Happy Thanksgiving

I love this holiday. I mean REALLY love it. I do enjoy the meaning of it, but I mostly like the food, and the fact that I don't have to cook most of it. I don't mind cooking/helping, but just knowing that I am not responsible for the entire meal is the bees knees to me. There has been a few years where I have cooked at home, even though we were going to my in-laws. But, it wasn't stressful, because I WANTED to cook; I wasn't required to cook. But that's not my only reason for loving Thanksgiving: I love getting together with family. I really like my husband's family. I would love it if one year his family and my family could get together and enjoy Thanksgiving together. In the 15 years my husband and I have been together, we have always pretty much gotten along. That would be great, because my kids would love that, and I think all the nieces and nephews would love it, too.

A month of food for less than $260!!!

I did it! With the move and trying to get ready for Christmas, we are B.R.O.K.E. So hubby told me to see if I could buy grocery for the month with $200. I was skeptical, but I knew that God would make it happen. Well, He one upped me.... My in-laws gave us a $60 giftcard for Thanksgiving and my mother-in-law gave me 2 gallon size bags of greens and 1 of broccoli. So cool, I was now at $260 with a few items already in the kitchen. Here is the menu for the month. Remember, I only cook dinner on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The other days we eat leftovers from the day before. Everything is made from scratch, except for the cereals

Breakfast:

waffles, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, muffins, oatmeal, cold cereal

Lunch:

beefaroni, ramen noodles (the kids like these for some odd reason, so I buy them maybe twice a year), cheeseburger mac, tomato soup and grilled cheese, pizza, tacos, PB&J, hotdogs

Dinner:

Sunday meals- baked beans, ground beef rice and muffins; fish, baked potatoes & corn on cob; beef pot pie, fish and grits

2 day meals- turkey noodle soup & sandwiches; chili & crackers; chopped steak, yellow rice, greenbeans; hamburgers and fries; baked chicken, chicken flavored rice and broccoli; red beans and rice w/ sausage; shredded beef, yellow rice & turnip/collard greens; beef stew over rice; roast black eye peas rice & mac & cheese; spaghetti

Snacks:

marshmallows (the kids love them), cookies, cinnamon bread, brownies, trailmix

The total came to $288.56. But that total included a pair of sneakers for Darion ($13), a perm and new comb for Mikaela ($8), and a DVD for my hubby ($20). There were a few other things that my hubby threw in the basket that I had not intended to buy.

We are feeding a family of 7 on less than $260. God is so good. I will point out that I do not have to buy babyfood. We bought a Magic Bullet a few months ago, and that was the best $55 we have spent in a LOOOOONG time. All I hacve to do is scoop some of whatever I cook for the rest of the family into that thing, and VOILA! babyfood in 5-10 seconds. I did try to buy some jarred food for him, but he refuses to eat it. Works for me, because this is so much cheaper.

"Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it" Psalm 65:9

Day 9

Yeah, I know I was doing good and I did loose a couple of pounds, but I have realized that I just do not have the time nor financial resources to pull this off at this time. I am still going to eat sensibly, and add in a workout or walk whenever I have the time, so I will still be losing weight; just not as rapidly.

I know I will get back to my normal size, I just have to come to grips with the fact that it will take a little time. Hubby is not complaining, and he still likes how I look.... It is amazing how love will make you overlook certain things. Thank God for love!!

On a different note; my baby likes to play Pat-A-Cake. It is so cute. When you mention it, he starts to clap his hands. He even gets mad if you don't start singing it when he claps. So demanding, yet so cute. I love that little guy.

Mekhi said the funniest thing the other day. He was pretending to be Superman and was beating the bad guy up (Daddy). He told him that he was going to hit him in his weak parts. He was talking about the male nether region! I have no idea where that boy comes up with some of the stuff he says.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1

Day 7 (day 6 was a free day)

Last night I had a salad for dinner to make up for the pizza night on Friday. So far today I am doing pretty good. I really want a donut or something, but I am going to settle for strawberries and yogurt later on. I think it is a good compromise.



breakfast: 3/4 cup bran cereal (110 calories), 1/16 cup almonds (43 calories), 1/8 cup raisins (65 calories), 1/2 cup milk (75 calories) Total: 293 calories



lunch: 1 cup veggie soup (100 calories), 1 hotdog (230 calories), 1 pickle spear (10 calories)
Total: 340 calories

snack 1/2 cup yogurt and strawberries (103 calories)

dinner: shrimp alfredo and a crap load of garlic bread (the calories probably totaled 900 calories) I ate ALOT of bread!

Total calories: 1636

Still not a bad day overall. Hubby made me realize that now is probably the worst time ever to go on a diet. He is definitely right, with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up. I love desserts and snacks! I am going to try my best, but I am sure I am going to cave quite a bit.

I think I only drank about 48oz of water today. Gotta do better than that. Going up and down these stairs have to count for something in the exercise department.

"And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." I Timothy 1:14

Day 5

I worked out this morning!!! I did a 48 minute Pilates (fat burning) video. I am so proud of myself. I drank 24oz of water with the workout. I was so tempted to quit a few times, but I kept telling myself that I could keep going. Wow, that was invigorating!



breakfast: same as Monday (273 calories)

lunch: 2 chicken & rice soft tacos (275 calories) and 1 cup pineapples (160 calories)
Total: 435 calories

snack: 1/2 cup plain yogurt and strawberries (103 calories)

dinner: I had 2 slices of pizza and 2 breadsticks (both homemade). I am going to use this meal as part of my free day. I will eat a sensible dinner tomorrow. I am going to base the calories on Pizza Hut's nutrition guide (I know my pizza was nowhere near the total calories as a commercial pizza). So the total calories would be around 400. I also had lemonade, so I will add another 200 calories. Total: 600

Total calories: 1411 calories

My food intake still came way under 1800 calories. I am quite proud of myself. By the time I go to bed I will have consumed 80+ ounces of water. Not a bad day. I even tackled the monster-load of laundry upstairs!

"For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37

Day 4

breakfast: same as Monday (273 calories)

lunch: 3 chicken & rice soft tacos (413 calories)

snack: 1/2 cup plain yogurt w/ strawberries ( 103 calories), 1 donut (87 calories), I'm going to add 100 calories, because my mom coerced me into tasting cheese schiccacia bread from Publix. I only had a tiny bit, but I have no idea what it was made of. Total: 290 calories

dinner: cheeseburger w/ grilled onions (450 calories), sweet potato fries (300 calories- I ate way more of these than yesterday) Total: 750 calories

Total: 1726 calories

I drank 96 ounces of water today! I still did not workout, but that's ok. I have come to realize that it won't be happening this week. Next week is a new week....

"My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. " Psalm 121:2

Day 3

I know I said I would not weigh myself except on Mondays, but I couldn't resist. I HAVE LOST 1 POUND!!!!! I know 1 pound is not a whole lot, but it is a start, so I am ecstatic, considering it is only Wednesday.





breakfast: 1 cup of grits (110 calories), 1 tablespoon margarine ( 60 calories), 1 serving of grouper (80 calories) Total: 250 calories


lunch: 1 Wendy's grilled chicken go wrap (260 calories)


snack: fish sandwich (180 calories)


dinner: cheeseburger w/ grilled onions (450 calories), oven-baked sweet potato fries (200 calories) Total: 650 calories

Total calories: 1340 calories

I got 80 ounces of water in today!

Still no workout. I am so busy with STILL unpacking, trying to decorate, wash a mountain of clothes, nursing, cooking, and trying to take care of all my little people, that I have not had hardly anytime for anything "extra". I gave been going up and down the stairs, though. So maybe that will count. I have to start working out. I know, baby steps....

"O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me." Psalm 30:2

Day 2

I did not get a chance to do my workout today, so I will make sure I at least do some stretching before I go to bed. I went shopping with Mikaela, instead. At least I got in some light housework before she and I left the house.

Here are my meals today....

breakfast: the same as yesterday (273 calories)

lunch: the same as yesterday with a grilled cheese sandwich (370 calories)

snack: a pack of cookies (420 calories) I got munchy and there was no will-power.

dinner: grilled chicken breast (250 calories), 1/2 cup baked beans (230 calories), 1/4 cup potato salad (290 calories). Total: 770

Total calories: 1833

I have only gotten in 48oz of water again today. I know I can get in at least 24 more ounces with a good workout.

Tomorrow is a new day, and Lord willing I will be able to do better than today.

"Behold, God is mine helper...." Psalm 54:4

Day 1 of my weightloss

Today is my first day to a slimmer, healthier me. Here are my stats:

Weight: 188.6 (I don't know how true that is, since yesterday the scale said I weighed 191)

chest: 39 1/2 inches

waist: 33 inches

midriff: 38 inches

hips: 44 inches

right upper arm: 13 inches

left upper arm: 13 1/2 inches

right thigh: 27 1/2 inches

left thigh: 27 inches

right calf: 14 3/4 inches

left calf: 14 3/4 inches


I'm a little lopsided!





breakfast: 3/4 cup Product 19- 80 calories

1/8 cup raisins- 65 calories

1/16 cup sliced almonds- 43 calories

1/2 cup whole milk- 75 calories

Total- 273 calories



lunch: 1 cup homemade vegetable soup-100 calories

1/2 cup pineapples- 80 calories

Total-180 calories



I will not be eating a snack today because we have dinner plans at CiCi's pizza with some friends. I know that alone will total around 1200 calories.



OK, it is 4:29PM and I am starving. I just realized that I have not even consumed 500 calories so far today. I am going to eat a chicken sandwich, which will be approximately 300 calories. I have been unpacking and moving some furniture around, so I know I have gotten in my recommended 60 minutes of exercise today. Man, I am really going to have to practice restraint tonight with the pizza. The good thing is that I don't eat pork, so I will only be eating veggie pizza. Maybe I will throw in a salad, too.

We ended up going to Golden Corral (buffet). I actually did pretty good. I had a large salad (approximately 200 calories) with grilled chicken strips and a sweet potato (137 calories). I did give in to my biggest weakness, besides chocolate, and had a slice of pecan pie (240 calories). Oh, and I did have two spoonfuls of banana pudding (1/2 cup is 466 calories, so I am going to guesstimate 100 calories)while feeding it to Darion. My total dinner calories was 677.

Total calories for 11/10/2008: 1430 calories

Overall, not a bad day. I only drank 48oz of water, so I have to make sure that I at least double that today. One day at a time....

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Time to lose weight

I have decided that I am not happy being fat. I am aware that one person's idea of fat is different from someone elses. I need to do this for me. I am not going to do anything drastic or dangerous. That has never been who I am. Besides, I am still nursing, so my health and what I put in my body is important to the health of my little guy. I have lost 24 pounds in 6 weeks before, so I know it is possible. But I need to lose more than 24 pounds this go round. I am going to track my progress or lack thereof on this blog. This is going to be extremely revealing. I am going to take before, during and after pictures, post my measurements, exercise, meals, and my joys and sorrows. This will definitely keep me motivated.

Here is my plan: I will begin Monday morning, November 10, 2008.

1. I will drink at least 80oz of water per day.
2. I will not consume more than 1800 calories Sunday-Friday. (Saturday is a free day)
3. I will workout for 1 hour Monday-Friday, and for 30 minutes on Sunday. My workouts will include The Firm, Pilates, circuit training, and walking.
4. I will weigh and measure myself once per week on Monday mornings.
5. I will not cry and become unmotivated because I mess up. I will just start over from that point.

Wish me luck, no, don't wish me luck. There is no luck needed, because I can do all things through Christ....

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Psalm 18:2

My big guy is 14 today!

Where does time go? I can still remember holding Jaylem in my arms the day he was born. It seems like yesterday I would tell him that I loved him to infinity and he would say he loved me three infinity. Jaylem is my angel. He is probably the most compassionate, empathetic and loving person I know. He's always been our "little man". I don't ever remember talking baby talk to him. When I was in college I would read my calculus problems out loud so he would think I was talking to him. He heard stories about Emmitt Till and Medgar Evers from my African American Studies classes. Those things have paid off, because he is extremely intelligent and very articulate (except when he decides to talk slang). I shouldn't complain about the slang, though, because it just means he can turn it on and off, and at least he knows when to use it and when not to use it. My baby is almost a man! In four years I will have to watch him leave the nest.

This growing up thing is miraculous. I can see him morphing into a mighty fine young man. I couldn't be more proud. Well I better get in this kitchen and bake his birthday apple pie. I think I will try to form it into a football.

"and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice." Proverbs 23:24-25

A new president, and what it means for us....

I can honestly say that I strongly believe Barack Obama is going to be the next president of the USA. Is it the best thing for America? That remains to be seen. I will be honest, I voted for Obama. Why, when I am pro-life, anti-gay marriage, and a homeschooler? For one reason and one reason alone.... because he is black. I know what people are saying. "you are a Christian first". Yep, in a perfect world, that would ring true. But even in Christian circles, I am black first. In America, I am always black first. True, I have been accepted for who I am by many white Americans, but there are more white Americans that have made sure I was reminded of what I am. I can't just teach my children that as Christians they will be accepted and respected by other Christians. History has proven otherwise, and my life has proven otherwise as well. White Christians do not have to teach their sons to not put their hands in their pockets in the supermarket. They do not have to explain to their sons why white women exit elevators or change their purses to the opposite side when a black man comes near them. And yes, I have witnessed this first-hand. I have white friends that do not wear wedding bands and have 4-5 kids and have never been questioned as to the number of fathers her kids have. Yes, I have been. So yes, I voted for him because he is black. You get tired of being on the bottom. You get tired of getting treated like you are less than. My mother remembers having to get her KFC from the back of the restaurant out of a little window. My father-in-law remembers fighting in Vietnam and then coming back to the USA and having to ride at the back of the bus and drink out of "colored" water fountains. My husband's 92 year old grandmother picked cotton for pennies, and her parents ad grandparents were slaves. She remembers only being allowed to be a maid/nanny. She knows first-hand what it was like to not be able to vote, and to be denied her right to vote when legally she was able to. My uncle just got beat down in his yard in St. Petersburg because he told a white lady to get off of his lawn. He's over 50 and disabled, so how much damage could he inflict on five young white guys who told him that "we" think we are uppity because a n***** thinks he's going to be president? My brother turns 40 this year, and it was during the time he was born that black people got the right to vote. So yeah, I voted for him because he's black.



If you didn't vote for Obama because of his moral views, then how can you vote for McCain? Did God say one sin was greater than the other? Or did He say that if you break one of His commandments, then you have broken them all? Didn't McCain commit adultery? Didn't he defraud the American people out of major money and help cause the 1980's recession (look up the Keating 5)? So tell me adultery, lying, and cheating are not sins. Obama may be voting against the government choosing what is morally right or wrong, but in his life he is living the opposite of those votes, at least from what we know of his life. I know America was founded on christian values, but it was also founded on the right to chose . Didn't the Pilgrims come here to not be told how to worship? When the constitution was signed, it gave the citizens the right to practice their beliefs even if they were different than the governing body. So since we do not have a theocracy, how can the government decide what is morally right with so many individuals practicing their own "brand" of Christianity posing as our leaders? Even as Christians we can't even agree on how to live and worship God, so how do we assume we have the right to tell other people how to live? I am pro-life (we have 5 kids, so abortion is definitely not something we would ever consider), but what right do I have to push my morals off on someone else? I do not have to answer to God for someone elses choices. God gave us freewill, so why do mere humans feel they can take that away?



And another thing, why is Obama just black? Isn't his mother a white woman? Wasn't he raised by his white grandparents? Why can't he just be an American who is running for president? Is McCain categorized as a white man running for president? Nope, just a man running for president. Also, ask yourself this.... If McCain was a black man and had graduated at the bottom of his class, would the American public be as receptive to him? Obama is highly intelligent and has been labeled as conceited (too smart to relate). How can he be too smart? Shouldn't that be a plus?



I could go on for days. But I digress. We as Americans have the right to vote for whomever we want. Thank God for America, and I pray for whichever man ends up with the job of leading our country.


I didn't post this when I first composed it, and I am glad I held off. I am proud to announce that Barack Obama is now President-elect Barack Obama! We have to remember Romans 13:1 AND SUPPORT HIM AS OUR NEW LEADER. Not everyone is happy with the outcome of the election, I know this for sure. However, we serve a living God, and He has told us not to fear. Honestly, can this one man who has checks and balances really make people have abortions, make gay people get married, or single-handedly stop my right to homeschool? Why are people fearing this man because he is black or because they think he will usher in socialism and eventually communism? Does the Bible not say he is ordained by God? If he does push our country into socialism or communism then it was God's will. Does that mean God will forsake His believers? Heaven's no! When has He EVER turned His back on us? Whenever the Church is persecuted, we have always leaned more on God. History has shown that we tend to be more on fire for Him during those times. Get on fire for God. Produce and raise more soldiers for the Lord. If you feel abortion is the primary concern of our day, then have more babies. Did you know that birth control is an abortifacient? You may not be shelling out $500 a whoop to get rid of unwanted babies, but when you decide to take birth control you are contributing to aborting babies. I know that sounds harsh, but the truth hurts sometimes, and we are commanded to admonish one another.

I am hearing so many people claiming they are sick to their stomachs regarding the outcome of this election. Come on, people, GET OVER IT! Those of us that knew in our hearts that Bush was wrong for this country had to get over it, twice. And you know what? We survived, and so will you.

God is in control.

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. " Romans 13:1-2

Jello cookies

I was reading a blog today that posted a recipe for Jello cookies. So of course I had to try it. Everybody knows we love cookies, and how many kids do not like jello? I have so much jello in my pantry that I was willing to go ahead and possibly "waste" a box to try this out.

The Verdict: They were OK. I wouldn't write home to momma about them, but they were kinda good. We used strawberry jello, so they had a hint of strawberry flavoring. They were like sugar cookies with strawberry flavoring. Now, we make some great sugar cookies, if I may say so myself, so we are a little bias. These were bland sugar cookies. My opinion, try them out yourself, because like I said, we make some great sugar cookies and these were not OUR sugar cookies.



Here's the recipe:



3/4 cup butter or margarine (we used margarine, I am cheap)

1/2 cup sugar

1 pkg jello

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt



Cream the first four ingredients. Add the other ingredients, adding the flour last. Mix. Roll spoonfuls of dough in sugar and bake on a cookie sheet for 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees F.



I am sure this recipe could be tweaked to taste better. Maybe someone would like to give it a try.



There was one plus, they were pink, so Mikaela thought they were great. The kids ate them, but each of them only ate 2 each, so that was a clear indication that they weren't amazing.



"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31