Friday Funnies

So, today was a crappy day....buuuut, my kids said some funny things today that I wanted to pass on.

One of my boys had a headache today and he kept going on and on about his headache, so I said, "I have a headache too, if it makes you feel any better." To which he replied, "It doesn't." I laughed out loud!
Kids are so honest.

Another boy came in and said first thing: "I cannot wait for next week." and I asked why and he said, "Because we will chase the girls next week."
Kids are so simple.

Many of my kids call me Mrs. Christen (pronounced Christian). They just leave off the son part. I guess it is easier than saying my whole name. So, today, one of my boys said, "Hey Mrs. Christen." and one of my girls yelled out in an exasperated voice, "It's SON, ChristenSON. GOSH!!" It was too funny. And just what I was thinking, so I was glad she said it for me. ;)
Kids are so funny!

Happy Friday!

Blessings...

Before we moved (and before I deleted my blog), I did a blog about the many blessings in my life. Now that we have gotten through that whole moving process, I thought it would be a great time to count my blessings again. God has done a lot for us through this move. We have had to trust Him and we have seen him take care of us.

He provided us with this much bigger house for much less money. Of course, as you all know, it is a much older house as well. I'll be quite honest, I was a bit of a snob about it. God has really put me in my place in this house. I had gotten to a point where I felt I had to have the best of everything and I was really in a "get more" kind of place. We had a beautiful house, but I already wanted something bigger and better. So, then God put me here. In an old house that had roaches (thanks Terminix for fixing that!) and has wood paneling and yucky countertops. But He provided for us. He blessed us with a big house to have lots of friends and fellowship in and a big yard for the dogs. Blessings...

He also blessed us with many new, amazing friends. People who are in the exact same boat we are in. People who moved from the Dallas area to take on new jobs in this small town. People who felt called to sell homes and uproot their lives and families to be here, for whatever reason. Praying people. People who could comfort eachother because we were all going through the exact same things. He also sent us a special couple who have been here for a while and have been able to guide us through the ins and outs of this community. I have been blessed by these people and the friendships that I have made here.

He provided me with a job. Not the job I wanted, mind you, but a job nonetheless! But he taught me that I should trust him. Do you know that a counseling position opened up in Atlanta at the end of July? I blogged that I knew God would provide me with a counseling job, but then I didn't wait on Him to do it. I wasn't still for him. But, He did provide a great place for me to be teaching...awesome kids in my classroom...and a really great team and staff for me to be working with. Less stress. I needed that. He provided.

I could go on and on. But instead I will end with the lyrics to my new favorite song. OH! That too...he put me in a place where I can hear my favorite Christian radio station again--K Love. I haven't been able to listen to it since we left Oklahoma. :)

This is the chorus to a song by Sanctus Real. It is called Whatever You're Doing and I love it.
I added a playlist with it on here for your listening pleasure. Enjoy. ;)

There’s a wave that’s crashing over me,
and all I can do is surrender
Whatever You’re doing inside of me
It feels like chaos, but somehow there’s peace
And it’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see,
but I’m giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestone,
time to begin again,
re-evaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills?
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything – I surrender

Whatever You’re doing inside of me
It feels like chaos, but now I can see
This is something bigger than me
Larger than life
Something heavenly, something heavenly

Frustrated dog walker

I love walking/running with my dogs. In our old neighborhood, I used to walk the dogs almost every single day. It was ritual. I loved walking in our neighborhood. We knew so many of our neighbors and would often stop and chat with people along the way. We rarely ever had dog issues. There were just a few places along our walk where I knew the dogs behind the wooden fences would bark and tear along the fence line, giving my dogs quite the neck pull as they tried hard to get to them.

Here, though, it is another story.

First of all, almost everyone has an outside dog or two or three.
And secondly, these outside dogs are behind chain link fences as opposed to the tall wood fences in our old neighborhood, so they can completely see us, and we--oh yes--we can see them.
Thirdly, there are millions (or it seems as if they come out in the millions) of cats roaming around.

So, with that being said...our walks are kinda a nightmare. And they are noisy. The dogs in the neighborhood go nuts. Crazy stinking nuts over us. You've never heard so much barking. People even come out of their houses or to their windows to see what all the fuss is about because every dog is going berserk! [what a weird looking word--berserk...]

And the jumping. Oh my, they jump like they are going to come out at us. Those of you who know me well know that I am terrified of other big dogs. I have made my way up on a car or two to get away from dogs that have scared me in the past. So, on these walks I live in fear that the dogs are going to come over the fences to get us. The whole time my dogs are pulling and acting all stupid and crazy over it. UGH!

Then we meet up with the cats all along the way. Braddock acts like a total spaz as he tries to run to them. Then he takes this weird cat-aggression out on poor Lambeau as he is the closest thing to him. Oh my goodness. It is nuts.

I keep thinking it will get better. But tonight was the worst night yet. I swear there were more dogs out in yards tonight than ever before.

I guess the good news is that my arm muscles are getting quite the workout on our walks.

Okay, I'm done venting now.

My own personal meal planner!

I am so excited about my new favorite thing! My friend Keysha told me about a website where you can subscribe and have access to weekly meals planned for you! And when I say planned for you, I mean totally planned for you, right down to the grocery list. You can even choose a specific meal plan for Wal-Mart or Kroger or other grocery stores where you shop. The meal plans are even specific for low-fat, point system (Weight Watchers- YAY!), low-carb, or regular. This is so COOL! My mom and I joined this weekend and we printed out our weekly menu and grocery store list. The grocery list is grouped by dairy, canned food, meat etc and even lists brand names and prices! I cannot believe how easy this is going to make my life.

My mom did the low-fat family meals and I did the point system family meals. I am very excited because I always say that I want to sit down and do a weekly menu and shop for it on the weekends and it will save me time and money, but have never actually done it. This is only $5 a month and I think it is well worth it. Plus, it gives me great new recipes as well. I am so excited! I am off to shop at Wal-Mart with my grocery list for the week now!

If you want to check it out, here is a link to the website.

E-MEALZ Easy Meals for Busy and Frugal Families
then click on "Diet Specific - Current Grocery Sales"
You can see sample menus for each plan too.

Now, if I could just hire someone to cook it for us for just as cheap...I would be SET! :)