13 things I can't eat today

graphic courtesy of Denise @ mental ex...

13 things I can't eat today
(that I normally would want to if I wasn't on a diet!)
  1. cinnamon/brown sugar pop-tart and a diet coke (haven't had one since 1995-pop tart I mean)
  2. chocolate-chip bagel with strawberry cream cheese and a diet coke
  3. bagel with egg-salad on it (and the diet coke) (do we have a pattern here?)
  4. Ghirardelli 60% cocoa bittersweet chocalate cooking chips-straight out of the bag
  5. pizza kitchen 5 cheese pizza
  6. Rubio's shrimp tacos
  7. panini sandwich from corner bakery
  8. tortilla chips with melted cheddar cheese on top-with a diet coke (a favorite lunch)
  9. cheese and garlic tortillini with a salad and ranch dressing on both
  10. gosh I'm getting really hungry now, maybe this was a bad idea....
  11. famous star with criss-cut fries from Carl's Jr.
  12. Chicken curry with garlic naan bread from favorite Indian restaurant (you can tell I like to go out alot, can't you? what do you do for date night when you can't eat?????)
  13. of course- Godiva chocolate cheesecake from Cheesecake factory -with a diet coke

Thursday Thirteen is a meme designed to get to know other bloggers. Join in the fun here, or read other Thursday thirteen lists, visit the giant Thursday thirteen hub and see the huge list here.

You Know your're a mother when...

This meme is hosted by Everyday mommy...

10. you mumble to yourself alot, reminiscent of Bill Cosby's description of his wife...

9. things found in your purse include; binky, wipes, goldfish crackers, hair scrunchies, cars

8. you get 4 magazines related to parenting or homeschooling but let the others you used to
subscribe to lapse.

7. your kids' nap/quiet time is a priceless commodity- you defend it with your life

6. you think Steve had way more talent but that Joe is cuter-and you know who I am
talking about and what kid's show...

5. you are the only woman in your son's life, and you cherish his "you're so beautiful,
mommy" like you would treasure pearls

4. you look forward to staying in the hospital for your c-sections, you need the sleep

3. you have been p*o*o*d -on, p* e*e*d-on, barfed on, sneezed on and it doesn't faze you
anymore. You have ever uttered the phrase "give mommy the p*o*o-P*o*o".

2. you drive the big astro mini van with lots of room for strollers, booster seats, kids and their
"stuff"- Not the cute rag-top jeep with the cow-spotted seat covers you had planned.

1. You realized how vulnerable your heart was, living outside of your body, the moment a
nurse walked away with your newborn

I remember 9/11-I thought I had decided not to make a post for September 11th. There are so many sad, moving, inspiring posts out there already. Your posts have inspired me to make a scrapbook page for my children.
Where were you 9-11? will be the poignant question of our time. I do have one large moment of 9/11 I would like to share- A moment forever etched in my memory ;
A few days after- our local Christian radio station began to play a poem read to the music of Manheim Steamroller's "Silent night". The first time we heard it, Sky and I were in our kitchen doing the normal, family, every-day thing of making dinner. Our two girls were in booster seat/ highchair at the table. The poem began, and I will forever remember standing in that kitchen, holding onto Sky as we cried together.
This is the poem, I could only find it on one site when I did a search. I am sorry I do not know who authored it, and the radio station stopped playing it eventually- maybe they didn't have permission to use the music. I found the poem here, and I am grateful someone took the time to place it.
MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL
(To the sound of “Silent Night” by Manheim Steamroller.)
You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001. Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say "Good-Bye." I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK...I am ready to go."
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said and "Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now."
I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; "Come to Me... this way... take my hand." Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go."
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God
good night, sleep in peace,
Jenny


Everyday things
Today I am thankful for this everyday thing: the freedom of Choice in educating my children. Sometimes we Americans take our freedoms a little casually. In some places, such as Germany, parents are denied this choice. Some have even gone to jail trying to claim this parental right. Read more about that here, here on parent's test case with the Eu, article here at This old Schoolhouse mag. I am thankful I have the freedom to choose the form of education that would best serve the needs of my children and family. I am thankful my neighbor next door and my friend down the street have the freedom to choose the same or even a different form of education. I have many choices, from the public school down the street, to several christian private schools, to secular private schools, to several forms of charter school- including some that cater to the homeschool template, to educating them myself at home. What is very good and very right for our home might not work for my neighbors family with different dynamics and different needs. We homeschool our children, and I do think it is one of the best models of educating and discipleship of children. Yet I know that not everyone will homeschool in the same way that I do, or even choose to homeschool. I am thankful I live in a country that recogninzes these freedoms. Scoot over and enjoy these bloggers celebration of educating their children here (Mrs. Incrdible's blog-her first day of homeschool), Whole hearted education-Sally Clarkson who wrote "Educating the whole-hearted Child" a favorite book of mine, Jennifer in Az- a homeschool mom blogging about their adventures and even Antique mommy who blogged about sending her youngest off to school this year (and they say a picture is worth a thousand words...).
find more everyday blessings at Everyday mommy's blog...
blessings to you today,
Jenny
p.s. sorry those of you at bloglines, I had alot of trouble with the links and had to keep editing...

Moms for Modesty... Everyday mommy is hosting this group of concerned parents lobbying the clothing industry to offer clothes appropriate for girls. Please check out her site and article. Chilihead has an insightful commentary on the modesty issue here. It is worth a minute to go and read. As a mom of 3 girls and 1 boy, this is a concern (and frustration) close to my mother-heart. Seems like as soon as the girls are out of the toddler sizes, it becomes a fight to find clothes not 'night-club-ready'. Places I look for clothes for my girls; Land's end (they have uniform 'skorts' that actually touch the knee) and dresses and skirts that touch the knee at least or longer. Hanna Anderson (a little pricey but great quality, and great sales end- of- season) and Mini Boden (haven't ordered yet, again pricey but I am eyeing some of the great longer skirts). Girl's clothes that bug me....shirts with lots of writing across the chest (where are the eyes supposed to go?) shorts and pants with words written on the backside, skirts so short you want to blush for them, clothes for little girls that look like they are ready to bar- hop. Today they do grow up too fast, let them be little girls for a while!


Everyday things- today I am greatful for a very ordinary everday thing; my bed. Oh, how wonderful and soft it felt after being away from home so long. Just like a big, fat, soft marshmellow. I am greatful I have somewhere soft to lay my head and that my children sleep in warm, soft beds every night. Philippians 4:11
Everyday mommy hosts everyday things at her blog, go over and take a peak if you get the chance.