When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
A message every adult should read because childrenare watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang myfirst painting on the refrigerator, and I immediatelywanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed astray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kindto animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make myfavorite cake for me, and I learned that the littlethings can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say aprayer, and I knew that there is a God I could alwaystalk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make ameal and take it to a friend who was sick, and Ilearned that we all have to help take care of each other.When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give ofyour time and money to help people who had nothing,and I learned that those who have something shouldgive to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take careof our house and everyone in it, and I learned we haveto take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how youhandled your responsibilities, even when you didn'tfeel good, and I learned that I would have to beresponsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears comefrom your eyes, and I learned that sometimes thingshurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that youcared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most oflife's lessons that I need to know to be a good andproductive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you andwanted to say, Thanks for all the things I saw whenyou thought I wasn't looking.'
I am sending this to all of the peopleI know who do so much for others,but think that no one ever sees.
Little Eyes See A Lot.
Each of us(parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend)influences the life of a child.
How will you touch the life of someone today?
Just by sending this to someone else,you will probably make them at leastthink about their influence on others.
Live simply.Love generously.Care deeply.Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

Yard Sale, LifeChain, etc....

Well - things are getting busy again...but I am determined to keep up with this blog. Last week I sold the drum set and a box of CDs before the yard sale started and I had all ready made $105...after the yard sale, I had $220 towards my Emergency Fund. I took $20 out of this to give to the church, so when I opened my new Savings Account yesterday, I deposited $20. I have listed more stuff on Craig's List and hopefully today somebody is coming to pick up 2 series of movies for $20 each. We were blessed to get this much and I am thankful for having a start.


On Sunday, JC and the boys and I all participated in LifeChain which is a silent stand against abortion. It was a very moving experience for me. I have never done something like that before, but it felt good. We had a busy day as I worked in the nursery during first service, attended the 2nd service, left there around 12 and had to meet at 1:45 for LifeChain, then we got home around 3:30, the boys had to be back at the church for Collision at 5, Jeremy had choir at 6. I was pooped, but having a church family is so wonderful and I love being there and being involved.

Somebody from the church gave me a gift card to Wal-mart because they thought I could use it. I want to cry....it is the nicest thing to have people caring about you. My first thought was to help pay for groceries with it, then we thought, maybe we could save it to be able to get one or two small gifts for the boys for Christmas, but this morning we realized that we need to buy the bigger boys some clothes. They are growing out of everything. I still need to find a way to get new uniforms and their sashes for Boy Scouts, but I am not going to concern myself with that right now....we are just going to keep putting it in God's hands. He is so wonderful! We have been praying and asking for prayers for our situation...and He delivers!

I offered to help Jeremy's teacher with her Fall Festival basket which was Children's books. Here is the finished product. I think it turned out great.


Jeremy posing with his friend - Mr Punkin - we had to get some seeds for his October Calendar homework and he wanted to draw the face...which he did all by himself.

Here is one of Jeremy showing off his homework. I haven't taken any recent pics of James and Randall, but I will. They are growing so fast and they are so busy with Collision, Awana, and Boy Scouts and I sent in the paperwork for them to start Basketball...all 3 of them...WOW!

OK - so my lunch time is almost over....its back to work I go!

WW and Clutter

I've been trying to catch up on here everything that has been going on since June...and I keep forgetting to come and say that I am no longer doing WW. We are trying to cut back on spending and it was an easy decision to save that $40 a month. I am hoping to keep losing, but so far I haven't been doing so good....I have finally decided to put it up to God with the rest of my prayers. Why haven't I been doing this up until now?

I am not a very good person to pray. I get nervous when doing it out loud. Worried about how others perceive me....but I am trying to get better at that as well. JC and I have started praying together...that's a great feeling. And I have been making a point to pray with the boys each night as Jeremy would say "pray at the bed". Apparently he heard that from Awana and I was so proud that he remembered it....again - Why haven't I been doing this? So I have been asking God for alot lately. Safety, health, financial problems, help with praying, help with losing weight. I feel guilty for all I ask for, but I also let Him know how blessed I feel. Recently, we have had a lot of rain. I think it is wonderful...of course there are a bunch of people who complain...but I am pretty sure they are the same people who were complaining just 2 months ago because we are in a drought.

Political "friends".....Why do people insist on sending emails with their personal opinions about who I should vote for this November? Why do I have to get 2 or 3 phone calls a day from people who want to know? It's private...nobody needs to know until I get to that poll. I don't like discussing politics with my friends. They make me feel bad for my opinions. They make me get angry and I don't want to be angry. I just want to make this decision with only God's influence and nobody elses. People are saying President Bush is bad because he sent us to war.....all I have to say about that is when he took action to stand up for our country back in September 2001, everybody was for him and behind him. I don't like thinking about men and women dying anywhere, but they are out there fighting for not only their lives, but our lives as well and I think it is a disgrace that the American people don't want to support them. Other people are saying that the Republicans are forcing the media to not show footage of the damage caused by Hurrican Ike. Are you serious? The media is running the election. The media discusses whatever the media wants to? And don't they remember the soldiers that are fighting everyday for our freedoms....if the Republicans took their right to speak away....wouldn't that defeat the purpose? Some people are saying Barack Obama is the antichrist. There is much debate about that and for a little bit I think I believed it, until I did some research and learned that the Bible doesn't truly describe what the antichrist will be (a Muslim male in his 40s). Only God and his angels know the answer to that one...Some people are saying some pretty horrible things about Sarah Palin. How she runs Alaska, what she allows and what she tries to force with her authority. That scares me...I wonder is any of this true? Do people truly know these facts or are they just trying to get me on their side? I'm not asking you to choose sides....just expressing my concerns/thoughts about this election. I think the best advice I have heard up to now was to pray to God to help me make the best decision.

Lastly, my foot.....back in July - I dropped a heavy wood 5 Ft, 3 panelled frame on my foot. I have attached a couple of pictures of that as well. I am going tonight to have a MRI because the place above my big toe has formed a Hematoma. The 2nd picture is the boot I had to wear after they tried to drain it. Who would have ever thought it would take this long to heal?

Dog training. I have been working with a dog trainer to get Blondie acting better. We have seen a big improvement...but there is still so much work to be done. I think I am holding her back because I am not forceful enough....well here is a picture of her as a SMALL puppy....gonna go out now during the 2nd half of my lunch and work with her.

OOPS....PS - Forgot to mention the clutter....clutter is everywhere...I feel stressed...gonna have a yard sale this Saturday to try to get rid of some of this stuff we don't need. I need help especially with my pictures and scrapbooking materials that have gotten way out of control.

Some thoughts and pictures

The only picture I could find of Earvin - gray shirt

Starting at the top - Kodey, James, Robbie, Randall, Billy, Alayna, Bella, and Jeremy

Robbie

Miller Family Reunion - this is the Freda Louise Miller Unger Harich family

Randall

James

Jack and Jeremy

Cousin get-together (Dani, Katie, Rick, me, Kim, and Steph)

My girl - Maddy.

Since I haven't been on here lately, I thought I would share some thoughts and pictures of the last several months. It's been long and stressful and at times I seem to falter, but I keep thinking to myself that I need to keep looking up.

My default picture is of my family reunion on my dad's side back in March. At the end of June we went to Florida to have a family reunion on my mom's side. I planned both of them so I stressed the first half of the year about those. I promised myself I wouldn't run myself ragged over the summer this year, but once again that proved false. I traveled about 6000 miles in 2 miles. We went to VA for my job, a week later we went to FL, a week after returning we went to VA and Eastern NC to visit family, and a few weeks later made the trip again. I had all of my nephews and niece down except for Earvin (he promises to come next summer). I love that time with them. Although I seem to always be so stressed out while they are here. I can't afford big dollar gifts for them, so I hope when they think back to their childhood, they think of the time with me and not the gifts from others. My sister is due to have another boy at the end of November/beginning of December. That will make 8 between the 3 of us. All boys, except for Maddy....she isn't mine...but she looks more like me than her own momma...so I guess I can take that. I really honestly always wanted a girl, but I believe that God knows what He had planned for us and He has given us all we can handle.

The last couple of months has left us struggling with our finances. We are OK...but have so much debt it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are taking a great class - Financial Peace University and it has some wonderful ideas of how to turn our life around. I hope it works for us. JC (my husband) has put his car up for sale to help alleviate some of our debt. It will at least get us started. I have gone through our house and pulled out a bunch of stuff to sell at a yard sale that I am going to have this weekend. Anything made from that will go towards our Emergency Fund that we are trying to build. Enough with the depressing stuff.

My last thought for the day is that I go to the most awesome church ever. The people are so loving, caring, and thoughtful. I want to fill my life up with everything they have to offer. The older boys go to Collision on Sundays and Jeremy has joined the children's choir. They all three also go to Awana on Wednesday nights while we are in our Financial Peace class. On Saturday I went to a Laughter and Latte gathering with other women in the church and had a really good time. I want to be more involved with these ladies and hope to make it to the women's retreat in May. We missed the Baptism this weekend, but we hope to all get baptised as a family at the next one......JC has some questions to ask first and once he deals with some of his fears, we hope to move forward to publicly display our love for Jesus. I can't wait for that day!

Here are some pictures of the past couple of months. I have so many, but I will have to narrow it down. :-) Well the pictures are on the top...not very good at posting pictures obviously...anybody have any suggestions. Bye for now....I am getting ready to leave to go to the foot doctor....long story and would need a whole other post.

I'm back on Blogger

Back in June I said I would be be posting more but here it is almost October and I haven't posted in awhile. I have been watching a family blog about their adventure of adopting a young girl from China. I have never met this family but feel as if I know them so much, and of course I do believe we are sisters and brothers in Christ. They are a great family. Recently I have been following several other families, all who are now or have adopted from China in the past. Their stories have really touched me and sometimes I sit here and just cry, from their joy and their pain and their ability to make me laugh and cry and praise God with them. I also noticed that when I was wanting to have my friends/family pray with me for this little girl Susannah, I wrote about it on my Myspace page, but was reluctant to put their web page link on Myspace because I don't think the people who are my friends on there would truly understand. I started thinking how very sad it was and decided I wanted to get back to blogging here. I have used Blogger/Blogspot since 2005, but I feel a bond with these families that I don't feel with my friends and families that I honestly know. So here I am. I don't have any readers or friends....but if anybody is reading this and you see that I have been reading your pages...I just want you to know how very blessed you make me feel and I pray that God continues to bless you all!

Bobbie

New Lifestyle - NEWEST Update!

I went for my 6th weigh-in today and lost another 2.4 pounds. A total of 14.8 pounds since i started Weight Watchers in April. And a total of 26.8 pounds since November....which means I have met my first 25-pound goal and got myself some new socks today! I am very excited and feel very good about my progress so far. I am aiming to reach my 50 pound mark by the end of July, and hope to be down another 12.8 pounds by the 4th of July.

I can do this. I know God is helping me get through this. He is with me and I praise Him every day!

45 Minutes on the Treadmill

I don't have much of an update. My weight is about the same today, but I finally FORCED myself to go to the gym last night with JC and we both walked on the Treadmill for 45 minutes (48 if you count the cool down period). The fact that I even went is a miracle in my mind since I had gotten a migraine mid-afternoon. After we were done and ate dinner, we cleaned the pool. By that time it was almost bed time. The days seem to keep passing faster and faster.



Until next time...........

New Lifestyle - UPDATE! :-)

Well - I have been "trying" to lose weight since November. I started Weight Watchers 3 weeks ago and up until that point, I had lost about 15 pounds give or take a few depending on which day I weighed. Saturday was my 4th weigh-in (so 3 weeks I have been at this) and I have lost a total of 10.6 pounds. When added to what I had all ready lost, I am now down about 23 pounds. Which means 2 more pounds to my first 25-pound milestone. I was VERY excited to see those numbers. I think my doctor will be when I go back to him as well. Eating healthier is much more expensive, but I think it is definitely worth it to save my life.

Yesterday we walked about 20-25 minutes around our neighborhood with the dog. Then before I went to bed, I rode my stationary bike for 15 minutes and rode 8 miles and burned about 380 calories. I did a few sit-ups and stretched a little too. I feel good. Most of the house is clean. Everything that is except the kitchen and my office, but I am doing a little at a time. And the 15-minute plan I have implemented with the boys is doing great. The house has actually stayed clean for 2 days, which has to be a record. Hopefully I can get the kitchen done this week and my office COMPLETELY done by next weekend. It's a goal...I won't get upset if it doesn't pan out...I have to start writing both of my papers that are due in 3 weeks, plus do all of my normal WORK and SCHOOL WORK plus try to get in a class or two for my job. My TO DO list seems to continue to grow, but I am not letting it win over me. One or two things are getting done each day, so that is good.

We are going to have a yard sale next Saturday to try and raise a few dollars for spending money for the boys when we go to Florida. Originally I wanted to donate all of these clothes to the orphanage, but she said they didn't need anymore, so I am going to try to sell them and whatever is left, I am going to box them up and take them to goodwill. Hopefully I can get the garage cleaned out some. I am in a lets throw everything out type of mood. Really....we won't be able to take it with us when we go to meet the Good Lord, so why keep it. I like FlyLady's advice on this one...if you don't like it, if it don't fit, or if it doesn't make you happy - throw it out. At this point, I would be happy to just keep my kids, my husband, my pets, my clothes, and my scrapbooking supplies. I would love to get rid of all of the dolphins in my room, but JC won't hear of it...well at least the room is clean now, and doesn't feel so overwhelming.

The boys went on a 10- mile hike this weekend with JC and the scout troop. They did so good and both actually completed the walk. I couldn't be more proud of them!! OK - so back to work I go. I will try to post my workout information and my weight loss (or gain) more frequently.

Weight Watchers Update, Security, and my boys are home!

Well - I went back for my weigh in on Saturday...and I had lost 5.4 pounds. What a great way to start off this journey I am taking. I am very excited for the choices I am making. Jeremy wanted to go to Friendly's on Friday night (he had a free meal coupon for his birthday and the other boys had left to go to Ft. Bragg). I pulled the Nutrional Information off the Internet and was shocked at how fattening the foods are there. Definitely not a Weight Watchers place to go. I planned my points during the day so that I had 22 points left when we went. I planned my meal from the menu and NI and decided I would get a side salad with no dressing and a cup of broccoli cheddar soup. That would leave me plenty of points to get a dessert...not the one I usually get, but it was almost as good. When I got there, there was no broccoli cheddar soup, so instead of even looking at the menu...that would have been worthless since I all ready knew how many points all of the rest of the junk was....I took just the salad and the icecream, stayed within my points value AND was pleasantly surpsied at how fulfilled I felt when we were done. I am very proud of myself and look forward to meeting my short and long term goals. So I have something to look forward to, I am listing my goals here...if you are reading this, please do get overwhelmed at the HIGH amount that I need to lose. I tend to get overwhelmed when I think long-term, but the short term goals keep my mind set:

25 pounds (since I started trying to lose weight back in November, I am down 18 pounds) - buying new "girlie" socks
50 pounds - buying new "girlie" underwear
75 pounds - buying new "girlie" bras
100 pounds - donating my hair to locks of love (I have always wanted to do this)
125 pounds - buying a whole new wardrobe
150 pounds - JC and I (and probably the boys) are going on a cruise.

I believe these goals are attainable and I am going to do my best to ensure my success this time. I need to be healthy for my kids. I want to be around to watch them grow into young men. I need to do this for myself. I hope you will come along for my journey. I believe my faith in God is going to make this happen for me this time. I feel like having him on my side is the greatest blessing I could ever receive.

OK - on to more scary stuff...I got a bulletin post on Myspace last week that kind of made me nervous. It was a letter from a predator that showed how much information they could obtain from a simple Myspace page. I have changed all of my settings for this blog and for Myspace. I don't want to put my family, especially my children, at risk, so I am trying to give myself a little protection from eyes that shouldn't be focused on my page. I almost thought of deleting this entirely, but I love posting my thoughts and feelings here. It is helping me get rid of some of the emotional baggage that I tend to let build up inside of me. So....hopefully this is more secure and I can continue to post with no ill feelings.

Finally....MY BOYS ARE HOME. They got back around 1pm yesterday afternoon from Ft. Bragg. It was so good to see them. They did so well and I am very proud of them. They are growing up fast and I hope I have done enough to make them grow into men that Jesus can be proud of. I praise God for their health and happiness and returning them safely to me.

OOPs....one more thing...I had a chance to go with our church to the local orphanage to help paint a cottage of a group of boys. What a fulfilling experience. I am going to try to gather up stuff that doesn't fit anymore and take it there to donate. I am also going to volunteer my time, I feel it in my heart...this is something I need to do for them and for me! I am also going to fill out some paperwork so Jeremy can go back and play with Dylan...a boy his age that has been in this home for almost a year. OOOOOHHHH...what a heartbreaking experience!

Love and Blessings to everyone this week.

Bobbie

Weight Watchers and Billy Graham...

Well....Saturday morning, I finally took the plunge and have decided to start going to Weight Watchers again. I am very excited and have set small goals for myself which I believe I will be able to accomplish.

Saturday afternoon, JC and the boys and I went to Charlotte to see the Billy Graham Library. What a wonderful place! So peaceful....and serene! Here are a few pictures:

The boys listening to Betsy the Cow

My family in front of the library

Copied BLOG from Myspace Page

Well I wrote this blog on Myspace earlier mainly because there are many of my Myspace friends who don't believe in God. You find this out when you read their survey answers. Last week at church our Pastor talked about us proclaiming our love for God to tell people what He is doing in my life. He is doing great things in my life and maybe one day soon He will finally enable me to talk in front of a crowd, but for now this is a start. I want to start proclaiming my love for Him in BLOG form. Sure maybe some people will read it and some won't...but even if it helps just one person come to know Him....that is the point...RIGHT? So here it is, I have copied it on the off chance that anybody actually is reading my Blogger Blog.

I got this great book from the library last night written by Billy Graham and absolutely love this paragraph so I thought I would share it with everybody. I have been let down so many times in my life that hearing this really put things into perspective for me.

"Human friends my fail us, but God never will. He wants to be our friend, and for us to be His friends as well. Once you understand this, your life will never be the same." - Billy Graham

And one more....I like this too because I think this is what I have experience throughout my life. I have cut some of the sentences out, to say what stood out for me:

"Why are we so restless? Why are we constantly searching for lasting peace and contentment, andyet never fully satisfied? The Bible says this happens to us for a very good reason: We are incomplete without God. If we leave Him out of our lives, we have an empty place in our souls, a yearning deep inside us that God can satisfy. No matter how hard we try, if we ignore God that hollow place stays with us, and our search for lasting peace and happiness will be futile." - Billy Graham

That sums it up for me. I grew during my childhood in faith and although I never lost my faith for Jesus Christ, I didn't grow with it anymore after 5th grade. I let a seperation come between me and my faith and have felt lost since then. I have tried occasionally to bring it back into my life and into the lives of my children and never could seem to do it. Finally, finally....we have seen what truly happens when we allow Him into our world. The best word to describe it is PEACE.
I know there are alot of you that may read this that are sceptical and don't know God and that is why I am writing this. I want to proclaim my love for Him, I want to tell the world that I know him and what He has done for me, and I want other people to come to know Him like I have. I know if you are not sure about Him, a few words from me may not affect your life, so I only want to say this and then I will leave it alone:

I have no question that Jesus died for my sins and that God created me. I know that I have been blessed in ways that many can't see or understand. I have this belief that is hard for some people to fathom, but to those people I want you to think about this, "I would rather live my life believing there is a God and find out after I die that there isn't, then to live my life believing there is not a God and find out that there is." God promises many great things for those that believe in Him. Eternal life is the biggest blessing that I have received. Knowing that I won't be going to hell is just as big.

I love you all - God Bless You!

Bobbie

Money.....

Well, it was definitely PMS that had me acting like a fool the other day. I figured it was. I am USUALLY pretty calm and collected, until that week before my friend comes (why do people say that anyway....never once have I felt like it was a friend - especially now with all the problems I have with it). I become a different person when it comes. This time wasn't so bad, just lasted one day and I was more sad and teary. USUALLY, I am mean for several days. I won't lie...I know it is an issue that I am trying to work out, and I can only say I believe it is the love of God that has gotten me from several days of MEANNESS to one day of SADNESS. What progress! Amazing Grace......you know it was bad when your son says (upon finding out that you are starting) "Oh no, mean mom" or something like that....LOL. Well since I am on this subject...let me just tell you that my 4 year old thinks tampons are called "TOPONS". I guess it is a cross between the tampon and a coupon....LOLOL

So anyway, on to the money issue. I dislike money. I dislike living from one paycheck to another. I dislike worrying about where the grocery money will come from and I dislike people who try to hold me back. I wanted to get a personal loan from the bank that I have been with for 2 years so I can pay off these high interest rate credit cards and throw them out....but my credit score wasn't high enough. The woman turned "witchy" when I questioned her about not telling me how HIGH the scores had to be BEFORE she ran my credit. Worse she acted like I had told a fib, when in fact I GUESSTIMATED only 4 points LESS than my actual credit score. The bank is not willing to take a risk even though my completely paid off van would have been used as collateral. We areworking hard to try to get these cards paid off so that in 2 years when I have to start paying my student loans back, I will be able to afford them.

Here are a few pictures from the Wine Family reunion that I hosted back at the end of March!

My dad and our family (a rare moment that we are all together)

The cousins - Robbie, Chris, Earvin, Madison, Randall, James, Becca, and Sarah

The horse that bit me on my finger (that still hurts mind you)

Roller Coaster Ride...

...that's what I feel I am on most of the time. My life seems to have so many ups and downs. I try to believe that the ups are more than the downs, but today I am feeling down. I am 32 and blessed with a good marriage, 3 great kids, and an awesome job, so I should be counting my blessings now, not allowing some little person at a bank make feel infurior. Sure, I haven't always made the best decisions where money comes into play and for sure we are a little over-indulged, but sometimes people make you feel so small. I thought I had a great plan to get us over this little hump that we seem to be stuck on, but I guess the bank had a different plan. I am waiting on the final word, but it doesn't look so good right now. I am going to try to stop thinking about it.

Anyway, another downer or upper I guess, depending on how you look at it, is how old all of my boys are getting. On Monday, I signed Jeremy up for Kindergarten. KINDERGARTEN!!! I can't believe my baby is almost 5 and will be in school next fall. I want to be happy for the freedom to do my work with no interruptions, but my heart hurts for I know all too soon, he won't be a baby anymore. To make matters worse, last night, I went to a 6th grade orientation at the MIDDLE SCHOOL for James and Randall. MIDDLE SCHOOL - it's unbelievable. It seems like just yesterday, JC and I cried as they were leaving for their first day of Kindergarten. Where does the time go? I want to put the brakes on and make them all small again.

Hopefully, my downward spirals will start to head back up. I will blame this on PMS and pray that I can stop thinking about them getting older...I wasn't really thinking about me getting older, but I just realized that I said I was 32....good grief...I haven't even turned 32 yet and I am all ready saying it....before long, I will be 50, 60, 70. I wonder if my parents felt this way when I was getting older....which makes me even more sad, as I wonder if they truly ever cared.

Well enough of these tears. Got to finish my work day and make something good happen today. Life is so good, so beautiful, and so God-made....to feel sad about anything is so unfair to him. So for Jesus, for God....I will smile and thank Him for my many blessings!

Bobbie

Random Thoughts

Jeremy has played two games this week and he seems to like it well enough. The boys attended their first Court of Honor for Boy Scouts and got their very first merit badge for Disability Awareness. They seem very excited and go tomorrow to an Advancement Mania to work on their Tenderfoot Rank. Then next week they will work on a Service Project and the first week of May a trip to Ft. Bragg. On the 17th of May they want to participate in a 10-mile hike. I am so glad they like to get involved in this stuff and I am so proud of all of my boys.

My weight loss isn't going so well. I know I need to stop eating sweets, but I do it anyway. It's my biggest downfall. I wish there was something I could do to tell my brain that I don't need it. It is very frustrating. I need to get healthy. I don't want to be skinny, just healthy!

I thought I had alot of thoughts this morning, but I guess not....lol. I will write more next time!

It's official - my boys are growing up!

I went and picked James and Randall up from Camp Barnhardt this morning. They camped from Friday night until this morning with their Boy Scout troop. I am amazed at how well they did without me. I guess they are growing up, and it is me who is trying to keep them little. I was petrified on Friday night because of the thunder storms and tornado warnings in the area. After a few phone calls, I was reassured that they were being well taken care of. Didn't help me not to worry, but I did feel better and was able to sleep. I know they had have been miserable, it rained all night Friday and all day Saturday, but they came back in pretty good moods and the leaders said they did a great job. I couldn't be more proud of them!

Jeremy's game and Bat-a-Thon got cancelled yesterday because of the rain, but he did have his pictures taken. JC, Jeremy, and I walked around Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Spring Car Show. Are we crazy? I would say YES, since it was pouring, but they had such a great time, so I am glad we went. Jeremy cried harder than I did on Friday night when his 'bro-bros' left on Friday night, so we wanted to do something special with him. His first 3 games have been cancelled. Hopefully they will play on Tuesday.

Update on us

Well, I tend to spend more time updating Myspace as many of my friends are there and it is easy to share pictures with friends. I like to come back here from time to time to revisit where we have been and where we are going. So here I am with another update from Concord, NC!

I still can't believe that we live here. Sometimes it feels as if it is all a dream. I was just telling JC the other day that sometimes I forget I am here and it isn't until I see a NC license plate that I remember that I am on the roads of NC and not VA. I spent 30 years in VA and to be honest, I sometimes feel that I am still there....it's crazy, I know....I love our house. I love going out in the backyard, it is the place I feel most at peace. Sometimes I think it is my own personal peace of Heaven. I am strong enough to admit that without the help of God I wouldn't own this. And who really ever owns their property....I believe that I am just borrowing from God until it's my time to join him in Heaven. Just as I know my kids don't belong to me. They are God's children and He has blessed me with the task of raising them. In the past year or so, I feel that I am failing in my duties. I wanted to move down here to spend more time with them. I thought by working from home, I would have more quality time with them, but it doesn't seem to happen. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful to have a job with the ability to work from here, but it is very hard to manage a house and a full time job and 3 kids. I have been struggling and didn't know why. I actually thought about getting medicine to control my emotions (and anger), but I believe I have done something better. I have allowed Jesus back into my life. Don't get me wrong, He has always been here...ALWAYS...but He was knocking and I wouldn't let Him in. I don't know where it will lead me, but I do know I am walking there with more peace in my heart then I had a month ago. I hope to join this church that we found and become a part of the congregation in all aspects and not just as a Sunday member! The one suggestion that my doctor gave me was to limit the sports that I allow the boys to join. They have played Basketball and Baseball every year and do Cub Scouts, this year Jeremy starts Baseball, and the boys chose to not play. As sad as I was to hear that, I allowed them to make that choice, so right now it is just Jeremy's teeball and the boys in Boy Scouts...and guess what, I don't feel so stressed!!

I am trying to work hard on me and my family. We are trying to learn more about God's word and have all ready learned so much in these past 3 weeks and we will be baptised (again for me) in the church. This is a big step for me. Not because of being baptised (I was baptised as a baby in the Lutheran Church), but because I have always let my feelings about myself and how I look, I have always chose to ignore a call to the front because I was worried that people would think I was fat. Well guess what, I know I am fat and now that I have been to the front, it doesn't seem to be as big a deal to me. The only person I need to please is Jesus and He loves everybody for their souls and not what they look like. :-) It sure has taken me awhile to get to this point!

OK, so now that I have shared the best news about our new life as children of God, I will recap a little about what else has gone on in our lives. James and Randall just graduated and crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts in a great ceremony where they earned their Arrow of Light. This is the highest rank in Cub Scouts and I am very proud of thekir hard work. I am praying that they are up for the challenge of being a Boy Scout and I can't believe next Fall brings the fact that I will have children in MIDDLE SCHOOL. Jeremy will be turning 5 in May and will be going to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday. This is kind of big for him because we have never done a Chuck E Cheese for a party and he is very excited. He has been asking for this party since we went last October (him and I) while JC and the boys attended the Martinsville Race. He is finally old enough to play sports and loves it. He is doing Teeball right now and said he wants to do Soccer in the Fall. The boys want to try Football this year but Jeremy is still too young. He will do Soccer this year and wants to do Football next year.

I have been in the process of planning two Family Reunions. One for my dad's family - The Wines and one for my Mom's family - the Millers. Last weekend was the Wine Family Reunion in VA. We had a pretty good turnout, with about 60-65 people in attendance. This was very good, considering it was only 50 degrees. The weather held out great for us and I was very excited. There was a small irritant that I really took to heart, and it makes me wonder why anybody whoe doesn't want to be part of our family, would come and bring her daughter who feels the same way. Up until two days ago, it was eating me up, I shouldn't have wasted my feelings on it though. I should have just given it up to the Lord and pray that one day she learns that there is more in this life then what she can do to further herself. I am content in my life and I know not everybody is, and I need to give them a break. That will be my prayer for myself today, to not expect perfection from other people. To not let other people bring me down in their pursuit of UN-Happiness.

Well - I need to get to work, so I will cut this off now. I am going to try to use this more. I am attaching a few pictures of the last couple of months. Love to all. Bobbie

"Jeremy,Randall, Robbie, James, Jack, Earvin, and Madison at Christmas time"

"JC, James and Randall at the Arrow of Light Ceremony"

"Jeremy - the first time he wrote his name"

"Hemi and Krissie getting loved by me"

"The new puppy - Blondie"

I'm back

Well, it certainly has been awhile again. I am now 31 (wow)!!! Jeremy just turned 4 and the boys will be 10 next month. Time is flying, passing me by so quickly. I still work from home and now that it is the summer, the boys are here with me. It's a small challenge to say the least. I try to let them swim at least an hour per day during my lunch time. Don't get me wrong, I love being with them, but I would like just a little break away from them....that is why I am looking for a part-time job right now. To help me "get away" and to earn a little extra play money.

JC hurt his back in April and it looked like he was going to be forced to have back surgery, but he tried an epidural shot first and so far it is working ok. We are doing pretty good. I swear I love him more every day. :-) Our gym finally opened, so we have started going the last 2 weeks. It is great fun to have someone to work out with, and he is so motivated so it makes me try even harder.

Well - it's off to work I go. I shall return!

It's Been a Long Time

Hello....WOW - it's been a LONG Time. We moved on June 30th to Concord, NC. We have a great house with an in-ground pool, and love love love being down here.

We have been so busy with school, Cub Scouts, Basketball, now Baseball is coming. I feel like we are on the go all of the time. We aren't doing Weight Watchers anymore, and unfortunately, I have gained my weight back. JC and I joined a gym that is being built and should be ready in April. We are hoping this gets us motivated and back on track.

I am on myspace now and post of my blogs there, but I found this tonight and wanted to get it a little more up to date. I will try to come back sooner next time and write more.

Bobbie

Another Update

Hello - it is now the end of April. I have lost a total of 31 pounds! I love the Saturday morning meetings that we go to with the most awesome leader ever - Tammy!

We have had our house on the market now since March. We have a contract on it and if all goes well, we will be moving on June 30th. Closing for our house is scheduled for May 31st, but we will be renting back for one month. We are leaving this Wednesday to go look for a house in North Carolina!

James and Randall will be getting their tonsils out on June 9th, and Jeremy is turning 3 on May 13th. We are having a Monster Jam party here at our house for him. It will be bittersweet since it will be the last "get-together" while here. We have made a lot of good memories in this house, but I am sure we will make even more in our new one!

Lots of Love to everyone!

Update on Weight Watchers

I've been so busy with school and packing up the house, that I haven't updated this in awhile. Just to get everyone up to date....I changed to another Weight Watchers. This one is closer and on Saturdays instead of Thursdays...but Tammy is such a great leader (motivator). JC has joined with me and the whole family goes every Saturday morning. I have now lost 23.6 pounds.

The house is on the market, my next two classes start on Monday, and I just joined the eTools for Weight Watchers. Hopefully I will have more time to come and update this as the time goes!