Freshman 15

   I have always heard everyone talk about the freshman 15, but didn't experience it when I went to college.  Let me just say, that freshman 15 isn't just about college--it has snuck up on me since becoming a sahm in November!  I have had problems with my weight since I was 10, but leveled out at around 150 in high school & remained there till my 1st pregnancy.  Last year I was walking & slowly getting the pounds off, then I became a 'freshman'.  I think it was so easy to do at work because we were all doing it together & kept each other accountable.  Here at home, there isn't anyone to hold me accountable.  So, this morning I took pictures for my weight loss journey, but I've decided not to post them yet.  I just can't make myself right now, but maybe after I am at my goal weight.  I have read several other stories about weight loss & am going to use an idea that I read about (not sure where saw it, sorry).  I am going to try a reward system for myself that doesn't include food!  This has always been an issue with me since I am an emotional eater.  I am already down 13 lbs since last month, so I a over 1/2 way to my first reward...yeah me!  I have changed these rewards a few times, but have settled on the following:
After 20 lb loss--Spa Pedi (I do my own every week & have always enjoyed going to the spa for it)
After 35 lb loss--Walking Shoes (my current pair is over 3 yrs old)
After 50 lb loss--Hair Appt (I've wanted to do drastic color since becoming a sahm)
After 65 lb loss--Cowgirl Boots (haven't owned a pair in over 10 yrs, but wore them everyday before kids)
After 80 lb loss--New Tattoo (once you get 1, they are addicting)
After 95 lb loss--Full Closet Makeover (shopping spree!!)
   After talking about this with DH, I decided that the freshman 15 hasn't just applied to my weight.  When I was working, I had a routine for the home--15 minutes of cleaning every morning before work, after getting home keep going because if I sat down, it was over!  I would go nonstop from walking in the door at 6 pm till dropping into the bed at 10:30 or 11.  Since i'm not working now, I have just felt like "oh, well, I have all day...no rush".  Then I do the 'crash & burn' where I clean like a mad woman for hrs & crash with pure exhaustion.  I am now working on 15 minute intervals of cleaning then rest every day & using a cleaning schedule.
   There are 2 websites that I am using for these 2 freshman 15.  I am using LoseIt for the weight loss & FlyLady for the cleaning.  Hoping I can get some control back!

Starting Over

Well, it has been soo long since I last blogged, but we have been very busy.  The last few months of school were crazy hectic, Vernon got a transfer a little closer to home (which meant a schedule change of 1 week gone then 1 week home instead of 2 & 2), & then summer was here!!  In early May, my mom asked me to start helping my grandmother with her dr appts since she had taken on a new position at her work & this meant more hours, so I have become her sidekick!  This has been a blessing, allowing us to spend more time together.  She has a scheduled surgery at the end of June, which went just as planned with only a 2 day hospital stay, but after 3 days after getting her home, I rcvd a phone call from my father-in-law that he had been feeling sick & had went to the direct care clinic here in town & they were waiting on the ambulance to take him to the hospital (45 miles away)......'GREAT DAY, what am I gonna do now?'  That was the first thought than went through my head, but then I pulled it together, went to my neighbors & begged for her to take me to the clinic to pick up his truck since that was his current concern & I couldn't very well have my 12 yr old drive!!  My mind was racing with 'We have to go out to Granny's house & take care of her; Vernon is, of course, out of state working; He can't be at the hospital by himself, alone.....' (you get the picture).  My adrenaline kicked in & we were off!!  Had the kids pack bags for the hospital waiting room (for the upteenth time), checked on & got my grandmother settled for the day & headed to the hospital.  After we arrived, the nurse informed me they were going to schedule surgery asap for an appendectomy.  She stressed to me how dangerous this would be since his blood sugar & blood pressure were extremely high & they were certain that there wasn't much time before rupture.  Guess what, a daughter-in-law isn't authorized to sign for medical consent....just my luck!!  After speaking with the drs many times they decided that not giving any more meds & having him sign consent in pre-op was the only option.  Surgery was successful, but he had a 4 day hospital stay.  He is now home & resting with me doing his laundry, cooking, & errand running.  Again, a blessing in disguise, as Vernon & his dad are now closer.
 So, after all this, we have decided to Start Over.  We really evaluated where we were in our lives--emotionally, spiritually--everywhere.  God is everything & we should do everything in His glory to praise Him.  A lot of questions came up about where we praised Him....aren't we suppose to help others; isn't family important; is one denomination better that another.  Our answers...we aren't were we feel we need to be; yes, God gave us a family to help each other; no, Jesus is the way-not catholic, baptist, lutheran, methodist.......
Starting Over in all aspects of our lives has been hard.  We are retraining our brains & I am working on retraining my body.  I began reading 'The Power of the Praying Wife' which is such a great book.  It is really hard for me to only read 1 chapter a night!  Vernon began reading the Bible faithfully with a coworker while they are at work & we began a journey of spiritual discovery with a nondenominational church.  I have began a lifestyle change of eating better & exercising daily.  I wish I could get the courage to take pictures & post here for motivation, but not sure if I could do that!!  Who knows, I may surprise myself & just do it for my own record.  I will absolutely be blogging about our changes, but not so sure about the pictures!!

Spring Break

Soo, the cake decorating classes were cancelled due to lack of sign-ups.  That was a bummer, but everything happens for a reason, so on to the next adventure.  Things have been busy here at the Schaefer house, with Girl Scout cookie sales, school functions, & everyday life.  I did get some part-time work (3-4 days a month) at a food vendor cart at 1st Monday.  I began today & within 5 minutes of arriving, I was learning how to roll egg rolls!  It's too bad Vernon & the kids won't eat them :(  Oh well, I did get a little cultural lesson out of it, if nothing else!
   Speaking of cultural lessons, there has been something really weighing on our hearts for the past couple of months, & we are still in discussion & prayer for God to lead us down the right path.  We are looking at possibly homeschooling the kids after this summer.  It is such a huge commitment & will take a lot of time & work, but the rewards seem so worth it.  This year has just really worn our family out, with all the stress placed on the kids regarding the standardized testing, the tons of homework, & let's not forget all the fundraisers!  It seems that the schools are trying to make up for the state budget cuts by adding more fundraisers, & with kids at 2 different campuses, it is re-donk-ulous!!  Not to mention the constant money needs for field trips, t-shirts, or 'extra' supplies.  I added those up today that are due during the month of April, $125--that we know of right now!  I am not in the habit of complaining about the public school system, but wow, this just seems unbelievable!!  We will be praying that God leads us down the right path & hope that the decision that we make is right for our family.
   Tomorrow at 3 pm begins our Spring Break & I think I am more excited than the kids are.  I have lots of crafts & activities lined out for us & can't wait to get started on some of them.  Since next week is Holy Week, the majority of the crafts are for the Easter breakfast at church that I am planning for the fifth year.  The past two years I was stuck in a rut with the decorations & activities, but we are going to change that this year, & I can't wait!  Hopefully I can post pics of some of our activities (I know I haven't been doing good at that, but hey, i'm new at this blogging thing--I have to give myself a break).
   Soo much to do & soo little time---we wouldn't have it any other way  :)

No sense in wasting...time or peanut butter!!

Well, I didn't do very well at posting in less than 2 weeks, it's been almost a month!!  I have been feeling very homey lately.  I made my 2nd batch of homemade peanut butter today.  The 1st was a little too salty, but we ate it anyway...no sense in wasting peanut butter.  I have been organizing the hundreds, maybe even thousands, recipes I have collected over the past several years & have been trying some of them out.  We always seem to have our favorites, spaghetti, chicken & rice, tacos...  I am ready to break out of that pattern & try something new at least twice a week, but my family is not anywhere near ready.  I told them we were having teriyaki chicken tonight & they grumbled.  But when I said I was making banana bread for dessert, the smiles came out!!  I just can't help feeling like I need to be doing something else in my life right now...(as if there isn't enough already!)  Soo, I will begin cake decorating classes on Monday night.  Let's see how this goes since I have to eat a gluten-free diet & won't be able to taste my work......wait, maybe I can get away with trying more varieties at mealtimes as long as my family gets to sample my creations---awesome idea!!!  I'm sure there will be lots of wasted cake as I work on decorating, but my family certainly won't let it go to waste.  Just like the peanut butter, there is no sense in wasting!!

624 Frogs

This past 2 weeks have flown by....with this warm weather & last minute scramble for the PTO annual Valentine fundraiser, I can't seem to keep up with the date!  I have been volunteering by cutting, taping, & writing messages on Val-o-grams; cards that the students can order & send to each other.  I have completed 624 frogs for this.  YES, I do have ocd & have been diagnosed by a doctor, but my meds don't always stop all of my tendencies.  The main things for me are counting (as you already know) & organization.  Anyone who has been to our house knows, Don't mess up my pantry!!  It is the silliest thing, company doesn't come over to examine our canned goods or the silverware drawer, but my mind says that these places MUST be orderly at all times.  Vernon has always known this & it has been a huge joke for years...he will go into the pantry & purposefully mix everything up, just to watch me go into full freak-out mode & close myself up in there to re-arrange everything!  This may sound cruel, but I always end up laughing at myself in the end.
   I have always loved frogs & the meaning behind the name...Fully Rely On God; but after 624 of those cute little paper creatures, I am sooo glad that the weather is back to winter temps.  I am not ready for spring just yet!!  I need a month or so before they come out of hiding to croak all night long & the tiny ones jump in front of us as we walk out to the car!!  I'm going to try really hard to not let another 2 weeks go by, but there's soo much to do & soo little time!       

Keeping the PEACE

It has been a few weeks & I haven't had any takers on the assistant job---can't imagine why!!  I have been searching for that PEACE that I wanted & I think I have found it.  I am learning to not let the little things become BIG things.  I am a sort of Pinterest addict & I remember a saying from there that goes something like "The laundry may not all be done, there may be dirty dishes in the sink, the house may be a little messy.  That just means my kids have worn clean clothes, eaten at meals, & that we have enjoyed our time together."  I know I am not quoting this perfectly, but you get the idea.
  I am still trying to stay with the daily chore chart that is on the dry erase board in the laundry room, but I am not going to run around like a chicken with my head cut off & stay up all hours of the night to try & get it done!  So, if you come to our home to visit, don't expect everything to be oh-so perfect...it is 'lived in'.  We haven't given up by any means...but we are enjoying each others company & keeping the PEACE in our home, lives, & sleep schedules!!

Job opening

   I LOVE to volunteer my time to organizations close to my heart.  My church; I teach Sunday School & am the Social Activity Director, which includes a number of things (organizing potlucks & picnics, floats for parades, children's skits, all holiday events....), Girl Scouts; I am a troop leader for the 4th year in a row now & this year became service unit manager over the area with 6 troops under me.
   Along with these, which are the largest 'jobs', I also am trying to keep my household together.  Remember before you continue reading, I LOVE to volunteer!
   This first week of 2012 started with the kids going back to school & myself trying to find that PEACE & get onto the household schedule I had set up.  It was also my son's birthday & the week that we began selling GS cookies, along with Vernon coming home from his 2 week shift.  The kids & I were ecstatic for him to be coming home after being gone through Christmas & New Year.  His flight was going to arrive on Nicholas' b-day & the kids could hardly wait for the school day to be over so they could see him.  I could hardly wait too, but as I was driving the 1 1/2 hour drive to the airport, my phone started to ring like crazy!  I tried to be polite & helpful, but all I could think was, "Here we go...".  Usually when I get to the airport I am so excited I have to stand outside the vehicle & tackle Vernon as soon as I see him.  He must be used to this because as I am sitting there on the phone (feeling very frustrated at the fact that I just need 1 day without distractions), Vernon came walking up with his hands in the air saying, "Hello?"
   We were able to celebrate Nicholas' b-day that evening with a quite dinner, but that was all we were able to squeeze out of this week (until today).  These are volunteer positions & the key word is 'volunteer'.  This means  I give of myself freely & am not paid.  I should not be at someone's "beck & call", but when they call every 30 minutes & send texts in 15 minute intervals...really!?!?
   So, today, I did not answer that phone that at times is a life saver, but this week, has been my worst nightmare!  We had the best time hanging out with our dearest friends & I now feel refreshed.  So refreshed, that I am going to announce that I am not at anyone's beck & call & I am not anyone's personal assistant.  If anything I need one myself, so I will be taking applications--no pay, long hours, no benefits, & you will be responsible for this cell phone!!!   Any takers?!?!?