Busy, Busy!

Life has been soo busy since Monday!  I started work at U of L, which amounts to sitting around chatting right now until we get students coming in for help.  I also have at least one class M-F, Tuesday being the worst day ever created because for this week and next, I have to go in at noon and I don't get back to my mom's house to pick up the girls until 8:45 p.m.!  Yick! 

Amazingly, I'm not as stressed today.  Today has been much better.  I've said a lot of prayers on the prayer front, and it has been amazing how the Lord has opened an unexpected door.  There have been some new developments with school for the girls, but I'll share those later.  All I know is that I've prayed, and I continued to pray, and I've seen amazing changes, so that even though my human side is all nervous and filled with butterflies, I know we're doing the right thing.

I am excited about one of my class projects, that will hopefully turn into the final project for the class, and then the culminating project for graduation as well.  It's been extremely difficult to think of a final project for graduation, so this is actually my first opportunity to get really excited about it! 

Mango Bummifications

So bummed am I!  A few months ago I discovered mangos--a yummy, good-for-you food.  I only ate part of one because I was cooking with it, but after a while, I got a horridly upset stomach.  I wondered if it was the mango itself, so I did a computer search and came back empty handed.

This week, I decided to give it another go.  I made a peach-mango smoothie, which was pretty good.  However, after about 45 minutes, I started getting really nauseated.  A little while later, my stomach felt absolutely terrible!  I lay on the sofa for a couple hours, and my stomach is still a little upset.  So, I decided to do another internet search and here is what I found...This guy seems to have the same allergy (I know nothing else about his website, but this article was useful to me), but he's "taking it back" and working up a tolerance for mangos.  Sorry, bub, but I don't have the time.  The allergy is caused by the Urushiol found in the mango (it's also found in poison ivy).  This article just speaks of a rash, but since the other guy got a rash after becoming ill, I'm guessing it's the same problem.  I'm just thankful I didn't eat an entire mango! 

Last Free Friday

Today is my last Friday of freedom...for a few months, at least.  And technically, it's not even free, with the abundant items on my infamous To-Do list.  Oh, well--I will make the best of it!

Yesterday was my orientation at U of L's Writing Center.  I'm actually pretty excited about working there!  I'm not crazy about all my hours, but I hope to get some time between work & class to study/write, so I don't have to do so at home as much.  I really like my manager/instructor, and I already knew one other person there (in addition the PhD mentors).  I am not crazy over the health insurance, but at least it's insurance.  If I have to go to the hospital that's frequently featured on the news as reporters discuss the latest gun shot/stabbing victim, then so be it--at least it will be paid for. 

I will admit, I dropped off an application at the charter school yesterday morning and felt oh-so-good about it.  I know they're full and they have a waiting list, but at least I'm making the effort so if the Lord opens the door, we can walk through it. Depending on how school goes this year, we may send the girls there next year (if they have room, of course)...it just depends.  I don't want to work away from home that much, but you never know what's going to happen! 

I've decided to just concentrate on phonics, spelling, and math with Lovely.  She does phonics online, without help, and does a super job.  Spelling....uggh...it took 5 tries to get an 87%, but honestly, the only thing I'm upset at is she needed me to do the typing for her in order to get that score.  Not that she can't find letters on a keyboard--she just told me I needed to be with her in order for her to do it.  So much for self-reliance in 1st grade! lol  Math went pretty well last night and she gave me a huge hug and kiss after the lesson because she had "so much fun."  Well, that was after she had a break down of "I can't do THIS!!!!" but I made her power through. 

As for all my other thoughts....pshhhaa....I am pushing them away.  Perhaps I should try yoga!  lol

Wow! It's Been a While!

Obviously, I have been trying not to think about the weight thing.  Obviously, that is impossible, but not impossible not to write about it!

I have been bad...very, very bad.  My brother & family were in town for a while, and we went out to eat A LOT and had some family dinners as well. Now, I'm nervous about starting my new job and classes, so my mind hasn't been on cooking, and we've still been eating out a lot...not good.  I did find I hate Stevie B's--- can I just have grease on a platter, please?  But I also learned I LOVE Moe's--I can't believe I didn't try it sooner!  Fresh & yummy, and fast! 

Now, today is my 7 year wedding anniversary with Hubby, so we are headed to the Melting Pot.  I've never been, but I've always wanted to try it.  Hopefully, I won't over-do anything, and hopefully, he'll realize fondue isn't a bad thing. 

Now, time for some random thoughts....

I want to move to a bigger house, but I feel like nothing gets done around here to make that possible.
I feel we have no $$ to make that possible.
I know ALL things are possible, but I wonder what's in His perfect will.
I wonder if I'm done having children and should sell every baby thing I've stored in my mom's basement.
I wonder if I'm a bad mommy for thinking about sending my kids to school.
I wonder if other people will think I'm a bad mommy if I send my kids to school.
I wonder why I care if other people will think I'm a bad mommy.
I wonder why I'm so torn about homeschooling lately. 
I wonder how I can better organize my house.
I wonder how often I'm going to cook during the next 10 months of work/school.
I wonder how I will face my dirty house day in and day out.
I wonder what the ultimate outcome of my degree will be.
I wonder if I should take a couple more classes just to become high school teacher certified, in case we send the girls to school so I can teach at the same school.
I wonder why I have this incessant drive to work, to try to control my circumstances, when I know who is really in control of everything and that it's better that way.
I wonder if it all stems from when my father passed away....which is what I'm sure any good therapist would say--if there was such a thing---lol
I wonder how I was able to write "lol" at the end of that sentence.  Just another sign of my twisted sense of humor...

Ok, I think I see why I'm a little distracted of late.  Keep me in your prayers!

A Giggle

Although I had to stand in line at the post office for at least 30 minutes last Friday, I couldn't help but smile.  These are the moments when you realize, "Hey, these are the funnies you just have to remember to make the difficult times better."

There was only one worker that day, in the afternoon, and he was getting two of the three people at the head of the line set-up with passports.  There was one person between me and them, and several people came and went while we waited because they didn't want to take the time.  I was debating leaving as well, but then I heard the worker discussing getting the card vs. the book, and how the card would be good for any surface traveling to Canada and Mexico.  He explained that meant by car or ship.  Well, the couple thought the card would be good for their upcoming trip, but the man had one question:  Is it good for going to Hawaii? 

I couldn't help but grin.  It took the worker a few minutes, but he finally said, "Umm..you don't need it for Hawaii." 

Yes, this is why I homeschool.

Delicious Manicotti!

Last night, I tried the Homemade Manicotti recipe from Gina's WW site. All I can say is YUM! I know I ate more than I was supposed to, but I couldn't resist! I didn't used to be a manicotti fan, especially when I tried making it from home, but this was extremely good and I'm anxious about trying my left overs (for fear of ruining them by reheating too much/too little).

I made the crespelles (what the mixture is wrapped in) from scratch, which is a little tricky, but so worth it! They are extremely thin (each only calls for 2 T of batter, but I used 3 since I kept tearing them :P) and they only cook for a total of 40 seconds each. I also changed the recipe by using whole wheat flour and fresh chopped spinach. I'm sure I used a little too much sauce, but I didn't want to waste the jar!

Shrimp Quesadillas with Tomato Avocado Salsa

Well, I tried to break out of the box and try something different for the fam...but this was not a hit.  I liked them all right (minus the tomatoes), but Hubby didn't enjoy them, Lovely refused to eat them, and although Snugglebug said they were tasty, she didn't finish her's, either.  So, I won't be making these again.  Sorry, Gina, this skinny WW recipe just didn't float our boats! 

So, I'll admit what all I've eaten today since I need to write down somewhere what I have consumed:

Bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios w/ 2% milk (I don't drink most of the milk--it's just there to wet the Cheerios)
Broiled white fish sandwich on wheat, salad with ranch (I dip my fork in the dressing, so I probably eat 2-3 tsp. of it), and about 3 of the little chips that come on the plate at Sam's (the restuarant)
3/4 Shrimp Ques., ~1/2 C lowfat beans, ~1/2 C Spanish rice

Downfall:  I drank Coke.  And Mello Yello.  Grrr...why can't I give that sugary stuff up?!  I could just kick myself!