Being Strong...

You've heard it many times (and maybe, like me, you tell yourself..)- BE STRONG.

I've seen strength in people's faces - making an extra effort, staring down fear of what has happened and what is to come, holding back emotion to "show" acceptance, holding back emotion with the knowledge that God will provide.

Strength can take many forms.. so what does it mean to be strong?

To me it means- accepting the truth... facing a hardship.. having faith that God will get you through it... enduring the long wait for something you have strived for... making it through each day... caring for your spouse and your family AND yourself... giving all you can to make someone else's world a little bit brighter... sharing a talent and inspiring others to find their talent as well...
staying positive- something good will always come along.


Here are some thoughts from a guy named Gary Guwe that I found at: http://garyguwe.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/what-does-it-mean-to-be-strong/
Thanks to Gary and Han Ying for sharing their thoughts on strength...

Being strong does not mean not crying – it means daring to cry and being willing to carry on after that.

Being strong does not mean avoiding the truth – it means accepting it, learning about it, and dealing with it head on.

Being strong means recognizing the things you can’t change, realizing the things you can do, and having the perceptivity, fortitude and wisdom to tell the difference between the two.

Being strong does not mean getting stuck in the moment, but being able to get on with one’s life despite the constraints...

Being strong means juggling sacrifices whilst pushing for progress.

Being strong means having the capability and fortitude to stand steadfastly despite the blows of change.

Being strong means being the pillar of support for yours, when yours breaks down...

What is YOUR defition of strength, and what/when are the instances you saw that “strength” being displayed?

Share them on this blog! Who knows it might be a lamp onto the paths of those still trudging in darkness?

Grow in Strength!
Follow in Fortitude!

Comments»

1. han ying - March 1, 2008

Being strong means…

having the discernment and flexibility to know when to yield, when to sail with the wind & when to sail against it rather than drift about.

having the tenacity to keep going even when our souls are confused of the direction.

not losing hope, no matter how tough the going gets.

& most importantly, not neglecting yourself, your health, your priorities for the sake of you & your love ones.

last but not least, here’s a quote that i find particularly meaningful –
“There’s a trick to being strong, and the trick is that nobody does it alone.” ~ Elizabeth Edwards ~

What does "being strong" mean to you?
Love you all,
Suzy

A Soldier - by Angela Goodwin

There is discipline in a soldier, you can see it when he walks.
There is honor in a soldier, you hear it when he talks.
There is courage in a soldier, you can see it in his eyes.
There is loyalty in a soldier that he will not compromise.
There is something in a soldier that makes him stand apart.
There is strength in a soldier that beats from his heart.
A soldier isn't a title any man can be hired to do,
a soldier is the soul of that man, buried deep inside of you.
A soldier's job isn't finished after an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week,
a soldier is always a soldier, even when he sleeps.
A soldier serves his country first and his life is left behind.
A soldier has to sacrifice what comes first in a civilian's mind.
If you are a civilian--I am saying this to you...
next time you see a soldier, remember what they do.
A soldier is the reason our land is "Home of the Free",
a soldier is the one that is brave protecting you and me.
If you are a soldier--I am saying this to you...
Thank God for EVERY soldier, thank God for what YOU do!

Thank you SPC Damon Winkleman...we love you!

Wisconsin trip

Taking time to see Gwen has been something I've tried to do at least every other year since they moved to Wisconsin. I enjoy a brief get away and know she and Kris also like having family come to visit. This year, I was blessed to spend time with Josh and Carolann also.

Carolann moved into her new home about a month prior to my visit. Hardwood floors were uncovered in the livingroom and work was already planned for outdoors and in. It's a small ranch, but for the two of them it is a nice home with some great outdoor yard space in a quiet neighborhood.

Josh was keeping busy with jobs and also helping Gwen finish her basement. He is staying with Gwen and will transfer across town Carolann's when he works over there. Josh still gives a good hug and was enjoying the good old home cooking found in Gwen's kitchen. He may not be quite so thin the next time I hug him!

As she finishes the basement, Gwen is adding a 3/4 bath and separating the open area into a family room, laundry, storage and additional spare bedroom. (the bedroom was already separated) Somehow, Gwen finds the "bargins of the day" every time she shops for the basement project. She's just amazing how little $ she will have in the reno. When I left, Josh had the 2x4's up which easily defined the different rooms. Gwen was getting so excited and anxious to get this project over, in preparation for putting the house on the market. Her kitchen looks really nice with the new cabinets that Pete finished for her. I can't believe how nice it looks since the last time I was there....after the fire.

During the weekdays, I went to Gwen's shop and enjoyed watching her work with clients. Sidewalk sales were scheduled for the Saturday of my trip and we had fun selling Hydrangea's from Gwen's backyard bush. People (men and women) were amazed how large the heads on the flowers were. It was some crazy last minute idea I had early that morning. That will be a "do you remember" discussion one day, as we look back and think of this visit.

She won't like it, but I also need to share that Gwen is continuing to battle with her ulcer. Without health care insurance, it's a challenge for her to stay on top of this. We need to pray that she is able to continue to use the clinic for care - and that she does take the time to go when she needs medical attention. Gwen is a wonderful, big hearted person, who cares for herself last. As we all know, this is not always the best approach.

This past week, in my update phone calls to Gwen, she shared constuction progress. The basement is drywalled and they are getting ready to put up the ceiling and paint the walls. They plan to paint about a foot down from where the ceiling will begin, prior to putting up the tiles, so they dont' get paint on the new tiles. Gwen has ordered new kitchen & basement bathroom countertops and the finishing work continues. Flooring selection is next. She is taking pictures along the way and I can't wait to see her updates. I also heard that Josh and his friend Steve have been working on Carolann's exterior stairs, stone wall and interior. I'm so proud of him and am so glad for Carolann.

It's amazing how much has changed since my last visit to Wisconsin. You should visit! I know Carolann enjoyed her company this spring. She and Gwen would both welcome you with open arms, like they did me.

Summer

Now that it's August 7th it finally feels like summer! That is crazy. I am emailing from the back deck while the girls nap, they should be getting up shortly. Aaron and a friend came home last night and are statying for a few days. Tonight is steaks on the grill with corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, a spinach salad and yummy strawberries and watermelon. Maybe I'll make brownies....they'll go good with the french vanilla ice cream I got at the store last night. Bill, the boys and John are going to the golf tournament at Firestone tomorrow. Ahhhhh......the stuff that summer is made of! I wish it lasted all year long.

I'M FEELING GOOOOOOD!!!!!

Just wanted to share a really happy thing for me right now!!! I have been going to Weight Watchers since June 15th (my first weigh in) - since then - I am down 17.6 pounds!!! I am loving life and loving being thinner and the extra energy I have that I was missing! Thank you to Melissa for all your encouragement and Beth for your inspiration! I've been so impressed with your loss and I know that I can keep going, too!

Love you girls!
Jen

Expect the Unexpected

Well, after my ENT appointment on Friday, I got some very unexpected news. I have hearing loss in both ears. I was told I would be a good candidate for hearing aids, but it was still my choice at this point. Wow. Was not expecting that this soon in life. I expected it EVENTUALLY--all my aunts and uncles on my dad's side have hearing aids (except one aunt). Quite a shock for me. I spent a few hours really trying to grasp that information; felt sorry for myself for a little while; then started to put it all in perspective. It's not life-threatening, it won't affect my overall health... so I made peace with it. I will admit that the news was a bit scarey because right now we only have a "snapshot" of this. I will do another hearing test in a year to see if it's the same, or worse. He said it could stay at this level for 20 years, or could get worse by next year--no way to know. So, I had to think, "what if it steadily declines from here on out--how bad can it get?" At 39, you don't really want to start losing any of your functioning!!

On a positive note, it's wonderful to know what amazing and supportive friends and family I have! I certainly have "felt the love" over the last 24 hours and that makes me feel very blessed, indeed!!

Haven't posted in a long time!

Hey girls! No one has been on here in a while - we're all busy!!! Just wanted to post and say hello to my fabulous family!! Also, just to share something fun - I'm losing weight and am SO HAPPY! We are working out almost every day and I'm doing Weight Watchers - down 13.8 already! A lot to go, but YAY! Matt and I are heading to Florida next week to see Matt's sister and to catch a Tampa Bay Rays game! We're really excited! I hope summer is treating you all well! I love you all! Oh - and even though Mom is on the list of posters, she's not even on here. I signed her up at my house and she forgets how to do it already. So - if any of you are over and want to help her, you can, or I will eventually! Haha! Love you all!

Jen

Stuffed Shells Recipe

I sent this out on an email, but it's worth posting, so you can look back on it without having your email. Sometimes Weight Watchers recipes taste "diet" or "low fat". This one tasted awesome. Thought I would share!!!

Stuffed Shells
1 lb cooked pasta shells - jumbo shells
3 c tomato sauce (just plain tomato sauce!)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp table salt
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp oregano
1 c fat free cottage cheese
1 c light ricotta cheese

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Mix together cheeses, salt, garlic powder, oregano and pepper.
Spread a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce on bottom of a 9- x 13-inch baking dish.
When cooked shells are cool enough to handle, fill each shell with cheese mixture and place in baking dish. When all shells are in dish, spoon remaining tomato sauce over shells. Cover pan and bake for 20 minutes. Yields about 4 shells per serving.

We sprinkled parmesan cheese on top. The spices in the cheese filling mix great with the tomato sauce - even though it's not "marinara" sauce or spiced. It's awesome! Even my picky Matt loved it :)

4 shells = 4 WW points

Thought for Today

"A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles."

-Mignon McLaughlin (American Journalist)-

Blessed

Today, John and I have been married 18 years. Hard to believe. I have been with this guy for 21 of my 38 years!!! Wow! Having just returned from a weekend trip with the Spencers, I feel so blessed that I also married into a wonderful family. It is amazing how family can turn into such special friends along the way. I adore every Puster family member! (Emily, you are truly a "sister" in my heart! Thanks for a great trip!)

As I look at this photo from the weekend, I find myself torn emotionally. I am sad to think that Anna will never have the opportunity to fish with her Grandpa Stan (and I miss him terribly), but I am also excited that she loves fishing so much and will be a great fishing companion for her dad! I am sure that Grandpa Stan added a little "something extra" before sending her to us. ;-)

So, thanks to all of you for being such an awesome presence in our lives! Not only do I give thanks for the wonderful man I married, but also for his family.

Oh so tempting......

Ah, finally a moment to sit down and enjoy the quiet. It's been a busy day in our house. Maya crawled for the first time!! YEA. Then, a 3rd tooth mysteriously appeared on her upper gum. I have been checking for one on Riley since she's been getting teeth earlier, but must have missed that one on Maya. However, at bedtime after full bottle Maya threw up all over herself and the changing table......another bath, another set of jammies, another bottle and 45 min later she was down. Thank goodness those times are few and far between.

So anyway, as I am unwinding from the day I am sitting here thinking of the turtle pie that is in my freezer. OH, soooooo yummy. I am so tempted to have a piece. Then I think of the NOW 8 lbs I have to lose (where did those extra 2 come from!?!?!?!?)....and then I just think of another temptation. So, I say to Bill "maybe I'll just have a tummy tuck". And he shakes his head and just rolls his eyes and tells me I am great just the way I am. Hmmmmm......maybe if I had an extra $8,ooo-$10,000 or so it would make it easier. Haa haa! Maybe I should just skip the pie and drink a bottle of water instead! ;-)

Cousin Buzzin'

Just thought I'd share a picture of Juni, Maya and Riley from our recent trip to WI. A good time was had by all.

Day by day...

As most of you know, I've been busy helping pack up Anna's school for our big move in August. (Talk about stress!) I came across a little (and old) booklet about attitude. Since it seemed discarded, I snagged it and brought it home. I found many little wise gems inside and thought I'd share this one:

Manage Stress Day by Day

1. Let go of unrealistic expectations of yourself and others. Not everything has to be perfect.

2. Simplify your schedule. Say "no" when you can to events and requests that add extra stress.

3. Learn to be flexible. Accept that you can't control every aspect of life.

4. Get plenty of sleep--it recharges both your body and your mind.

5. Make time for relaxation every day. Go for a stroll, take a bubble bath, work on a hobby, or play games with family or friends. Do something that you enjoy.

6. Learn to unwind in healthy ways--through music, reading, meditation, stretching, or exercise.

Wishing you all a "stress-free" week!

It seemed good...

Ok, so I've been trying to lose weight since the beginning of the year. I am down quite a bit--although it's taken awhile--and I still have 6 lbs. to my goal. (So close and yet so far--I've been a yo-yo for the last 10 years and never have reached that goal yet.) I was feeling pretty good about that today when I stepped on the scale, but then realized that I'm EXACTLY 20 lbs. heavier than my wedding day!!! OUCH! Well, I just chalk it up to a happy marriage, and having a kid! :-) I'll keeping working for the last 6...

HOORAY!

Congrats to Sue!! And if you don't know why...ask her! :-)

Faith

A quote I would like to share:

"Faith makes things possible, not easy." ~Author Unknown

Surgery

My D&C surgery is scheduled for Thursday morning. They are also going to do chromosomal analysis on the gestational tissue to see if they can find something there. If there is a chromosomal problem there, they will test Matt and I as well and we will start looking at the next step. There is also the possibility that this could be just a random chromosomal abnormality - 2 times in a row. I guess you would call that REALLY BAD LUCK. The good news about that would be that it's unlikely to happen a 3rd time, the bad news is that it doesn't leave any room to come up with a solution, since there wouldn't be one.

Hoping to see some other happy posts soon!

Thank you

Girls -

Thank you so much for all your prayers and thoughts you've sent our way. We will looking at a D&C next week. Hopefully testing taking place very soon, too, so we can figure out what's going on from here.

Small step

We got the results of our hormone counts from yesterday, and it was well within the healthy range. So now, tomorrow I do another blood count test. The count WILL go up and then it's just another step. Thanks for your support, girls!

NOT GIVING UP

Hey girls -

So what's the harm in holding out some hope? Some research behind me, talking with some nurse friends, etc. and there really is more hope this time than last. I'm not bleeding, cramping and there was a yolk sac. It is possible that my baby isn't as far along as we thought and could just be hiding in there! I know that there are good chances that this could go wrong, but I'm not willing to give up yet. Not this time. Say lots of prayers please - and hold on to the hope with me a little longer. . .

Not good news

Hey girls

I went for what I thought was a normal amount of spotting. And came out, shocked, frustrated, and devastated. It appears we're in the same boat again as last time. There was a yolk sac, but no baby. Another blighted ovum is what they're expecting it to be. They're not 100% sure. They said that the fetus could be developing late. However, it's not very hopeful at this point. We are looking at the possibility of a specialist next time to see what is going on to make sure this doesn't happen again. Something's happening at implantation, it seems. Please keep us in your prayers. Needless to say, we're totally crushed. There is a shred of hope, but it's just not looking good.

Send some prayers and I'll update later. . .

So this morning I had some spotting. It was brown, not pink or red like last time, but still different. I called the doctor, because little things make me cautious right now. They said it would be fine and to call them if anything changed. I couldn't get it off my mind and I'm going int to check to make sure everything's ok. I know. I'm a crazy, stupid pregnant person, but my peace of mind is worth it! I'm hoping to get an ultrasound, too, since I've had "spotting". I'll update later. However, if you read this Monday before 3 - send prayers my way around 3 o'clock.

Vacation #1 - Done

It's been a quick week....our first vacation week off from work this year.
It wasn't a vacation....

• trip to a quiet resort
• filled with romantic music or dancing
• filled with 100% privacy

But it was a vacation...

• in our new home and we had time to rest after being sick
• filled with time we spent sitting on the deck watching the sunset and making smores around the campfire
• where we spent time with family and grandkids
• that we ate out a few times, by ourselves and with friends and enjoyed each moment
• where we completed projects together and held hands while walking into Home Depot
• filled with together time and that's what count in my book!

I'm very thankful for this time and all it's blessings. Any "together" time we spend with our spouses will give us the opportunity to build our relationships stronger. We need to pray for each other's marriages and relationships. We are all truely blessed and I'm sure we're all anxiously awaiting those next vacations.

The good and bad of summer...

I LOVE these kids at school! As we are winding down the year, I realize just how much I'm going to miss these little guys. (The "bad" of summer.) Robert (4 yrs. old) and Sophie (5 yrs. old) just came to the office to bring me "Robert's Map." He has punched out the continents (from construction paper) and glued them onto a flat globe. They brought it to me to laminate. I told Robert (who was VERY proud) that is would take awhile for the laminator to get hot enough. He looked me, very concerned, and said, "but then I will go home." I assured him it would only take about 20 minutes and I'd be sure to get it back to him before noon. He also told me that his name was upside down on the back. I jokingly flipped over the map and said, "but the world would be upside down!" He just grinned and had this devilish sparkle in his eye. I said, "how about we just let your name be upside down?" He thought that would be best. I absolutely love being part of their learning world and seeing their pride in accomplishing these amazing tasks!! Where's a B.A. degree when you need it???

HI there

Hey ladies, just saying a quick HI as Bill feeds the girls their lunch. The weather has been so great, we've been working outside a lot and I am still trying to play catch-up from our trip so haven't had much time online. I am looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow for a nice visit! Looks like the weather should cooperate again!

Anway.......who watches Grey's Anatomy?!?!!>!> WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will have to talk about that tomorrow as well! Man, what an ending!

See everyone tommorow!

Melissa ------

Strangely enough we did go swimming this past weekend.
I did debate weather or not to "suit up" - and I took the plunge and got
in with the girls, as it was the first time this year that Lauren had been in the pool she was very nervous.
I am glad I did -not of course to the whole of Massillon to see me- but to enjoy the time with the girls. Once I got in the water I felt much better. But even if I was as toned, minus the stretch marks and several more pounds i still would have been nervous.

But I say do it !!!!
I did, not for myself for my girls and we had a blast!!!!! and that is what counts!

Dr. Appointment

Just a quick update -

Went to the doc this morning and everything went well. The pregnancy test we took there showed positive very quickly and very strong - she said that's a really good sign of high hormone levels. . .that and my nausea. . .yay me! She said all signs point to higher hormone levels than last time which is great news. We have not scheduled an ultrasound yet. We are going to wait and see how we feel as we get closer to 9 weeks, which is where we were last time. If we really are feeling anxious, she said there's no problem scheduling it as long as we're ok with paying. At 11 weeks, we hear the heartbeat, so if we can make it to that - I think we've done well! We're just taking it one GOOD step at a time! Wanted to update you all!

And we're off...

Well gang, at about 11 pm tonight Bill, the girls and I are heading out for Charleston, SC. Bill's brother is getting remarried on Saturday evening. I hope all goes well. He went through a nasty divorce about 4 years ago. This new woman is the only serious woman he's dated since. They are both strong-headed and opinionated. Bill's family is worried that he's getting married again just so he's not alone. He just says "we are compatible". I hope he finds happiness. She's a nice girl, but has already had some "issues" with the family. They are getting married on a boat, I hope nobody ends up getting thrown overboard. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband (frustrating as he is sometimes).
I may or may not have time to blog while away, probably during the girls naps or something. If not, see you on the other side!!

Do I Have To?

Ok, here's a scary thought to me. Anna's been taking swimming lessons (started last week) and wants me to take her swimming tomorrow after school. This means that I must finally face the swimsuits in my closet...HELP! I haven't even looked at them, much less try them on. And she wants me to wear one in public??!! As I get older, nature is NOT kind to me! This is cruel and unusual punishment for moms. Is anyone else dreading the approaching season as much as me?

Jen-I think you should call and ask them if they do that for
anyone who has lost in the past -have you called to check ?
Maybe they would move up your first ultra sound and then give
you anther later if you want to find out the sex of the baby?
They gave me two but all insurances are different so not sure-

Need Your Thoughts

Ok girls. So Em and Melissa asked me about my preg. update and first appointment, etc. My first appointment is Monday. I'll be almost 6 weeks by then. Em and Melissa both asked if I would be getting an ultrasound at 8 weeks, especially for my peace of mind. I know it's not covered by my insurance and the cost would be $200 out of pocket. Sue - did you have an ultrasound at 8 weeks? Do you ladies think I should ask for one and just pay for it? I have to admit, I would love to have one and see the baby and ease my worries, but am not sure what to do.

Update on the teacher situation. He's leaving the school. There were other circumstances as well, but I'm still saddened that he's going. This was going to be Anna's first grade teacher and she loved him! He's so good with the kids and it makes me sad to think that he doesn't believe he did a good enough job. Anna has been going to "first grade" on Friday mornings and I just don't know how I'll tell her that there will be someone new. I just keep reminding myself that I'm happy with our decision to keep her there--I still believe highly in their method of teaching! I know she'll be fine. So, for all you educators--keep up the good work!!! You DO make a difference to lots of kids!

Wet Oatmeal Kisses

Hey Melissa, is this the "Wet Oatmeal Kisses" poem you were talking about? VERY NICE, and I have a feeling.....oh so true!

http://www.inspirationalarchive.com/texts/topics/children/wetoatmealkisses.shtml

Happy Monday to all
Hope everyone is doing well--
We had a great weekend, I went shopping for furniture for Jeff's
new house, it is wonderful that he's officially home.
We are thankful that he will now be able to
enjoy some small things like coming over a few times a week and spending time with the girls
and also his mom. We visited his new house yesterday with the girls and they loved it!!
He will be eventually getting a dog and maybe even a trampoline( the girls are never going to want to leave his house!!!)-
But today's blog is about being thankful for what I have.
The time we spend with our friends and family, the memories we make, the fun we have in life.
I am glad that we have a place to be able to share our joys and good days with each other, and also place to be able to vent and get all that is bothering us out it helps me see that while life could always be better it also be far worse----Love to all have a good day!!!!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!

It's on!!! WE'RE PREGNANT AGAIN!!!! This time, it's going to be great and we're going to have a beautiful, healthy baby come January 2010. We appreciate AS MANY PRAYERS AS YOU CAN MUSTER!! :) Love you!

Dieting Tip

I certainly should be the last person giving dieting tips! Geez, I've struggled alot with this. However, I have one great tip! Don't listen to your kids!!! My little "angel" said to me this week (in the middle of my weight-loss campaign I have going) "Hey, mom, you know what would be REALLY good? If we got brownies with ice cream..." See what I mean? Don't listen to the kids! Just for the record, we did NOT get the brownies and ice cream! :-)

So, have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE Anna's school? They have the coolest things for the kids to do--I want to go to school all over again! Thought I'd post a fun picture from Tuesday--it was Cinco de Mayo, you know! One of the "stations" in the classroom was a "Make-Your-Own-Taco" stand, complete with the outfit!!! Anna has never eaten a taco in her life, but maybe now I can convince her to make a run for the border with me!

Best gifts

Well, a day after the big 32. My b-day was nice. I am constantly reminded of the gifts we get everyday, not just the one's that come around as a celebration of a special occassion. An old friend that now lives in Indiana was in town for a few days so she came yesterday and visited with the girls and I for about 5 hrs. What fun! Bill took me out to dinner, but 2 potential babysitters fell through, so the girls went with us. They were complete angels in the restaurant and it was great to have them with me. The absolute BEST PART of my day was after I got the girls up in the morning and dressed Bill put them in our room and told me to wait a few mintues before I came in. When I walked it, both of the girls were holding a card for me.....complete with drool and slobber because they had been chewing on them. HOW PERFECT.

So, as I am 32 plus 1 day, I blog this......we may be a year older, a few lbs off where we want to be, a few $$$ in debt, a couple hours behind schedule, but at least we have each other and a lot of people that love us and give us priceless gifts every day!

Wow I actually did it this is my first official blog!
Does anyone know where the word came from? If you do I would be interested to know-
I had a crazy day today and can not wait to get home! Hope all are doing well.
FYI the girls will be at moms this weekend as I am going to help our friend Jeff
buy furniture for his new house.
I love to spend someone else's money HA HA--

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to Emily!!! Hope your day is great!

I wish you enough

I recently took 2 classes through Walsh University and the first one was really amazing. Through many studies, stories, theories, etc., I learned a whole new way of thinking about life - and it's really not that new. The class was called Life Power - and it focused on reducing stress, the power of the positive mind, etc. I learned calming breaths to help me stop negative thoughts or calm my mind down in a bad/stressful situation. One of the stories we read was the one I'm linking you to. You may have heard it before, but it's worth another read.

I wish you ENOUGH, girls!
http://www.bobperks.com/wish.htm

Jen

Surprises

So, a bit of unfortunate news at school/work today. Something I was not expecting! I've had time to stew about it, think about it, analyze it...all those things you do when you're taken by surprise. This isn't something that's directly affecting me, but it will affect Anna next school year. In the grand scheme of things, it's not earth-shattering, but leads me back to an all too frequent question. (You educators will LOVE this!) Why is it that more and more parents today are refusing to take RESPONSIBILITY for their own kids' actions (or lack of actions!) It seems that their answer is, "it must be the teacher's fault"--when did this happen? Do you guys remember when you wouldn't have DREAMED of getting in trouble at school because it was 10 times worse when you got home?? Apparently, this has fallen by the wayside. We had the unfortunate event of a few parents harshly criticizing a teacher and completely upsetting this person. A WONDERFUL, CARING teacher, by the way, in their first year at the school. I'm just livid that these so-called "professionals" are behaving like 10 year olds. Why don't we look to our kids to explain why they didn't do well on their test scores and teach them responsibility for actions; or better yet, look to ourselves as parents and ask "are we doing all that we can and helping our children the best we can?" Hopefully, all is not totally lost and this teacher will reconsider staying at the school. I hope!! Thanks for listening--it was a trying day!

Strong Friends

HI all, here is a link to an online article I read a week or so ago....about the power of friends in our lives, especially strong female friendships. As I read the article I found myself thinking of the friends I have that fit each of these categories. Hopefully you think of the friends that fit each category too. And, if you don't have a strong female friend that fits a category, I encourage you to meet someone and welcome her into your inner circle of friends. http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/simple-moments-of-joy/articleglamour.aspx?cp-documentid=18764660

I think we all know how important friends are, but we just don't realize how much we come to depend on them for so many things. There are the ones we are silly with, serious with, creative with......or the ones we just love to sit around and talk trash with. Sometimes, the friend covers more than one category.

As we each struggle to deal with our daily lives (kids up at 2 am, trying for babies, struggling with finances, wanting to lose weight, find a new job, preparing to move etc).....I hope we all remember that our friends are there to support us and lift us up.....but also to sometimes provide an escape and forget about those things for awhile.

Have a great day!
love,
Em

Recipe

OK - so this has been a HUGE fav for Matt and I - and it's SO EASY! There are easy ways to vary it, so I'll put those in ( )s. You can totally make this healthy by using low fat soup, cheese and limit the tortillas or chips!
Enjoy!!
CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
1 lb, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips (we use Tyson Fajita Chicken Strips - 3 packages)
2 cans cream of chicken soup - 103/4 oz cans
1 soup can water
1 cup salsa
1 15 oz can of black beans
2 cups frozen corn
1 tsp. cumin
4 6" corn tortillas, cut into strips (or - don't use these and serve with tortilla chips!)
1 cup cheddar cheese (or the fun taco or mexican cheese!)
3/4 cup fresh cilantro

Mix in chicken, soup, water, salsa, beans, corn and cumin. Cook in slow cooker (crockpot) on low for 4.5-5 hours (or on high from 2-2.5 hours on high) - or until chicken is cooked through (if you use Tyson strips - it shouldn't take as long). Then add tortillas, cheese and cilantro. Cook for 15 more minutes on low. Serve and enjoy!

Not sure how many servings it makes. We devour it.

remote...

I'm so NOT awake yet. Maybe not a good time to try blogging?
Madeline was up again last night at 2am and was up at 6am.
She's talking to the tv remote on the floor and probably leaving some teeth marks on it.
We're leaving this morning for another trip to Mount Vernon... this time for dr. appts.
Thank goodness Gram has agreed to watch Maddie while I get my eyes checked and Emily and I get our teeth cleaned.

OK... Madeline now has the tv on...

Children are a blessing.
Jenny, I know you and Matt will be blessed soon.

Things are good with all of us here...
We're still have high hopes of getting a house this summer.
Tony really likes teaching in Mount Vernon and I'm hoping for an interview soon for an elementary job in Mount Vernon, too.

Well, the morning MUST start.
Happy Cinco de Mayo to all ... and to all... a good day!

If you're here, CONGRATS!

If you're here, you figured it out!! WOOHOO! Welcome to the Puster Women Blog!!!

Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
–Matt. 18:20

Maybe it's cliche and funny since I'm talking about a blog, but we are gathering together, and God is with us.

So, some prayers would be good. I was hoping to find out this weekend that we were pregnant again, but I think I'm starting my period. One more month certainly isn't going to kill us, but I was really hoping for it to take off the first try. I'm not certain that I'm not pregnant, but not feeling symptoms and thought I saw traces of spotting. . .so, probably off to try again next month. Please keep us in your prayers. I depend on prayers - and I never knew how much I did until the miscarriage. The prayers from everyone was what got us through, so now we need prayers to get us. . .well. . .KNOCKED UP! ;)

Thanks, girls! And WELCOME!
Love you!