Worst Day Everrrrrrr

*Groan* Normally I wouldn't do this but today is just one of those days that I am going to write down as one of the worst days ever so I can look back on other "bad" days and sort of compare!!!

It started off fine...but hubby had SAID he was going to get up super early and go to WORK which he decided not to do. It's not that I care if he goes to work or not; Lord knows he works hard enough, bless his heart. But when he stays home...lets just say...my schedule gets all wonky and my morning spins out of control. He has fun with the kids which I appreciate, but they get really hyper and its super hard to get them to chill.

Then he informs me he needs me to take him to Fresno to blah blah blah with a car and rental car blah blah blah.

Before we leave I get a phone call from...the PRINCIPAL of my kids' school-I'd submitted a request to transfer one of my kids' teachers this semester due to a multitude of unacceptable issues-all of which he poopoo'd and did his best to convince me to stick it out with her when she has my daughter AND I nearly in tears every single meeting and is completely impossible to please. (((Sigh))) Oh joy of charter schools.

C informs me we are out of coffee and can I please get him some?

"Yes dear, of course"

So we go-we take E to her Spanish final on the way to Fresno.

Of course...things never go as planned and we are running 30 mins behind schedule. We eventually get the chores done though then pick E up from Spanish.

When I get home, I realize I have 30 mins to get my stuff together for my photo shoot. I'd planned to get all of it together during the MORNING instead of galavanting all over creation.

"Mom, what about coffee?"

"I know buddy I know!"

So I contact my client and let them know I'm running late. (Ultimate class I know) Luckily they were more than understanding.

So hubby and E take off for Sacramento as planned. (I forgot to mention that earlier)

So I have to get my kids some food before I head BACK to Fresno for my shoot. And COFFEE. To save time, I break down and drive 12 mins away for a $4.55 coffee for my spoiled son.

Then as I'm flying down to Little Caesars to deposit into my dear children's bountiful health supply, the light turns yellow on me and I slam on my brakes and...voila...eau de toilette de cafe en la carro! The WHOLE thing spilled out all over my dash. I was so frustrated by this point I nearly wrecked my car.

I got pizza-luckily within 2 mins-the pizza gods must have known not to mess with me there.

I raced home, dropped off the food, meanwhile A tells me C was sitting on her while I was gone. You're kidding me right? No. So I give "the speech". The BIG speech. The biggest speech everrrr...the front door is wide open during this speech because I had just come in, and I glance outside (we live isolated on 3 acres) and lo and behold there's a little Mexican man standing in my doorway absorbing my speech. He probably couldn't understand a word I said but I'm certain my tone and volume was plenty. Mortification.

He was there to replace our hot water heater.

I kennel the dogs, I lock all the doors and leave for the photo shoot.

No offense but 3 year olds are super hard. You can't reason with them and they rarely fall for bribery. Cute as a button! Oh so tiring though.

-3 hours later-
Finally, I'm on my way home.

Just in time to get C to youth. We stopped on the way and he went inside for me and bought coffee. Whew. Another successful endeavor.

I drop him off, then come home to eat as suddenly I'm famished. (With 334 calories to spare!) I open a brand new container of cottage cheese to have with leftover grilled chicken breast. I'm suddenly SO hungry I accidentally got some cottage cheese on my finger so I lick it off. It tastes sour. I check the date. Should be fine. *sniffffff* I do the sniff test. I'm not sure if its supposed to smell that way or not. Suddenly the chicken looks wangy too. I can't eat either. I throw them both away-container and all. I settle for 1/2 avocado and a cheese stick. Make that a whole avo. Ahhh much better. Now the leftover cold cardboard dressed like pizza
won't taunt me anymore.

I lie down hoping to snooze.

Not happening. The phone convo with Mr. Sanchez is haunting me. Not that it was evil or bad; things just didn't go the way I had planned. Now I have to decide how I'm going to deal with this.

I get the text from C he is ready to be picked up.

We return home. I inform kids I am officially "off duty" and will be going to take a shower and then head to bed. I gather my things and head to the bathroom. I turn on the water to get it hot. A little spurt and that's all comes out of the faucet. What? I try again. Nothing. I try the sink. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Goose egg. Hmmmm something must not be connected. Last night I repaired our garbage disposal so fixing a hot water heater shouldn't be too difficult right?

I go outside where the hot water heater is...errr WAS. Was? WAS? That hole? Where it WAS? It's GONE? They TOOK our HOT WATER HEATER AND DID NOT REPLACE IT???????? I am trying to decide whether to throw a for real temper tantrum or just double over laughing. I did neither. I called the hub. I said a few things. I am still lying here trying to figure out what to do. I guess cold sponge baths will have to do as I am simply TOO tired to go hunting for a hotel.

Sooo...here I am! The more I type the madder I get but in a way...it sounds petty. Sort of silly I guess. It could be worse. I could be homeless. I guess I truly have had worse days. Days so bad you would never know about them because I certainly wouldn't be posting about them hahahaha...

So I'm listening to my youngest sing Silent Night in her off key cuteness even though Christmas is long gone...and boys are playing video games completely oblivious to the shower issue....they won't mind!

And...I take a moment to reflect on the fact that even though my day was awful, and even though I feel very alone and like the world is against me, I really cannot complain. At least...at least I have a washcloth...at least I have some leftover cardboard pizza...at least I have 3 little warm bodies to hug and kiss tonight before bed...and I have family that loves me no matter what. And a God who cares and understands even the petty, silly, wonky, issues that I have. I really do want to be thankful.

So how do you like my day?

The "Diet" update

Ok so I mentioned last week I was doing some major lifestyle changing right? Don't think I said it but didn't mean it and never planned to mention it again! No sirreeeee!

So...I have been 12 days with no sugar, no bread, no wheat, no pasta. What I have had that I should not have had, is rice two times, and diet soda. The diet soda I believe really messed me up. I have also had too much processed meats like sausage and deli meat. The nitrates and MSG in those is horrific.

So my goal is to eliminate those as well. It should not be too difficult to find healthy replacements.

I was not seeing the results I wanted in the first week, so I am also eliminating nuts and berries for NOW. Limiting cheese too.

I AM however, eating fats. Like butter, coconut oil, full fat coconut milk, avocados, flax oil and so forth.

Now, I have not seen the weight fall off like I'd hoped. I have only lost 1.4lbs. But...I am hoping the effort I've invested will soon be paying off. Only time and patience will tell.

Here is what I've noticed-I have no cravings. Don't get me wrong I do like cake, and if I saw a piece I can't deny my mouth might water. But it isn't consuming me. I am sleeping better at night and waking up really early without feeling groggy. I have experienced some detox type feelings-aching, lightheadedness etc. But I read that goes away. And right this moment I don't feel any of that. It's almost lunchtime and I do feel a little hungry but not like "I-must-have-a-big-mac" feeling. It's like-"my body needs fuel, what should I give it?"

So I will keep you posted! All you that care LOL

Kind Produces Kind

If kind produces kind, what are you producing?

When I look at my children, I see myself and their dad in so many ways. Good and bad. It helps me to examine myself and to fine tune things in my character that I may find unattractive or unlike-able.

We often laugh when we see personality quirks or characteristics in our children that remind us of ourselves. Sometimes the resemblance is not so funny!

Some things are in their genes without even being exposed to the grandparent they mimic.

We secretly refer to our oldest daughter as "Lois", when she gets bossy or as we say, "biddy". Lois is her paternal grandmother, who she has seen about 4 times in her 15 years. She can't help it. Her genetic makeup is set.

Our youngest daughter pulls "Mary" stunts all the time. The boys have strong "Maxi" tendencies. Maxi has been dead for 10+ years! It's inevitable that our children will carry traits that we have handed them.

Additionally, we teach them with our actions. We can gently guide and formulate unfavorable characteristics to be less glaring. We can teach them how to overcome obstacles we faced during our upbringing.

We also lead by example. If I am kind, I will produce kind children, if I love, my children will love, if I am a hard worker, I believe my children will be hard workers.

Consequently, if I gossip, my children will gossip, if I am bitter, my children will be bitter, and if I don't love others, neither will they.

You get the picture.

It's not rocket science. It's not profound wisdom. But it's true. And when I look at others, I wonder if they realize what they are are producing. When children are heard tearing others apart, you know that's what they hear at home. When children are catty and cruel, it shines a revealing light on where they come from.

Kind produces kind in many environments. It's not limited to family. School, work, church....wherever you are, look around. Take inventory of the kind that is being produced. Is it what you want for your future? Are the people you rub shoulders with the types you want your children looking up to and using as role models?

What is a role model anyway? Isn't it someone you admire and trust? One who exemplifies virtue, honor, and integrity? One who displays the fruit of the spirit which is love, patience, long suffering, kindness, peace, goodness, self-control, joy, and gentleness?

(Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.)

When I think of a role model, or someone I would want to be producing likenesses of, this is what I imagine. I don't demand perfection, we are human and make mistakes. But I do believe we should be at least striving to meet these criteria. I know I fail every day at being the wife, mom, teacher, and friend that I want to be. But I am striving and I won't stop.

I pray we all grasp this thought; and that self-centered-ness and lack of concern for the kind we are producing doesn't cause our fruits to be poorly propagated and to whither and die on the vine.

~Lord, let my life be a living testimony and example of what You want. I am not asking to be great, I am not striving to blow minds with deep thoughts or scholarly expoundings. I simply want your light to shine through me. I want to produce kind in your image. Amen~

Seaweed Snacks *Cough Cough*

I have no clue what possessed me to do it. Perhaps it was the whirlwind run to the store for toilet paper with 20 mins to spare before school teacher arrived...or perhaps it was my monthly hormone surge in action...or my undying love for sushi and wasabi tastes...or the fact it was on sale for $.98...or simply a combination of the above but for some odd and ridiculous reason, I thought maybe I would enjoy said post title. Not.so.

I ripped the package open with great hopes....when I saw the homemade green cellophane lying there in little squares and realized I'd paid nearly $1.00 for this box of air my heart sank. It must be tasty though! So I gingerly picked one out of the package, careful not to pinch it's delicate corner too harshly. Perhaps it's sort of like pop rocks or chicherones? You know, airy and flakey with a spicy wasabi kick? I popped it into my mouth trustingly.

The taste that flooded my mouth with just a mere smidge of this-whatever you call it-nearly flipped my insides outside. I am not exaggerating! I frantically reached for my coke zero that I hadn't opened yet. As I madly unscrewed the cap it commenced to baptize me and my console with its contents due to our lively jaunt from store to car moments prior. I didn't care-I poured the soda into my mouth with it still spewing foam everywhere.

What.was.I.thinking? I still don't know. But I know one thing and that is I may be a bean sprout eatin hippy girl at times but the seaweed snack effort was over the top.

Luckily, I had also grabbed a sea salt and chocolate KIND bar which saved my seered taste buds and writhing stomach from further distraught.

Thank.the.lord.

Parenting

Where are my manuals? I should have four big, fat, thick ones somewhere around here but they are nowhere to be found.

Yesterday was a doozie of a day. It was Monday-automatic 20 pts off there of course. Then my plan to change up
our routine was received with ball and chain like rebellion. Lazybones did not want to get out of bed due to sore muscles from a weekend of boyish activities. When he finally did wake up, he found the littles had drank all the milk so he had none and that tipped him even further off the kind and courteous chart. After a spat with his siblings, and a meltdown from said siblings, and a meltdown from mom, then prayer together, we pieced our day back as best we could and made some progress.

It was fabulous example of a true Monday. Daddy was working out of town so he was able to escape the mayhem. And the massive pile of clean laundry in my room waiting to be folded and put away. (((Sigh))) No it never ends.

I truly needed God's help yesterday and I'm so glad He helped us get through!

I need His wisdom everyday! In fact I need it again today. When those you count on as friends seem to turn away-I'm thankful that He never turns away. I have so many friends I can trust, but I am grateful I have Him I know I can trust any day or any hour.

I am very sensitive when it comes to my children and their being accepted and loved. We've always had people in our lives who make them feel that way.

When we evangelized, we were spoiled rotten. Seriously. People gave endlessly to our children. We settled in Sacramento when our oldest daughter was 4. We had so many wonderful friends there. It was amazing. So many lifelong friendships were established during that time! I can never never put into words how amazing our friends became during the 5 years we were there. Most of them are faithful and true to this very day-although miles have come between us, there is no question of the depth of our connections there.

I miss it terribly. I fact, tears stream down my face right now I miss it so badly. (Btw I lost all my phone contacts so if you're reading this do text me so I can have your number again-I have Holly and Misha but that's about it)

When we pastored a church, we were the givers, we were the ones making sure everyone felt welcome, we were the ones hosting parties and events, putting Sunday school together to minister to every child we could possibly touch. Our kids learned to be givers. They learned to minister. They learned long suffering, they learned kindness, they learned what it's like to do without. They learned what it's like to have a mama sitting at social services asking for help. They learned what it's like to have nothing in the cupboards until a few random bags were anonymously placed on our front porch. They learned to appreciate canned corn and canned beans. They learned what loneliness is. They learned how to reach out beyond themselves and draw others in. Most of all, they learned to trust God.

Now we are in a new place. A new place with new friends, new experiences, and new challenges. I truly need help with these new changes. I am believing the lessons learned here will be just as valuable as the ones from the past.

As my friends, I implore you to pray for me. :)

Self-Control & Social Media Update

Ok I just did one of the hardest things I've ever done. Hah. Seriously I am teaching this body some rules. I had 27 calories left of my 1200 daily allotment; it wasn't that I wanted something "bad", it's just that I didn't really want anything "good" ya know? So I contemplated my dilemma.
I settled...I settled for 1/2 of a cucumber with salt and pepper. As I sliced it up, I remembered a little tub of cream cheese in the fridge and I had a sneaky thought of how good it would taste with my cucumber...no one would know! Surely it wouldn't count up to be much more than 27?!?!

Well, lucky for my hips but not so much for my lips, when I opened the cream cheese it was moldy. So I settled for the cucumber sans cream cheese and a glass of water. #hmph.

I can see where if I don't plan to save some calories for evening time I will struggle.

On another note, I'm looking forward till tomorrow. We are beginning a new schedule routine that includes piano and a new bible study. I'm excited because its taken awhile to acclimate to the new school we are with and I have failed to force extra curricular activities. I am looking forward to making progress with things I feel are more important than academia.

Thirdly, many of you may be missing me on Facebook and Instagram. Please don't fear! I am fine! Without seeming rude and heartless, I really really REALLY needed some space to sort some things out in my life. I also needed to spend some time with my family that I felt social media was robbing me from. Don't get me wrong, social media has its place and I'm not opposed to it in the least. I'm positive I will be back shortly. I just really wanted to simplify my life in a way that I could prioritize some things, set up a better schedule for my kids, and allow for some down time for myself but not to the extent I feel compelled to check it 30 times a day-especially immediately upon awaking! It's totally personal. I have little self control. And I really wanted to prove to myself that I could live without it and then I will weave it back in as I see fit. Won't be long!

I have a little brainstorm brewing too. It's been off and on for a few years now. And....I don't want to take on more than I can chew but I really want to pursue self sufficiency. So stay tuned for this new development!

Tata for now!

Gluten Free/Low Carb Pizza

Wow. My first attempt at something grain and sugar free worked!!!! My only change would be less salt. My bad because I used feta cheese which is naturally salty. I'm really happy because I've never done anything like this before.

Here is the original recipe I was using:
http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/2011/04/pizza-crust-and-facts-on-healthy-choice.html?m=1

I did not have Parmesan cheese so that's why I used feta. I also added too much water and needed some more "grit" so I added 2 tsp of flax meal. It's really good!
I topped it with sugar free tomato sauce, uncured salami, natural Canadian bacon, a little natural sausage (no MSG or nitrates) mozzarella, green onions, mushrooms, and red peppers. Excellente!