Goals for 2011

As I mentioned yesterday, today I am going to write about my goals. I have done the whole new years resolution thing before and failed each time! So let me make this clear, this is not a resolution. These are goals...they will for the most part be measurable. I have been thinking about them for several days so here they go.

Physical goal: Lose 75 lbs (this is more than a weight loss goal, this is a goal to lengthen my life, be able to play with my daughters more, to feel better about myself, and of course to look better too.)

Social: Make new friends in our new home town, keep in touch with friends in Clemson/Seneca/Greenville/etc., Skype with my bestfriend at least once a week and let our daughters see each other

Spiritual: Read the entire Bible, have a quiet time at least 4 days a week (I want to do it every day but my first goal will be 4 times), share Christ with with my daughters every day, share Christ with at least one person a month

Financial: Pay off the van, save at least 1 months worth of emergency money

Marital: communicate better with my husband, support my husbands ministry, set up at least 3 hours a week of just Zach/Michelle time!!!!

At home: set up a revolving menu, establish a cleaning schedule that minimizes cleaning time and maximizes Mommy time, cut down on the wasteful time on computer, set up a family game night at least once every two weeks to play games with Carly

This year I want to make myself proud. I want to clarify that statement...it is not about being prideful...it's about being proud of yourself and having no regrets...it's living life to it's fullest! There are more things I want to do but these are my GOALS. I plan to update you at least once a month on my progress.

Are there any goals you have for this coming year! Remember for them to be goals they have to be measurable.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Sorry it's been awhile. We have been super busy around here. We went to visit a church in Texas and now will be moving there in January. To be honest, before we went to Texas I was convinced we were wasting our time by going there. I just knew it wasn't the place for us. What a difference a weekend can make. Bronte is a very small town in Texas. The people of Bronte are some of the nicest I have ever met in my life. Zach and I both felt like we were more welcome there than we had ever been. We prayed about and on January 8th we will become citizens of Bronte, Texas. There is a lot to do before we can pull out.

Please pray for us as we embark on this new journey with our family. We are trying to follow God's path for our life.

On other news, I can't wait for Wed night!!!!! Zach is taking me to a Garth Brooks concert!!!!! Woo Hoo!

Tomorrow come back for my 2011 Goals.

Prayer Photo Album

I just received a Christmas Card address list from a message board I am a part of. As I thought of sending out pictures of my family and receiving pictures of others, I wondered what I would do with the pictures this year. Most years they go up on the fridge and sometimes they fall and end up under the fridge. Sometimes they get shoved on top of the fridge. I love to look at them and think of the people who sent them to me but I have never taken a "next step" with them.

So this year I thought of a next step...I am going to make a prayer album. I will put the pictures sent to me in a special album and commit to praying for these families while looking at their picture at least once a week for the next year. I think it will be a neat way to remember to pray for them and for Carly to get to help by seeing the families we are praying for.

So I challenge you this year to do the same, esp if you get a picture of my family! Take the time to pray for blessing on others this season and this coming year. Let's see what blessings God will pour down!

If you want to receive or send a picture/Christmas card to/from me please email me at comment on this post!

Super Sunday...Super Dad, My Hubby

This post wont be long. I just want to say that I love my husband dearly and am so thankful for him. He is the best daddy! I love to see him with our daughters. A lot of dads don't do diapers, read to their children or put them to bed. A lot of dads don't take the time to learn how to put their daughters hair in a pony tail. My girls are fortunate enough that their daddy does all those things. I love to hear him sing to Carly at bed time. And even more...I love to hear her say, "Daddy" "what" "I love you!". It is just the most precious thing! He truly is a Super Dad!

A giveaway

http://wingerteam.blogspot.com/2010/11/giveaway.html

Head over and check out this amazing woman's blog.

Super Monday...Super Cool Way to Cut Up Grapes

So how many of you feed your young children grapes? If you are like me you love to feed them something good for them but hate the time it takes to cut up each individual grape. Be honest, it's a pain in the tucus. ( I have no idea if I spelled that right?) Carly loves them but I don't give them to her as often as she would like because of that.

Well that is in the past now. While watching 30 Minute Meals a few days ago, I saw the answer to this problem. She showed a way to cut several grapes at once. I have tried it a few times and it works!! You can also use this method to cup cherry tomatoes (which Carly also loves). So I just knew I wanted to share it with all of you in case you didn't see it yourself.

So go into the kitchen and get 2 deli lids (any small lids from bowls will work), some grapes and a knife that is at least as long as the lids are wide.

Step one: Lay lids side by side.

Step two: Put grapes on top of one lid turned upside down. Fill it up.

Step three: Place other lide on top.

Step four: Slide knife between two lids while pressing down.

Step five: Enjoy fresh grapes easily cut in half.

Go ahead and try it! it's too cool.

Hope this is exciting for you. I just love it!

The Beholder of Beauty: Beauty is Free Stuff

The Beholder of Beauty: Beauty is Free Stuff: "What?! I went to bed with 9 followers and woke up with 11! You know what that means... Giveaway time!! Nothing fancy. Just some cute stuff I..."

Arizona

Zach has been talking to a church in Arizona. You got that right...ARIZONA. As in, a 32 HOUR drive from here!!!!! Now you're asking...How do you feel about that? I am scared, excited, sad, happy and on and on. My emotions are all over the map. That is so far away from everything I have ever known. We were looking at pictures today and it hit me that there are no TREES!!! I grew up in trees and there are none like I am used to there. Wow!

You may be wondering, how do you really feel. I want to make something clear. Before Zach and I got married I knew he wanted to go into ministry. It was not a surprise to me. I felt called to do it with him. We are partners! When you decide to go into ministry, you quickly find out that there are NO guarentees except that God goes with you. You have to lay down your life and pick up the cross. That means that you go where ever God leads you. Do I want to move all the way across the US? NO. But I do want to go where God wants to send us! So I submit to my God and my husband's wisdom. Because, where ever I am God is there with me!

I will keep you updated on whether we are going there or not. Only God knows at this time. My pray is that HIS WILL BE DONE!!!!

Super Sunday...Super Cool Colic Remedy

Today I am going to sing the praises of the thing that has made my life much better the last couple of weeks. Ginger essential oil from doTERRA!!!!! If you know me at all, you know that with the birth of my newest little girl, life became very, very hard. She cried and ate and cried and ate. She didn't sleep much at all. Her cries were clearly cries of pain with no medication helping.

Mommy and daddy were super tired b/c she really wouldn't sleep much at all. She would sleep for 30 to 45 min and wake up to eat. Then she would do it again. She would cry for 2 to 3 hours straight sometimes with no relief. I would feed her, walk her, rock her, sing to her, massage her, cry over her, pray for her, bathe her, swaddle her, and on and on. I was trying everything anyone suggested and none of it was working.

Then we looked up what essential oils were supposed to help with colic. Low and behold...GINGER. Now I know you may be wondering how we got to looking up essential oils. My mother in law's best friend is a naturalist doctor who got her into the oils. Then my mother in law got me into them while I was pregnant. Pepper mint oil is AWESOME for cooling you down!!!! I got the best sleep after applying it at night. (Don't use peppermint while nursing, it can dry up your milk.) So back to the ginger. I put ginger (mixed with coconut oil since a baby's skin is sensitive) on Alyssa's tummy and toes. She slept for 5 hours got up ate, went right back to sleep, and slept for another 3 hours!!!!!!! the next day she smiled for the first time. She has been sleeping like a champ ever since. And trust me, I won't go far without my ginger oil.

I'm telling you it WORKS!!!!! I love the oils and love to talk about them. So if you want to know about anything, "I"ve got an oil for that!"


www.doterra.myvoffice.com/michellelentz

Super Busy Mom

So sorry I haven't been keeping up. It seems like every single time I go to blog, one of my children decides they need me. Take this morning for example. I was signing into my blogger dashboard and my youngest decided to start crying. So now she is fed and I will try to blog.

We have been going to the cabin that my in laws own a lot the last two weeks. It gives us a few days to feel like we have our own home. It's quite nice. The only problem is there is no internet connection. We try to use the cell to get internet but it doesn't work very good.

Halloween was great! We went to Clemson downtown trick or treat. It wasn't as good this year as it fell on Fall Break and an away game day. Then the next night we went to a huge trunk or treat. It was fun b/c my bestie was there but it's just not the same as when I was growing up. I miss going house to house and hoping they give me a huge candy bar. My neighbors used to decorate their house and one time I thought they had a dummy on their rocking chair. I walked up to the door to ring the doorbell and found out it was my neighbor in costume. He reached out to me and I took off to the car. It was fun. Usually we take Carly to at least a few houses but this year we didn't b/c by the time we were done at the trunk or treat we were hungry and we went to eat. By the time we were finished with that, it was too late to go to anyones house.

I am looking towards Thanksgiving and Christmas now. How can you not look towards Christmas with the commercials and stores forcing it on you. Next weekend we are scheduled to go to Oburg for our first Thanksgiving get together. It will be the first time I have seen all my brothers and sisters in law and nephews and neice together since last Christmas. I am looking forward to it!

That's all for now. Tomorrow will be a SUPER day so check back in!

Super Sunday...Super Mom

First let me apologize for my absence. I have been in and out of town for the last two weeks and didn't take my computer with me. Part of that time I was at my parents and they have dial up internet. I was not trying to tackle that. LOL. Other than that I have been working on getting a colicky baby happier and tomorrow I will share how I did that!

On to Super Sunday

I want to celebrate a Super Mom today! My MOMMA.

I think most of us appreciate our mothers when we are little. We love when we can cuddle in their laps and when they read to us. We love when they bring us presents and reward us. We love when they cook our favorite meals. We love when they kiss our boo boos away.

I appreciate my momma for so much more. She truly was a Super Mom. She worked a full time plus job and still made us a priority. I can't remember my mom ever missing any of my or my brothers events. With 2 boys and 1 athletic girl there were a lot of events. Let's see...for Ike there was baseball and football, for Joey there was football, soccer, track, wrestling, chorus, show chorus, baseball and for me there was basketball, swimming, cheerleading, track, chorus, show chorus,. there were probably many more things that we were involved in that I am not thinking of right now.
She was always there to cheer us on. I can remember it pouring down rain while I was cheering and there were my mom and dad.

I know I gave her a very hard time during high school (don't all girls). I thought I hated her for awhile because she was always there. Always wanting to know exactly what I was doing and who it was with. I had chores and expectations. What teenager wants those? Now I have come to realize that those expectations were because she loved me so much! Becoming a mom teaches you so much about your own mom. Things you truly never understood before.

I can honestly say that my mom is one of my Best Friends now. I talk to her all the time. I always know I can call her anytime and tell her anything. She is still always there for me.

She is such a Super MOM!!!! Thans Momma, for everything!

Introducing: SUPER SUNDAY

This week I want to start something new on Sundays. I’m calling it SUPER SUNDAY!!!! I am going to take Sunday’s to share something that I deem super. It may be a blog that I’ve come across, a person in my life, a picture I’ve taken, a special event, it could even be a sale I have found. The only requirement is that it be super to me. I admit, you may not find the same things super, but I am willing to take the chance. It is my blog!

So, for my first SUPER SUNDAY…I want to share my Super Best Friend, Allison Wells. You can find her blog at www.afewsprinklesshort.blogspot.com. Allison and I met about 8 years ago at the church we both attended. We were at a marriage conference with our fiancés. The four of us (Allison, Marshall, Zach and I) stood out b/c we were the only non- married people at that conference. I would say we became acquaintances at that point. Then in 2004 we got to talking at the door of the church (she was a greeter) and we discovered that we were both trying to conceive and both failing. Over the next few years we became extremely good friends. We shared our struggles and found solace in each other’s pain.

Fortunately God chose to bless us both with children; we became pregnant 5 months apart of each other. Our daughters are now best friends, and not in the sense of the word that we force them together. They truly ask to see each other and love our times together. I cried with her when she got her son through foster placement. All the way through custody battles to the day he was finally adopted. She was there for me when I went through a miscarriage and again when I got pregnant and had my second daughter. We have lived just a few miles apart to over 200 miles apart. Thankfully, God brought us back close together.

Allison has laughed with me, cried with me, yelled with me. She is the most honest with me and truly loves me! I am so thankful for her. She is a truly SUPER person!!!!

Game Days...Oh How They've Changed

I am a HUGE Clemson fan. I didn't start my life that way but I am now. When I was little my parents were Gamecock fans and so was I. We lived not far from Columbia so I guess that's why. My oldest brother went to some kind of event at Clemson when he was in high school wearing a USC hat and when he came home he was in love with Clemson and wanted to go there. Thus, started my family's love for all things Orange.

When it was time for me to apply for college, I applied at one, Clemson! I loved the campus and couldn't imagine going anywhere else. So, in the fall of '99 I moved into Lever Dorm. I loved it! I couldn't wait to go to the games. That year I believe I went to every home game. I sat in the Campus Crusade block. We had so much fun. I was crowded in with no place to sit and I didn't care. The more the merrier. The louder the better. The next year was pretty much the same. In fact in 2000 I became a part of a group who spent a good amount of time getting painted up. They would paint my face like a tiger and as I walked around campus people who stop me to take my picture. I loved it. I lived for SHOUTING: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 C L E M S O N T I G E R S FIGHT TIGERS FIGHT TIGERS FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT (I know Allison is going to correct me that there should only be 2 fights but I am just putting what we yelled).

In (I believe but could be wrong) 2002 we got season tickets for the first time. We actually had our own seats and could sit down when we wanted. That was different. We would go out to the campus about 6 hours prior to the game and tailgate. We had so much fun. For the next several years we gathered more and more stuff to make our tailgating even more fun. We had 3 tents, a tv, a sallelite, a grill, chairs, etc. We did it right!!!!! That was the most fun we had.

In 2007 all that changed. Not only did the price of season tickets go up a large amount but we had the addition of a 4 month old! We discussed what we were going to do and since we didn't know how she would do we decided not to get season tickets and just buy for the games we wanted to attend. That way if both of us wanted to go, we could, or if Zach wanted to go with someone else and I wanted to stay home we could. I still went to almost every game. We would take Carly's pack n play and her exersaucer out there and tailgate just as long as we did before.

Now with the addition of another little one, things have changed. I am sure Carly would love to go to the game and cheer on the Tigers. She loves putting her cheerleading outfit on and screaming Go Tigers. However, mommy loves to sit at home in her comfy chair and watch the game. (In fact, I am blogging as I watch the game now.) I don't have to worry about the weather, whether I can comfortably nurse Alyssa, whether my children will hear things I'd rather them not, or the hoards of people (a lot of whom are quite drunk). I can dress how I want to dress, I can put my child down for "rest" time. I can go to the potty without walking up and down a million steps. I can adjust my thermostat according to how I feel. I can even change the channel if we don't show up.

I am still a HUGE CLEMSON FAN! I just love being home more since I have become a mommy!

Give Away Time

I have decided that if I get 25 followers I will give away a custom fall pillow case dress. You can tell me the age and measurement (shoulder to the length you want it to be) for the little girl you want it for. You can even tell me if you want if for Halloween/Pumpkin Picking/Thanksgiving or even Christmas. So tell all your friends!!!

The Hand Me Down Debate

So, I was driving in my swagger wagon Tuesday and I thought about the Carly's rain boots. It was a rainy day and she loves to wear her rain boots so she can jump in the puddles. She knows she is not allowed to if wearing her regular shoes. Well, when we put her boots on (which she hadn't worn for a few months due to the dry spell) we noticed they were getting slightly tight. Not to the hurting her foot stage but to the hard to get on and off stage. So, I realized that we needed to get her a new pair. Alas, the cute little yellow ones with flowers and birds will be put away in a box awaiting the day that Alyssa will have feet big enough to wear them.

That got me thinking about Alyssa's clothes. At this time she is able to wear only a small portion of Carly's clothes b/c their seasons are off. Carly was born in May and Alyssa in August. For some reason, the thought came into my mind, "when will Alyssa hate wearing hand me downs?" You see I was the only girl in my family (I have two older brothers) so I didn't have hand me downs. At what point do they act like the girl in the Tide commercial and want their "own" clothes. For that matter, most of Carly's clothes come from consignment stores and sales. So, it's not like she actually gets all new clothes. We do buy both of them a portion of new clothes to meet needs and my mom LOVES to buy them dresses. So they do get some new clothes.

Is it okay to let Alyssa just wear her big sister’s clothes or do I need to get her clothing of her own? I guess I could sell Carly’s clothing and use that money to pay for Alyssa’s. Of course, I have my favorite outfits of Carly’s that I love to put on Alyssa. It takes me back!

So I was just wondering, what’s your opinion? At what age does Alyssa get her own clothes?

Sharing a contest from a friends blog

Just wanted to share a contest. you could win a freezer cookbook and some supplies to get you started. It looks awesome! To tell you the truth I hope I WIN!!!

http://www.frugalmom.net/blog/2010/09/the-everything-freezer-meals-cookbook-giveaway-extravaganza/

Birth Control Issues

So I am stealing this topic from another blogger and fellow PAI member... www.wingerteam.blogspot.com. The funny thing is, she actually reposted from someoneelse's blog. I guess this topic just speaks to a lot of women. i am not going to repost her blog. I am just going to focus on my feelings and see what you think.

I have often had a hard time deciding wether, as a Christian, birth control was a necessary thing. I know that statement in itself has several of you yelling and telling me that "YES IT IS". You don't want more children now or maybe ever and you also don't want to have surgery. Well here is my question; if God is in control of everything and won't give me more than I can handle, do I need birth control. I am sure many of you have friends who have gotten pregnant while on birth control. I know a lot of people who have. Now I am a nurse so I know the medical reasons for it but I am not sure I can convince myself that I need it. If I leave it in God's hands, can't I trust that He will not give me more than I can handle?

I have always struggled with that issue and other issues like it. If I put my life in God's hands is that not enough? Will He not give me the family He wants me to have? Both my children are miracles! I was told I'd never have them without IVF. I've never had IVF and I have had 3 pregnancies.

Who are we to "control" what God wants for us? I don't know. I think we all have to figure out what God wants us to do and if He tells us to take meds...take meds, if He tells us not to...don't!

Round 2: the difference in a second child

In preparing for the birth of my now five week old daughter, I tried to remind myself that this child would be differnt. With my first, things went so smoothly after I gave birth that I know God gave me a tremendous gift. Now the road to getting pregnant with Carly was not easy, nor was my pregnancy, nor the birth itself. The one thing that I didn't prepare myself for was the time difference.

You see with my first and probably most of you can relate, I had all the time I wanted with her. I could cuddle with her with no worries as to how much time I was spending with one sibling vs the other. I could lay down and let her nap on me. Now to do that I feel guilty b/c I don't do that with my 3 year old. How do you explain to a 3 year old that it is okay for a 5 week old to nap in the bed with you when you refuse to let them sleep in the bed with you. ( Now I know some of you may ask why not just let the 3 year old in the bed with you. I have worked hard to make sure she can sleep independently after watching friends whose children couldn't. I don't plan to undo that now.) Another thing, I never had to worry that a sibling would harm Carly with "too much love". Now I have to be very vigilant that she doesn't hurt her baby sister accidently (or on purpose for that matter). The other day she squeezed Alyssa's nose and made her cry. So then I had to punish her which I hate b/c she needs so much extra love now.

There is also just the plain differences in the children themselves. C would eat and be satisfied for several hours while A has to eat at least every 2 hours. Thus Mommy is much more tired and doesn't have as much "free time". C took a paci, A doesn't. C took a bottle easily, A doesn't want them.

I told myself that they would be different and that things would be different but I was prepared for how different.

Now I want to share some pictures of my beautiful daughters, and the apple dress is the one I made.

I did it, I did it, I did it...Hooray!

Okay so if you have a daughter that is a toddler you will no doubt get that my title is play on Dora. It's funny that I used to quote Shakespeare and other noted authors, now I quote Dora and The Wonder Pets. You gotta love being a mom.

Now on to what my title is really about... I have always wanted to sew my daughter (now daughters) some clothing. I have bought material and patterns and never done a thing. I have wanted to make a pillow case dress and heard that it was super easy but again, never done a thing. Well now I can say that I made my daughter a dress!!!!! Yesterday I completed a beautiful pillowcase dress for my oldest daughter (3). And I cut out the material to make my other daughter (3 weeks) a matching one. That really makes me feel like a Super Mom! Yayyyyy!

Hungry daughter, more to come later.

Does Supermom ever get to shed her cape?

So I am just wondering...do any of you moms out there ever get a break? I saw this hilarious video two days ago that about mom's. It was a spoof off of Bohemian Rhapsody. It talked all about the things moms do and how unappreciated we are by the children most of the time. Now I do have to say that my 3 year old is awesome at telling me she loves me and hugging me. I just know the day will come when I hear, "I hate you.". I don't long for it.

I just know that the work is never done here. I wake up, feed newborn, change diaper, change 3 year olds pull up, make breakfast, eat breakfast, empty dishwasher, load dishwasher, wash non-dishwasher, make up 3 year olds bed, clean her room, get her dressed, do her hair, make up my bed, clean up my room, feed newborn, get shower, get dressed, pick up stuff 3 year old has already put back on floor, do load of laundry, put away any clothes that need it, feed newborn, change newborns diaper, change newborns clothes, stop 3 year old from being overly loving to newborn, go whereever, deal with crying, whining kids, get home, feed 3 year old, feed newborn, change diaper and pullup, change out laundry, put away laundry, clean whatever needs it today, and it goes on and on and on.

I have to admit that I do have some help from my hubby but when he is working, he can't do all of that. I don't really get breaks or get to "shed my cape". Even when I leave my daughter, i still have the house and husband. When I go out of town, I still think about what I left at home (and usually come home to more laundry). It's not easy being mommy. However, as the ladies ended that spoof video, I will end my blog today.

It's so worth it!

Welcome

I want to start by introducing myself. My name is Michelle and I am a stay at home mom is upstate, SC. I am also an RN who is waiting to go back to a career when my children are old enough to go to school. I have a wonderful husband, Zach, who is a Youth Pastor. I also have a sweet Boxer named Birdie. I have two daughters. My oldest, Carly, is a little over 3 years old and just a super sweet little girl. My youngest, Alyssa, is almost exactly 3 days old and a little sweety herself, so far.

So on to the explanation of the name of this blog. I think every woman who is blessed to have children envisions herself becoming SUPER MOM. I know that is a huge dream for me. Maybe it's just me. I want to be able to do it all...raise "perfect" children (do they exist), cook perfect meals (I'm a good cook but where's the time), keep a clean house (ok, I'm not exactly a clean freak, so this is truly hard), and be the perfect, beautiful wife that never snaps at her husband (okay, so I did say dream). Who am I kidding, I'm not Super Mom. I'm not even Average Mom most of the time. But I'm trying.

I need to back up and give a little more info on what is going on in my life right now. When I was 34 weeks pregnant, my husband parted ways with the church he was serving. At this time he is trying to find out where God wants us to go next. While we wait for this direction, we have moved in with my husband's parents. Fortunately, my father in law is also a Pastor and understands the ups and downs of ministry.

So yesterday, we brought Alyssa home from the hospital. Carly had come to the hospital twice to meet her sister but now it was time for reality...there's a new being that takes up a lot of Mommy's time. This on top of the recent move has Carly acting out quite a bit. She is trying to figure out all the boundaries and mommy and daddy are too. So when it was time for her to go to bed last night she didn't want mommy to put her to bed...she wanted MeMe. No problem...I know things are weird right now. Well then she didn't want to go to bed and she started screaming and crying. I tried, Daddy tried, MeMe tried. Finally, we just had to let her cry herself to sleep. I felt like...well poop. So then, Mommy is crying too.

I was crying because I felt like there was nothing I could do to help her. I don't know when to punish her and when to show her grace. I don't know how to explain that mommy still loves her just as much as ever. I don't know, I don't know, I don't know...

I was in the pits. I went to bed and read Psalm 34 and God just hugged me in my place. Then today...my beautiful Carly stood behind me with her blankie and draped it around neck and shouted, "Super Mommy". How did she know that I needed that? Thank you God.

So am I Super Mom...I think not but my daughter still thinks so!