I'm soooo tired....

...I don't know what to write. It has been a hectic day. Of 5 staff members, I was on time, 1 was late, 1 was gone 1/2 day for appointment, and the last 2 called in and took the day off. I've been on my feet most of the day and still have to go to the gym tonight.

I have played around with 5 pounds for 3 weeks now. Gain then losing then gaining it again. I have been binging on greasy, salty or sweet foods and have not been tracking my calorie intake. I find it interesting that during the time I'm struggling to get back on track is the time everyone starts noticing and mentioning that I've lost weight. I have noticed the change in my clothes fitting but since it has taken me a whole year to lose the 50 lbs. I guess I don't see the physical change as much. I did get a picture from last Christmas to try to compare and I can tell a diference in my face so I guess it is showing.

Well the work day is almost over. The gym is calling. Oh by the way I have finished my class for this semester and am done until January 9th when I start my last class!!!! Christmas program is next Sunday and once that is over I shall have a stress free Christmas.

Holiday stress...

...brings on headaches. Here it is the 4th of December and only one program done. The Library/JC Lunch with Santa program went off smoothly Saturday and pictures are already printed and ready for pick up.

The Friends Holiday Musicale is Thursday night and although I'm not in charge of a lot this year I know I will be there helping until the end.

Church Christmas program is still a variety of ideas with nothing put together completely. It is only 2 weeks away and I'm not sure how it is going to turn out. Last year's was really long and this year's may be very short but it will be what it is.

Christmas shopping is practically done with only the 'rents to buy for now. They are usually the difficult ones because they just won't tell me what they want. I really enjoyed my trip to IN. I think if I decide to leave this area again and look for a different library to work in I would try to get closer to Darren and Hazel's. I really enjoy getting to visit with them and their families.

Can't think of much else to say right now. The diet is in a holding pattern and my reading time is disappearing so I don't even have any updates there. I do recommend that if you have Cable to check out TNT's "The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines". Watched it last night and really enjoyed it.

Wow, Time flies...

...when you get distracted. I found this new site that has absorbed my attention the last few weeks. www.sparkpeople.com is a weight loss/motivational website that I joined and have been spending a lot of time tracking the food I've been eating and reading their interesting articles. It has consumed me so much that I've hardly got any reading for pleasure done either.

One book that I've started reading to help me with my weight loss journey is Linda Spangler's "Life is Hard, Food is Easy". This puts emotional eating into an 'I get it!' explaination. I still haven't concurred my emotional eating habits but at least I recognize them now.

I have entered my last week of being 34 and so far it has hardly fazed me. Age is just a number right? I think because I am content with where I am in my life that birthday's no longer stress me out. I'm heading to IN to see by friends at Union City after Thanksgiving dinner Thursday. I am really looking forward to the time away from work and time to visit friends. Creative Creations is tonight at the library and Mary and I have a slew of ideas to share with people. I'll endeavor to write more frequently for those who enjoy reading about my rather uneventful life.

And patience is a virtue...

...I'm experiencing as I post this from my dad's dial up computer. Things definately go faster at work.

God has been faithful as I knew He would. I am calmer than I was last week and I know that God will provide for our family even when we get hit on all sides by Satan's attacks. The boys in Kentucky are very sick at the moment as ear infections and allergies are hitting them hard.

Work is going well even with the delay in building the library. Adult programs are getting under way with Winter Reading Club and Creative Creations starting in November. Read a fun romance by Kasey Michaels "Everythings Coming Up Rosie" and have been reading a lot of Children's Literature books and that has been my life.

The weight loss battle is still a struggle. If I can lose and keep of 5 more pounds I'll have managed to lose 50 pounds this year. There are very few good days lately and with the holidays coming around the cornere I worry about my determination to keep going. I guess I'll just have to boost my enthusiasm to shed the weight and keep going. I think I might rethink Unique Group and look at changing the time or even the location.

Nothing more to say!

Hanging on by a thread...

...of faith. Not to mince words but the "one whose name shall not be mentioned" came and to my nephews to Kentucky on Sunday and yes I am bitter. I worry and pray that the boys will stay safe and that my sister will finally realize what she is doing. I know God is still in control but sometimes not knowing His plan scares me.

Not in the mindset to post anything else right now but thought I would update those who didn't already know and request prayers for the boys protection and my family's peace of mind.

As I sit here...

...stuffing my face with potato chips I think about having Unique Group tonight. What a miserable week I've had at watching the food that goes into my body. I don't know if it weather depression, frustration or what that is causing me to devour everything in sight. Even if I fix the good for me foods I still am not content until I have something crunchy and greasy to wash it down with.

Enough about that. I'm heading to Lansing Saturday for class 3 of the semester. I really like not having to travel there every week and so far the assignments have been pretty easy too. I just have to stay focused for one more semester and then I'm done!!!!!!!!!!!

Not much else is going on in my life. I'm loving on my nieces and nephew, wanting to fix all their problems and pains but that just doesn't happen. Got 1/2 of my Christmas shopping done already. Things at work are going smoothly. We are starting back up with the fundraising events for the library and I will be working with the committee for that.

I have a big reading list waiting for me now. I picked up a biography that caught my attention. I seldom if ever read non fiction but I caught and interview with Stephen Baldwin (my hearthrob of Young Riders days) who talks about how he became a Christian and how his faith is impacting his career and life. His most famous roll was in a movie called The Usual Suspects which I have not seen but he titled his biography The Unusual Suspect: my calling to the new hardcore movement of faith. I haven't read it yet but will give you my review of it when I'm done.

I've missed a couple weeks...

...and still nothing exciting to report. Work has been busy, family has been abundant, and free time has been sparse. Jeanette, Greg and Dad to a 3 day trip to TN to pick up their belongings and I took some vacation time to help mom with the 4 kiddos at home. Talk about an exhausting vacation! I was looking forward to going back to work. I don't know how people with twins or triplets do it let alone those that have higher multiple births.

I'll be heading to Detroit Wednesday morning for MLA Conference. It is coming a little earlier this year and I'm hoping that I will gather a lot of new ideas and knowledge for my job. I've already gathered some ideas from my class this year with Children's Literature. I had to observe a story time at another library for one of my papers. I went to the Morton Township Library with my niece Lauryn and was very impressed by their program. They filled a whole hour with finger plays, songs, story, craft and snack. I could tell that most of the kids came regularly because they knew the plays and what to do.

Book reading has been slow lately as I've had to read several children's books for class but I did start Nora Roberts new Trilogy. It is definatly different than most of her others as she is tackling Vampires and Time Travel. I'm anxious for the next 2 books just to know how it all plays out.

Oh the return of childhood...

...literature, that is. This semester's class is Preschool-3rd grade Lit. and involves a lot of reading. Fortunately most of the books are only 30 pages with a lot of pictures! Many of the books I share with my Niece and Nephew who are at the house so I can get their imput also!

Other than children's books I haven't read any other great , awe-inspiring books. Mostly brainless fluff! My brain has even been to tired to come up with bogus thoughts. Sunday School class is putting aside "Wild at Heart" as most of the members are female. I have Pastor Dave looking for some Young Adult materials.

The Unique Group was suppose to start last week but didn't have much of a turn-out so we are starting the same thing this week. I've had a couple of good days this week and hope the scales will show some progress. I'm staying with the boys tonight so I can practice more parenting skills. I read a comment the other day that the perfect parent has a lot of parenting ideas and philosophies but no actual children!

The ups and downs...

...or life keep us interested. Routine and habits may be great for keeping us on schedule but eventually there will come a time when you just get fed up with it all and need something drastic to change. Some will make this change to their surroundings by painting and redecorating their home. Others will make the change to their appearance with new clothes and hair styles. And then there are those who endeavour to change everything at once from the inside to the outside and they want it done NOW!

I think that is were I'm struggling right now with my quest to lose weight and get healthier. I'll have a big success and then start sabatoging myself and find things right back where they began. Sometimes I think I'm afraid to change my appearance because I already have my ideas of what people think of me. If I change how I look, I would then have to deal with wondering what people would then think of me. Being fat and single has always given me the 'well rounded' excuse why no male has ever been interested in me but if I get rid of my fat and my social life stays the same it means that there might be more than my appearance that is keeping me 30+ and single.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy being single and presently I don't want to get married. I think it is more a feeling of why isn't anyone interested in me than the issue of wanting to get married. There are a lot of perks to being single and since I haven't experienced the 'big' perks of being married I can't miss what I haven't had. (right?)

Well enough of my bogus thoughts for this week. Classes have started again and I have 100+ childrens books to read for preschool-3rd graders so time will be spent with the nieces and nephews as I try-out all the books. BTY a cool picture book author I found out about is Kevin Lewis. He does some cool rhyming stories about trucks, trains and dinos. The are great for preschool age.

And now for the saga...

...of another sibling. Changes are afoot for Jeanette and Greg. He left this morning for CDL training in TN. They have decided that they would like to stay in MI if they can sell their house in Nashville. The trucking company that Greg will be driving for has already said that they could arrange it if he was in MI. If this is where God wants them, then we are praying everything will work out. Greg played drums for church Sunday morning and I think everyone enjoyed the 'professional' beat. Many people would like to see him back to play and I think he enjoyed getting back behind the drums.

Labor Day weekend was good although I didn't get much housekeeping done but did spend time with family and caught up on some reading. I also managed to do halfway decent on my diet. When we had the family cookout on Sunday Night I over did it but got right back on track Monday. Lee and I will be starting "A Unique Group" next Thursday. It is designed to be a support group for people who are trying to lose weight, eat healthier, or get active. Spiritual nourishment will also be part of the plan and I hope things go well. I'm a little nervous but I think there are enough people interested that we can keep the group going by their input.

Not much else to say for now. I need to do some planning for 'A Unique Group' before my lunch-hour ends so I'm signing off.

Home again, home again...

...and happy to be in my own bed! We had a wonderful vacation and the kids got along well for the week. Mom and Dad were very happy to have a vacation with all their grandchildren present. If Charity had been able to come it would have been complete but she chose to follow a different path.

Read a good suspense novel while in the UP. Elizabeth Lowell's new book, The Wrong Hostage kept me up till midnight to finish. It was really good and intense. Not much else happening around the area. School started at BCA today and Jen is teaching again. For you prayers out there remember the staff and students that they will work together and listen for God's direction in this school year.

Gain a bunch of weight back during vacation. I don't quite have the strength to not eat chips and too much pizza if it is available. Desperately need to go grocery shopping as my refrigerator is empty. Well I have a lunch appointment in 5 minutes so I need to sign off and get ready to go. See you next week!

One more day...

...and I'm out of here! Vacation sounds so good right now and even with a dozen kids going I think it will be fun. Okay maybe not quite a dozen but they will still outnumber the adults and 2 of them are under a year old. We are heading to Escanaba on Saturday and will spend a week in the beautiful U.P.

My brain has been enjoying its vacation from school and was very happy to earn two more A's for my summer classes. (If it wasn't for that silly A- in Cataloging I'd have my perfect 4.0) This falls class is going to be fun as I study children's literature for the preschool to 3rd graders. We only meet 5 times during the semester. The rest will be done online I guess.

Haven't had much time for reading as I'm trying to expand my narrow world. Mom and I try to go to the gym at least 3 times a week, sometimes 4 if we get a pool day in. One of my goals is to socialize at least once a month and that is a big goal as I'm pretty much withdrawn in social situations. This month I'm counting our S.S. Class party but I'm going to have to start thinking about September. Maybe I'll take a risk and invite people over for a dinner party or something. What I have managed to read lately has been more of Jillian Michaels book "Winning By Losing" and a couple of light paperbacks that haven't needed much thought.

Next month I plan to help start up a Women's Group at the church that will be a support and educational group helping with weight loss, spiritual nourishment, and making healthy choices. There are a few ladies that I already know about who would really like to have a group that they can confide in and get support from. I'm hoping it will help us all. I've managed to lose 10 pounds so far this month but still have problems with binge eating. Well I've probablly blabbed enough for today and next week I'll be in the U.P. so unless I get to their public library to add a posting I'll be back in two weeks.

It is day 9...

...and all I can think about is potato chips, chocolate and other no-no's that I shouldn't be eating. I'm sitting at lunch with a big salad in front of me and it doesn't even taste good. I need to keep my eyes on my goal but there is a lot of emotional garbage going on in my mind today and I just want to blow the diet for today but my fear is that I would blow it again tomorrow too.

Life gets tough when you try to improve it. Those of you out there who believe in prayer I ask that you would pray for my family particularly my parents, younger sister and her family. The devil is doing might battle for her soul and she isn't strong enough to withstand him.

I read in Psalms 3 this morning that God will;
"Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked."
If God will do that I really believe the 'wicked' wouldn't be so attractive to us and we wouldn't make as many bad choices concerning them.

No books in this posting. I've been consumed with diet planning and frustration venting to get much done but my plan is to stock up for vacation and hope I don't have to watch so many kids that I don't have any time for myself.

Yes, it's hard to believe...

...but I'm posting again! I've embarked on a new goal oriented life that will hopefully help me lose weight, become more socially comfortable, and grow spiritually. One of my weekly goals is to update my blog weekly, so I'm getting a jump start on that habit.

Another habit I'm working on is to read my Bible daily. I was challenged to this during Family Camp and have decided that my Bible will be the first book I read each day. For those who aren't addicted to reading like me that might not be much of an incentive but since I won't let myself read any other book until I read my Bible I have found it to work. My problem is deciding where to start. I don't want to read books about the Bible so I'm doing straight from the Word reading and started in Acts but that wasn't very inspiring so I skipped to 1 John and have been really reading about LOVE! Oh the many aspects of that one simple word. I've been challenge to work on loving people that I really don't like.

Well my posting for today is done and I need to get away from my desk for a while or I will want to start eating and I'm not taking lunch until 1:00 or 1:30 so I need to go distract myself. I hope all is well with all you.

PS. someone asked about my court dates that I referred to a couple of postings ago. As far as the one for the library-he plead guilty and will be serving quite a bit of time. I pray that it will be a wake up call and he will make some major changes in his life. As for the bother-in-law he managed to lie like a rug to the judge and not even serve a full week for not paying a previous court fine. (Life just doesn't work out the way we wish it to but we need to remember that God is still in control)

It has been a long time...

...but I finally remembered my blog. Life has been busy but I'm down to the last week of classes this semester and don't have to start again until after Labor Day. I'm really looking forward to the 'Family Vacation' in the UP.

As far as books go I haven't been reading as much as normal but I did manage to cover all my favorite's new books including; Janet Evanovich's Twelve Sharp, Iris Johansen's Killer Dreams, Linda Howard's Cover of the Night, Jayne Ann Krentz's All Night Long, Nora Roberts's Angels Fall, and Johanna Lindsey's Captive of My Desire. I've also been doing several children's fantasy books on audio for a "Literature and the Child" conference I'm going to in September. My favorite of those so far is Two Princesses of Bamarre by Cail Carson Levine. She also wrote Ella Enchanted.

We are down to the last week of Summer Reading Club and I'm kinda disappointed in myself for not offering more for the teens but with school and the added work of the building project I didn't find the time or energy to plan more. My B'Tween Time for 10-13 year olds is still going well and I hope that I get some new attenders when school starts up again.

I shall try to update this a little more often for you few who actually have some interest in my postings of brains, books and bogus thoughts. (I need to think more bogus thoughts)

WOW! Two postings,,,

...in one week. I must be finding a lot of time with nothing to do. (Not really just can't think about what I want to do) Getting ready for a long weekend as the library will be closed Monday and Tuesday for Independence Day. I'll be spending a lot of my weekend helping Dad clean and organize his office. (It's my Father's Day present to him)

I'm hoping that I still find time to sit and read as everyone is waiting for my Evanovich book that I haven't started yet. Don't have much else to say so TTFN!

I'm breathing...

...again. My Administration/Management class is over and I pulled off another decent grade. I wish my life was exciting enough that I'd remember to blog regularly. This last weekend was exciting but I don't know how much I should say until all court trials and sentencings are decided.

I've been reading book reviews for teen books and several of them have been about blogs so that got me thinking that I haven't added to mine in a while so here I am. My not so bogus thought for this posting is; "There comes a time in a person's life where they can no longer use how they were raised as an excuse for behavior and this time should be before they are an adult." How stupid is it for a 30 year old to say he can't help lying and conning people because after all that's how his daddy did things? The Bible talks about an age of responsibility and I think that it can be described as the age where a person now responsible for their choices and actions without excuse. I know a lot of people where were raised by responsible Christian families who as adults made choices to live a sinful irresponsible manner that in no way reflects they way they were raised. If this can be true, someone who was raised in a lifestyle of lying, cheating, stealing and other detestable actions has the responsibility as an adult to choose if they will continue to live that way or if they will make good choices to govern their actions.

As far books go the ones I'm reading right now that I'm enjoying are Magic Hour, by Kristin Hannah about a child who appears in a small town, she appears to be a wild child raised by wolfs but it's up to the psychyatrist to find the truth. I'm also listening to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, by something Hadden. Listening help make those Lansing trips go faster. It is about an autistic teenager who discovers a neighbors dog that has been murdered and in his investigations to find out what happens he discovers more secrets than he knows how to handle. It is very enlightening to the thought process of someone with Asperger's Syndrom (form of autism) and is very well read in it's first person narrative.

It's been awhile...

...but I'm still breathing. Class load this semsester has been brutal but I'm fighting through. I finished a 20 page case study analysis to turn in tonight. I have created 3 generic webpages for my Web Class, all in HTML.
I've been reading some but not as much as I would like. My database of books read this year has hit 80 and still growing. I have started a new hobby, I'm trying beading and have made a couple of bracelets so far and working on some gifts. I'm investing in it slowly so I'm not going to have major projects yet.
Mom and I joined the Wellness Center today and hopefully that will help me get back on track with my weight loss plan. I was doing really well then I fell of the wagon. I haven't even gotten back on the scales to see if I gained any of the 30 lb. I loss back.
Lakeview Summerfest should be good this year. The car show is back and there is going to be a craft fair also. The Jaycees will be having fireworks again this year and music in the park starting at 5:oo on Saturday. So if you are looking for fun things to do June 17th come visit Lakeview.
Well I have more work to do before I leave for class so I'll say farewell.

My days of freedom...

...are drawing to a close. No I'm not getting married, I'm getting ready to start a new semester of grad school after a semester off. It is going to be a busy summer with 3 classes a week for May and June then only 1 for July to the beginning of August. The worst part is having to drive to Lansing twice a week.

Things are going very busily at work. Summer Reading Club is about to begin and I'm waiting till the last minute to get my Teen programs organized. Mostly the read and get prizes they don't seem interested in special events.

Just finished a good book by Cecilia Ahern called, If You Could See Me Now. It was sad in parts, funny in parts and parts to make you think. It didn't end the way my romance reading soul thought it should but it was good regardless. I'm currently wetting my feet in a new hobby of beading so I might have to read less if possible.

Best wishes and prayers to all my blog readers!

Relaxed, Refreshed...

...and back to the daily grind. Well vacation was wonderful but there is always a lot to do when you get back. Laundry and housecleaning are waiting for me at home, and at work I had catch up on a lot of things but the staff did do a great job of keeping it to a minimum. It was wonderful visiting with Darren and Hazel in Indiana. We had a great time catching up and wandering down memory lane. Weather was even good except for the thundersorms and tornado warnings that seemed to pop up every night.

The time spent in TN with Greg and Jeanette was also fun but Lauryn and Liyah kept us busy. It was great to see how much they have changed. I managed to do alot of shopping while I was gone and even got some new clothes although it was easier to find tops than bottems. If anyone ever gets down to Murfeesboro check out the store, Old Time Pottery. It was fun to browse and look at all the home and garden decor stuff they had.

I did get a lot of reading done on vacation and have some to recommend. Don't Look Down, by Jennifer Cruise was really good but not like her previous ones. She has coauthored it with Bob Mayer and it doesn't have the fast comedic style that her other books have but it is still worth reading. Full Scoop, by Janet Evanovich is her newest installment in her FULL series and was enjoyable. I also enjoyed a quick romantic trilogy by Julie Orloton including, Almost Perfect, Just Perfect, and Too Perfect. If you are interested in a tense suspense trilogy I have just started on by Allison Brennan with The Prey to be followed by The Hunt and The Kill.

And you thought...

...libraries were boring? How wrong you are! If you could have been here yesterday you would have had enough excitement for the month!

It all began when I parked in the employee parking lot and noticed the back doorframe had been ripped off. I then had to find an employee who had their key to the front door and then come in and call the police. The local police chief came and took pictures. At that time we thought there was only change collected for the new library missing but after he left we realized that they also hit our petty cash, postage, booksale, and Community Center money getting close to $300 worth.

After I moved my car to the back lot again I noticed the big hole in our bick wall that had been torn out to make a tunnel through the wall. (I can only assume that they thought that wall entered a different building because they had already broken through the library door.) Later that day I realized that they had also broken into someones storage barn behind the library and had to talk to the police for a 3rd time.

With all the excitement and stress it was good to get the call last night hearing the the suspects had been caught. I haven't heard anything yet today but our boss who is off enjoying a relaxing vacation did send us flowers to lift our spirits after the mess of yesterday.

Life is back to normal or as close to it as it gets!

And life is good...

...when we let God take care of things. While family problems are still around there is a peace when we let God handle it. Sometimes I wonder if I'm not doing enough but what I can do is not what needs to be done in some cases so it is better to step back and wait for God to take control.

M&D are getting ready to head to Tennessee to welcome the new Grandbaby. My boss is gone for another week and a half. I've been having fun while still keeping track of all the important stuff. There has been a lot going on with the new building plans but fortunatly the Board President has been taking care of most of that stuff.

Watch the movie In Her Shoes last weekend. I hadn't read the book so I can't compare them but the movie was good. It reminded me of my own sibling relationships to a degree and I wish I could have our issues resolved as well as they did in the movie. Not much more to say!

I need to vent...

...so if you don't want to know my fustrations stop reading RIGHT NOW!!!

I love my parents but I have a sister who is using and abusing their love for her. Her scumbag of a husband and her have stolen, lied, and threatened them yet never take responsibility for their actions. Mom and Dad have a hard time letting her face her consequences because there are grandchildren involved. I've never had a good relationship with my sister but there have been times when I thought she would actually get her act together but she just keeps going back to the bottom feeding lifestyle she enjoys. What hurts the most is that even though she was raised to know what was right and wrong she still chooses to raise her boys in a life of lying, cheating, stealing, alcohol and drugs.

I keep telling myself that GOD is in CONTROL and try to let Him be the one to take action but it is so hard to let go and let God take care of things. I'm hurting for my parents because they are the ones being pulled in to many directions and risk loosing contact with their grandkids. I guess prayer is the answer but sometimes there is just a need to vent. Sorry if anyone is offended by my name calling but if you knew everything that they have said and done to my family I hope you would understand.

My life is too boring...

...to deserve a blog. Here it is the middle of March already and I have nothing new to share since the millage passed. It's amazing how fast the contractors start calling when they find out we will be getting a new library. We haven't even finished our RDA Loan application.

Lakeview has a new newspaper! The Boomer family is undertaking the challenge to create and publish an area newspaper. The first issue came out last week and our library made front page headlines with our Millage Vote! It would have been more exciting if I hadn't had to write the article.

As far as books go I've been wading through a pile of romances. Right now I'm reading an anthology called I Shave My Legs for This? Most of the authors I'm unfamiliar with but it is a collection of stories dealing with disasterous blind dates. Since I've never had one I can only relate on a fictional level. :)

I guess life is good regardless of the challenges and disappointments we face. Keep praying for our family and may the choices you make reflect the will of God.

Just a quick note...

...of exstatic proclimation! The millage and bond issue passed and there will be a new library in Lakeview. I will soon have a safe building to work in!!!!

To day is the day...

...that determines my future employment! The Millage/Bond Issue vote is today and we have high hopes of it passing. It amazes me how many people think libraries are not an important part of a community. But even with those people I feel there are more who understand and support the purpose of libraries and will support us.

The "D" is going well. I've managed to shed 25 pounds in 7+ weeks! It's starting to get hard though and I have to fight my urges to binge more. I'm scheduled for classes starting in May and looking forward to a vacation in April. Family life has been rough lately but I am depending on the the mighty power of God to protect, provide and convict as needed.

I'll try to post tomorrow and let ya'll know whether it is a happy day or a sad day!

Not much...

...to say. But thought I should post something anyway. I've been working, reading, cleaning, watching, and trying to stay on top of things. Library millage vote is coming up soon and there has been a lot of work done.
There has been a couple different reading ventures that have been inspiring me. I really like the Your Diet Magazine unfortunately I can't find the new issues available in my area. I've been browsing the Goodhousekeeping Supermarket Diet book and it's got some good tips. I've managed to get rid of 17 pounds since the second week of January and my prayer is to never find them again.
I've spent most of the week watching the first season of CSI:NY and now I'm watching Remington Steele episodes. (Oh the memories it brings!)
Not much else to say. Those of you who are prayers please remember my family. We are in desperate need of God's intervention.

Two entries...

...in one month! Not great but I'm trying to be more prompt in adding to my blog. Unfortuantelly my life is pretty boring and I don't have much to say!

As far as my effort to diet have gone I've managed to lose 13 lb. in 3 week and hope to have 2 more gone in the next 2 days but I'm not holding high hopes. This counting calories is getting tedious and it bothers me that so called healthy foods that are good for me still have a lot of calories.

My journal of books read this year is up to 10 with some of them being teen or junior books and a couple of graphic novels. I guess it's not a bad start considering all the other things I've been trying to do. I'm currently reading Jayne Ann Krentz's new book All Night Long. The title sounds pretty racey but I'm half way through and there has only been one kiss. I think the title comes from the fact that both of the main characters have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and neither of them can sleep at night. It is pretty good so far. I'm also starting the One Book Fifteen Communities book selection, The Living Great Lakes, by Jerry Dennis. It is about his trip through the Great Lakes and out to the Atlantic Ocean on the tall ship Malabar. Not my first choice of reading but pretty easy to read.

It has been a wonderful week with Josh at Mom and Dads. Once we passed the homicidal rage at my brother-in-law for being idiot enough to give a nine year old a tattoo, it has gone well. If you are a prayer keep Josh and his baby brother Chevy in them please. God really needs to keep His hand of protection on them if the things Josh shares are true.

Bruce and Jen are enjoying their new house. With Jen working at the school now they are staying busy. Mom has Coleman on the days she doesn't volunteer at the school and helps with his homeschooling. He is doing well with his kindergarten learning if he could just get his stubbornness to evaporate he would be a real joy to have around at all times. (He's still fun in small doses.)

I keep praying for Greg and Jeanette's house to sell so if anyone wants to move to Nashville, TN area let them know. They have a place for you to buy!!!!!

Signing off now I don't know what else to say.

Yes, Jeanette...

...I remembered. As my sister reminded me yesterday it has been a long time since I updated my blog so here is the 411 of my life since Dec. 16th.

I aced both my classed and was happy to be done with them. The Christmas season was really special although I missed not having the whole family together. I had a new nephew born on Christmas day and he arrived health and whole.

My new year didn't bring new changes right away but on the 7th I decided to do something about the shape I'm in. After watching the changes on The Biggest Loser, and reading several articles in Your Diet Magazine, I decided that if they can do I can do it too. So I am currently on the 7th day of a new 'diet' (I hate that word) where I'm counting calories, eating more small meals throughout the day, and trying to do some form of physical activity each day. (Even if it's walking through Wal-Mart and Meijers for an hour!)

I pray regularly that God will help me see success this time around the weight loss program. Last night I blew it and ate more than a days worth of calories in one meal but I went home and exercised and then got right back on track today. It doesn't pay to hate myself for failing but to be encouraged that I didn't give up!

With the time I'm using to prepare menus and meals I've had less time to read. I've started keeping a record of books I've read this year. One of the better ones I've read is Iris Johansen's new one On the Run. It wasn't as great as some of her earlier suspense ones but it was definately better than her last two. Other books that I have read this year have been fun romances without a lot of depth. (I love those kind) In Sunday School we are doing the book Captivating: understanding the heart of women. It's pretty good but I missed a lot of it while staying in Lansing for classes.

I will try to keep this updated more often and maybe get around to posting pictures.