Holy Moldy!

Okay, admit it. We've all done it. You cook something and eat it and then store the leftovers in your fridge. You may have some more the next day, but somehow the food in the container makes it's way back into your icebox to become penicillin. Can I get a witness? It gets to the point where you just leave it there because you're afraid to take it out and actually open it to clean it. Sometimes, I have actually thrown away containers for the simple fact that I don't want to inhale the fumes and pass out. Well, no such luck this time since the container is actually a pot of mashed potatoes that has turned a pretty shade of pink, green and some other color I can't name. I don't throw away cooking pots. Gladware, yes. Well, there it sits on my kitchen counter. It's waiting for me. I don't want to deal with it tonight. I'll just wait until tomorrow. Sound familiar? I think our sin is much like that moldy container. It's easier to just throw the proverbial "baby out with the bathwater" instead of opening up and cleaning out our lives. Have you ever done a blanket confession? "Lord, forgive me of all my sins." I have. I don't really know how my Lord, who was crucified for every sin I have committed and will commit, feels about that. I have been thinking about this for some time now. If I'm saved, the Holy Spirit can make me aware of my sin. So why don't I name them one by one. Count Your Many Blessings name them one by one. Count your many trespasses, name them one by one. I really do believe we can and should try to confess sins by what they are because it shows an attitude of recognition. Do you know what I'm saying? It's just like that moldy container. The longer we let it sit, the smellier it gets.

I'm a Bad Fat Blogger

I didn't weigh in today. I forgot. The whole point of starting this blog was to track my progress in losing weight. Meanwhile, 2 months later, I still haven't lost any weight. Robin came up with a very good idea. Take a picture each week and then make a slide show to display our slimming down. The idea has merit, but I just love food. I feel like I'm a mood eater. When I feel crappy and unhealthy, I eat better and when I feel better, I eat crappy and unhealthy. Am I alone in this? Dr. Phil? Anyone? I know I need therapy. If I can afford therapy, I can afford to eat healthier. Eating healthy can get very costly. I'm making excuses, leave me alone.
There is really no reason why I can't lose the weight. I'm lazy and I know it. I am saving money though. I don't pay Weight Watchers, I pay myself.
Sweet potatoes are really yummy. I never used to think so, but lately I have been craving them. This is how my mind works. I go in several different directions at once. I ate a sweet potato for lunch and I devoured it! They are good for you.
Okay, I can't ramble anymore. My youngest is yelling, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy..."

A B C's of Being a Help Meet

Excerpt from Heart 4 Home


And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18

Admit when you are wrong
Be positive
Cuddle
Do it his way
Encourage him
Fix his breakfast
Give back rubs
Hug often
"I love you" should be said many times daily
Joke around in a playful manner
Know his needs
Listen to him
Manage your home well
Never hold grudges
Open your eyes in the morning and smile
Pray for him
Quit nagging him
Reminisce about good times
Show respect and honor
Trust, and earn his trust
Understand his need for reverence
Vulnerability is a feminine trait; cultivate it
Wink at him!
X is for private times
Yearn to please him
Zealously guard him with your love

Michaels and Secadas

It must be something with the name Michael and Secadas. A few short years ago, probably at least a decade, we were dining fine at Dixie Crossroads with the O'Donnell's. My future husband got up to go potty and came back to the table. He brought a secada in with him and showed it to Mike! I should have known right then that I should rethink our engagement! Who does that? Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree (see slideshow). Michael had so much fun with this stupid, nasty bug. It curiously terrified Lauren. Emily tried to kiss it. I told Eric if he came near me with it, I was packing my bags!
Get a load of this.......

First Day of Red 1 Squares!

Well, today I structured our morning a little. We learned about the number 1, the color red, and squares. The girls really enjoyed it. We got red lollipops at the bank and named all the veggies and fruits that are red. Then we got home and did some activities at the table with our shape, color, and number. We played kitchen on the deck with some old utensils and I ate a pretend cake, hamburger and french fries from UhDonald's (per Emily). I'm really enjoying the girls more doing this. I just blog while they are sleeping..........Thanks Sherry......great ideas!!!

Water Fun

Thanks to my friend, Sherry, I received a great outdoor game idea for the kids. We filled tubs with water and washed our toys. I even added a little food coloring to teach them colors. The kids loved it, especially Lauren. She asked me today if we could wash her horse again. I said, "Neigh!" That's "no, it's naptime" in equine! She's the horse fanatic! It's a real obsession with her.
Enjoy the show.

Old Friends

I just got in touch with a childhood friend that I haven't seen in probably close to 24 years! I found her on myspace. We talked tonight for over an hour. She is a believer and she is living in Boca! We are going to get together when she is in Jax. I can't wait! It was so great to reconnect with you, Amy!

Future Cleptomaniac

I don't know what possesses her to do this, but Emily likes to stuff things inside of her clothes. Should I be concerned? I will be sure to keep an eye on her at Wal-Mart!

Watch Out, She Bites!

Tonight, while I was in the kitchen getting dinner ready, I heard the girls arguing. I allowed it to go on for a little bit, but then I heard Emily starting crying like she was really hurt. I walked down our hallway and saw them both in the bathroom. Lauren had just finished going potty and Emily was trying to put the seat down for her. Lauren didn't want her to put in down so she would put it back up. I can only assume this is what transpired since my only to witnesses are 3 and under. At first, I thought Lauren had slammed Emily's finger with the toilet seat. I saw her thumb looked a little red and I assumed this was why she was crying. Then, I realized what the real injury was. It had been covered by her hair. Lauren bit her on the side of her face!!! The rest of the details can be left to your own parenting styles, if you catch my drift. If you want further info on how I handled it you will have to call me. I will leave you with this.......Lauren went to bed very early tonight. Call me......

PLEASE PAUSE PLAYLIST TO WATCH

Here is a revised version of our HSM2 Party. It's got more pictures added to it. Enjoy. PLEASE PAUSE PLAYLIST....

Back To School

Michael started his first day of first grade today. What a difference from kindergarten! When we walked into his classroom, it was quiet and he had to go right to his seat. Last year it was a little more carefree. I guess it's time for REAL school now. We prayed for Michael to be respectful and Christ-like to everyone he is around. I have prayed for him to "hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6)."

Lauren was thinking she would be starting school today, too. She kept saying, "Hurry mom, I don't want to be late for school! My teacher will be so mad!" It was so funny. She really wants to go to school. She won't be four until January so she will have to wait until next year.

Well, I fixed a fun lunch today. I am posting a pic along with the photos of Michael's first day.

Fruity Chicken Tuna Pasta Salad

2 cans of tuna drained

1 Chicken breast, chopped or shredded

3/4 C Mayo ( I use mayo with canola oil for a healthier version)

1 small can chopped pineapple

1/3 C dried cranberries

1/4 chopped walnuts

1/4 chopped yellow onion or green onion

1 package of Rotini cooked and rinsed with cold water (Barilla Plus is healthier)

1/2 tsp poppy seeds, added right before serving

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix, chill and serve. Delicious!!!

The Cake

Does this cake look yummy? It was............

We Like To Party

Our HSM2 Party was a huge success! We had 25 students and 11 adults! It was a full house. I shared my personal testimony with the students and 2 kids made a first time decision for Jesus! It was incredible! God is so awesome! The movie was great and the kids really enjoyed watching it. I was a little concerned that we wouldn't be able to fit everyone in our small living room, but we did just fine. We had T & G PB&J (Troy & Gabriella Peanut Butter and Jelly), green grapes, and "Iced Tea, Imported for England" Sharpay Evans style. If you watch the second movie, all of this will make sense. We fed the kids popcorn and cake. JJ Pennington, of JJ's Cakes, made our awesome cake. As soon as I have a pic of it I will post it. There were several cameras going off at once. Here is a small sampling of what went on last evening......PAUSE MY PLAYLIST BEFORE YOU WATCH THE VIDEO.....

A Prayer For The Chrisitan Homemaker

Heart4Home has a great prayer that echoes what I want for my life, but me gets in the way. I get selfish and lazy. That's a very ugly characteristic that I have to daily nail to the cross. "For I am crucified with Christ". It's supposed to be Him that lives within me, but it's a battle every waking moment.
I pray you will read this prayer in full and be blessed. This website is rich with wise ideas and encouraging words.

Heart 4 Home

I just found a really neat website. I stumbled upon it because of a recommended google search for MaryJanesFarm. In the end, I discovered a site that has really neat tips on all kinds of neat things. My favorite is the Master Grocery List. I have been looking for something like this! The site is Heart4Home. Check it out. You won't be sorry.

Blogger's Unite!

What a great time we had yesterday. We travelled to St. Augustine with the kids and met The O'Donnell's and The Gideon's for a pool party at World Golf Village. It was so much fun. We stayed in the pool for several hours. It was so nice to just unwind with great friends. Our kids all got along really well and the boys played water volleyball for quite some time.

I can't wait to do that again. It may be a while, since school will be starting next Wednesday!!!!! I'm really looking forward to that! Did that sound bad? I just get a little weary when I'm asked for a snack 20 minutes after breakfast.

Michael and I read an 86 page book the other night before bed. Junie B. Jones, First Grader, Cheater Pants. It was a cute book. Michael thought it wasn't going to be good because there weren't very many pictures. By the 3rd chapter he was asking me to keep reading.

Well, we're only 2 full days away from The High School Musical 2 Party. I'm really getting excited. It's going to be a full house. I can't wait.........until it's over........but I'm still looking forward to it.
Until next time....

Vacation

We had a great time relaxing on vacation. Here are some photos of our trip. The kids got to spend a lot of time with Brandon, their cousin. He loves his Aunt Melissa......:)

Sorry, I know it's been a while. I have been out of town. I will write more when I get home

Stream of Conciousness

Couldn't think of anything particular to blog about so I decided to just start typing..........I am watching a little boy a couple of days a week that is just darling. He is so sweet. Kinda makes me want another one........sorry momentary lapse of reason. No, I'll just enjoy him and send him home. I'm so close to being out of the diaper stage I can smell it........

I think I'm going to go snap some pics of my house to show you all what our house looks like. I wish I could post before and afters, but that will have to be another time. Those pics are on Eric's computer at work. I guess you can go to Winkflash and look at some of them. Just type melissabotley for my username and family for my password.

Our grass needs mowing. It's really bad, but I just don't feel like getting on that stinky ole mower. It's hot out there. I am going to go swimming at a friend's for a little while. I will write more later when there is actually something to write about............

Lazy Sunday afternoon

This is my neice, Helen. Isn't she cute? This is Elizabeth's (Boo) daughter. She turned 5 months yesterday. Hard to believe.

Me and the girls are enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon at home. I will write more later.......

Fun With My Girlz....

Eric and Michael are down visiting his parents. Eric will be heading to the Keys and Michael will stay with Grandma.

This evening it was just me and my girls. We had a blast. I busted out Shania and we danced and giggled and pretended to be horses. I was the mama horse, "of course" (you saw it coming).

It made me realize, as a parent, I often get so caught up in the everyday responsibilities and I don't take time to just play with my kids. The look on the girls faces said it all. They had this look like, "Wow, mommy, we didn't know you could be so much fun!" I do play with the kids, but not nearly often enough. The sound of children laughing has this wonderful, medicinal quality, don't you think? I can't help but laugh along with them. I love my kids and I'm so glad God chose me the be their parent. I pray I will honor and glorify Him in the way I raise them. Eric, too.......I'm not doing this alone!!! That's a whole 'nother blog. I commend single parents raising multiple children. It's hard enough when you have a spouse!

I miss my boys...........

It's Official!

We finally got a new minivan. We picked up our 2003 Ford Windstar, today. I am glad this is over. I don't enjoy shopping for cars. I feel like I am so picky and I'm never happy. I like our car, don't get me wrong. I did feel a little funny buying a car we never drove. We ordered it from a different CarMax and we were able to drive it before we signed the papers, but it's still a little unnerving to me.

The best thing is that the kids have more room to move around. I would still love to have privacy glass up front (you know, like in Limousines), but that will have to wait for now. :) I was a little disappointed it didn't have the DVD player in it, but today my kids were arguing over what movie to watch. It's just one more aggravation. You know what I mean?

Lauren is still not feeling up to par. She is running a fever and nauseous. I hope this passes soon.