If I Could Have Three Wishes...

That is how we started breakfast today. Each one had to finish the sentence and explain what our three wishes were. It started off pretty much like one would imagine any typical 6-8 year old boy eating frosted cheerios would say:

Kyle: I wish I had a Darth Vader lego man..really Mom I wish! I wish my friend Logan would come over to play with me. I wish I could get some orange juice.

Shane: I wish I knew everything there is to know about school. I wish I knew everything about basketball. I wish I would be obedient at my homeschool today. (Awe...he was trying to bless me)!

Brendan: I wish my friend (so/and/so) was my brother, wouldn't it be great to have 4 brothers? (Mom says...ummmmm?...) I wish we could go on a vacation that was longer than a day. I wish I got to know my grandparents I never got to meet.

Shane interrupts and has now had more time to think....and says this:

"I wish there was no sin in the world. I wish that Jesus never even had to die on the cross because of sin. I wish when we pray I could see Him and He could see me and I can see His eyes smile like when you talk Mom! I wish!"

Me: I got my wish!

It's A New Day

I am forever going to be learning. Actually, I do believe that we will indeed continue to learn even when we enter into our eternal life in Heaven. I just love that thought!

Homeschooling has been amazing! I didn't say easy, I said, amazing! I love having all three of my boys home with me. The memories we are making, the strides that those boys are making and the friendships that they share are indeed a treasure! You could never put a price tag on those things!

I started a new ministry called Bagels & Blessings. Yes, it is a new ministry at Edgewater Alliance Church, even though some reading my blog will know it was a ministry that was birthed originally at Wyckoff Assembly of God! I am grateful for the influences and mentors in my life that have walked alongside of me and directed my path in the way of Jesus.

Last month was the kick off for our first gathering...117 women signed up to come! It actually snowed in Florida that day and still 99 women showed up for this event! Praise God. I had an overwhelming response after B&B that I anticipate even more coming in February. God has been moving in my spirit and I finally feel like I am walking in the gifts that God has given me. I told my close friends that I felt like I have been pregnant for 6 years and last month I finally gave birth. (Now that feels great!)

I have to say, I have an amazing group of ladies on my B&B team. WOW! The hearts of every woman on my team...I am humbled to be working alongside of each of them!

My husband is still not working. He was laid off about 3 months ago and has applied for numerous positions and to no avail. However, I can say without a shadow of a doubt, we finally passed this particular test. TRUST & OBEY! It may look like insanity to the world, but to us, it is exactly what God has called us to do...trust Him and continue to obey! I can say, living on unemployment is not easy, but we have food on our table in and joy in our home!! Thank you Lord!

Big news, I hope that you are sitting down...for as long as I can remember, I have been on medication. Blood pressure medication, 2 pills for high cholesterol, 2 pills for diabetes and a thyroid medication. Seriously, I had almost as many pills as our Grandfather and he will be 92 in a few weeks. Well, now after being on Weight Watchers for a year....I am officially off of all medications. I will however, always be on a medication for my thyroid, because I don't have one. But, hey this is huge! NO MEDS! I am praying that this will continue, as some of my issues can totally be genetic, I'm hoping that most were due to being overweight! I continue to run/walk about 4 miles a day at least 4 days a week. I'm 40 something and I'm getting younger every day!

Finally, one more victory in my life. Remember that blog I wrote on spiritual warfare in the summer. I continue to see the Hand of God move on my behalf! Praise God! He has fought the battle for me, just like He said He would! HE IS!!

So, it is a new year and indeed a new day!

Those Balls Again!

It appears that I'm juggling several balls again.

I seem to be unable to, write a book, start a new ministry, read for pleasure, read for homeschooling, read to study for my new ministry, read through the Bible chronologically, homeschool 3 children, take care of a elderly man with dementia, be a Mom, Wife, friend and blog as well. Hmmm....how do I juggle. Well, the fact is I don't.

Funny, I had to pause a moment because I'm baking cookies and the timer just went off.

I'm doing the best I can, but I have to say out of all of those things, I'm letting the blogging go. I don't want to, I don't mean to, I just have to. My words are being split. By the time I finish my book, no one will ever want to read it because they will have read it already in one form of media or another. Which is really okay. I'm really just writing the book to have it bound and in the hands of my children. It is everyone else in my life, who has had a glimpse of the book, that is encouraging me to get it published. (Fear and trembling).

So be patient, I will return with my catching up on family life, words of wisdom (haha), and nuggets of truth learned by those in my life, so easily shared on the canvas of a blog screen! I will return. So much is going on it really helps to write it out! But alas, my kitchen timers beeps again.

Step Into The Time Machine

Set the dial for September 1989. (and don't laugh at our hair!) There I was walking around Montclair State University. A transfer student from MCCC, 20 years old and feeling a great sense of freedom. I must have joined every club on campus. That is how I get to know people. I was on the College Life Union Board, Photography Club, Conservation Club, Ski Club (that is a riot, because I only ever skied once and it was a horrible experience)! On this particular September morning I was walking in the student center and there was this little table in the corner with a few guys sitting at it. It was Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. I was already involved in so much...then one of the guys came up to me and handed me a tract. Oh the tract. "I am already saved...thank you...save it for someone who needs Jesus" is what I said to him. He then proceeded to invite me to their Thursday night meeting. (Ok...I mean since I was from an Assemblies of God church down home...might as well).

Here is where I wish my husband would blog because his blog would go something like this: "I was sitting in the student center when what doth my eyes behold...the girl of my dreams." HA!! Well, maybe not exactly like that, but I did find out that the other guy at that table (my Mike Engel) did tell the guy that gave me the tract that he was going to "marry that girl someday." Yes he did say that!! (shhh..I didn't even notice him that day..well I knew he was at the table..but that was it)!

This is Mike & I at the Chi Alpha S.A.L.T. Retreat in Indiana Jan. 1990

I will fast forward now. I went to that Thursday meeting. I met Mike Engel (we called him Mike Engel because our campus pastor was Mike Durning..it was just easier) he was the President of Chi Alpha..he was a skinny klutzy guy with a heart of pure gold. I ended up going to his church (it was the closest AG church near my apartment in Montclair). He was a leader in the church. He lead worship, taught Wednesday night Bible Study and preached occasionally on Sunday morning. Seriously, he was awesome. Come that January we went on a Chi Alpha Retreat to Indianapolis. It was here that I started to fall in love with this man. I fell in love with his precious heart. He told me about his call to ministry, his love for people and his love for God. He was one of the most respectful men I had ever met. He loved deeply and cared deeply. I remember going for a walk and it was snowing, he sat down on the curb and just cried when he talked about his love for God. It moved me beyond words. When I got home I told my father that I wanted to marry someone just like Mike Engel. I would never have dreamed that Mike Engel would have picked me.

One of our 500 attempts (before digital cameras) at an engagement picture! June 1990!

February came and it was Somebody Loves You Night at Chi Alpha. Mike picked me up for the meeting and gave me a rose and a card (Valentine's Day). We started dating that night. The rest as they say is history. We were engaged by June and married by December all in the same year!

December 15, 1990

Nineteen years later, he is still the most amazing man I know. We have had our growing pains like every couple, but one thing is constant...our love for each other continues to grow. People ask me what makes my marriage work. I tell them our secret (well not all of them), but this one is what we have always lived by: the Bible says "don't let the sun go down on your anger." We have never gone to bed angry. Not in 19 years. We have stayed up to see the sun rise...but we always resolve our differences before going to bed. How do we resolve our differences? We pray! I remember our first big argument. I was clearly right and he was clearly right! Hmmmm? I was mad as the mob, he was angry too! (Can't remember what was so important 18 years ago). It was a long night, finally my husband says to me, "We have to pray!" What? Pray? UGH!! He got down on his knees right there in the living room and uttered the most humble beautiful prayer! I just melted. He asked for forgiveness, and asked the Lord to bless me. He told the Lord how much he loved me! OH I was so moved I could barely get words out of my mouth. When it was my turn to pray...I already felt so much love for this man (the same man I think I was so mad at I could spit nails)...I remember crying and asking God to forgive me, then I started praying blessing over this man that I loved. Well, praying for someone, who you don't like at the moment, is the best way to resolve conflicts. It melts your heart and makes you love all over again! It is our solution....it has worked for 19 years! Now we teach our children the same thing!

Mike & Lisa Engel - 19th Wedding Anniversary!

Do My Eyes Deceive Me?...

Yes and no! We are still trying to hold to our keeping one day a week sacred to our family. One day where we just do something fun...just the 5 of us. Yesterday, after church, we had one of the most memorable fun family days yet. We headed straight for Downtown Disney and walked around. The boys created their own Lego men and we saw so many beautiful Christmas decorations. The music was playing and we just had a wonderful festive time walking around.

Then we sat down for a pretzel and got to see an amazing show of the famous Yoyo People from Boston. This guy was on the Discovery Channel show "Time Warp". He is amazing. He holds a record in the Guinness Book of Records and was the World Champion in 2007. (I didn't know that there was such a thing as a World Champion Yoyo guy!) Needless to say, he was so much fun to watch!

Then we made our way to Celebration Florida...not far from Orlando. It was beautiful. On Market Street, every hour, it snows. My children had a blast. Again, the carols were playing, there were horse drawn carriages, yummy food, Christmas lights! (Real snow???? Well...let just say us northerners need to use our imagination.)
The best part about our whole entire day was that it was FREE!!! Yup...FREE fun!
Oh this was one of my favorites. I felt like I was in the middle of a Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol")...This group was amazing. We finished our night with a Starbucks coffee (shouldn't every night end that way)!
So once again fun was had by all! We went home and got a good nights sleep.

While Some Were Shoveling Snow....

We were shoveling sand. That is right, after school yesterday, my boys and I headed straight for the beach. I try to do this as much as I can in the winter...just because one of the things I disliked the most was scraping my car windows when they were icy and I really didn't enjoy shoveling tons of snow just so the snow plow guy could come and block me in again.

So we went to the beach for a couple of hours. We walked and walked and my children got wet (of course) because how could you possible find the perfect shells if you didn't get close to the water.

The boys dug holes 'till the hearts content and I sat in the sand in the warm sun. Ahhh...it was peaceful. Then we went for a walk and collected a nice amount of shells which we put in a jar to remind us of our winter sand adventures! We will be adding all winter! OH...I love Florida in the winter!

Don't worry, I haven't gone off the deep end. I know that snow is beautiful and fun too. In fact I really want to drive my boys up to Georgia or South Carolina if I hear that there is going to be a good amount of snow. I figure we could do it in a day. One of the sad sights at the beach is when my boys get this wet sand and pack it, and then the roll it in the dry sand, like a snow ball. They throw them like snow balls (only not at each other, because that would make a mess). So they would love to see snow...my Shane has never seen snow and my other boys were too little really to remember it. So we will hopefully see snow at some point this winter, but for now, I'm enjoying the fact that we have beautiful sand!

Oops What Happened To October & November?

Let's start on Kyle's last day of public school....October 31st. Above you can see them in their costumes for our Harvest Party at church. Shane is a cowboy (he wants to be a Cowboy Math Teacher when he grows up), Brendan is Albert Einstein (he as markers in his pocket with E=MC2 on his jacket - of course he wants to be a scientist when he grows up) and then there is Kyle the Lenni Lenapi Indian (he wants to be a zoo keeper when he grows up, but that doesn't require paint of his face so he opted for the Indian!)

November brought lots of field trips and park days and nature walks with friends! (shhh... I think that is going to be my Christmas card picture...yes even with that pesky straw hanging in front of Kyle's face.)

The birds cracked me up! We were covered in them. Shane did not like it at all....Kyle loved it...Brendan liked it too, but he was sure to cover his head!

Our great homeschool buddies. We do a lot of our homeschooling with them. We live a few streets away and I just love their Mommy!! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful friend in Aleatha...God place us in each other's lives on purpose!! We see each other at least twice a week and I love it!!

Here is my boy...he just had to read ahead!! In that book Kyle was reading...these two boys shot a BB gun and missed their target...so we went to our friend's property and learned to shoot a BB gun! Kyle, Brendan and Shane all hit the target...do you see that L there...that would be me! So proud!

It's Mario and Mario....a little too much Nintendo influence! HA!

Ahhh...Dinner with our small group! Don't look too closely at our food...this was so not WW friendly. Mike and Elinor made an amazing dinner of lasagna and homemade meatballs!!

So, this is why I am homeschooling him now! This is my Kyle...the one that we missed so much! The happy Kyle!

This past month we did a lot of hiking and bird watching! Oh this trip was the first time I ever used a portable potty too. Not an experience I ever want to repeat! UGH!

Lots of park hopping! We have to get that energy out!!!

Oh yea...and we finally did a 550 piece puzzle together in just 4 days! I was so impressed...my boys absolutely loved doing this. Believe it or not...not one piece was missing! We can't wait to do our next! We've been studying birds in our Science curriculum and there are at least 4 species in this puzzle!

So that should catch you up quickly. So much more happened...so many wonderful surprises! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family in Jacksonville and now we are ushering in Christmas! Lord, please help it to slow down a bit!

Monday's Menu

The pressure is on. My Weight Watchers friends wrote down my blog address this past Saturday, so now I absolutely MUST get my menu on screen. It is always on my refrigerator, but since Thanksgiving, I have had very little time to type. (I also have to share a computer with my three superheros...so squeezing some quality screen time in..is not so easy these days!)

Remember if you add anything like butter to your veggies, you have to count that too. I typically do not, however when I do I always count it. We use the Smart Balance butter and it is 1 point for a whole tablespoon. I rarely use that much!

Monday:
Pork Chops & Potatoes in Creamy Gravy
6 WW points
Click Here for the Recipe (I did include a picture though!)
Tuesday:
5 Spice London Broil, Green Beans, Yam
3 oz. of lean beef for 4 points, 7 oz of yam for 3 points = 7 WW points
(I don't use butter on my veggies, just a little salt & pepper)

Recipe to follow (since Bev did request it!)

Wednesday:
Biscuit Topped Chicken Casserole with a Salad
1 1/2 Cup serving for 6 WW points

Thursday:
Grilled Pork Chops, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans
I rub some adobo seasoning and throw these on the grill. (BOGO at Winn-Dixie this week)
3 oz pork chop for 4 points, 3/4 cup of garlic mashed potatoes (WW recipe) for 3 points = 7 WW points

Friday - Crock Pot meal: (This is a GREAT winner in my house)
Meatloaf with Mushroom Tomato Sauce - from the Slow Good Cookbook
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (left over from Thursday)
Broccoli & salad
1 slice of meatloaf with 1/4 cup sauce is 3 points so this meal = 6 WW points

5-Spice London Broil
Weight Watchers TurnAround Cookbook

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 lb. lean London Broil

(I put mine on the grill...the recipe calls for the broiler)

Simply combine all the spices and rub it on the meat. I let it stand for about 15 minutes and then place it on the grill. It is really that simple. My family likes their meat a little pink...so just keep an eye on your time. Remember to let the meat stand after you take it off the grill so that the juices don't all run out on you. Slice it thinly on an angle against the grain.

Enjoy...let me know what you think...leave a comment if you would like me to post a recipe! Don't forget to check out my friend Michelle's blog for more menu ideas!

The Best Way To Celebrate...

is with friends! We had our annual anniversary date night with our dearest friends the Bradleys! We are so grateful to the Lord for placing them in our lives. We have been friends for a few years, and these past two years our friendships have just flourished! Mike and I count Don and Linda as family and seriously, when we talked about what to do for our anniversary we didn't have to think but a moment...we wanted to double date with the Bradleys!

So I wanted to show this year and last years pictures, (let's be honest...it is mainly because I'm proud of the fact that I am 57 lbs. lighter this year!) well, because you know, I love tradition!! ;0)

This is us last year!

I find it so funny that we sit in the same spots. Do we always sit that way? I guess so! Oh..and the scarf...that cracks me up! I have got to ditch the scarf next year. But, it was very cold (you know in the 60s) both times!
Then it is as if we don't ever get Starbucks! HA! I can't help it! That is what happens when your husband worked for the company for 8 years! This is Mike and I last year:


Ahhh...after 19 years we are still drinking coffee together!

Before we left for our night out...Pop (our almost 92 year old grandfather) says to me..."Wow, 19 years, you don't look old enough to have been married for 19 years!" That made me feel so good, doubled with the fact that since I homeschool all of my children, a night out with adults is SOOO special...you couldn't wipe that smile away if you tried!

So what do two middle aged couples who are not into drinking or "partying" do when they get a chance to go out (and they live in Volusia County Florida)? They go out to dinner, have coffee and sit in the driveway and talk for two hours. (Hey, the alternative would been to go to Walmart!) We had such a wonderful evening! Thank you Don and Linda for celebrating with us again this year! So, we are on for next year right? I can't wait to see the pictures!

This Is What It Is All About

The shopping, the busyness, the baking, the caroling, the traditions....it is all part of it, but really this picture makes me want to slow down and cherish the meaning of Christmas. It is my goal this year to soak in as much Christmas as possible this year. My children are still young enough to really enjoy all of the traditions (and we have so many) of this time of year! So we decided to add a few new traditions. Like reading a Christmas story every night before bed. Believe it or not I have 16 Christmas books (a couple of them are very long so they take up two nights) and we will end with The Night Before Christmas of course! We are also trying to watch as many Christmas movies as we can...last night we snuggled up for the Alister Sims version (old version) of A Christmas Carol. So here are just a few more things we have done so far and it is only December 5th today!

Here we are making a Christmas chain to count down the days until December 25th! Each day a different person gets to rip the chain and also push the button on our musical advent calendar.

The finished product!

Decorating the Christmas tree is laden with tradition. Each and every one of our ornaments have a story to tell. My husband had a new ornament every year as a child so we continue the tradition and tell the stories of each one every year. It is a great way to pass the memories down from generation to generation.

Here we are at our homeschool Christmas party. The children were able to make their own cookies and decorate them. Twenty seven children play games, singing songs and learning to sign "Silent Night"....what a sweet way to start off the month.

Then we had our annual tree trimming at the New Smyrna Beach Sheriff's office. What a fun time for the kids. They look forward to this every year! This year one of the officers took pictures of them with a Polaroid camera...they thought it was magic! Remember Polaroids!

I pray you enjoy your traditions and remember the humble beginning of our Savior's birth!

I Am Embarassed

A few months ago, I received this amazing honor...remember the one...this one! Well, now I totally feel as though they should come back and strip me of my title! HA! Seriously, it is most difficult to write when you have so much to write about. That is why it is 12:15am and I am starting this post (can't sleep with the guilt). I think that if I just get this out of the way, the words will flow in some logical sequence and I can get my thoughts back on paper (well not paper exactly). I have been working on my book during my very limited free time, but mostly my absence has been to life circumstances.

Homeschooling my three amazing superheros -- this has been an experience that words are difficult to describe. Full of emotion and literal awe, all I can say without detail is that bringing home my third son has made this family, this experience and my life feel complete! The other time consuming drama in my life has been living with my husband's grandfather who is suffering with dementia. This has consumed me these past couple of months. The challenges and emotions that surround this situation is like no other. The busyness of this season (as much as I don't want it to be) seems to strip me of those precious minutes that I can sit and type my thoughts. The onset of a new ministry, the birth of a dream, like any other birth, consumes so much of my time as well.

So there you have it. I have so much to write about, but where do I start? I guess I start right here. I have, in essence, typed a beginning paragraph in the first chapter of what is to come. Stay tuned for a hopeful continuation!

Menu for The Week #3

Ahh...so little time....so much to write about! I promise to update soon. So much is happening in the Engel home right now..it is very exciting.

The menu this week:

Monday: 4 points for 3 oz meat, 3 points for small yam = 7 point dinner
5 Spice London Broil
Yams
Broccoli

Tuesday: 3 points for 1 1/2 cups of soup!
Pasta Fagioli
Salad

Wednesday: 4 points for a hefty burger, 1 point per 1 cup of potato sticks, 1 point for bun = 6 point dinner (salad dressing must be measured and calculated)
Turkey Burgers
Spiced potato Sticks
Salad

Thursday: 4 points per meatloaf, 3/4 cup garlic mashed is 3 points = 7 point dinner
Mini Meatloaves
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans

Friday: See above for points
Leftover Mini Meatloaves from Thursday

Did you notice?... NO CHICKEN!!

OK..so no one person responded or wanted a recipe. Did you try the pork chops? They were great! If you haven't tried them you might want to. They were moist and delicious!

This week our family favorite is 5 spice London broil. London broil is often on sale (B1G1) and we just love grilling!! Also, the garlic mashed potatoes taste like you are seriously cheating! No kidding!

Leave your comments if you would like a recipe! I will leave it next Monday!
Happy Healthy Eating!

Monday's Menu 2

At first I typed Menu for the Weed...hmmm...I think I may be in need of more veggies. Not sure! HA!

Ok..so I promise I'm going to include the burrito recipe this time..since a few of you asked for it! I totally loved the burrito..it was amazingly filling (Husband however, did not like it so much...hmmmm?)!

Monday: Sweet & Sour Pork with Brown Rice & Bok Choy - 7 points (nice bowl and delicious..had this tonight)

Tuesday: Tortellini Soup (husband's made up recipe..this is unbelievable delicious) If you are doing WW, then everything is free except the tortellini...I put in 10 tortellinis for 3 points. YUM

Wednesday: General Tso's Chicken over Rice - 4 points, 1/2 cup rice would add extra 2 (I've made this before...fantastic!)

Thursday: Chili Con Carne - 4 points for 1 1/3 cups (reminds me so much of Wendy's Chili) My family likes this over elbow macaroni...it stretches the meal for leftovers, but you could totally use 1 cup of noodles to make this even more hefty if you are starving and add an extra 4 points)

Friday: Left overs ;)

Saturday: Hamburgers/Hot Dogs, Salad & Beans! Yeah....that is my weigh in day..so whatever! ha!

Sunday: Hmmmm....shame on me...I haven't thought that far yet!

So here is how this particular blog will work...I will post a recipe based on response. If there is a recipe you would like me to post next week based on my menu this week...let me know...the majority will win! How does that sound? So...here is the Burrito recipe from last week. Enjoy!


Spinach, Rice, and Black Bean Burritos - 4 points per serving
From Weight Watcher's Take Out Tonight Cookbook

Makes 8 servings (1/2 burrito per serving)

Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 cup long-grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups spinach, cleaned and coarsely chopped
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
4 (10-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
1/4 cup nonfat sour cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup sliced pitted ripe olives

1. Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the rice and simmer, covered, over low heat, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Swirl in the oil, then add the onion, garlic, cumin, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 8 minutes. Stir in the spinach, tomato sauce, and beans; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the spinach begins to wilt, about 3 minutes. Stir in the rice and heat through.

3. Stack the tortillas on a microwave proof plate. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on High 1 minute. Spoon the rice and bean mixture (about 1 cup) onto each warm tortilla. Top with the sour cream, cilantro, and olives. Fold the sides over and roll up to enclose the filling. Cut each burrito in half!

I look forward to hearing from you!
Bon Appetit!

And Then There Were 3

Kyle at a homeschool function this past Friday, he is a Lenni Lenape Indian from NJ!

Well, I've always had three! Just when it comes to homeschooling, I started out with one and then I brought in the second and as of next Monday we are bring home the third! I am so excited. It feels like it is just right with my heart. To the world it may seem crazy, but to our family, well, it just feels right! I say it may seem crazy because my husband has no job, we care for his 91 soon to be 92 year old grandfather and my son has special needs! I have to just chuckle!

I have always hung my hat on the fact that every year, we did what was best for each child. Keeping Kyle in school I felt was really the best thing for him. He has been attending this school since he was 3 years old! I remember the day I sent my child off in this huge bus, and he didn't speak at all! I drove my car behind the bus until it pulled into the school parking lot. My boy had no words. He was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified) an autism spectrum disorder, he was nonverbal at age three (he could repeat words, but never initiate words), he had sensory integration dysfunction, and obsessive/compulsive disorder! (He was one of the three cutest/sweetest boys in the whole wide world though!!)

Needless to say, off he went to school and by the time he was almost 4 he said these words to me: "Mommy, I love you!" He had never said those words before! That moment is etched in my brain and heart and as I type these words the memory brings tears to my eyes! A year later when he was 5 years old, he could hug me with a full hug. Years before, he would want a hug, but have to back up into my arms. When he was five I got a full on hug!! Speech/language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy...several times a week, plus these wonderful, nurturing teachers....I had my boy...the little boy I knew was in this quiet little soul!

Fast forward to present time. Kyle is 8 years old and in 2nd grade. (He really didn't pass 1st grade, but he had already been left behind in kindergarten...you get the picture) At the beginning of this school year, Kyle was content with going to "his" school. He loves "his" school. Brothers get homeschooled, he was curious about that, but he had friends now at "his" school. He was invited to a birthday party by himself for the first time ever!! A friend "chose" him! However, slowly, I started to see serious regression. My happy little boy, was angry. He was reverting to toddler type behaviors (a classic response to shutting down). He was exhibiting behaviors that I hadn't seen in years. What was going on?

We had a few meetings at school. "Let's change Kyle from having been pulled out to one or two places and put him in a co-teach situation. With a regular class, with a resource teacher assisting the primary teacher. Let's do this for two subjects now." For a child who has never done well with transition (when he was very young if we made a u-turn in our car he would cry and kick), and who thrives with routine, my boy had to transition at least 10 times a day..from teacher to teacher to this classroom to that classroom. He was on overload!! While he held it together at school, he let it loose at home (toddler behavior and total regression). So much more went into make this decision, but when I finally decided to "get out of the boat" and go with what the Lord was telling me to do, not only have I been confirmed, but I have been set free!

Kyle will begin homeschooling with his brothers this coming Monday! I am so excited and very nervous as well. This will be a transition for sure. There are kinks that will need to be worked out for sure! He will be partially enrolled with his special education teacher and his speech/language therapist - it equates to about 1 1/2 hours a day at the school! It is almost like the best of both worlds. He will still see his friends, and I will make the serious effort to keep those going outside of school!

The benefits far outweigh the fear! Is there fear...well...yes! I think that I gave too much credit to the school (after all they taught him to say "I love you"! Well, as my husband said...we had been saying that for 4 years...we taught him to say I love you...they just gave him the opportunity to grow and some tools to help him!

Here he will do devotions with us, snuggle on the bed to hear some of the most amazing books ever!! We will go on nature walks and make meals together. He will learn a new way to do math and see history come alive as we do some fun activities with our history! He will take art classes with the local art museum and have park play dates and do co-ops with our homeschool friends. He will be with his brothers who love him, and he will be able to work at his own pace and not feel overwhelmed or rushed! He will feel successful and confident! This is what is best for my boy!! So....Welcome Home Kyle!!!

(shh....my other boys are planning a surprise breakfast...all of Kyle's favorite foods (because he must eat and run most mornings he has enough time to only eat an oatmeal bar for breakfast every day)...so they made up the menu...grapes...pancakes with chocolate chips...chocolate milk...and decorations of course! )

Menu For The Week

My friend Michelle has a blog that is devoted to the kitchen. On Monday's she is posting her menu for the week to inspire new recipes and money/time management skills as well! I'm very proud of her. Since joining Weight Watchers making a menu is almost imperative. I need to know what I'm having for dinner so I can plan the rest of my day carefully. As you can see by my last blog...it works for weight loss too!

So I'm joining her and including my "Monday's Menu". Don't get all hung up on the fact that today is Tuesday...I will be on the ball next week! Or maybe not...and that is where all of my blog friends extend some grace!

Just a couple of disclaimers:

1. I am on Weight Watchers but when my husband has class two nights a week there are weeks I just don't feel like feeding the birds (children and grandfather) in my home...making a whole meal for each of them to eat a spoonful! So there are those weeks (like this one) that I make something for them and I eat something "point worthy"! So bear that in mind!! What I eat (except for Saturday, that is my splurge day), is very heart healthy and Weight Watcher friendly. I hope this blesses anyone wanting to eat healthy!!

2. My husband is unemployed so other than our little tiny unemployment check...we don't have an income at this time. SO, my menu has to reflect our budget. Thus you will notice...a recurring word: leftovers! All I have to say is....get to love them ok!!


Monday: Garlic Roasted Chicken with red potatoes, carrots and garlic (it is one dish that goes in the oven and I use skinless split chicken breasts) I serve it with broccoli (my kids favorite veggie). It is a family winner (we don't always have winners in this house) :) 4 points for 4 oz of chicken and for 3/4 cup of potatoes and carrots with roasted garlic 3 points --- 7 point meal!

Tuesday: (Husband has school) Famous Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese (NOT Weight Watcher friendly...9 points per 1/2 cup) (I ate leftover from yesterday....children and Pop ate this and LOVED it!) Another family winner!!

Wednesday: Spinach, Rice & Black Bean Burritos 8 points for a whole burrito!! BIG SERVING-- you could totally eat half a burrito with some salad and have it be less points!

Thursday: (Husband has school) Leftover Baked Macaroni & Cheese for family (left over burrito for me)

Friday: Pork Chop & Potatoes with Creamy Gravy - 6 points (recipe to follow) - This is a new recipe, I will let you know how it is next week. It sounded good!


Pork Chops & Potatoes In Creamy Gravy
Found in: American Heart Association One-Dish Meals
6 WW points
Serves 4 (1 pork chop & 1 1/4 cups veggie mixture)

4 lean pork chops with bone in (about 5 oz. each)
Paprika to taste
Pepper to taste
Veggie oil spray
2 cups fat-free, low sodium chicken broth
1 lb. red potatoes cut into wedges
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp. dried tarragon, crumbled
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
4 oz jar sliced pimientos

Sprinkle one side of the pork chops with paprika and pepper.

Heat a large skillet over high heat. Remove the skillet from the heat and lightly spray with vegetable oil spray. Cook the pork chops with the seasoned side down for 1 minute. Remove from the skillet.

In the same skillet, stir together the broth, potatoes, onions, carrots, and tarragon. Bring to boil. Top with the pork chops with the seasoned side up. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 12 minutes, or until the pork is no longer pink in the center and the potatoes are tender.

Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the veggies to a serving platter with a rim or to a large shallow bowl. Top with the pork. Cover with aluminium foil to keep warm. Set aside.

Increase the heat to high. Bring the broth to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, or until reduced to 1 cup.

Reduce the heat to medium. Whisk in the evaporated milk and flour until well blended. Stir in the salt. (You can scrape the skillet with a flat spatula...you know to get the yumminess on the bottom) Cook for 2 minutes.

Stir in the pimientos (You could totally leave this out if you were not a pimiento fan)! Pour over the vegetables on the serving platter and voila! Sounds like comfort food to me!!

This was fun!!

Before & After

Well, it is confession time! I have hesitated to put up a before and after shot of my weight loss journey so far. I think perhaps because looking at it makes me feel a little queasy! However, in order for my family in NJ to see me, this is a necessary step. So.....

Here I am before joining Weight Watchers back in January of 2009:

Now after 9 months I have lost 54.8 lbs:

What the pictures do not show is that I feel amazing and am healthier than I have been in years. I have been on blood pressure medication since my days of infertility at least 12 years now, and presently my doctor says I need to be off this medication (as well as other medications)! 2010 will be the year that I meet my goal (35 more pounds) and I become a Weight Watcher's Leader! 2010 will also be the year I get off all my medications. 2010 will be the year I run my first 10K! I have a lot to look forward to!

The Creator & The Created

"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

Revelation 4:11 NKJV

I live in the Sunshine State. I have beheld the beauty of a sunrise over the ocean, the sunset over the river, some of the most beautiful shells upon a sand that is so soft!


When I use to live in NJ, my husband and I would frequently visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Oh I how loved the Impressionist wing (I loved the entire museum, but was always drawn to this part in particular). To stare at an actual Monet or Manet or to gaze longingly at a Renoir...it would take my breath away! I studied the paintings and learned about the artist. It was thrilling and inspiring.

To gaze upon the beauty all around us, the glory that shouts praises to its Creator, is in many ways far more thrilling and inspiring because I have a personal relationship to the artist. For how could you watch the sunrise or see a hawk coast above your head for what feels like an eternity without being inspired and grateful to the Creator.

Today I am grateful for the beauty that I behold every day.

Romans 1:20 "Since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen."

The Wind of Change

Oh please don't think that I have dropped off the face of the earth! I have not! It is just that my world has begun to spin at a very fast pace and I'm just doing all I can to stand up straight! With that said...there is change in the air. Change is sometimes frightening (and I'm a little nervous), but change is often a very healthy and exciting bringing growth. That is what we are about to experience.

If the world were to look at my life they may lable me crazy, but I'm holding my ground. What is about to take place has been in God's plan for a long time, we are just about to see it transpire.

Purposefully I'm leaving you with only this. Stay tuned...check back...I will return...just give me a few weeks to let my world settle! For those of you who know already because I can't contain my excitement...shhh! Just smile with me and wait!

First 4 Weeks of School

Even though I homeschool two of my three children, I do not want anyone to think for a moment that I don't "school" my Kyle! Yes, he is well cared for at his school, but we do a lot of "schooling" at home too. This is my Kyle...the most creative little boy I know. Let him spend some time alone and he comes up with this. The picture above is Kyle's art work. A boy with interchangeable faces. (check out his foot in the flip flop!) I have to crack up! My one friend told me it looked like a picture of someone raptured. HA!

This picture below is what Shane most recently made since studying Ancient Rome: this is Ancient Roman Bread Pudding. He and Brendan are eating it just like the Romans did...on their bellies lounging and laughing with food!

Here we are doing Physical Education! Not bad huh? And we get to do it with friends! (The bowling alley was practically empty)! We had a blast!

Now this is the way to start your morning off...This is Brendan doing devotions..every morning on his own! I love it! Eight years old and after 4 weeks he really misses it when he doesn't get to do it on Saturday or Sunday (he can...but he gets distracted...sound familiar?).
Since Mike is now unemployed, he got to bring them on their second field trip this year. They went to the Orlando Science Center for Homeschool Day! So much fun!
We learned about animals for the first couple of weeks in Science...here we made a Mocha Bear (I used espresso...and mmmmm...did it smell so good!)
Another thing we are trying to implement this year is giving them the freedom to cook. Here is Brendan making Salad for dinner. He makes amazing scrambled eggs and yesterday he and Shane looked for a recipe to make cookies from scratch. They made Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies. Brendan made the list, we shopped, and then Shane measured the dry ingredients, Brendan did the liquids and the mixer. The cookies were amazing.
We are having friends over tonight and we will be eating said cookies! Yippee!! Training up little husbands-to-be someday! So the first 4 weeks of school have been great for everyone!