The Survivors Club widget

I highly recommend taking this quiz.  The author of this book "The Survivor's Club" interviewed all sorts of survivors from every type of situation from a woman being eaten by a lion to an economic collapse.  He says that there are five types of survivors and everyone fits into at least one category. 

My quiz result was that I am a Thinker.  I actually have to agree with that.  The only criticism I have of the quiz is for those of us who are Believers in God and call on His name in the midst of a crisis.  I found myself wanting to answer both.  That's just for your information.  

Leave a comment and tell me what you are.  Enjoy

What is this?

This looks like something yummy and chocolately, doesn't it?  Boy, don't I wish!!  I was trying to make healthy Ezekial bread tortilla chips.  Alas--I left them in the oven WAY too long.  I have never burnt anything this bad ever!

Leah's First Haircut

Leah is 3 years old and has never had a haircut.  I've trimmed her bangs here and there but it was time.  :)  With Lucy, I was an idiot.  She had beautiful hair.  I cut it on her first birthday because I was a really stupid mother.  My mother-in-law told me that it's an Italian tradition to cut a baby's hair on their first birthday.

First of all, I don't know if that's true or not.  I'm gullible.  Secondly, my MIL didn't make me do it--I was just trying to create a little tradition in my family.  

So, poor Lucy got all her hair chopped off.  I was a silly, stupid little mother.  Thankfully, it all grew back.  YAY!

So, I vowed that I wouldn't do that with any of my other daughters.  Leah started life with not even so much as fuzz on her little head.  It took her forever to grow hair.  Finally, it grew down pretty close to her cute little bum and it was time.  She loved getting her hair cut and being a little diva for a few minute.  Alyssa is the hairdresser.

In the beginning...Leah starts with a lot of crazy, long hair.  The little wound on her nose is from Joey smacking her in the face with something hard.  
                  Getting the little drape put on her.

She thought having her hair put up in clips was so fun.  The girls at the salon made her feel like a little princess.  
                       Almost done....just trimming up those bangs.
TADA!!!  All done.  Now we can see those precious little eyes.  I didn't have Alyssa cut much off the length.  I wasn't ready for that just yet. 

Trip to AC

I took the kids down to Atlantic City last week because the temps got close to 70 degrees---INLAND!  It was pretty cold down there with the wind whipping away.  But we still had fun.

I love that my children are smiling.  We had a nice trip to the shore.  Chilly but nice.
I got a little trigger happy with this photo.  The incoming bird actually does snatch that pizza crust right out of Joey's fingers.  It was way cool.  You can see the other kids in the background waiting for the take.
                    Barefoot on the beach in February.  Ain't life grand!

                       On the boardwalk at Atlantic City, NJ.

Hardly Blogging

I haven't blogged at all in nearly two months. I've thought about blogging but I just don't have anything interesting to blog about. I think about it.

Those things that I would like to share on a blog have just been too private. I've done a lot of thinking and praying about some of my circumstances and those that are rearing their ugly heads in the world right now.

We did sell our investment property back in January. We got the offer on Christmas Eve and went to the settlement table on the 26th of January. I have felt very blessed. The Lord has been so good to me and my family. I do appreciate all of those who prayed and fasted in our behalf. It works!

My day

How did I make my day different than all the other days?

I started a diet today. I decided that I might as well start it now as opposed to waiting until Monday. Monday's the day I start everything. So, I did something different.

I was a little more focused today. Before I left a room, I tried to remember where I was going and why I was going there. More purpose. So often I wander around and forget the reason I got up in the first place. So, today I practiced focusing.

I exercised today. It was at 5:30pm. BUT, I carved out the time. I only exercised for 10 minutes with my new The FIRM WAVE thing. I felt the burn. So, today I moved my body on purpose.

I served someone. My husband. He leaves to go to California on Monday. I know he's going to be busy the next few days with some other stuff, so I washed his clothes so it would be easier for him to get it all together. So, today I lifted a burden from someone.

The End of the Year Thoughts

I just wanted to write to tidy up the year. I kept a blog for a whole year now. Wow! Time sure flies, even when you're not having fun.

These reflections are more for me than you. :)

First, the first feeling/thought that comes to my mind is of gratitude. When I choose to not put forth the effort to be grateful, then I'm miserable. I am very grateful for so many things I can not even name them all. Mostly, my Father in Heaven and for His generous hand in my life. I'm thankful for my husband and children. For the heritage that is mine. What great people I come from! I'm thankful for prayers, answered and unanswered. There's lot more, but I only have a few minutes to write.

Second, I have to start with gratitude. I'm so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and wise, obedient leaders that have commanded me (and others) to keep a food storage and become prepared in all things. I'm so grateful that my husband is totally on board with it too. I have learned skills and sacrificed vacations and other fun stuff to put up a food storage. What a blessing it has been! I just love all things that have to do with preparedness. And I just love that, although many people mock me, my kids have grown up learning that this is just a normal way of life. They will receive blessings just because they don't know any other way. At least that's what I hope.

Third, I ponder a lot on how to change. From losing weight to being more friendly, open-minded, spiritual, etc. This and my kids occupies most of my thinking time. :) Though I do try to ponder on ways to serve people too. One thing I have learned this year--actually that I have grazed the tip of--is that the Lord gives us blessings. We can receive blessings through prayers, hands on head, by being obedient--but it is US that has to accept and take the offering from the Lord. I have heard some amazing promises made by the Lord this year---it's interesting that so many of them have not been accepted...I'm 100% included in this observation. There is some way and I think it's easy, to accept these blessings...but that's the part I haven't figured out yet. Yes, faith is part of it...but I think I sell myself short somehow...I know I do. It's a resolution to draw closer to the Lord and figure some of this stuff out.

Fourth, I'm disappointed in the elections this year. Not just with the results, but with the fact that there were no really good, qualified men or women to even run in the first place. You may disagree, that's fine, just remember this post isn't for you. :) Just don't leave comments about this particular paragraph unless you support me...ha ha ha. I'm feeling vulnerable. Back to my point...when I voted for Bush II the 1st and 2nd time..I was totally committed. I just loved him. (He's since disappointed me) I felt his convictions and I felt that he was a good, god-fearing man. God-fearing is very important to me in a leader. I'm sad that the American people are so selfish as to think one man can give them so much. The selfishness disappoints me too.

I work hard for what I have. My husband is self-employed. We can never receive unemployment. We pay amounts of money for health insurance that you can't even imagine, unless you're self-employed. We have six children that we take good care of. We pay amazing amounts of money in taxes every year. Yet, I have a "friend" who has seven children. Her husband works a decent job, nothing great, but they haven't paid a DIME in income tax for over 20 years. Me and my family pay for theirs. To me, it's just not right. And YET, we had two men running, one just a bit more liberal than the other, who want to give my "friend" MORE money. There is NONE to give. Where is the accountability?

Here's mine. I chose to marry a man with two children. Then we chose to have four more ourselves. We pay for all of them. Make sure they're fed and clothed and have a Gameboy and a Wii. :) We choose to be self-employed and therefore enjoy the perks of that and also suffer the cons of it as well. But, we pay our taxes and our debts. We do not receive anything from the government and it's my intention never to do so. So, I guess that's another thing I have to be accountable for. So be it.

I just think if we all spent more time thinking about how to do for our ourselves and our neighbors a bit more, we'd be happier and more content. I think we'd expect more from our leaders as well.

This will certainly be an interesting year to come. I don't expect much good to come from our government. I truly hope I'm wrong.

Fifth, I think I'm done after that rant. Just a quick thought. Because of the upcoming trials, I look forward to being compelled to focus on the Lord. I feel it already. I have not been disappointed in Him. I don't understand sometimes. But, I'm ok with that. I'm 40 now. I've learned something about patience. I've got a while to go, but I just hope I can be more of what He knows is in me. I want to see every blessing realized. I want to teach my children to depend on the Lord. They've got to be better than me. That's my hope and my desire. Their struggles will be so much more difficult and different than mine. I pray that I will be able to teach them what they need to know to survive.

If you've stayed with me to the end, I guess I owe you a fresh loaf of bread.

Happy New Year!!!