Contest as promised beginning Thursday morning

-Alrighty, this contest is going to last from Thursday morning until Sunday May 4th!
-Prizes will be from our Disney Cruise. How fun is that?

-Its simple. Its easy. its fun and I know that because you guys have told me that? What are we going to do????

THE COMMENT GAME

rules below Prizes will be given to the following
1)the most posts- if there is a tie, there will 2 winners
2) the most creative post
3) the most creative answer
4) the one that makes me laugh out loud

I will not be chosing numbers 2 and 3, one of my bloggy friends will do that. Rules You can not post directly beneath your post. There must be at least 2 answers and questions before you play again. Seriously, I am giving yall over a week. Spread it around. There is no reason why we should not have a ton of answers plus I love comments (hint hit)


HOW TO PLAY

Here's how it goes: I'll start the game off in the comments section by choosing two words or phrases, like coffee or tea, and which ever one you prefer you choose. You can also explain why. When you have done that you do two new words or phrases for the next commenter to choose from. Feel free to come back as often as you like. Just have fun.


WE ARE OUT OF HERE!!!!
CONTEST IS OVER!!!! WILL CALCULATE AND ANNOUNCE WINNERS SOMETIME TODAY. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!

So it's now Wednesday April 23rd and in 24 hours we begin one heck of a vacation. Do you think Im just a bit excited?

First, Michael shares some of his favorite photos he has taken. The dude is talented. So, go visit www.valtool.blogspot.com.

I hope we will continue to share his talent..

It looks like Michael and I will be both be holding blog contests while we are gone. Make sure you check both blogs out starting tomorrow!!!!

Dont forget, prizes for our contests will be coming from our Disney Cruise. WooHoo

Last weigh in before cruise

blinkyou.com

That's right, Mondays weigh in was awesome. I was soooo hoping to hit the 1.8lb loss but I went over that. Rock on. This means that since March 10th, I have lost 22.4 pounds. Okay, I am bragging but I do not care because I am soo stinkin proud of myself. I made good eating choices and the times I didn't, I just went to the good ones again next meal. Thanks for all of your encouragement. I wanted to lose 20lbs before the cruise and I did. I have sooo much more to lose and I will probably gain on the cruise. But you know what? that's okay, because now I know I can do it! Hubbys been helping as well. He weighed my steak the other night. Yeah for supportive husbands. My plan was to have some reward goals. NO, I didn't have one for 20 pounds because well I am sure I will reward myself on the cruise!!

So, whatcha think of the new blog? Oh and there is a contest coming. Details later but it will begin Thursday morning and will last througout my vacation. its simple and fun!!

comment game

Click here for the comment game!

A Mothers Heart- book tour

Welcome to the A Mother's Heart Knows book tour! Its my first time participating!

What a sweet book this is.

A Mothers Heart Knows by Margaret McSweeey is just delightful!! Its full of beautiful word and pictures!

About the book: What better way to tell Mom how much you appreciate her on Mother's Day than with this lovely reminder of thoughts about the loving, selfless attitudes that fill a mother's heart?

The text and original four-color illustrations will be a beautiful and touching reminder to Mom that her love is never forgotten. The text is a reminder of those things that only a mother's heart knows, with some special emphasis on a Christian mother. Appropriate Scripture verses will be incorporated into the design element.

All royalty proceeds from this book go to WINGS (Women In Need Growing Stronger) and a student missionary scholarship fund. WINGS is a non-profit organization that provides a domestic violence shelter for women and their children in addition to transitional housing and programs.

I was given a copy of this book and its just beautiful. As a future mom, I can only dream of some of the thoughts the author has put in this book! Its just fabulous!

Want to visit the book tour? Just visit http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-favorite-mom-blog-tour.html

Margaret is having a book giveaway over at her site so make sure you go and sign her blog!!!

Margaret's websites: www.margaretmcsweeney.com

www.margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com

Link to buy the book: http://www.margaretmcsweeney.com/book1.htm

About the author:

Margaret lives with her husband and two daughters in a Chicago suburb. Her book, A Mother’s Heart Knows was published by Thomas Nelson in 2005. Go Back and Be Happy, a co-authored book will be published by Lion Hudson in July 2008. Margaret has been featured on Greg Wheatly’s “Prime Time America,” TLN’s “Aspiring Women,” and LeSea’s “The Harvest Show.” Margaret writes freelance articles for The Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. Notable interviews include Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Kinkade, Susan Branch and Dr. John Gottman. Margaret also wrote a feature article for crosswalk.com. With a master’s degree in international business, Margaret became a vice president in the corporate finance division of a New York City bank and worked there from 1986-1993. Supporting charitable causes is important to Margaret. For the past five years, she has served on the board of directors for WINGS, an organization that helps abused women and their children get a new start in life.

Vacation and comment game!

I never post on Saturday but I have a few minutes before I leave for work. Did I tell you we go on vacation this week? After tonight, I have one more day to work before we pack up Thurday to head to Florida!! Saturday we will be on the Disney Magic with my family! I am totally excited, really I am. You would think we would have kids I am so excited! HeeHee!

Doing well on the weight loss, I will weigh in Monday for the last time before vacation and I will be good on vacation but I will also enjoy myself. I will not hate myself if I gain a pound or 2 on the boat, because I know I can get it off!!!!!

Comment game!

Here's how it goes: I'll start the game off in the comments section by choosing two words or phrases, like coffee or tea, and which ever one you prefer you choose. You can also explain why. When you have done that you do two new words or phrases for the next commenter to choose from. Feel free to come back as often as you like. Just have fun.

weight loss, blah blah blah

Morning friends!

Worked last night for 4 hours and its the first time I was in a really bad mood at work. Ouch I was just irritable. I think I was just tired, but it was an easy shift, and I got out on time. It was also the first time I have actually noticed I have lost weight. The scrubs are quit loose now. That felt good. Dinner was Trader Joe's Shrimp Stir fry and its yummy. Only 175 calories for the whole bag and when I got home I had a weight watchers cheesecake!!!

This morning, I woke up and had my 2 waffles with low cal syrup and headed to the gym and then did a few garage sales. That's always fun but it seemed like there were smokers everywhere. My parents smoke and it usually does not bother me, but today it did.

Not sure what lunch and dinner will be, but Monday is my last weigh in before the cruise. Peaked at the scale last night and it rocked..Lets hope it stays that way until Monday!!!

What going on with you? What are you having for dinner?

Another question, a lot of people give themselves goals and rewards during weight loss. Im close to my 20 pound goal, but do you have any suggestions on goals and rewards? I think I will start with
25 pounds =?

35= ?
50 =?

Tradition

SO yesterday, I head over to church for my last week of Women's Bible Study. This study is divided into 3 years, and by the time you are done, you have studied the entire Bible. SO this was a Spring celebration plus the first group to "graduate" from our church. Our church is so fun. Anyway, I get there and usually there is food and I am worried about that but then I see fruit, fruit and cheese. Rock on! I believe I had a 3 point breakfast..Thanks North Metro.

Anyway, we walked into the main room. Okay, I find it hard to call it a sanctuary (that's a whole other story) but it indeed is our place of worship. There were tables decorated as usual with unusual stuff on the table. I saw a goblet and thought, oohhh we are taking communion with our small groups..Awesome. Okay, I was a bit wrong.

I saw down to find our program, which had Spring celebration on one side. The other side said Passover Haggadah! Interesting. Our speaker got up and said we would be having a Seder (Sader) meal and incorporating all of the traditions. I am over half way done with studying the Old Testament, and thought this would be awesome.

So our speaker put on the traditional prayer shaw, and explained the morning to us. First of all, the reason the Passover Haggadah was on the back of the program is because that's how its supposed to be read, from back to front. Our leader put a veil over her head at the proper times, and we shared the meal, going from right to left. We had beautiful music performed by the home school kids at the church and as the meal continued, we learned about
Lighting the Candles
The 4 Cups of Wine
The Cup of Sanctification
Parsley
Karpas
The 4 questions
The Matzah
The Maror including the bitter herbs
Dippinfg twice and the Charoset
Recline
The story of the Passover
Dayeinu- beautiful song
The Afikomen
The Cup of Redemption
The Cup of Elijah and
The Cup of Praise

But as we took communion at the end of the morning, most women had tears in their eyes as we shared this together.
The women took the time to prepare this wonderful opportunity which ended up being an awesome worship experience.

Seriously, this rocking, contemporary church turned back time and taught me how to celebrate the Passover. You gotta love it!

If you are in Atlanta, check out www.northmetro.org

Michael and I disagree on a few things, but we both love the teaching here. They teach from the word in very creative ways. Wow!
We ended the morning with a video about the women's conference coming to Atlanta which will include Kay Arthur, Mandissa and Beth Moore. entitled Deeper Still. I am the only chick in our group who has never heard Beth Moore, but that's another story as well.

not to bring on the tears but

For weeks, I have been following a blog. I know, I follow lots of blogs. But this is oh so special. Its not because the daddy is a bit if a celebrity in the Christian music world. But because of what they have shared with the blogging world.

This family found out they were pregnant with their 3rd daughter. During an ultrasound, they found out their sweet Audrey Caroline, may not make it and they were told to abort the baby. They chose not to, but knew that Audrey would not live a long time. They shared their journey on their blog. They shared their hearts and what God was doing to their family. This is an awesome, humble family and I am thankful for them. I am once again thankful for the blogging world and that I was encouraged once again.

Sweet Audrey passed away a few hours after birth and today, her momma wrote her the most beautiful, heartfelt, letter I have ever read on a blog.
If you would like to read more of their story, click here. They have embraced the blog world. If you have listened to the group Selah, this is the lead singers family!

Idol, IPOD, need music

ok David Cook rocks the house! and the drama with his family this week is just heart breaking..The dude is awesome
thats really all I have to say about that!

Today is update the IPOD day. I shall be deleting and maybe adding. Whats on your IPOD or do you have a cd that I must listen to?

I like a lot of stuff, mostly Contemporary Christian, pop and country with music soundtracks included. Come on friends, show me some love and tell me what I need on my IPOD!

dreaded Weigh In

I avoided it. Didnt want to go. Did not do my best this past week, but I went. Down 1.8 pounds, which means I have lost over 18 pounds and there is a good chance I will hit the 20 pound mark before next week! Plan is to enjoy the cruise, with wise choices of course, and exercise with sister every day on the boat..

SO, the weight loss has slowed down but its mostly because of my choices..I even had spaghetti and pizza this weekend.

So we will start again tomorrow and hope my knee is feeling better as I really am enjoying my workouts with my IPOD

Gotta work tonight and Monday night so weigh in will be Tuesday.


A lot of people on WW have blogs and have included what they call their "staple foods". so I thought I would share my list. Hope that you will help me add on.

Added 10 more minutes to my exercise Saturday. Its finally fun to exercise and I know I will feel better afterwards!

WooHoo

WW- weight watchers

WW Yogurt- only 1 point
WW Ice Cream toffee bars- 2 points
FF shredded cheddar Cheese
Low fat Mozzarella
Light BabyBel cheese
2 point snacks
fresh veggies
frozen veggies that just need to be steamed
skinless boneless chicken breast
FF sour cream
Cant believe its not butter
Egg whites
Bacon
prechopped onions and pepper
WW English Muffins and Bagels
WW and South Beach frozen meals
Trader Joes Orange Chicken
Cereal
bananas

Ask me, ask me anything

Ok, I am a copy cat but I too, like blog interaction.

So, I took the idea from Steven and I say to you,

What do you want to ask me? Anything, really. I will be as honest as possible!!!!

weight, loss,exercise and food

Thursday 13 posted below


Had my first bad eating day..Got up late for a meeting at work but brought a 3 point muffin with me and a big cup of water which I refilled almost hourly. For lunch I had a McDonalds Asian salad with grilled chicken and light dressing for an 8 point total and might I add was rockin awesome!
Came home and had 2 GS cookies (hey had plenty of points left, so I thought) and then 2 more and then 2 more making it a grand total of 6 cookies which I couldn't even find the box becase they were just in the plastic wrap making it quite difficult to find the points..I did and yuck! Those were soooo not worth it..
Trivia night. Had some chips and queso, actually had a lot of chips and queso. But for the actual dinner, I had the grilled chicken sandwich without the bread and steamed broccoli. One day isn't bad I guess.

This morning, I have already been to the gym and did an extra 5 minutes on the stair thing and had a WW bagel and cream cheese and will have a potato and veggies for lunch with some protein for dinner.
Actual this dieting thing could be a lot of fun. I just need to get some creativity.
Tymm, I bought that stuff from Trader Joes. Just gotta figure out what to cook with it. A lot of people had heard of it. Where have I been?

Anyway, if you have any dieting tips or favorite WW foods that are pretty decent in points, let me know!

So regardless if you are participating in Thursday Thirteen, tell me one blog or website that you visit daily!

Thursday 13

This is my first Thursday 13 in months! Good to be back

Thirteen Things about Amy 13 websites I visit daily and why . Let me know if you visit any please 1. Valtools Box- its my hubbys blog OOOOOh, hes got a good Thursday 13, today..If you like anything Disney, check him out! 2.Taking You Back- hubbys 80s blog 3.Cf Husband- just go visit, what a blessing 4. bloglines- gotta keep track of the 400 blogs I try to read. Thank God not everyone updates daily. I cant list all the blogs I read so this covers everyone! Let me clarify, I do not read 400 a day, thats just how many are on my bloglines list! This includes a lot of adoption blogs like www.babyhoffman.com (sorry Laura) heehee! 5. Ragamuffin Soul- awesome, must read blog! Fabulous blogger who is a daddy and worship dude in Atlanta. Quite entertaining. 6.Weight Watchers Message boards 7. Disboards- going on a Disney Cruise in 2 weeks, this is for any Disney fan ..message boards about parks, cruises and just about anything 8. CHOA- my work, CHildrens Healthcare of Atlanta. usually just checking email, great info for parents 9. China Adoption Sites- Links to blogs who are close to travelling to get their sweet babies 10. When Love Takes You In- Our adoption blog 11. Steven Russell- a fun guys with a cool blog who gets his readers into thought provoking conversation. Likes sports 12. Yahoo groups- involved in lots of adoption groups 13 CNN-ok I look at the main stories and then I click on the entertainment section, heh at least I am being honest Rounding up the list is Jeff, since I listed his friend and didnt want to hurt his feelings in case he reads this and I doubt he will so I might as well erase this since I get a comment from him once a year but perhaps by putting his name and link here, you guys can visit him and tell him to stop by. Fun guy!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!









The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

weight watchers,Shelby, and blogs

Please keep praying for Shelby, she is still in the hospital hoping she will eat and drink a little bit more!

Today, got home from work and made a WW English muffin with low sodium bacon, egg whites and chopped onions and peppers.Not bad for 6 points.

But then, I woke up and was starving so I ate 4 girl scout cookies, actually had 2 more when I woke up which is a total of 9 points.

Dinner was a KFC mashed potato bowl which I have been wanting for a while. Now this was a big pointer at 16 points...

I actually have points left over. So, I didn't eat the healthiest today but I am full and semi stayed on the program..

Looking to redo my blog with the blog fairy and shes helping raise money for the Starfish Orphanage.
I'm not sure if I am going to stay with Random Thoughts or attempt something creative!!! Any thoughts my creative blogging friends!!!

weigh in and bullet posts

Got back from this weeks weight in and how do you think I did? Well, this weeks loss is 3.6 pounds making my start from 4/10 (less than a month ago) at 16.8 pounds woohoo!

Last night Michael did dinner and made yummy burgers with a salad and a potato where I added butter and fat free sour cream and cheese and then I added a Weight Watchers cookie dough sundae for dessert. Oh my gosh, that's good. If you are not doing weight watchers, you have to try these!

Lunch today will be another potato and maybe some soup and then a healthy choice meal for dinner with extra veggies and a couple of snacks like WW 1 point yogurt, some almonds and maybe some cheese.

Found out that work is reimbursing people up to 25 dollars a month who do Weight Watchers.

Poor Michael. He went back to work after having a pretty sleepless night. He was coughing sooo much. Pray for him that he returns to good health.

Our little friend Shelby should be out of surgery now from having her cleft palate repair! I get to see her tonight.

Still working on a contest. The prize will be something you can only find on a Disney cruise!! WooHoo

Watched the end of Return of the King last night. Is it just me or does the scene where the guys says to Frodo, "You bow to no one" and the in turns to bows to Frodo just incredibly moving? I tear up everytime that scene comes on!

Working on reading Blue Like Jazz. How convicting. I very much appreciate him writing this book and being so honest with his feelings. It makes you rethink the term "Christianity" and how the world now views it. I think a lot of us have shared some of his feelings before. I am reading about "empty passion" and it is making me think. I do not want to judge every human being, but dude, we are a selfish society. At least I am. Publicly you may not see my selfishness but there are those decisions that you make yourself that you choose to benefit only yourself. I sooo don't want to be like that.

I want sooo much to be selfless. I want to be transparent. I do not want to put on "an act" when inside I feel something so different. Sorry, for the rambling.

Got some baby time yesterday and worked in 7-12 month nursery..Too fun! I played with a Thunder! WooHoo!

comment game-again

Working this weekend. Will post substances later..Until then. Play the comment game. THanks

Here's how it goes: I'll start the game off in the comments section by choosing two words or phrases, like coffee or tea, and which ever one you prefer you choose. You can also explain why. When you have done that you do two new words or phrases for the next commenter to choose from. Feel free to come back as often as you like. Just have fun.

comment game closed for now.

hi there

Hey! Updating my blogroll. Most of you are in my bloglines but let me know if ya want to be added to the list to the left.

I have decided that there is no reason for boredom. I have decided that every time I am bored and can not find anything to, I will just talk to God. Simple.

Well last night God and I had a chat. You know when you go to bed and you close your eyes, there is this silence (even with the radio on). Just very peaceful. I am trying to be a lot more honest in my prayers. God knows my heart anyone, might as well spill everything. I had a prayer jumbo last night. Meaning, it was full of everything, all kinds of people, all kinds of emotions. I have mentioned this week that I am feeling very convicted about telling people they are in my prayers and then not doing it I am working on this.

Well, my heart is really full right now. I am thankful for my husband and a huge decision he made. I pray for him daily. I pray that he will love others. I pray that others will love him and not judge him, but hold him accountable. I pray that he will grow into the spiritual leader he was created for.
I pray for my adoption friends. Tymm and Laura 's family. I pray for Shelby who is having surgery next week. Sooo many things.
Last night I prayed for Tricia and Nate or the CF husband family Now, I have not seen God speak through the internet until this week and it was not a whisper. God's voice has been raining down on this blogging community. If this man prayed that he would touch others, his prayer was answered. I have been inspired by my patients, my friends but friends, this is different. I will never meet this family. I have learned to pray with honesty and to pray for others in a different way. What a gift to pray behalf of friends. They were my prayers all night and I know others had them in their prayers as well.

Its not my place to tell their story but this is a family in which the mom has Cystic Fibrosis. They had a baby born very early. Last night, Tricia had a double lung transplant. You just need to go read. Not only is he a great writer, his photography just rocks. I don't know him. he doesn't know me but Nate and Tricia are my brothers and sisters in Christ,

Michael and I have a friend named April, who is now a rocking blogger. She was Michael's friend before we got married and she is a wife and mother. We now share a connection. Our hearts have been changed by this family. We have cried on the phone, we chat online making sure we are caught up. April just rocks. Now I know she will read this and she is quite a humble person, but before we were really friends, April came over and helped me get my wedding invitations ready. Anyway, where were we? This blog has strengthened my friendship with her.

Anyway, my heart and mind are full. There are many things I want to blog about, but I think it would come out wrong. So I will stop here.

Do me a favor? Pray for someone you don't like today. Sounds odd. I know there must be someone who has hurt you. Perhaps a friendship ended because of words. Pray for them. They need it. Just felt like saying that

Nate, if you read this. I know you had over 1000 comments yesterday. Please know that I am thankful for you and Tricia's hearts and thanks for being so open with us!

pray for tricia, shes getting new lungs..its a go!

www.cfhusband.blogspot.com

woohoo

PRAY PEOPLE!!!!!

its a small world after all!

As we get ready for our Disney cruise the end of the month, I thought I would ask this question to all of you.

Who is your favorite Disney Character (animated or real life and why?)


Rumor has it that Jack Sparrow has been spotted on the boat..Im so excited!!!!!!

today

Okay, so this morning I had a bite (okay a big bite) of FF angel food cake. That was it and then I had lunch with my friend Elizabeth and her new baby Ethan. I had 7 chips and salsa and chicken fajitas with no S cream or cheese or guac but did have beans and rice..Good stuff!!

Came home with a sub for sick Michael and headed to the gym and that felt good.

Then to Publix for supplies (Like WW toffee bars, the WW ice cream is on sale) We are having baked potato's for dinner and adding soup for Michael.

Other than that its just a chill out day. Ive met some new WW blogging friends and that's been cool and a few of them live near me. Hi new friends!

Working Thurs, Fri and Saturday and then nursery duty on Sunday. Not sure if I will be in China or Australia though..

Keep praying for Tricia and Nate. She had to have a chest tube put in to help with some pain.!!!!

By the way, I feel a contest coming on!