Teach them Diligently... My take on it

Well this was the 2nd book that came in on inter-library loan for me. I wasn't able to finish it in time, mainly because it took so long to force myself through "Instructing a Child's Heart"! And I was bummed too, because I definitley liked this book so much better than that one. But nonetheless, here is my take on it:

Things I liked about the book:

• It was very scripture focused.
• It was practical, and had plenty of examples.
• I liked the way it was organized. It had chapters like "using the scriptures for correcting, using the scriptures for training, and using the scriptures for conviction", which made it very easy to follow.
• I liked his style of writing. I felt like he was a friend just explaining how he uses the Scriptures to parent.

Things that annoyed me about the book:

• He used the word "milieu" all the time, which apparently means: the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops. Vague right? It was just hard to understand what he was trying to say when he used it constantly. I think the point was using the Scriptures to define our everyday life, but why not just say that? That's it, the only thing that annoyed me.

I would highly recommend this book. I plan on purchasing it and completing it sometime soon. I think it would be very helpful for parents of pre-schoolers on and people who work with that age group in other settings (like sunday school or daycare). but that's just my take on it.

We have been taken over!

Yep thats right, mr.pate and I have been taken over! But what or who, you ask? These are the culprits:

Our animal children have stolen the couch! Do you see any space for two humans, or even one for that matter? I don't either! See for eleven months (since we got Joey), Zoey has avoided sitting on the couch. Prior to last December, Zoey would spend each evening sitting in between me and mr.pate on the couch, and snuggle in real good. But once a large dog began jumping up there before she could, she refused to come up at all. In the last month, however, they have began sitting next to each other on the couch and the bed! It is amazing.

The negative thing about this improvement? No where for us to sit! I mean who runs this house anyway? jury is still out...

27

Well, last week I turned 27. And I was going to write this post then, but now is as good a time as any. For some reason I have the desire to make lists lately, not just "To Do" lists, but my top this etc. also. So I am going to be doing a post each week on lists of "27" to satisfy my desire to list things. I apologize now for my personality, but here we are.

Week 1:

27 memories from my life

1. Getting my Barbie corvette power-wheels when I was 5 (I think) for Christmas. We lived two houses down from my great-grandmother and I drove to our Christmas celebration there. I also gave every cousin that fit in a drive down the street. I was big stuff.
2. Listening to the soundtrack of "Oliver and Company" on tape using my Walkman over and over again, when I was in Kindergarten.
3. The "Talkboy" from home alone. Loved that toy!
4. Spending the night at my cousin Amy's house when we were young. We were obsessed with polly pockets (the original), playing super nintendo, the movie "the Secret Garden", playing candyland, playing with cabbage patch kids and climbing into closets. She lived with her grandmother at the time and she would make us boiled eggs, celery, pancakes and other yummy yummy food (not altogether of course!).
5. When my cousin Stormy was born, I was totally jealous. His sister SunniPat only wanted to hold him and stare at him and did not want to play with me!
6. When Stormy was a kid, his sister and I would watch him. If he was being bad or annoying us, we would put him in my pantry (which was small and dark) and make him stay. Yep, someone should have called social services on us I am sure.
7. The fair! Every August the fair would come, and I loved it every year.
8. The christmas when I was in middle school and my sister took me shopping with her. I remember listening to "Ironic" by Alanis Moresette over and over again, and "When country wasn't cool" by Barbara Mandrel.
9. Driving to the airport with Ashley to pick up my sister when I was in middle school. They were still in high school and he told me how much he had felt lost without her for the last 10 days. George Strait's "Carried Away" song was on. I think I knew at that moment he would one day be my brother.
10. Having my softball team over for a sleepover one night. So much drama! One girl admitted being anorexic and bulimic, it was the first time I had ever known anyone like that.
11. My birthday party my 5th or 6th grade year. We went to Denim and Diamonds with my parents and then had a sleepover. We got in our hot tub and kept jumping out, jumping on the trampoline while we were soaking wet (it was November) and then jumping back in. We were idiots.
12. How cool I thought I was in 7th grade on game days when I got to wear my cheerleading uniform to school. Ha, I have seen the pictures and i was a sore sight thats for sure.
13. Field day or something like that when I was in middle school. We got to sit outside most of the day and hang out. I was wearing my consignment store jeans with the slits in both knees. It totally used to be cool... wait hasnt that one come back in style?
14. Freshmen year of high school, I found out my two best friends were smoking pot. I quit being friends with them. Willy was like my only friend for a while.
15. Sophomore year I was best friends with Ginny and Shelly. I remember going to Don Wrights party and my old best friend starting a fight with me (pushed me to the ground) because she thought I liked her lame boyfriend. Ginny stood up for me and hit her or something.
16. My first real "car" date was with Ben Scott. It was actually a really good date. But he and I were just not meant to be. He is a hippy, and I am too straight edged.
17. Riding in Stephen's car after we had gone to the swim meet in Nashville where Byron ignored me. We had just broken up and I was sooo depressed. Now I want to look back at the "me" then and slap some sense into her. Ah the melodrama of high school!
18. Driving to the hospital after the accident with Michael. I am pretty sure my heart was not beating.
19. Sitting outside the police station, my dad finally told me Michael had actually died. The world literally stood still.
20. Driving to WKU the week before we started college. Gas was $0.99 at the swifty on Nashville Rd and it was the first time I realized you could see the hill from there.
21. The first night we stayed in our dorm at WKU, Bemis Hall. Kristen and I both cried ourselves to sleep.
22. The first time I saw mr.pate, he was yelling at someone on the Intramural field. I was terrified of him. I thought he must be one of those "live for sports" kids who are so annoying. Ha...
23. The girls night in Schnieder hall sophomore year. Maryem, Duke, Amanda, and Cheye were there (maybe someone else). Finally I was making real friends in college.
24. Breaking Free bible study by Beth Moore. I would sit at the table outside our dorm room and be consumed with the Word. It was the first time I truly loved it.
25. The night mr.pate and I talked on IM about going on a date, and I told him he had to ask me in person.
26. The next three days he made me wait until he finally asked me.
27. The week before I got a job this year, I had a complete breakdown one day and wept before the Lord. I wanted so badly to believe he would provide but it was getting harder by the minute. One week later, the phone finally rang. Thats how life goes doesn't it?

Menu Plan Monday 11/23-11/29

Well, I just realized that I have not even begun to think of a plan for this week... I was catching up in google reader and saw SnoWhite's menu plan and then thought "hum... I knew I forgot something today"! Random. Anyhow, here is a rough estimate I suppose. I am going into the week already feeling a little defeated when it comes to WW. I know its the holidays and I ned to just relax, which is fine if it were just one day, but when it is all said and done I will have "celebrated" thanksgiving 4 times. The average american consumes 3000 calories at one thanksgiving meal. 12000 calories people. I should just starting running now and stop next month! Ha!

Monday: going to Gallatin to celebrate my bday with the fam (I will eat Zero point soup bc I am having thanksgiving dinner at work for lunch! ugh)

Tuesday: Broccoli, Chicken, Potato, Parmesan Skillet

Wednesday: Ravioli

Thursday: Thanksgiving here w/ mr.pate's side of the family. I am making the Turkey, gravy, deviled eggs and mashed potatoes (well mr.pate on the potatoes).

Friday- fasting! haha! leftover? who know??

Saturday- Celebrating Becky's bday, do you see my dilemma people?? why does everything revolve around food??

Go to Org.Junkie for more thought through plans. Peace out homies. Pray for self-control!

Why I love this week!

• I only have to work 2 days
• My fam is coming up on Monday for my bday/thanksgiving, since mr.pate is working and we cant go there!
• Yummy Thanksgiving food (I am both excited and annoyed, I mean total WW sabotage right?)
• Mr. Pate's mom, g-ma and little bro are coming in town on Thanksgiving day, we are having dinner at our house!
• I am "running" in the Turkey Trot this year (a 5k that is early on Thanksgiving morning). Yep, becky talked me into it... but I will probably only run for 10 minutes and walk for 50! I am slow people!
• I get to decorate for Christmas FINALLY!
• Friday I get to begin listening to Christmas music in our house (mr.pate is basically scrooge and wont allow anything Christmas before turkey day)
• Sales on Friday- I do think I am going to go shopping on Black Friday again...
• Saturday is Becky's bday and we will be celebrating!
• Also new episodes of The Big Bang Theory (by the way, mr.pate got me Season 1 for my bday!) and Biggest Loser, is it pathetic that I get so excited for these?

What are you looking forward to this week?

an apple a day...

well, I haven't done a very good job with my awesome autumn goals so far. why? well because life just doesn't often let you do what you would just like to do for pleasure. Yes, I believe the saying that "you have time for what you make time for" is true indeed, however there is just something built into us that makes time for the "have to's" instead of the "want to's" I believe. I don't know when this practice begins, because if you have ever meet a child you know that they make time naturally for the "want to's" and only do the "have to's" when forced...

nonetheless, my sweet husband did make sure that I accomplished one of my goals on my birthday- eating a caramel apple with nuts! he brought home little stick things, sugar free caramel dip, and some chopped nuts so we could make our own less point version of a caramel apple. how was it? wonderful! isn't he just the best?

And the winner is...

And the winner of Name that Movie Friday is....

Angel!

The movie was "13 Going on 30", definitely a fav of mine. I love the eighties references and music that is weaved all through it, and I just love the young attitude of it. I think Jennifer Garner is just gorgeous and seems so "girl next door". Watch it, it will make you want to crank up some eighties music and dance around the house!