But It's Only a Car

Call me sentimental, but I have a hard time parting ways with cars I've owned. My first car was a 1988 Plymouth Grand Voyager. Drove it until the transmission started messing up on it. It had almost 200,000 miles on it at the time. By the time it died, I had gotten married, so my hubby bought me another Plymouth Grand Voyager - only this time it was a 2000 model. We wound up giving that car to some friends of ours because they had more kids than we did. With both vehicles, I had a crying party after driving away. So many memories.

But this week, my husband finally parted with his car. I didn't think I'd have that hard a time with it until I started doing some thinking. So, if you don't mind listening, I would like to tell you a story about the little car that meant so much to us.

Let's set the scene: summer 2002, beautiful day outside, and I was excited. Tim and I were supposed to be going on our second date that night. He wanted to take me to Outback Steakhouse and I'd never been there before. I was busy getting ready at my parents' house when the phone rang. No one recognized the number, so we let it go to the voice mail. The caller left a message so we checked it. It was Tim. He had been in an accident. From the sound of it, it wasn't too bad, but he was being taken to the hospital.

When I arrived at Riverside, Tim filled me in on all the details. His Rodeo had been hit by another driver under the influence of drugs. The SUV had flipped in the air and was totaled. (There was also a large gash in his arm that required surgery.) He was fine but this meant he would need a new car. He looked around and finally found a 1999 Chevy Cavalier with super-low miles and in his price range. It was a base model so there was nothing fancy about it. Just a car to get him from point A to B.

Tim made up for the date that he cancelled and more. But by the end of the year, things were getting weird. We were both immature and needed some time to grow up. I didn't realize this at the time, though. On New Year's Day 2003, we were having dinner at my grandparents' house with the family. Tim came but he was acting strange. After dinner, he took me out to that car. There, he told me we were done. He just wanted to be friends. Friends? Just friends? With the guy I thought I was going to marry one day? This was a hard pill to swallow.

Any time I saw his car after that, I dreaded it. It only meant more pain or drama. We were still going to the same church, so I saw that car at least 2-3 times a week for a few months. Then...I didn't. Didn't see him or the car, I mean. He went to visit his family in Kansas for a week or so. After that, he went on sea trials for the USS Ronald Reagan. Time had come and gone, and so had our immaturity. We grew up in the months we were apart. Now, it was July 4th. Tim called me and asked if I would like to spend some time with his family who had come to visit for the day. I jumped at the offer. That day, we started our relationship over again. But this time, we were ready.

What a year 2003 was! It started terribly but was getting better as the days went on. Yet, as New Year's Day 2004 came closer, it brought old feelings back. I had a fear in the back of my mind of that holiday because of the meeting we had in his car the previous year. Again, we were supposed to meet my family for dinner that night. This time, we were going out to Golden Corral. Tim picked me up in that dreadful car. The trip over was pretty quiet. When we got in the parking lot, he looked down at the shifter and said, "There's something I need to tell you." I'm thinking...Oh, great, here it comes... Then he said, "Will you marry me?" and pulled out a ring. I was shocked! It took me a minute but I said YES!

That car also helped me realize how great a husband Tim would really be. Tim had picked me up to hang out at his condo one night. He was working on something and asked if I would run with his car to get some pizza. It was just across the street so I volunteered. On my way back, the pizza box fell to the floor. I reached down to grab it when I felt a thud. I looked up to realize I had crashed the car into some hedges. I panicked and wasn't sure what to do. You'd think hitting the brakes would have been the first thing to come to mind...but no. I turned the wheel to avoid more damage, only causing more. I finally stopped the car and noticed the side mirror was laying on the ground. I picked it up while my heart raced. What would he say?! I got back to the condo carrying a pizza box and mirror in my hands while crying my eyes out. He looked at me and said, "Are you okay?" I told him the story and we went out to look at the car. He was so patient and understanding. Not once did he look angry or raise his voice at me. He said it was only a car and he was just glad I was okay. He popped the mirror back on and we never really spoke of it again. What a great guy I had!

That summer, July 31 to be exact, Tim and I got married in the back yard of a friend's house. The car that took us for the first time as a married couple? The little car. The car that parked alone in the driveway of our first house? The little car. The car I drove to go out by myself with my son for the first time - in the pouring rain? The little car. The car that holds so many stories and memories that I could not write them all here? That darling little car.

Tim was driving home from work early November 2011 when the car stopped running. He was close to home, so he got it to start a few more times to get him there. All the water had leaked out of the car, so he filled it again. But it wasn't in there long. Over the course of the month, he replaced the water pump, thermostat, and finally, the radiator. After they all failed to help the problem, we came to the conclusion the head was cracked. No more car. We decided to donate the vehicle to the Purple Heart program. The tax write-off would be better than any cash we could get for the car. So, we setup the appointment for them to pick up the car.

Here it is (above), as I left my driveway on December 9. When I got back, it was gone. But it will not be forgotten.

We currently own a 1993 GMC Suburban Truck and 2005 Jeep Liberty, both we've had for 2 years. And on December 7, we added a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan to our family that I will be driving. I look forward to making more memories in our vehicles in the years to come. Let's pray that they are all good ones!

Oh, Ashley...

So, the worst Bachelorette ever finally had a good talk with Bentley and told him to get lost. Thank you. What followed was more interesting. Ashley told JP on her one-on-one date about the whole thing and he handled it like a man. (I'm telling you, they have great chemistry together.) But when she told the rest of the guys at the cocktail party, a few of them got upset about it. Mickey left early and Blake was sent home due to being unkind to Ashley about the situation. Boys, boys, boys. She just shared her heart with you. And what did you do? You made her feel even worse, when she was trying to make things better.

Did anyone else get a kick out of Ames at the group date? My goodness! Ali, previous Bachelorette, thinks he was drunk. I think he was just showing he was becoming more comfortable with her. I told my hubby last night that even though I think JP will be the last one standing, Ames is such a sweet guy that you can't help but root for him. And that doesn't mean to cheer him on for Ashley, but that he will eventually find the right girl because he seems like such a sweetheart.

After each episode, they give you a "sneak preview" of the weeks to come. And, boy, was it a doozy. They showed enough to make us think that someone (like Bentley) could be back later and that whoever she chooses in the end doesn't reciprocate her love. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. She has seriously been an emotional basket case. Her feelings are up and down all the time and it seems she can't make good decisions. This will all bite her in the rear if she doesn't start getting serious about the process.

I hope the producers take note of how terrible a Bachelorette she has been. Just because she may have at one time been the popular choice, doesn't mean she was the right one. Her wishy-washy ways during Brad's season should have given them a clue to how crazy her time on the show would be. The reason Ali worked so well is because she knew what she wanted. And when her time came, she made all the right choices. Let's hope Ashley is getting some counsel from Ali before she winds up alone in the end, again.

What I've Been Watching

Okay...I haven't updated lately on the shows I've been watching. Guess I should start with the one that has my attention every week...

The Bachelorette
Ashley as the Bachelorette was not something I was entirely happy with. I feel she lacks the emotional connection with the audience as did Ali or Brad. But since she's the only one we have to work with, let me share a few comments.

Bentley. UGH. Michelle (from Brad's second season) warned Ashley about Bentley coming on the show and his true intentions. But Ashley, ignoring that warning, fell in love with the guy. He is a two-faced liar! Of course, we see it...but she is unaware of what he is saying about her behind her back. I think the warning should have been enough to cause doubt, but Ashley is too blind to see it. And sometimes I feel like she talks about him all the time just to take us off the trail. I'm tired of hearing about the guy, honestly.

Now that it has been a couple weeks, I'll make my official guess. Let me start by saying that I had a really hard time picking someone right away because of our red herring, Bentley. JP stood out in the first few episodes to grab my attention, but Ames had a great date this week. I'm thinking JP will be the final one standing in the end, but Ames will make it pretty far. When you look at Ames, he seems like the type who is a stuck-up, pretty boy. But he really was humble, sweet, and genuine. Like I said, he will get far.

The reason I think JP will be the last one standing is by seeing the way he and Ashley interact with each other already. They seem to connect well and after seeing how they were on the beach in the rain, you can't help but wonder if she talks about Bentley to distract you from the instant attraction she had for JP. (Almost like Ali with Roberto. You could tell early on that they were made for each other. Justin and Frank provided constant distraction.)

By the way, I would like to put my vote in for the next Bachelor...West! He's got one of those stories like Emily from last season. He really seems like a nice guy, too. I tweeted Chris Harrison with my vote, and I hope he takes it into consideration. Of course, next season will be the return of "Bachelor Pad." The only thing I am looking forward to is seeing Jake and Vienna in the same house. We will get to see their true colors. My guess is that Vienna will try her hardest to make Jake look like a jerk, only to backfire when we see how nice a guy he really is.

The Voice
I have really enjoyed this show. I like that it's not as drawn out as American Idol. It's short, sweet, and to the point. The live shows have been a blast to watch as well. I don't care for some of the outfits the girls wear, though. I thought live television learned their lesson with Janet Jackson and the famous "wardrobe malfunction." Anyway, only two weeks left before we find out who "The Voice" will be.

America's Got Talent
This is another show that can kinda get a little drawn out. But I have enjoyed watching the banter between Howie and Piers each week. One of the main reasons I watch this show is to get ideas for my puppet group. (I loved the Silhouettes! Don't know how far they will go in competition but what a great idea!) They are still in the audition rounds. Live shows don't start for a few more weeks.

Well, that's all for now. This week is going to be crazy with Teen Camp and VBS at my church. We are also in the middle of our puppet performances for the season. I hope to write again before the end of the week. Later!

Thinking It Through

I was trying to get a new post out last weekend. I spent hours getting all my facts and information straight. I researched the Bible on the topic I had chosen. It was ready to go...until I saved it for later. My mind spent some time on the post and my reasons for writing it. That's when I realised that it was really written for the wrong reasons. I've decided that I will take the guideline I wrote and use it for Teen Camp this summer at my church.

So, I need to apologize to you all in not getting a new post up sooner. There has been a lot on my plate lately with family stuff, raising a toddler, keeping my home clean, etc. But through it all, God is still good and taking care of us!

Today was terribly hot. This pregnancy has made me grow intolerant to the summer weather, which is unlike me. Maybe it will be helpful since I am due in December. There's a possibility that my body is preparing itself for a winter baby. I don't know. As long as each day's forecast stays under 90 degrees, I plan to take Joshua outside almost every day this summer. He loves to play in the sand at the beach, ride the kiddie rides at Busch Gardens, and running around in the backyard. God definitely blessed my son with a natural love of the outdoors.

We are less than 3 weeks away from finding out the gender of Baby Gardner #2. I have had two people that say they are always right guess it's a girl. I am still leaning toward a boy, but I will not be disappointed either way. As long as our little one is healthy, the gender doesn't really matter. At the time we find out the gender, we will reveal the anticipated "official" name. We've had names chosen for a boy and girl since we found out we were pregnant. I love being able to call the baby by name. To me, it feels like I've bonded with them long before they ever come out of the womb. We are blessed to live in an age where we have the technology to reveal the gender before birth. It's amazing!

Sorry this post is so short, but I promise to write regularly again. Keep cool out there. Oh, and GO BOSTON BRUINS!!!

Putting it in Perspective

Late last night, the news broke that the United States military had killed Osama bin Laden. My first reaction was of joy and complete pleasure! Hearing how our brave men and women had confronted him and shot him made my patriotism swell with pride! What a great day to be an American!!

But today, my thoughts have changed to sadness. Follow me here...

Brother Byron Foxx was at my church a few weeks ago for revival and said these words, "Lord, put in my heart a love for everyone for whom Jesus died." Of course, this is everybody. This includes the liars, the wrong-doers, the manipulators, the scoundrels, the murderers, and yes...even Osama bin Laden.

What that man did to our country, to the innocent lives on 9/11, was vicious. "Vengeance is mine," saith the Lord. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Right? But we are also talking about his soul. Do you think God was sad to know that bin Laden was an evil man? Yes. But how much more sad did it make Him that he probably never accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as his Savior? Wow.

The greatest justice this man will get is going to a place of torment for eternity in a place called hell. But does that really mean we should be rejoicing over this? Our joys should be aimed to our military and intelligence departments who were successful in taking one more terrorist out of the picture for the world. But please, do not focus your happiness on the fact that a lost soul went to hell.

"Dear Lord, help us to have a broken heart for those that have not accepted You. Help us to have true compassion for the lost and give us the courage to speak Your TRUTH to them. Amen."

Out of the Woods

I would like to thank everyone for the great responses I got regarding my last post "Long Overdue." I had a lot of fun writing it.

This week has been a good week with my nausea. It started going away Monday/Tuesday. I'm hoping I am over the "morning sickness" part of my pregnancy. I didn't have any with Joshua. So, it was really weird to have it this time. I am also very thankful that my ankles have not swollen up yet. By this point in my first pregnancy, my ankles were large! I didn't have pre-eclampsia or anything like that. Just swelling. I hope this means I will not swell with this baby.

I switched doctor's offices this time around due to my previous doctor no longer delivering at the hospital I preferred. So, every time I make an appointment, I meet a new doctor. For my ultrasound, I met Dr. Khan. I like him a lot. He is the kind of guy I could be friends with outside of the hospital. It was very easy to talk to him and he made things very easy to understand (without making me feel dumb, lol). My next appointment is with the nurse practitioner on May 12. Then I have another u/s with the specialist for a routine first trimester test on May 24. I'm hoping I can talk the tech into trying to guess the gender. Who knows...maybe they will?

Tim's family is in town this weekend. They love the beach so we'll probably be spending a lot of our time there with them. I think it's great because I need the extra Vitamin D! Have some fun in the sun this weekend, everyone.

Long Overdue

I want to apologize to my readers for not posting in a while. But I have a great reason/excuse why...

I'M PREGNANT!!!

I am so excited to announce that we are expecting Baby Gardner #2 around December 2. I just couldn't bring myself to write this blog and keep this great news a secret. So, I decided to just not write at all until I could tell everyone.

We had our first appointment last Friday morning. The doctor did an ultrasound to confirm ONE baby and that I was a week further along than originally thought. I have had some nausea for a couple weeks now, but it has gotten better since the doctor suggested I take B6 everyday.

In celebration of this announcement, I thought it would be appropriate to write about some questions we pregnant women love...and hate. Pay attention...

"How far along are you?/When are you due?" LOVE
This is a great first question to ask once you hear the news from the proud momma. She wants everyone to know when the new bundle will arrive and hope you will anticipate their coming as much as she is!

"Are you having twins?" HATE
Okay, this is usually heard to the mom as, "You are so big that you must be having more than one!" Please, please, please, do not ask this question. Now, I cannot speak for the moms who have actually been pregnant with twins. Just know this, if she is having more than one, she will probably be so excited/shocked that you will know before you have the chance to ask.

"How are you feeling?" LOVE or HATE
This is a toss-up. If you ask the mommy who is having a really emotional day, you may regret you asked at all. On the other hand, if she's having a great pregnancy, she will be glad to tell you how wonderful it has been for her. I'll admit that I got tired of this question the further along I got. How I felt was not what I wanted to think about. I wanted my attention on the end result, holding my precious newborn. The better question to ask is probably, "How is it going?"

"Are you ready?" HATE
Of course, I'm ready! How could I not be?! Do you think I'm a horrible mother??? (Get my drift?) A better question to ask is, "How is the nursery coming along?" Or, "Do you have all the clothes/items you need?" (See next question.) Leave the "birthing process" questions out of the convo. Mommy has enough to think about and prepare for to "be ready."

"Where are you registered?" LOVE
This question is not asked enough. We WANT you to ask this question! I noticed that hardly anyone bought items from my registry because there were only a few who asked. This is important to the expectant mom. She doesn't want to have to worry about things like the furniture, stroller, car seat, window treatments, etc. She wants to focus on the birthing process and preparing herself...not the room/items. I know everyone like to buy clothes, especially for a little girl (or so I've heard. =+). But, mommy would like to buy some clothes, too! Focus on the items on the registry so mom can focus the gift cards on the clothes she wants to buy. EXTRA POINT: If you are afraid of purchasing items on a registry or just don't know how...get a gift card to that location. Momma will love you! Diapers and wipes are a huge help, too. (As long as you buy the brand MOM wants!)

"Boy or girl?" LOVE
About the time momma starts showing, you can ask this question. For those of us who like to find out the gender, we will do so somewhere between 16-20 weeks along. I even like to give people an opportunity to guess. It gets everyone excited about knowing what you are having. Once we tell you the baby's gender...DO NOT SECOND GUESS IT! "Oh, but I still think you are having..." Don't even think about it.

One last pointer...
DO NOT share your pregnancy/birth horror story. If it is negative in any way, don't tell us. We know the risks and challenges. We are aware there can be problems. But, the goal is to help momma think positively about her coming experience. If it's positive, uplifting, funny, encouraging...by all means, share away.

I'm sure I've left some questions out. But I will approach them as I remember them. I promise to be back writing more often. Have a great Easter weekend, everyone!

Pounds for Crowns Week 5

We decided last week to change the time we meet on Sundays from 5:00pm to right after the worship service (or around noon). After church was over, I ran up the stairs and into the classroom, threw my boots off, and stepped on the scale. And what I saw made me jump for joy! I lost 3.8 lbs this week which puts me at 156.6 lbs. The total weight I've lost in these 5 weeks is 9.4 pounds! Only 7.2 lbs to go until I reach my first goal. Awesome!

It was my mom's birthday yesterday. We had my parents and my sister over for lunch after church to celebrate the occasion. I made my mom's recipe of teriyaki chicken. I've had so many people ask me for the recipe that I have decided to share it here! It is so yummy and easy to make. Enjoy!

Momma Coburn's Teriyaki Chicken
Prep time: 5 min. Cooking time: 50 min.

Ingredients:
2 lbs chicken breast, unfrozen
garlic powder, to taste
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup honey

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly dust chicken breast with garlic powder on all sides. Then, place chicken breast in glass baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes.

While chicken is baking, mix soy sauce, ketchup, and honey in measuring cup. When 20 minutes have passed, remove dish from oven and turn chicken over. Change oven temp to 300 degrees. Evenly cover chicken with teriyaki mixture and return to oven for 15 minutes.

Remove dish again, turn chicken, and baste. Return to oven for final 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve with brown rice and vegetables.

Note: For larger batches, increase sauce measurements and cooking times as needed. I made 4 lbs chicken in 2 dishes on 350 degrees for three 20 min. intervals. And sauce measurements were increased to 2/3 cup each. Also, the sauce is great to pour over the chicken when serving.

Music To My Ears

What a fun, busy week I've had! I played the organ for a wedding on Friday afternoon. I came home for about an hour afterward and then headed out to the Bible Truth Music regional choir conference in Yorktown, VA. (Please visit their website! http://www.bibletruthmusic.com/ ) I had 7 members of my choir, including myself, attend the event. The church served dinner on Friday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Everything was delicious!

After we ate dinner, we immediately started learning 6 new songs that most of us had never heard before. We spent a few hours on Friday night rehearsing and learning the basics of the music. Right before we were released for the night, my mom, my husband, and I were asked to sing in the ensemble. So, we had one more new song to learn! We didn't get home until about 10:30pm. My baby boy was already asleep so I didn't get to see him that night.

Saturday, we had to be at the church by 8:30am for breakfast. I made the tough decision to leave my son, asleep, with my sister (the babysitter!). I really missed him but I knew it would go smoother if he didn't have to say goodbye to me. We rehearsed the 6 songs we heard the night before again on Saturday. Would we learn them in time? Yes! At 4:00pm, the concert started and we sang each song like we had practiced them for months. My sister got to the concert late so I kept peeking between the choir folks to get a good look at my son. He was a good boy during the entire concert. Once we finished our part, I quickly made my way to my seat so I could love on my son. He wanted to get down and play so I took him in the nursery so he could run around. It had been almost a whole 24 hours since I had seen him last and I enjoyed every minute holding him!

Alright, I've been saying that I would write about the NCAA basketball tournament and haven't done it yet. The time has arrived! We are down to the Final Four. I didn't do well in my brackets after the first round. But there were so many upsets this year! Of course, the teams I had been cheering for since the beginning of the tournament were ODU, VCU, George Mason, Richmond, and Hampton. These are the "local" teams for my area. Of those five, only one has gone far and that is VCU. They are playing Butler in the Final Four on Saturday with a chance to play for the championship game next Monday. No one thought they would do as well as they have. Actually, they had to play their way in to the regular tournament. A lot of analysts thought the committee should not have let VCU in at all. But, look where they are now?! They deserve this moment. Shaka Smart, their head coach, has been the conquering hero for the team. I hope they can go all the way and win the whole thing. It's going to be tough, but look at what they've already accomplished. It can be done.

I'll have another post shortly with my weight-loss results this week. See you in a little bit.

Pounds for Crowns Week 4

Sunday, I stepped on the scale to get a disappointing loss of only 0.4 lbs. This puts my current weight to 160.4 lbs. I can't wait to get out of the 160s! I was surprised I didn't lose more knowing how much walking I did on Friday and Saturday. I hope this means I am going to have a great week soon and get into those 150s again. Anyway, my total weight-loss since starting back on WW is 5.6 pounds.

I decided to not watch "Celebrity Apprentice" until Monday morning because I was so interested in all the basketball going on. (Again, I will be posting more about the tournament later in the week.) But, what I saw was not surprising. Nikki did the right thing by taking responsibility for her team losing. She showed her integrity by not throwing someone "under the bus." Too bad it didn't help keep her around longer. She was a sweet girl.

Monday night, "DWTS" premiered for season 12. Most of the stars are average dancers but the one that surprised me the most was Kirstie Alley. I didn't think she would do that good, but she can dance! Top 5 dancers, in my opinion, are: 1. Ralph Macchio 2. Kirstie Alley 3. Chelsea Kane 4. Hines Ward 5.Kendra Wilkinson. The last two have a little more work to do to catch up with the top 3, but they have potential.

Last night, I watched one of the best episodes of "Biggest Loser" this season. The contestants were split into 4 teams, with the new black team needing one more member. They had to choose one player from all the previous contestants to come back and join their team. They chose Jay. Probably a good decision but my heart really wanted them to bring Arthur back. Kaylee finally realizes that she should go home and tries to get her team to throw the weigh-in to make it possible. But they won the weigh-in. This turns into a verbal-boxing match with Alison on how "you can leave whenever you want to." Of course, the red team (who lost the weigh-in) would still have to send someone home, whether Kaylee left or not. What happened next was the best part of the show. Justin told the teams to send him home so Courtney could stay. How awesome is that?! What a merciful thing to do. They respected his wishes. We got to see an update at the end of the show and it looks like he is doing very well. Just a heads up...next week looks to be crazy.

I have a wedding to play the piano/organ for on Friday, then a choir conference all weekend in Yorktown. And the Sweet 16 round starts Thursday for the NCAA tournament. As usual, I will be talking about it all right here. So come back!

Catching Up

I apologize for not writing at all this week. There has been a lot going on! This post will take me from last Tuesday to Saturday. I'll write another post with my weight-loss results tomorrow.

So, last Tuesday night I watched "Biggest Loser." The two teams had to become one team, and lose more weight than they lost together the previous week. They had a group challenge and a pop challenge which teamed them up in pairs which was made up of one member from the previous red or black teams. My thinking during this episode is that we already know the red team has an alliance. Since that is the case, the black team should do the same. I know they were one team this week, but an alliance is in place to end, regardless of what color shirt they are wearing.

When it was apparent that they were not all going to get immunity and someone would have to be sent home, Marci should have kept her mouth shut. The black team should have voted Kaylee off to give the red team one less member in the long run. I hope Marci's decision to sacrifice herself doesn't hurt her girls in the coming weeks. Side note: Thank you, Jen, for your vote to send Kaylee home. I wish the other girls had done the same.

Thursday was St. Patrick's Day...my favorite holiday of the year! I wore my green shirt, socks, nail polish, earrings, bracelet, hat, glasses and eye shadow. We ate breakfast at The Pub. They were serving corned beef and eggs, french toast casserole, breakfast Shepherd's Pie, and steak & eggs. After we left there, we headed over to Target for a little while before going to NASCAR Sports Grille to watch the ODU/Butler game. It was an incredible game, but I wish ODU had won. I'll be talking more about the NCAA tournament in another post this week.

Friday, my bff and I went to the zoo. Joshua loves lions and he had a blast looking at all the animals. We played at the playground and ate lunch there, too. It was a gorgeous day! That evening, my family sang at a benefit sing for Cystic Fibrosis. There was a great crowd out to hear the 6 Southern Gospel groups. We raised $725 in the offering that night. Awesome! If you are one of the ones who came, thank you so much for your contribution. It will go a long way!

On Saturday, I had what I would consider to be the perfect day. I woke up that morning to the news that my friend's brother-in-law had accepted Christ as his Savior. Now, I know this is always something to be happy about, but he was just given days to a week to live. His decision was needed urgently before he entered eternity! Then, we went to Busch Gardens for a few hours where we had the best time. Joshua rode quite a few rides, some by himself! It was so much fun. On our way back, Tim dropped me off at the mall to buy a dress and get my hair fixed up for the opera that night. He bought a tuxedo and brought me flowers. We ate at a fancy restaurant and had a great time with friends. I would love to go again in the future! I think we're going to try "The Mikado" next Spring when the VA Opera performs it in 2012.

Sorry if it feels like I crammed everything in here. I will admit that the basketball games took up a lot of my time when I wasn't out doing something else. I will do a much better job of keeping up with my blog this week...promise. :)

Emotional Roller Coaster

Let me say it at least one time...I TOLD YOU SO! I knew Brad would choose Emily in the end. She has been the favorite from the very beginning. Even his family knew she was the one for him. Watching the show last night and the proposal was beautiful. You could really tell they were in love.

Then...

Brad is interviewed during the "After the Final Rose" special and says that he and Emily have been having a hard time. They have postponed their wedding twice and broken up at least once. Emily later confirmed what he said and admitted that she watched the show each Monday which made her emotionally distressed. Chris Harrison really wanted to help their relationship out, so he brought in the previous bachelor/bachelorettes that had successful relationships to give some advice. I really hope Brad and Emily will look to them for help as they try to work this all out.

The best part of the "After" special was when Brad brought her ring back, correctly sized. He told her that it meant more to him today than it did the day he proposed if she would accept it. She did! Hopefully, they will do as Emily said and "start over with a clean slate." I know it must have been hard to watch Brad with the other girls each week. And then, they had to keep their proposal a secret for 3 months. During that time, she was still in Raleigh, and he in Austin. I talked to my hubby after the show to get his thoughts on their relationship. He felt that they were seriously trying their best to make it work and things would get better soon. I hope so.

This morning, I woke up to the news that Ashley H. is the new "Bachelorette." I am not really happy with this decision but I guess it'll grow on me. I really felt that a new girl would have been better. I guess people are already emotionally invested in Ashley and want to see her do well. Probably better for the ratings because of that. The next season of "Bachelorette" airs May 23.

Pounds for Crowns Week 3

I lost 1.6 lbs this week! This brings my total weight-loss to 5.2 lbs and I now weigh 160.8 pounds. I think I had a pretty easy week. There were a few times that I was tempted to cheat, but I surprised myself at how strong I was to not give in. My splurge meal this week was going to eat Mexican food and I ordered a full order of flautas (but no guacamole). I ate 2/3 of the plate. It was so yummy! But I made sure that I ate good all week so I could spoil myself. I did not get out to walk as much as I wanted to, but my goal is to do more walking this week. The good thing is I am supposed to walk around the zoo on Friday and around Busch Gardens on Saturday. That should give me enough activity even if I don't get to walk earlier in the week.

Last night's episode of "Celebrity Apprentice" was crazy. Lisa was definitely put in a position to fail by a majority of the team. She didn't really help herself in the boardroom either which put the final nail in the coffin. Why couldn't she have been more outspoken in front of Mr. Trump as she was during her interviews? Goodbye, Lisa. It was nice having you these two weeks. I personally felt that Dionne Warwick should have been fired after the way she disrespected Marlee. I hope she's the next to go.

Joshua, my son, has had hiccups off and on for the last few days. I think this means he's going through a growth spurt. His appetite hasn't really changed so I don't know for certain. He is finally growing out of everything in the 9-12 month size. I had to get some new clothes for him this week. Answer me this...how do you make a kid gain weight that doesn't eat a lot? He's not a finicky eater. He just eats when he wants to. His last visit to the doctor was awkward because he was underweight. I want him to at least be in a healthy weight range when we go back in a few months. I know he looks just like his father (tall and skinny), but Joshua needs to gain some weight.

Tonight is the finale of "The Bachelor." I will be tweeting live tonight if you want to follow along. http://twitter.com/rngfreckles Make sure you keep a tissue box nearby! Also, they will be announcing the next Bachelorette on Jimmy Kimmel tonight. I don't normally stay up that late so I'll find out tomorrow. Of course, I'll be talking about it here. Until then, don't forget to fill out your NCAA basketball brackets! I love this time of year. Go ODU and Hampton!

What I Saw

Sorry for being late on getting to this post. Here are the shows I watched this week and my thoughts.

Celebrity Apprentice:
Seriously? We have this much drama in the first week?? Crazy. Which describes most of the celebrities on this season of "Apprentice." But I must say, it is a very good group this time around. Most of them are pretty famous and have powerful, outgoing personalities. I have a feeling this will be the best (and most controversial) season to date. My favorite to win is Marlee Matlin, the deaf actress. It would be a great lesson to those with disabilities that you can do anything your heart desires regardless of handicap.

The challenge this week was to raise the most money by making, selling, and delivering pizza. Of course, Mr. Trump split the team into guys vs. girls. Project manager for Team Backbone was Richard Hatch, and for Team ASAP was Starr Jones. The guys really tried their hardest and seemed to put the most effort in, but lost to the ladies by almost $100,000. In the boardroom, Mr. Trump decided to fire David Cassidy. Although he wasn't the project manager, but because he was a sissified DIVA, he was let go on week one. Don't get me wrong, I do not care for Richard Hatch or his attitude at all. But watching David rely on Jose Canseco for backup, acting like the "little guy," made it hard to ever see him as the winner of this show. Let's see how they do next week!

The Bachelor:
The "Women Tell All" aired this week and, boy, was it a doozy! If you've been reading this blog, you know that I think Michelle is crazy and shouldn't have been on as long as she was. But the way some of the girls treated her was completely uncalled for. Who knew Jackie could be so mean? I will admit, Michelle was pretty funny if she was being sarcastic in all of her private interviews. Looking back, I could see how she was probably being silly. Thanks to Ashley H. and Britt for standing up for her.

Speaking of Ashley H., if I were her, I would have waited to die my hair until after the "Tell All." It just looked really strange to see her one way and then reminisce about stuff with the old hair-do. Just saying! And did anyone else notice she still couldn't say she loved Brad? He should give her the number of his therapist. He works wonders apparently!

Next week is the finale. Yay! (Go, Emily!!!) I will be tweeting live again if you'd like to follow. http://twitter.com/rngfreckles

The Event:
I had to watch this show on Tuesday from Hulu because of the above show. ;+) I do not believe in aliens. (Sorry to those that do!) But I have been hooked on this show from the first week. They had a 2-hour special event on Monday that answered a lot more questions but the preview for the coming weeks made me more intrigued. Ah! I probably won't comment on this show a lot but if I get requests to mention thoughts, I will.

Biggest Loser:
Not much to say this week except Sarah had it coming to her. Didn't she look great at the follow-up? I'm hoping she'll announce a pregnancy at the live finale. I hope, at least, they keep up with her progress whenever she does get pregnant.

Guess that's all from the world of television from my perspective. I'm watching "Who Do You Think You Are?" when I can, but that one is basic. Nothing deep or controversial to talk about, just interesting. :-) Keep me in your prayers when you think about it. I start a super busy 8-week stretch this weekend. Thanks!

Pounds for Crowns Week 2

I stepped on the scale Sunday evening, hoping to pull a large number. Instead, I got a disappointing 0.6 pound loss. I know, I know...it's better than gaining! But I was still looking forward to losing 3 or 4 pounds this week. Oh, well. I just know that I need to do more activity this week than I did last week. Maybe this means I'll pull a large number next week! Anyway, this week's weigh-in put me at 162.4 lbs and a total weight-loss of 3.6 lbs.

I found so many good foods to eat that are low in point value. Some days, I don't have enough room in my stomach to eat all of my daily allotment of points. Joshua and I went for a walk on Monday and we'll probably go again one or two more times this week. I say "we" but he was just in the stroller. We go to the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton when it's too cold or wet outside. I am very thankful to have a place to walk indoors so I have no excuse to get out and be active.

My son has been an emotional kid so far this week. He's thrown quite a few temper tantrums and has had attitude changes at the drop of a hat. His nose has been running all day so I would like to blame this on him possibly being sick. But I really think the culprit is teething. Yes! He will be 18 months on Thursday and he is already getting his 2-year molars in. My mom mentioned it to me tonight and after researching the symptoms, I am 99% positive this is the issue. He has been early for all of his teeth so it doesn't really surprise me, but this is the first time he has had any teething problems. His only symptom of teething in the past has been waking up frequently in the middle of the night. But today? He has been fussy, grumpy, runny-nosed, chewing his fingers (rather than the norm of sucking on them), and refusing some food. I just hope he gets these teeth in quickly because it's hard to handle a grumpy little boy who cries at any given moment.

Of course, I did watch my favorite TV shows this week. But it's late and I'm too tired to write about them right now. I will do my best to post tomorrow. Goodnight!

Controlling My Anger

I apologize for not writing about "The Biggest Loser" this week. I wanted to wait a little while before writing because I was SO mad about this week's episode. I have heard comments on FB and Twitter about it that I would like to address as well. Guess we should start at the beginning...

After last week's weigh-in, we find the contestants are sent home to their families for 2 weeks. I think it's a little earlier than usual but a lot of these people were very homesick this season. Most of them did a great job keeping up with their diet and exercise programs while away from the Ranch. When they got back home, they knew the challenge would be to run a 5k. The reward...you could pick your trainer again in the order you finished the challenge. My thoughts, at this moment, were, "Great! Now the teams can go back the way they wanted them to be originally. No big deal!" But then Sarah does the unexpected! She chooses to stay with the black team, essentially sealing Arthur's doom. I heard some people say they were upset with Jen, but she was in the same position Arthur was in and was going to be sent home if she didn't get to re-choose her trainer. Please don't blame Jen! It really is Sarah's fault for what would become the most emotional weigh-in I have ever seen.

Black team weighed in first and kicked some booty! I am so proud of them!! Then, the red team. Rulon weighed in first and had me thinking that the red team might actually win the weigh-in. But the rest of the team had horrible numbers. Moses and Kaylee apparently had a hard time being accountable to their weight loss at home. They didn't show it or mention it until Arthur said something in the interview. Funny, the red team didnt even acknowledge that the father and daughter had dropped the ball. As poor Arthur goes up to get his weight, he is reminded that he could have immunity if he loses over 18 pounds. Then the scale shows he only lost 16. I screamed. I knew what that meant. But, hark! In comes Bob and Jillian to tell the red team to get some backbone and keep him on the ranch. Was there now hope? Uh, no. The red team decided to vote with their own interests at heart and booted Arthur from the ranch. My thoughts? Go black team and go Courtney. I hope every red team member loses every weigh-in left in the season...and Sarah, too. (Who I was cheering for, but no longer.)

Another thing that has gotten my blood boiling this week is the NFL/NFLPA labor talks. Court documents released this week showed how the NFL and the owners would have had access to $4 billion (yes, that's billion with a "b") during a potential lockout. And the players would not have had access to the money. But the crazy thing is, a 1-2 year lockout has been premeditated for 3 years now. Unbelievable! Good thing is the judge who presides over the NFL disputes ruled in favor of the players and that money will now have to be divided properly to the players for "damages" and such. As I write this, both sides have agreed to extend the CBA talks thru next Friday. I hope this means that they are seriously trying to get a new CBA and not just attempting to delay the inevitable. Can't we just get this deal done peaceably?

Now that I've shared what has burned me up this week, let me share some good news! My darling son has been on a great schedule since the beginning of last week. He's been getting up early, eating breakfast and lunch on time, laying down for a good nap without fighting, and going to bed at a decent hour. I didn't really do anything to cause it, he's just been a good boy! I guess God is the one I should thank for this change of behavior in him. It has been such a help to know how to plan my days. Let's hope that this schedule continues! Have a great weekend everyone.

Monday Night Fiasco

As promised, I watched last night's "Bachelor." Chantal had the first date. Their safari was amazing! My son, Joshua especially loved seeing the lions. Their date seemed kinda "buddy"-ish. Like they might have a crush on each other but not really in love yet. I know she has declared her love for him but I don't know if it's for the right reasons. We could tell what she really wanted to do in the fantasy suite. Thank goodness Brad chose the outdoor bed so they probably wouldn't be tempted to do anything beyond kissing. Maybe it was chosen because he knew Chantal would want to know him more (in the Biblical sense), and this was a safe escape route. But I'm sure he'll never confess to that.

Emily's date was so sweet. They rode on an elephant, a dream of hers. Chris Harrison mentioned in his blog that they allowed her to take some pictures of her riding the elephant so she could show her daughter later. Brad confessed at lunch that he was ready to be a father to Ricky. I believe this is what catapulted the conversation of further admiration from Emily later that night. At dinner, they seemed very comfortable with each other. Then the dreaded "fantasy suite" card came. She told him straight out that she knew what the suite is for and was not interested being a bad example to her daughter. But she laid down the law that she would only accept the offer if they could have chance to talk privately and keep things at the slow pace they have been going. (In other words, no sex. Good girl!) Right before the cameras left them at the suite, Emily told Brad she had fallen in love with him. And here's the best part...HE SAID IT BACK TO HER! Ali, from last season's "Bachelorette," said in a tweet that she was surprised he let that slip. They aren't supposed to give away those feelings too early. She said she felt like now he will just be stringing Chantal along for the final week.

Ashley's date is where things really went downhill. They flew a helicopter out to a gorgeous place called God's Window. They ate a picnic lunch while looking over a beautiful valley. During their conversation at lunch, Brad started asking some pretty serious questions about their future together. Ashley did not ask Brad one time what his plans were. It was all about her and what she had planned. I think it hurt Brad that she was not mindful of what his plans might be. Every time they talk about something important and she doesn't like what is said, she shuts down. This makes Brad shut down even more and it turns into a vicious cycle. He did offer the fantasy suite, and she accepted, but it was over by this point.

At the rose ceremony, Brad had the decency to take Ashley aside and explain his feelings. When Ashley said she was surprised that he was sending her home, it made me want to scream. How can you expect a proposal in a week when you don't even know what your future life together might look like? Chantal said it best during her date. When you are engaged to someone, that means you are ready at any time to get married. Ashley apparently did not have the same line of thought. I thought she should have been sent home much sooner than this week, but at least Brad finally opened his eyes to her.

If you watched the show with me last night, you probably saw the "Dancing with the Stars" cast reveal as well. I sat, anxiously waiting, just to get highly disappointed. There are only 11 stars this time, and only 3-4 of them are even names I recognized. NONE of them are "A-listers." Here's the list:

Women:
Kirstie Alley (Pretty well-known actress)
Kendra Wilkinson (Reality Star/Playboy Bunny...which I did not know until Tom said it last night.)
Wendy Williams (Talk Show Host - I don't watch her or know anything about her but I'm sure she'll be fun to watch.)
Chelsea Kane (Disney Kid - I'm sorry, I don't even know what show she is on. I don't have a tween in my house yet.)
Petra Nemcova (Model - Never heard of her)

Men:
Chris Jericho (Wrestler/Rocker - really? never heard of him either)
Mike Catherwood (Loveline - I didn't know that show was still around until I saw it on "Bachelor.")
Romeo (Rapper - as in Lil' Romeo...remember? I haven't heard any of his stuff recently.)
"Sugar" Ray Leonard (Retired Boxer - YES, I've heard of him! I think one of my Uncles sparred with him but I could be wrong.)
Ralph Macchio (Actor - as in THE Karate Kid. But he has gotten a lot older. Wow.)
Hines Ward (Wide Receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers)

As you readers know, I am a Patriots fan and cannot stand the Steelers. (Sorry, Mr. Robert.) BUT, I will be cheering for Hines Ward this season, with Sugar Ray as a close second. My gut feeling is that Ralph "The Karate Kid" Macchio will be the winner. I heard a rumor that he is a great dancer. Hmm...very interesting... Guess we'll see!

Don't be afraid to post your comments below. I like feedback on my thoughts. Just know that all vulgar or questionable comments will be instantly deleted. Thanks!

Pounds for Crowns Week 1

FINALLY! I lost 3 pounds this week on WW, after gaining the previous 3 weeks on P90X!! This puts me at 163.0 lbs. I am still over a 25 BMI for being overweight, but I am so close to being in a healthy weight range.

This starting week wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Maybe it's because I'm so excited to be getting rid of this weight. The hardest day of the week was Saturday. Tim and I attended the Apprentice School graduation at the Ferguson Center that afternoon. After the Baccalaureate service, they served a light lunch. In the past, they've had salad, grilled chicken, steamed veggies, etc. But not this year. Ham biscuits (like Hardee's), fried chicken strips, chicken cordon bleu nuggets, potato salad, pasta salad, and egg rolls were all to be found on the buffet table. The egg rolls were 100 calories each (thank God!), and the deviled eggs they had were about 70 calories each. They also had a fruit and cheese area, which helped fill me with less damage to my diet. And dessert? Brownies and an assortment of large, chunky cookies. I ate the same amount of points for a tiny plate of food as I did for 3 trips to the salad bar at Jason's Deli on Sunday! Unbelievable.

Now to the activity which helped burn some of my calories...walking. Thursday morning, I walked for 20 minutes at Boo Williams since it was so cold out. Saturday, while at the graduation, I did a lot of walking to get from the Baccaleureate service to the graduation area. I also had to meet Tim in the back where he took his robe off before and after the graduation. (It was a long walk.) But the best part of the week was yesterday afternoon. We had gotten home from lunch, and Joshua and Tim had laid down to sleep. Instead of watching the basketball game, I decided to take a walk. I walked very briskly for about 45 minutes in the cool air, listening to Pandora Radio on my phone. It was so peaceful. I am looking forward to the next few Sundays to take advantage of this again.

Today, I took Joshua to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time. He has seen some of the commercials so he was familiar with it before we got there. He wasn't afraid of the character that came out to greet the kids or of the rides that bumped him around. He is a little small for most of the games but I got to play those. ;+) It was nice to get out and have a good time. Mostly, it was good to chase him around to help burn calories!

No. I did not watch the Oscars. I was hoping "Toy Story 3" would win Best Picture, but they did not. Other than that, I didn't really care to watch. But I am looking forward to tonight's episode of "The Bachelor." We will found out which 2 ladies will make it to the final rose ceremony. Sometime during the show, they will reveal the newest cast for "Dancing with the Stars." I cannot wait!!! I love, love, love that show. I will be tweeting live (@rngfreckles) if you want to follow along. And of course, I will update here as well.

Just a reminder, only about 15 days are left before my Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser ends! Please read my previous post http://justanotherfreckledgirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/cystic-fibrosis-benefit.html and get involved before it's too late!

Dead Wrong

This week's "Bachelor" send-off was killer. Shawntel, the funeral director, was the gal left standing without a rose on Monday night. It's funny, because I had just picked her to be in the finale last week. Oh, well. Her hometown date was weird. I think it was good to let Brad see where she worked and how things went, but she really needed to make him feel comfortable. He looked scared most of the time he was at the funeral home. Then, when Brad met her parents, it got even more awkward. Shawntel and her father needed to talk before the date to make sure they were on the same page. Everything came out right in front of Brad and he had to make a decision then as to if he should mess with her father's business plans by choosing Shawntel. You could tell she was really in love him though.

It is now my guess that Chantal will be the other girl in the end with Emily. I just don't see it with Ashley. I know he was really comfortable with her family, but it isn't the family that wins the heart of the bachelor...it's the girl. Back to Emily, I am so glad her daughter opened up to Brad! They looked like a cute, little family. I could definitely see that in the future for them. So sweet!

Last night's episode of "Biggest Loser" was difficult to watch. Was it just me or were the parents' plans to save their kids confusing? Jesse argued like he wasn't sure if he would help Arthur. Then all the parents threw the weigh-in knowing they would have two people from their team sent home. I don't know...I was just confused for the last half of the show.

I don't really comment about "Parenthood," but last night's episode was intriguing. Tim had come home from class around the end of "Biggest Loser" and sat down next to me to watch "Parenthood." There was a seen where the grandparents were in the laundry room and things got...steamy. I know older people are intimate, but I had a hard time watching that last night. I looked at Tim and he had a look of disgust on his face, too! lol Anyway, I had to mention that. =+)

Pounds for Crowns Weigh-in

As I mentioned in my last post, I decided to stop doing the P90X program due to gaining weight the first 3 weeks. I started on the old Weight Watchers Flex program today. A few of the ladies at my church get together each Sunday night and have a weekly weigh-in. Our leader thought of the name "Pounds for Crowns." Each week, we bring $1 and after a few months, we donate the funds to one of our missionaries. Neat, huh?! I thought so, too.

I weighed in last night (going to be transparent and accountable to my readers!) at 166.0 pounds. Our first goal as a group is to lose 10%. This means my first goal is 16.6 pounds and my second goal is 30 total pounds. I get 25 WW points a day and 35 flex points for the week. If you're not sure what I'm talking about...sorry! Just google it and there are plenty of sites that can explain it for you. The last time I was on this program, I lost 25 pounds. You might be asking why I gained the weight back. Well, I had a baby. I lost most of the baby weight in the first year. But around the time I stopped nursing, the pounds piled on. It was my own fault! I knew I wasn't eating right. Yeah, we ate "healthy" most of the time because of my son, but my portions were large. I also kept a stash of stuff Joshua couldn't eat and would snack after he laid down to sleep. It is my goal that I will continue every day to make my eating habits I have learned from WW stick for years to come. Pray for me as I go on this journey and I wish you success in any weight-loss program you may be participating in! (If you are, and you are a friend of mine on FB, message me about the e-mail accountability program I'm in.)

The weather has been incredible the last few days. Today will be the last nice day for a little while. I plan on taking advantage of it as soon as Joshua wakes up from his nap. And maybe Tim will join us for a family walk! With the beautiful weather, we were able to go to 2 Apprentice School baseball games. Unfortunately, they lost both of them. But we always have a great time when we go. Joshua loved running around and talking to everyone nearby. Silly kid.

Looking forward to watching "The Bachelor" tonight to see how Brad reacts to being in the girls' home environment. I really hope Emily's little girl will open up to Brad. It will help their relationship so much! Of course, I'll write about it later this week. Don't forget to read my post on how you can help me raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis research! ( http://justanotherfreckledgirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/cystic-fibrosis-benefit.html ) Only 23 days left! Hope you all have a great day.

Say Bye-Bye

This was the week of bittersweet goodbyes. Unsure what I mean? Let me explain...

Brad (The Bachelor) said goodbye to Britt and Michelle on Monday. No surprise, really. He didn't give Britt an opportunity to get closer to him in the weeks prior, and Michelle was just crazy. I think I know who the final 2 girls are going to be. I'm fairly certain Shawntel (the funeral director) and Emily will be the last girls. But unless Emily declares her love for Brad before the finale, she will be standing alone in the end. I hate to see that, but she is not opening up very well to him. Remember, this is what happened to Tenley in Jake's season. Shawntel is starting to grow on me, too. But Ashley and Chantal are just too emotional and full of drama. Can't see him with either of them.

We said goodbye to Jay on "The Biggest Loser" on Tuesday night. It was hard to watch. Arthur now has the black team behind him, but Jen and Jay were the losers in the whole situation. Don't get me wrong. I am proud of Arthur and how far he came this week. It was a big burden to lose the weight, and boy, did he ever! Twenty pounds in a week!! It just shows that working out, without adding the right diet, can backfire when trying to lose weight. I really hope he has changed.

Because of the Red Team's decision to only look out for their "family," I believe they have shot themselves in the foot. They should have done the logical thing and voted off Kaylee because of the limit of weight she will be losing in the future. But they got rid of a large guy who could have helped them win future weigh-ins. Oh, well. All I gotta say is..."Go Black Team!"

And the other goodbye of the week? P90X. Yes, I gained weight AGAIN last week. We are sending the box back to the company. I will be going back to WeightWatchers where I lost all my weight last time. It will be easier for my family, too. I can still make the same things we were eating in the past. I just need to reduce my portions and eat more fruits 'n' veggies.

Please remember to check out my last post on the Cystic Fibrosis benefit. You can be a great help to so lives many affected by CF! Guess it's time to say goodbye to you now. Think I'll take Joshua outside for a little while today. Enjoy the warmth!

Cystic Fibrosis Benefit

Now for a special announcement! My family will be singing at a Cystic Fibrosis research fundraising concert on March 18 7pm at First Calvary Baptist Church in Hampton. In preparation for this event, I will be holding a fundraiser myself to donate funds toward this great cause. Fifteen percent of the total product sales through my business website http://www.amway.com/timrebeccagardner February 15-March 15 will be donated to the CF Research benefit sing! This is a great way to get involved and shop for items you can use on a daily basis. Please pass on this information to your friends and family so we can really make a difference. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me here, on my twitter (@rngfreckles), on my facebook, or email (rngfreckles@yahoo.com). Thanks in advance for your help!

Great Weekend in Review

Our family survived Great Wolf Lodge. Four rooms, 13 adults, 12 children (ages 1 month-8 years), and water = a great time! Joshua really didn't like the water. I don't understand why. He did like the tubes, though. He rode the lazy river with me twice and fell asleep on me in the wave pool. It was the best part of the weekend. I won't be posting pictures here because I was in a swimsuit...not pretty. =+)

Saturday night, my parents came over for a little bit. I went to the grocery store by myself to pick up some things to snack on. It was so nice not having to worry about keeping Joshua happy while looking for stuff. Ended up making my mexican dip and we had fruit and cream cheese dip. I bought the movie "Hoosiers" and we watched it after Tim and my dad played Wii Golf. Pretty good movie!

I did okay during the first Sunday of the NFL off-season. We got home from church and the Bruins game was on. They were ahead in the first period, but the Red Wings got serious in the last 2 periods. Lost 4-2. Then I switched over to the Celtics/Heat game. My Twitter timeline was saying we were losing, but by the time I started watching the game, things had turned around. What a great game! Rondo had a triple-double and Big Baby pulled through right when needed.

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. I sure did! I spent the afternoon with my friend in Gloucester and her daughter. She made egg salad (one of my faves) and brownies! The fellowship was the best part, of course. I don't get out the house much anymore or get a lot of social time during the week. We talked about trying to find a playgroup that I could take Joshua to. (If anyone reading this knows of any good ones, please comment!) On our way home, we got stuck at the drawbridge. Since Joshua had fallen asleep, I decided to take the auto tour of the Yorktown Battlefield. It was a beautiful drive and an even more beautiful day. Tim texted me when I got home and told me to get ready to go out that night. He surprised me and took me to the Captain George's seafood restaurant in Williamsburg. It was sooooo good! They have a few locations on the East Coast. I highly encourage you to visit their website http://captaingeorges.com/ and try to make a trip to eat there. On our way home, he bought me a beautiful rose. I have such a sweet husband.

Since I went out last night, I wasn't able to watch "The Bachelor." I am going to try and watch it while Joshua takes his nap today. I also have a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis that starts today. I will post later on the details so everyone can get involved. Joshua is getting mad at me for being on the computer...gotta go!

A Really Big Loser

Okay, I watched "Biggest Loser" last night going in with the impression that most of the drama was over. Ha! Arthur is not very smart. Why didn't he just keep his mouth shut? He put his team in a lose-lose situation and target has now been placed on his back. He is "lucky" the black team did so well with their weigh-in or he probably would have been voted off this week. And the good thing for the red team was Q did not back up his promise. It was easy to vote him off and move on. Next week is going to be the first really tough week when voting people off. They will have spent between 2-7 weeks together, friendships will be made, and then someone will have to go home. I noticed the preview for next week looks really emotional. Grab your tissues, folks!

Hockey and basketball are in full swing and baseball season will be starting soon. Busch Gardens opens in a little over a month. I hear birds singing outside my window in the mornings now. You guys know what all this means, right? Warmer weather will be here soon! But first, we have a sprinkling of snow scheduled tomorrow. Yuck. I like snow, on holidays, but that's about it. I'll be so glad when summer gets here.

Joshua is yelling about something so I better go. We're getting ready to hang out with Aunt Bebop and my grandparents today. Have a great Wednesday!

Green, Yellow, and Bloody Football

Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers on winning Super Bowl XLV! I was only 2 points away from being right on the money with the final score. My husband told me, before the game, the score I had was too high. As the game went on, he changed his tune and said I was going to be pretty close. I love when he knows that I am right!

As I mentioned before, my mom is a Packers fan. We invited my parents over to our house for the game. My son, Joshua, was running around the room while we were eating and watching the game. Next thing we know, he hits the wood floor, face first. He almost put his teeth through his bottom lip and it wouldn't stop bleeding. And he didn't want us to put ice on it so he screamed the whole time. Then, he didn't want anyone but my mom and the only thing that calmed him down was watching SpongeBob. She didn't even get to watch the last half of the game. I felt bad about the whole thing, but she was glad she could help. BTW, Joshua is fine now. He had a swollen lip yesterday but it has gone down a lot today. Poor baby!

I watched "The Bachelor" last night. I didn't think Michelle could get any scarier, but she did last night. I can't believe Brad didn't send her home. I am pretty certain she saw Jake's season and is trying to win like Vienna did...by being a crazy stalker. Now that there is only 6 ladies left, things are going to get even more emotional in the weeks to come. He will have more time to spend with each girl which means more jealousy with the other girls. Oh, what fun!

P90X update: I started Week 3 yesterday. I have been weighing in each week to see how much I'm losing. After Week 1, I gained 1.6 pounds. After Week 2, I lost one pound. So, I am now at +0.6 pounds. Ugh. I have decided to stop doing the exact diet they call for, but I follow the guidelines. If I wasn't losing anything after doing it exactly like they said, I don't see why I can't eat my own way and try to lose more. And Tim has been so busy with school work that he stopped doing the workouts for now. I'm hoping he starts back up next week.

We are going to Great Wolf Lodge this weekend with our families. I was really hoping to have lost a few pounds before getting in my swimsuit, but no hope there. Anyway, it should be a great time. Joshua is old enough this year to enjoy the water and I get to meet my 2 new neices, Sarah and Hannah! I hope to update again before we go, but I never know if Joshua will let me do so. So, just in case...have a great week everyone!

Super Bowl Week (and other stuff)

I should be watching all the coverage of the Super Bowl knowing my Patriots are going. But they're not. At least I can be happy hearing that they are winning all the AP/NFL awards this week! Tom Brady got OPOY and Belichick is COY. MVP will probably also go to Brady. Too bad we couldn't have a Super Bowl win as the cherry on top. The crazy thing is...we weren't expected to do as well as we did! Imagine the possibilities this coming year!! (Provided there is no lockout.)

My pick for SB 45: Steelers 27 - Packers 31  Everone is talking about how the Steelers' defense is going to smear Green Bay, but I just don't think it will happen. Of course, I could be wrong! I picked a GB/NE Super Bowl at the beginning of the season and it didn't happen. But, boy, was I close!

Now to the "other stuff." "Biggest Loser:" I thought they would be playing the second half of last week's episode after the SOTU. Oops. So, I had to wait until this week's episode to finally get an answer. I am so glad Don was voted off, even though he kinda voted himself off. It was nice to see that his son has started talking to him again. I figured now that the twins were gone, most of the drama was as well. But it looks like Q is going to have drama follow him until he gets his attitude right. I really wish the other team members would have just voted him off because he's going to be a future threat anyway. Q definitely has a target on his back if he doesn't start working harder.

I was disappointed and thrilled about this week's episode of "The Bachelor." The disappointment was the 2-on-1 date with the Ashleys. I think he sent the wrong one home. Brad hates drama, but he kept the Ashley that is one of the most emotionally distraught girls on the show! I've been reading Chris Harrison's blog each week and he said we have to realize that all we see is not relayed to Brad. It's up to Brad to figure out what each girl is like. Not like it matters anyway...because I hope he picks Emily in the end! This was the highlight of the week. His spending more time with Emily is giving her more confidence in him and will help her open up more. The NASCAR date was a great push in the right direction. The other girls are right to be jealous but shouldn't get weepy over it. (I say that, but I haven't been through it myself. Guess I got no room to talk, huh?)

I forgot to mention that I really enjoyed the latest new episode of "Castle." (My dad and I watch it and then talk about it later. I like that a lot!) There is so much romantic tension between Beckett and Castle. So it was weird to see them lip-lock! Weird, but in a good way. I am also looking forward to the latest season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" that starts tonight. Vanessa Williams is first.

My weekend will be pretty busy, so I should be back on Monday to write again. I will share my P90X update and of course talk about the results of the Super Bowl. Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy the game!

Working It Out

Super Bowl XLV is now set... Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers. I'll be cheering for the Packers because they are my mom's team. And I don't like the Steelers. Ha! Can't believe this football season is over. Seems like it just got started a little bit ago. I am looking forward to seeing what New England will do with all these good draft picks. Whether that means getting a bunch of good rookies, or trading the picks for established players, it will be definitely be interesting. Of course, the trading part will only come if they can get the CBA figured out soon.

Tim and I started P90X on Monday. Wow! I am sore today. The meal plan and recipes are pretty good, but time-consuming. The workouts are intense. I think I'm a whimp, though. I can't do a pull-up, sit-up, chin-up or anything-up. I know I'll get better but, right now, you all would laugh if you saw me working out.

Watched Bachelor Monday night. Girls. What were you thinking? Apparently, nothing. The guy is exploring every option each gal is throwing at him. Expect that he is and then focus on you and him. This will keep you and the others out of trouble and away from more drama. What happened to the good, old days when the guy pursued the girl? Let him come to you, ladies, like he did with Emily. (Which, by the way, was sooooo sweet!) Oh, and was anyone else hoping that Michelle would fall off the side of that building? Ha, not me! ;+)

I'll post on the Biggest Loser later. I only got to see the first half due to the State of the Union address. Tim came home and worked out during that time so I started making lunch for today and, well, it took longer than expected. When I watch the second half, I share my thoughts. Have a good afternoon!

Just Call Me Crazy

I volunteered to watch my friend's neice and nephew today. So I currently have a 3 year old, and two one year olds (one is mine) in my house. Joshua is trying to learn the concept of sharing but I don't think he really gets it. Good thing is, Joshua will take a nap once Kyle wakes up. So I should really only be "watching" 2 kids most of the day. Thank you, Lord, for naptime. I'm being funny, of course. All 3 kids are playing really well with each other. I told a few people of my endeavor today, and they told me I was crazy. Well, call me crazy, because I love helping my friend out.

Alright, time for my picks in the games this weekend. AFC: Steelers NFC: Packers My friend (and Steelers fan), Robert, is going to the AFCCG this weekend. Last time he went, they made it to the Super Bowl. Hope he's their good luck charm again. But, I will be cheering for the Packers in the Super Bowl. They are my mom's team. (And I just don't like the Jets or Steelers.)

Sorry this post is short, but having a house full of kids makes it hard to focus. I hear a noise and start wondering what they could be doing, or breaking. I should be back on Monday to post about the games. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

TV This Week

Alrighty...the Bachelor. I know everyone either really hates or loves this show. So if you are one of the haters, skip this part. My pick from the very first night has been Emily. Her story broke my heart and I want her to find love! But this week, we find she is still not opening up to Brad. Yes, she told her history on the date...but it was when the date was coming to an end. If she had done it first thing, when he'd given her the opportunity, it would have made the date go so much better. Hopefully, this will not put her behind the others. Speaking of the others, does Michelle seem crazy to anyone? The first night I thought she might be a forerunner. But now, I wish she would do something stupid and get sent home. I was sad to see Madison go home. She was growing on me! I wish her all the best, though. Most of these girls needs to grow up. They get mad over all the kissing and hugging he's doing with the other girls. What do you expect from this show? Most of you watched the first 10 or so seasons and still applied to be there! Crazy...but I guess, that's why we love the show. DRAMA.

Biggest Loser: I have two picks this season. I like Courtney from the Ranch side, and Sarah from the Unknowns side. Courtney has the mindset to win the whole thing. Sarah's story touched my heart and I want to see the best for her life after the show is over. I've been pretty good at picking a winner the last few seasons, but I can't decide which one of these two will make it all the way. On a not-so-positive note, the twins are horrible liars. You cannot tell me they BOTH gained 9 pounds each without trying. I'm sorry. Maybe they did workout and do the actions. But they probably had a food binge when the others weren't around. Dan. Don. We are not stupid. I think you both should have been sent home after being so selfish. That was horrible.

My hubby, Tim, and I will be starting P90X next week. He's doing it to build muscle. I'm doing it to lose weight and build muscle. I still have my "baby weight" on me and my baby is 16 months. So, it's about time to lose those pounds. I'm hoping to lose enough weight by February 11 so I can look good in my swimsuit at Great Wolf Lodge. We take our neices and nephews every year as their Christmas present. I think this may be the last year we go. The kids are big enough that they would probably enjoy the beach more. Tim and I will be going to OBX this summer to check it out. I don't like sand, but if it means a vacation and good food, I'm all for it!

I have to get back to working on my house. My brother-in-law is coming in tonight because he has an interview at the shipyard tomorrow. Don't want the house to be a mess. Have a great afternoon!

There's Always Next Year

It's times like these that make it hard to be a sports fan. You put a lot of faith into your team, knowing they can accomplish so much more, then...you lose to the smack-talking Jets. I was upset Sunday and Monday. But I've had some time to gather my thoughts. I'm a female, so I get emotional. A little time was all I needed to get over this loss. I am now sooooo ready for next year. Maybe the 2011 season will be our perfect season, complete with SB win. I know what you're thinking, but that's the expectation I start each new season with. Know this - I support my team, win or lose, because that's what good sports fans do. Onward!

Joshua, my son, had his circumcision revised last Thursday. He was such a good boy! Didn't cry one time. I will admit it was quite scary for me. This was the first time he'd ever been put to sleep or had any type of surgery. The nurses were very helpful and eased my mind that he would be okay. He has recovered well, too. I appreciate all the prayers sent up for him!

Yesterday was MLK Day. My hubby was off work so we went to Historic Jamestowne. It was pretty cold but we had a great time. They just found the foundation and remains of the first church ever built in America. One of the top ten finds of 2010. Amazing to be able to stand right next to it! And once it warms up, people will be able to see them dig it all up. If you can't make a trip out here to see it yourself, visit their website http://www.historicjamestowne.org/the_dig/dig_2010_08_24.php and watch the video of the church dig. They update every month!

Well, my baby boy is awake and wanting to get into everything (guess that's what 16 month old boys do)! Better get off here. Make it a great day!

2011 Resolution

Okay. My resolution for 2011 is to keep up with this blog! I downloaded Blogger-Droid on my phone so I can keep up. Let's fill in from where we left off!

Braces: Love that they are off!!!!! I went right out and ate a cheeseburger (which I scarfed down in 60 seconds). It used to take me a long to time to eat anything that I had to bite into. The little things in life are so underappreciated.

Football: My Patriots are playing the best football ever. I really believe they will make it all the way and win the Super Bowl. I just wish I could be there to see it! I was trying to talk my hubby into going to the AFC Championship game but he said not this year. Oh, well. At least I got to attend the butt-whooping of the Jets on December 6. That was a fun game (my first NFL game, btw). Congratulations to the players who were voted in to the Pro Bowl. Also, congrats to Wes Welker who was selected for the Ed Block Courage Award. If you haven't heard about Wes' foundation, please visit his website and find out more. http://www.weswelkerfoundation.org/

Family: My baby boy is almost 16 months. Crazy! Didn't we just celebrate his first birthday? He is having surgery next Thursday. Please pray for him, and for my sanity. I know he'll be okay, but I will probably be a wreck. Tim is finished with the investment property we purchased in October. It should go on the market this week. Let's hope it sells quickly and for the full amount we ask.

SG: Let's see...since my last post, my family has sung a few times. Of course, my favorite is the All-Night Sing we have every November. This year was the best we've had for a long time. Great variety of groups and we went until almost midnight! Also since September, I've had the privilege to see the Mitchum Brothers, the Hoppers, and the Dove Brothers. (We don't get as many "big" SG groups in my area any more, but it's starting to turn around.) The Mitchum Brothers were great, as usual, and the Hoppers blew my socks off. They didn't sing "That's Him," which was disappointing. But the one I really want to talk about is DBQ. I didn't know they had a band. At first, I wasn't sure what they would sound like. I've been so used to them singing with tracks or a pianist. But, I loved it!!! I especially enjoyed the bass guitarist. He did an incredible job! There are probably some other big groups, even non-SG, that would love to get their hands on him.

I would love to post more but my son is having a temper tantrum and throwing things. Gotta go! I promise I'll be back soon with a new post. Have a great day!