What Wednesday

What we are eating this week:

...breakfast for dinner

...Asian beef and broccoli

...cauliflower crust pizza

...lemon, mushroom, and olive oil ravioli
...tomato soup and grilled cheese

What I am remembering:

...these are some of my favorite photos of Michael and I 

...and some other fun photos

What I am excited about:

...taking Jar's senior photos

...starting up Survivor tonight

What I'm watching:

...Survivor (tonight)

...This is Us

...The Voice
...Blacklist
...SWAT
...Criminal Minds
...Law and Order:SVU

What I'm listening to:

...For King and Country

...my playlist of Pop music

What I'm loving:

...olives

...pink grapefruit sparking water

What we've been up to

...watching Criminal Minds

...lots of cooking

...lots of school work
...taxes

What I'm working on:

...organizing the whole house

...deep cleaning the house

...trying to eat healthier
...following my schedule to a T

What I'm dreading:

...Jar graduating

...rain for the next few months

100 Things about me

100 Things about me:

1. I love baby goats
2. I love dogs
3. I don't really like cats
4. I love specialty coffee
5. I love bacon
6. I don't love driving
7. I am a good decorator
8. I always go the speed limit
9. I like things toasted extra
10. I love small coastal towns 
11. I am an amazing cook, but I hate to do it
12. I love to sing to the music I listen to (especially when driving)
13. I organize all year long
14. Pajamas are my favorite
15. I love workout clothes
16. I cannot wear my hair parted in the middle
17. I have never been pulled over for speeding
18. I am a homebody
19. I've always wanted to own a Bookstore/Coffee Shop
20. I like full names (not Mike, but Michael; not Kim, but Kimberly)
21. I never had braces, but I had 4 teeth pulled to make room. I daily pushed my misaligned teeth back into place...it looks like I had braces
22. I hate to fly
23. I like to be with a cozy blanket
24. I love to binge-watch shows (like on Netflix)
25. I don't sleep very good in strange places
26. I hate horror movies
27. I hate western movies and TV shows
28. Any type of squat is my favorite exercise
29. I HATE going to the dentist
30. I am very shy til you get to know me
31. I am a minimalist (less is more for me)
32. I used to do tons of scrapbooking
33. I had a very bad bike accident when I was 11 or so (I have an indent in my hip)
34. I basically lost one of my toes in a swing set incident
35. I have not ever had any broken bones
36. I have missing eyelashes where I had chicken pox on my eyes
37. I have always had a blond streak in my brown hair (now it has turned blondish/white)
38. I had a v-back with Jared (that is a vaginal delivery after a C-section)
39. I had a C-section with Cam
40. I have a crown on one of my front teeth from a kickball accident in school when I was young
41. I have been called a mermaid by friends...I love swimming so much
42. I had severe nerve damage when Jar was born...one of the largest hospitals, Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, did a study on me because they had never seen a case like this before
43. My first car was a manual transmission...I loved it!
44. I mowed the grass with a push mower when the boys were little with them in a backpack on my back (and we lived on a hill)
45. My Grandma Joseph was one of my best friends (we did something together at least once a week - she died nine months after we moved away)
46. Michael and I went canoeing once and finished in about 1 1/2 hours on a course that normally took 3-4 hours
47. Michael and I have always loved hiking (we hiked where Last of the Mohicans was filmed)
48. I fell in love with Michael at first date
49. I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks and had to have a DNC
50. I have struggled with anxiety for 16 years; I really struggled for about 10 of those years
51. I get really nervous for anything new (new church, new event, the dentist, the doctor, new Sunday School class, going to someone's house, jury duty, etc.)
52. I sang special music in church all my life growing up
53. I was in plays all my life in school
54. When I went on school trips and we had a certain amount of money per meal to spend, I would buy the least expensive thing and water, so I could save as much money as possible to spend on other things (we would have $5.00 per meal; I would buy a $.49 cheeseburger at McDonald's and a water and then save the $4.51 each meal for something else later) 
55. I grew up in the country all my life (my town was still only 500-600 people)
56. I have had better than 20/20 vision all my life
57. I have always wanted to own a Jeep Wrangler
58. I love dolphins
59. Tigers are my favorite animal
60. I get homesick very easily
61. I panic when I have to take tests
62. I don't perform very well under pressure
63. I don't do well answering questions on the spot (interview type scenario)
64. I cannot eat a lot at one time
65. BLT's are my favorite...this is what I will order when I go to a cafe
66. I love makeup, but I don't wear much of it
67. My go-to outfit at home is pants and a tank top
68. I love to read
69. I have read thousands and thousands of books
70. Health, Fitness, Nutrition, and Self-help books are my favorite
71. I love to journal/write
72. Math and English were my best subjects in school
73. I don't understand Science much
74. I love History, but I don't like memorizing facts
75. I have become much better in Geography since homeschooling the boys
76. I have always homeschooled the boys
77. I have always been a stay-at-home mom
78. I was a nanny to three little boys
79. I started babysitting when I was 11 years old
80. I loved to ride my bike with no hands
81. I am really good at 3 point shots in basketball
82. I am really good at ping pong
83. I love to garden (although I loved in more when we lived in PA)
84. My right leg does not move at 100% because of the nerve damage when Jar was born
85. My hormones have been wacky since I had the miscarriage
86. I am a very very very light sleeper
87. I have been taking melatonin to help me get to sleep since living in FL eleven years ago
88. I can't stand messes or disorganization
89. I cannot take it when people are late
90. I clean up after people before they are done using what they are using
91. I have to have a clean kitchen before I go to bed at night
92. I cannot take mouth noises
93. I cannot take repetitive sounds (tapping, pen clicking, noise of someone typing on computer, ice clinging in a glass, etc.)
94. If I don't go to sleep right away when I lie down, I will be awake for another few hours
95. I am afraid of heights
96. I HATE snakes (cannot stand to even watch them on TV), but other things like spiders and bugs don't bother me at all
97. A horse lay down in the water when I was riding it (got me soaked)
98. I have been skinny dipping in the ocean
99. I have cut my own hair since I was 14 or 15 years old
100. I cut all three of my boys' hair (Cam and Jar have only been to a barber once in their life)

Snowboarding Trip

The boys went snowboarding with the college group and youth group--about 25 - 30 went. They had a blast! They were gone from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. They also went out to dinner with a few of the college kids once they got back into town from the slopes.

Life Lately

Here is what has been happening around here lately:

...I made a whole bunch of food, so we could just heat up what we wanted to eat

...the boys got their taxes done (this was Jar's first time)

...Jar was our driver to go shopping

...Cam liked this jacket

...I got this coffee at Target (it was so good)

...we also got these things while we were out shopping

Jar got these boots

...I kept this purse of Mom's that she was getting rid of (I'll probably never use it, but it reminds of of Audrey Hepburn or Jackie O)

...these are the sample face products I am using right now

...from the food I stockpiled in the fridge

...I bought myself some chocolate covered strawberries

...two of our Hello Fresh meals that I made

...I cleaned out and wiped down the fridge

...another Hello Fresh meal

...it snowed here overnight

Other happenings around here lately:

• Michael and I have been watching Criminal Minds

source

• Michael and I have been enjoying The Amazing Race (this week is the finale)
• The boys went snowboarding with the Youth Group and College Group

• Michael and I did taxes (took us 5 hours), so we celebrated with Red Lobster take-out and a movie, Only the Brave

source

• Cam worked five days in a row - Nina is back working in the deli, of which he is glad
• I did not sleep one night much at all - had to watch a lot of Andy Griffith to get to sleep (which was my favorite thing to do when we went camping)
• Billy Graham died

Friday's Letters

Dear Jesus:  Thank you for the mild winter we have had this year. It has been really nice.

Dear Michael:  It is nice that we have a long weekend.

Dear Cam:  I am really happy that they are getting everything cleaned up at work.

Dear Jar:  It is only 2 1/2 months til you graduate from high school...scary!

Dear Me:  I got a lot done these past couple of weeks. Now, I just need to stick to my schedule.

Dear Lily:  Oh how I wish that cutting your hair was a breeze. I am glad your cyst surgery is over, and it is pretty much healed.

Dear Zena:  It is so funny how much you love to be out in the garage. You are right at home there.

Dear Grocery Shopping:  I have really been thinking about signing up for grocery delivery. I hate grocery shopping so much.

Dear Friday Night:  I wish everyone was off tonight, and we could have family night.

Dear summer:  I am really looking forward to you.

Dear Mom:  I cannot believe how much has happened since my last Friday's Letters in September

Dear The Today Show:  I love your show so much. I look forward to being uplifted every single day.

Dear Weather:  The weather the past couple of days has been weird. We have had snow, rain, wind, hail, and sun.

Dear Dinner:  I am making a Hello Fresh meal...it is burgers, fries, and roasted broccoli tonight.

Dear The Voice:  I am excited for this season...as Kelly Clarkson will be on as a coach.

Dear Boys:  I cannot believe how much you two are eating. I am really glad that you are both eating healthy.

Dear Amazing Race:  It has been really fun to watch this season with Michael.

Dear Bathrooms:  You will be deep cleaned this week. I promise!

Dear This is Us:  Wow! This show just keeps getting better and better

Dear Survivor:  I cannot wait til you start up again next week.

Dear Blacklist:  I have really been enjoying this season...and I have been enjoying watching it with Michael.

Dear simplified life:  I have really been enjoying pairing things down. I have made it so there are not many decorations on things and such. It will be nice when we can redo the living room and dining room and keep it simple.

Dear iced coffee:  I really enjoy you every morning.

Currently

Currently...

• I am thinking...that I am loving the sun shining today
• I am thankful...for a washer and dryer
• I am creating...a list of blog posts that I want to do
• I am going...to take Zena out to the bathroom in a few minutes
• I am wondering...what Jar will do for a career
• I am making...a Hello Fresh meal tonight
• I am cooking...chicken and pineapple salsa quesadillas tonight
• I am looking...at Cam setting up his camera/telescope 
• I am playing...nothing at the moment (I was watching YouTube videos)
• I am enjoying...a chocolate peanut butter smoothie
• I am waiting...to clean the bathrooms (I hate to do this so much)
• I am liking...that both boys work at Roth's
• I am wondering...what Michael and I will do on Monday
• I am noticing...that I really enjoy not eating until lunch time
• I am buying...way too many groceries (as the boys are eating all of the time-and a lot at a time)
• I am reading...Witnessing Made Easy by Jay Lowe
• I am hoping...that Michael and I get into working out in the evening
• I am looking forward to...trying some new restaurants this year
• I am learning...that I feel better when I say 'no' to things I don't want to do
• I am pondering...what to do with the front yard landscape
• I am eating...a chocolate peanut butter protein bar
• I am drinking...a coconut milk iced coffee
• I am feeling...happy
• I am watching...The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda
• I am enjoying...the sunshine
• I am praying for...Cam and Jar as they figure out their careers
• I am working on...getting a blogging schedule figured out
• I am needing...to dust the house
• I am trying...to stick to my schedule
• I am discovering...that fixing food ahead of time really helps me
• I am starting...to get in the mood for summer
• I am listening to...my pop Spotify playlist
• I am annoyed that...I don't like to read as much anymore (because of glasses)
• I am anxious about...the boys going snowboarding
• I am excited about...doing some fun things this spring/summer
• The world needs...JESUS and PRAYER
• I believe...in laughing so hard it hurts or makes you cry (Michael and I need to watch some Chevy Chase and Steve Martin movies)
• I am wanting...to get new floors in our bathrooms
• I am remembering...when the boys played in the mud at our Blossburg house
• I am laughing/giggling...at Lily with her one ear up in the air
• I am designing...my dining room and living room in my head
• I am ordering...my March Amazon monthly supplies
• I am celebrating...Valentine's Day (from yesterday)
• I am tasting...sloppy joes (I am imagining tasting them; I have not made them for 2 or 3 years, but I made them a lot when we went camping)
• I see...the flowers blooming in the back yard
• I hear...the dryer running
• I should...call to get the maple tree cut down in the front yard
• I started...doing some laundry on Thursday and then finishing it on Friday
• I despise...grocery shopping
• I am NOT...ready for both the boys to be in college
• It's been a big challenge...to feed all three of the boys
• I know it's a little weird, but...I love to watch YouTube videos of people organizing
• I'll be one happy camper if...we could do more family things together
• I love the fact that...this is my last year of homeschooling (sad though too, as I have been homeschooling for 18 years)

Currently...

• Outside my window...the flag is flying in the wind on a sunny afternoon
• In the kitchen...everything is cleaned up and put away
• Around the house...I need to clean the bathrooms
• One of my favorite things is...reading past journals
• Today...was a very good day. I got all of the laundry done
• Tomorrow...it is Friday - my favorite day of the week

End of the Year Questions

My Favorites as of now:

1. Person - Michael, Cam, Jar (I could not just do one)
2. Color - grey 
3. Food - eggs and bacon
4. Smell - Pumpkin maple candle
5. Book - For the Love by Jen Hatmaker
6. Movie - Wonder with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson
7. Time of Day - afternoon
8. Day of the week - Friday
9. Things to do when bored - journal, read, blog, watch TV
10. Celebrity - Jessica Alba
11. Drink - water
12. TV show - Amazing Race
13. Fruit - strawberries
14. Vegetable - arugula
15. Store/Shop - Marshall's, World Market, Target, and Trader Joe's
16. Workout - Walk with Leslie Sansone DVD
17. Quote - "Do what makes your soul shine"
18. Snack - chocolate/peanut butter smoothie
19. Meal of the day - lunch
20. Ice cream flavor - chocolate (although I rarely have ice cream)
21. Season - fall
22. Dessert - cheesecake (trying to stay away from desserts though)
23. Life hack - put a binder clip on toothpaste as you use 
24. Hobby - journaling
25. Activity - watching Netflix or TV with Michael
26. Restaurant - Panera Bread
27. Product - rose hip oil
28. Plate of food - roasted brussels sprouts, ground turkey, and salad
29. Style of music - pop
30. Book in the Bible - I Corinthians

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Valentine's Day 2018

We are not huge Valentine's Day people. Before the boys, Michael and I went out to dinner and either a movie out or at home. Since having the boys, we have made Valentine's Day more of a family day. I have typically made Valentine's treats for them (heart shaped pancakes and bacon, heart rice krispie treats, chocolate covered strawberries, pink fruit smoothies, a fancy candlelight dinner with sparkling grape juice, and more). I would also buy them fun little gifts or clothing as they got older. We usually would watch a movie at home as a family. Now that the boys both work, it has really just become another day...which doesn't bother me really, because it has never been a big deal to me anyway. I feel like one should show their love to their loved ones on a daily basis, and I don't need one day of the year to do that.

This year, I planned a few things for Michael and I to do that night at home. I had planned to fix a fancy Hello Fresh meal; however, by 5:00 p.m. the Hello Fresh box had not arrived yet. So...I went into "change of plans" mode. I ran quick to the grocery store and got some fried chicken (our local grocery store has the best), mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, Hawaiian rolls, Caesar salad, and a piece of cake and chocolate ice cream. We then also watched the movie Wonder, which ended up being absolutely wonderful (I loved it--I cried and I laughed). Michael and I also watched Criminal Minds (we had planned on one episode, but we ended up watching three because they were continuing story lines)

I got Michael a small gift and sent him a few fun emails throughout the day. Michael picked up some popcorn and cute little popcorn containers.

It was a fun day!