, my ankles look smaller, and even Karlie commented that my "turkey-gobbler" (my double chin) looks smaller. So, I was hoping to see the scale down a few pounds at least. But no. But, I'm not giving up!!! I am guessing the reason I didn't lose any weight is because of my low thyroid. My Dr. told me a year ago that I had low-thyroid and I was on medicine for it, but because I didn't want to go back to the Dr. until I lost some weight, and got my border-line high blood pressure down, I didn't (bad...I know!). Plus I went off the pill, which I was certain was causing my low-thyroid issue. Well, now that I've been trying to eat better but didn't lose any weight in the first week, I am certain that it's my low-thyroid. In the past when I would eat better I would always lose a few pounds in the first week, so it's pretty disappointing. But, like I said, I'm not giving up! The soy protein is the most complete plant protein, and its supposed to help level out your hormones, your blood sugar, your cholesterol, etc. etc. So, I am A. going to go to the Dr. to get it all checked out again, and B. I am going to continue the Revival Soy Protein plan. The other thing I noticed while on www.revivalsoy.com is that there is a whole separate plan for weight loss. It's www.revivaldiet.com. They have complete 30 day plans with all the bars, shakes, snacks, skin cream, and vitamins you need for weight loss. So, while the regular soy protein shakes, bars and snacks are awesome and have great benefits for you, I have a feeling the ones on the diet plan are lower in carbs, etc., because there are totally different flavored shakes, bars and snacks on the "diet plan". I will have to talk to Jeff about doing that specific plan, because it is more expensive than the regular shakes and bars we've already bought. But, if it's going to be my food for a month, that will be money I won't be spending on other food. So, we will see!!!

Update on Life in General

I haven't blogged much on "life" in a while, so here goes!

Where to begin?!? I'll just start rambling and see where this goes...

As some of you who read regularly may know or not, we have a house-full! Jeff and I brought in a girl from youth group back in the fall because her sister (whom she lives with) moved to Kalkaska for career reasons and Briana wanted to finish her senior year at Concord Academy (which I don't blame her!). So, we've worked it out so that her sister usually comes to get her on the weekends and she stays with us during the week for school and such. Briana has had a "turbulent" childhood. Her mom died of Lupus when she was eight years old, and her father is an alcoholic, so therefore she's lived with her sister most of her life since. Her sister recently got divorced (a couple of years ago now), and has some serious financial problems due to the divorce and trying to support her daughter, who is 14, and Briana...not to mention she was recently in a relationship with a guy and they had a son together but the father of the boy is not in the picture any longer. (I'm just trying to draw a picture here for you readers, not place any judgment on anyone!) So, needless to say, Briana, her sister and niece and nephew have moved so many times, I can't keep track anymore!

Then we have my niece, Kara, staying with us and her new baby girl, Alyssa, which I have many, many pics of on my blog (LOL). Her baby's father is not in the picture either for various reasons. When Kara moved here from New Mexico earlier last year, she stayed with my mom. Well, my brother and his wife and 3 kids, have serious financial problems as well so they ended up moving in with my mom too!!! She only has a small 3 bedroom modular, and when Alyssa arrived it was too chaotic and crowded at my mom's so Kara's been with us since Alyssa was just a couple weeks old (she is now just over a month old.) And I love it! I love having the baby around and I love having Kara AND Briana around.

What I don't love is that way before Kara came to stay with us, Kaleb went over to his dad's and had decided to stay with his dad ever since. He hasn't said how long he's going to stay over there, but I don't hear him saying he's coming back to my house anytime soon, even though I've reassured him that he is welcome to come back anytime, and that we'd figure out rooming arrangements upon his returning. Right now, Kara and Alyssa are sleeping in his bed, and Kara is feeling like she's pushed Kaleb out, even though she hasn't and he made the decision to stay at his dad's long before she came to stay.

All that being said (whew!) We need a bigger house! LOL (not really LOL...we DO need a bigger house, but that's not the point of this paragraph...LOL.) The point of this paragraph IS why I want to help these girls out, and in the mean time, pray that Karlie is grasping all that I'm trying to teach them, so she doesn't end up making the same mistakes or feeling like she has to live a life of regret. Yesterday at church was Communion Sunday, like every first Sunday of the month. Jeff is on days this week, working weekends, and Brandon went with Chelsea to Walloon Lake Church, so it was just "us girls"! Well, after we took communion, "us girls" prayed together, with me leading the prayer. I started to pray and burst into tears! I have such a heart for these girls and I so badly want to teach them how to live an amazing life for God and to let God transform them so they don't have to live "defeated" or victimized" by their pasts and "generational curses". And I want them to be strong, confident women of God! Something I am working on too, my self-esteem and confidence. So, after praying with them, all of us wiping our tears, we sat down and listened to the message by Pastor Steve. During the message I got an idea. I thought why not have a bible study with just the four of us??? And I thought we could read and discuss the book "The Confident Woman" by Joyce Meyer. On the way home I suggested it to the girls and they all agreed they would like to do that, so we set the day for Thursday evenings. I can't wait to get started!!! I've started reading the book a while back, but haven't finished it, so it will be good to start over, especially with the girls. So, on the way home from church, we stopped at Wal-Mart and got a few groceries and I got each of them their own copy of the book so that they can mark in it and makes notes, or whatever they want. I also let Chelsea know that if she wanted to join us she could, but she would have to get her own book...lol. Just be praying that these girls really learn to let go of their pasts, and let God transform them into the beautiful young ladies that God created them to be!

On another note, I started a soy protein diet! I am going to Africa the end of March for a mission trip with 6 others from our church and really felt the need to get on the road to healthiness before going. So, I was praying and thinking about how to do it and considered some other plans like Jenny Craig and Nutri-System, but then I realized I had some stuff already at home to get me started. Jeff used to be on the auto-ship program for Revival Soy protein shakes, and we have tons of it at home! So one day, I pulled down a box and opened it up, a viola, there was a book in it by Dr. Tabor, the Christian Dr. who created Revival Soy Protein products and developed the diet plan to "save" his mom. I was so excited! I've read about half way through the book now, and ordered a supply of soy products, and started "the diet" Saturday. Basically, I have a shake for breakfast, that I mix with milk (you can mix it with juice or water too) a yummy soy protein snack like soy chips or soy nuts for a mid-morning snack, either a shake or a soy protein bar for lunch, another mid-afternoon snack, a sensible dinner and an evening snack. I tell you what...I am not hungry, yet I don't feel bloated or over-stuffed, and the shakes, bars and snacks are yummy!!! Really yummmy!!!! I got a variety pack of shakes, bars, chips and nuts to see which ones I like and which ones I don't. So far I haven't found a shake I don't like, or a bar. And of the chips I've tried (only a couple of flavors) I've only found I don't like the plain ones. They are a little dry and bland. But, of the flavored ones I've tried so far, I like them all. I've only tried the yogurt covered nuts so far too, and they are good. So, I'm excited!!! I found something that I truly love, that tastes good, and I can lose weight on! And it's truly good for me! The research that Dr. Tabor did shows that soy protein is the most complete protein! In addition to the weight loss, it even improves your hair, skin and nails. And it helps balance out your hormones, so whether your pre-, peri- or post-menopausal, it will help you feel and act better...lol. So, if you are interested at all, here is the link.
Revival Soy

Let's see, what else I can update you on since my blog is becoming so long now...lol.

Alyssa is just over a month old now. She is so cute and I do have some pics I took on her one-month birthday, but I, of course, have not been able to load them on the computer at home yet or onto flickr, but hope to soon!!! Ethan was over that day, I think it was that day, and so I got a video of him kissing her! It was so cute!!! I will get that posted on here too, again, as soon as I get it loaded!!! Oh, all these time consuming tasks, but I wouldn't know what to do without all of today's technologies!!!

I think I'm going to end this blog now, and maybe start a new one on a different subject! Stay tuned for further updates...lol!

Alyssa is two weeks old (yesterday)

I wanted to post this yesterday, but couldn't get to the computer.

Alyssa had her two week checkup yesterday and she is doing awesome! Jeff got to drive Kara to the Dr. for the appointment, and he even got to go in the room with her. Boy, talk about really experiencing (to some degree) what it's like to have a baby!

She is now 8 lbs. 12 oz., and 20 in. long! She dropped to 7 lbs. 4 oz before coming home from the hospital (her birth weight was 7-14) and now she's just growing like a weed! The Dr. even commented on how alert and active she is for a two week old. Kara was concerned about her belly button cord, because it was puss-ee (how do you spell that????) and kind of smelly and hadn't fallen off yet. But, the Dr. said it was just fine and that the record for a cord to stay attached was 186 days and if she got to 187 days to call him so they could call the Guiness Book of World Records! Funny. But, this morning Kara got up with Alyssa before I left for work and announced her cord had fallen off in the night. It looked really good too, her belly button that is.
So, good reports for Alyssa Noel Grace!

Oh, and she is strong! She lifts her head and keeps it lifted for quite a while! And she loves you to talk to her...she looks right at you with those big brown eyes! So cute!!!!

I took some pics last night but they are on the camera at home. I'll post some tonight hopefully.

More of Alyssa Noel Grace!!!

She is doing GREAT! She will be 2 weeks old tomorrow.

Another crazy day in the neighborhood!

Today was CRAZY!!!!! It all started with another phone call, from my mom this time, and not quite as early as the last one, about 7:20 a.m. Mom asked if Jeff and I could give her a hand because she needed to go to Quick Care and get her cough/sore throat/congestion/sinus-mess checked out. So, she wanted me to watch the 3 boys (my brother's kids) and Jeff drive her to Quick Care. We headed over that at 8:30 so Jeff could get her to QC by 9:00 when it opened. I was already tired because we stayed up late, playing games at Trisha and Ben's the night before, and plus I have the same crap as Mom. But, I've been praying for ways to help out my poor family, because they are so far down in the depths of "ick" (for lack of a better term right now) that I don't know how to help them. They really need to turn their lives over to God, so He can help them, and the only way I know how to help them do that is to show them the love of Christ. So whenever they ask for help, we give it, even in the small things. Jenny, my sister-in-law, was in the hospital for Gall Bladder surgery, which is why Mom especially needed our help today.

Let me tell you, those boys are wild! The two older ones specifically. They are not disciplined, have no structure, and don't listen to anyone. So, while I was in charge of them, I didn't put up with anything from the get-go. The oldest of the two, Cory, is 4. He is in pre-school. He went to time-out 4 times, 4 minutes each. The younger one, Gary, is 3. He went to time out twice - once for 3 minutes and once for 5, because I had to add 2 minutes because he A. wouldn't go in time out to begin with, and B. when he was in time out, he kept pointing his finger at me, and telling me no. Then there was Tyler, who is 8 months old and he isn't feeling good either, so he wants to be held all the time, and then of course right in the middle of all that, my own kids call me because they had gone to church with Brandon and Chelsea, but couldn't get a ride home because Chelsea had to work at noon, so they were "stuck" at Trisha's, and Karlie wanted to go to Old Navy and Kohl's to return some clothes she got for Christmas, and Brandon wanted to go skiing. I was like, "sorry, I will get to you when I can, right now I can't". They were all okay with it and Trisha ended up being able to give them a ride to the house.

And then poor Jeff was running Mom all over from the Dr's to Wal-Mart and they had to wait for the pharmacy to open so Mom did some shopping. Then I guess Jenny was ready to come home from the hospital, so Jeff dropped Mom off at the house, took her car (because we had the truck) and went to pick up Jenny and Cory. When Jeff got back from all of that, I informed him that Kara and Alyssa were coming to our house to stay, because he was planning on taking her to Alyssa's two week appointment anyway, and I think Kara just needed a break from all the chaos. So, Jeff had to drive the truck home and pick up the van.

Finally, about 3:00 we were home. I'm exhausted, and still not feeling well at all, and I can barely talk. Brandon made tacos and nachos, and Karlie and Briana cleaned the kitchen, thank goodness. I got a little snoozy in with Ethan on the sofa, but was so starving because I had only had a bowl of cereal at Mom's all day. So, I got up and ate. That energized me somewhat, because obviously I am blogging...lol.

I ask for prayer for Jeff and I to be able to handle all of this and everything else. And for my sister-in-law Jenny. She's finally coming to the realization that Cory is not going to change and she's sick of being treated like crap. As soon as she is healed from this surgery, I think she is going to try to get a place of her own, with just the boys. She's realized how much my brother has run her self-esteem into the ground and she's ready to rise above it. I'd really like to see her in church and know that God can transform anyone, if they will let Him. I'd love to see the kind of woman and Mom she can be if she will let God in. So, please pray for her too.

God bless!!!!

The Day

I spent the day with Kara and Alyssa today. It started at about 6:00 am this morning with a phone call from Kara. Mom (whom Kara lives with) had taken my brother Cory (who also lives with my mom) to work, and Kara must have woken up in a lot of pain! She called me crying and scared and the baby was crying in the background too. And although I really didn't get much out of what Kara was saying through all the crying - hers and Alyssa's - I knew I needed to get over there right away. When I arrived, Kara opened the locked door with babe in arms, and as we walked down the hallway to the bedroom, she was half bent over, moaning. I don't remember if I took Alyssa or not, but they got in bed, and I asked Kara if she had taken her medication, and she had not. She is taking Darvocet which she is supposed to take one every 4 hours and it had been 4 and a half. So, she took one, and she was feeling better pretty quick. The poor thing was so scared and in major pain, and I guess a little panic set in with Mom not being there.

We pretty much hung out all day in the bedroom. My brother's wife and three boys also live there. The boys are 4, 3 and 8 months, and they are really rambunctious! It was pretty chaotic most of the morning, and I felt bad for Kara and the baby. I don't see how anyone can get any rest in that house, being so crowded and all. Well, about 1:30 or 2:00, Mom took Jenny and the boys to Petoskey. Shortly thereafter, Kara's eyes were getting droopy, the baby was asleep, so I left the bedroom and went into the living room. I too fell asleep. I did wake up a couple of times to hear Kara snoring! I was glad she was asleep though.

I woke up about 3:00 and played some games on my Ipod (which I'm addicted to, I might add!) and then about 3:30 I heard the baby crying, so after a few minutes (like 2) I went in to see if I could help. Kara had it all under control, just trying to get Alyssa to latch on.

I was feeling good, so we hung out for a while. We were both getting hungry, so I called Mom to see if they were going to be returning any time soon, or if I should handle dinner. She said they were going to be a while, so I ordered some pizza. Dustin called sometime in there too and was heading over, so I ordered enough for him and to have left overs in case anyone was hungry when they got home.

Dustin, Kara and I sat on the bed and ate pizza. It was nice just spending time with them.

Just as Kara was getting in the shower, everyone returned, including my brother from work. Let the craziness begin. So, Dustin and I headed out. Dustin came over to do some laundry, go to church with us in the morning and then we will go look at a car Trisha and Ben have for sale...Dustin's truck quit running (transmission or something).

Now I am home with my family...as Karlie put it...I get to be Mom here now...lol. I uploaded the pics I took with my camera phone to flickr and some are posted here.

I hope your day was blessed!