A Few of my Favorite Things...

This is something I'd intended to do a number of months ago...I'm calling it "Friday's Favorites"! I don't know why...but I am, so there! My hubby is off working "Estrogen Fest", otherwise known as the JBC annual Women's Retreat! He is pleased as punch I assure you! So, in my effort to continue to avoid the housework that needs to be done and COULD get done with the time I have, I am now going to finally post this blog! Outside of my nearest and dearest, friends and family...there are a few speical items that I possess that were given to me, or that I have collected in my years of living that are favorites. Now, this isn't a blog to point out "look what I have!!! Be jealous!!!"...I'm not a material person really. Sure, there's a lotta stuff in our house, but I could scrap it all and be totally fine! It'd probably do us some good!!! These are things that are rather sentimental to me, and I'd like to pass them on to my kids and hope that they will be sentimental to them!

My collection of butterflies:
My senior year of high school I went on a retreat called 'Chrysalis'. The whole concept came from the passage in II Cor. 5:17 "In Christ we are a new creation, behold the old has gone, the new has come." Before we are Christians we are like caterpillars, looking for something to 'fill' us, and as we learn about a life with Christ, and hopefully follow him, we transform as a beautiful butterfly does! The experiences on this retreat were ones that changed my life! To this day I remember people and events that happend that weekend. It was a HUGE pivtal turning point in my life. Ever since then, butterflies have become kind of a 'signature' thing for me. Abbie has kind of picked up on that as well and points butterflies out to me all the time. My friends and family have helped add to my collection over the years. The top picture is a wall hanging that Laura brought back from Ecuador for me 2 Christmases ago...yes, they are real, I love it and I'm still (ashamedly!) looking for the right place to hang it! I am trying to form a special 'niche' to place my butterfly things! The next picture down shows 2 of the butterfly ornaments that my mom found somewhere...they are SO pretty, the picture doesn't do them justice! The pitcher on top of the hutch in the background was another Christmas gift! Katrina found that several years ago, and I adore it! That is the kind of "real" looking butterfly item that I like to collect....in my head, it's the true essence of a butterfly.

Next, my lighthouse collection:
I think my mom got me into collecting lighthouses! Not sure, but I just find them cool! Several of these I have seen live and in person! The picture on the wal I think my in laws purchased for us...the light just under it actually lights up and has a Kincade picture on it. on the bottom...left to right: Alcatraz...haven't been there, would like to, think it's cool....Next is Thomas Pointe in MD, another I haven't been to, but hope to....next is one in Chicago that I have been to...the bigger one next to it is one that Jeff got me several years ago for my birthday, it's a Harbour Lights...they are awesome!! There is a bell there with North Carolina Lighthouses painted on it...and the one I'm NOT seeing is Concord Pointe which is in Haver de Grace, MD and I've been to it several times. It's quite close to where my family lives, outside of Baltimore. There are alos a couple of Nativities on here....another thing which I collect. (Pattern much Ann????? Yikes!!!)

Sunflowers:
I love them!!! My favorite flower!!! And a sort of central theme in my kitchen...or at least that was my original intention :) This picture goes way back! It was probably the first picture I bought with the intenion of gracing our walls when we got married. Jeff sent me the picture in an e-card when we were dating, then later I found it on a coffee mug, which I also have. Some time later I was staying in the home of a host family to a friend of mine that I was traveling back to school with after a holiday break (ironically....the friend was Jeff's ex girlfriend!!!). The bedroom that I slept in had a smaller print of this picture hanging over the bed! Fate....I don't know! It was then that I knew that I had to have a copy of this in my house if Jeff and I ever got married! When I worked at an art museum one summer, I managed to find and order the print..yay!!!

Heirlooms to be (I hope!):
My wedding ring set! We picked it out together, and Jeff's wedding band matches! I love it!!!
My wedding dress! I don't have a good picture of it loaded on here....this is the best one. Mom and I went to a bunch of stores....I tried on DOZENS of dresses it felt like, but I always came back to this one! I don't have it here in Tennessee, it's still at mom and dad's. I vowed to hang on to it in case I had a daughter that would one day like to use it. Who knows what our Abbie will do with her future, but it's there if she wants to wear it in her wedding.Our quilt. Made by my Gram (pictured above to the the right of Jeff *your left*) for our wedding. Blue is one of my favorite colors, and I was just thrilled to have a hand made quilt for our home. She's made a quilt or quillow for all of the grandchildre and great grandchildren now...each of my kids have quillows and they love them! The picture below is the message Gram wrote on the back for us:

It reads: "One who sleeps under a quilt is blanketed in love! Made by: Gram Kustanbauter; For: Ann & Jeffrey, June 26, 1999, State of Pennsylvania"
This final picture is the headboard of our bed. No one made it specifically for us, but it was the first piece of furniture we bought together once we were married. It matches our dresser and night stand. Over the years I've been tempted to try signing up for Trading Spaces, but I was always afraid we'd get one of the designers that would take out that furniture or mar it for LIFE! I would NOT be happy!!!! We love very natural looking things like this, so if it were to get painted or covered by fabric or something.....somebody'd be PAYIN'!!! But alas....I've never gone on the show, and I'm OK with that :)

Anyway, that's a little "behind the mind of Ann" for your weekend! I've now killed some time and it's about time to think about supper!

Check it....

I've/we've started a blog for Power Ministries...and I'm pretty stoked about it! Dad's doing a really interesting series that he's had published in a paper up in Indiana for the blog, and we'll be posting updates throughout the camp season, as well as some other upcoming fund raisers that are planned for May. Check us out, leave a comment, add us to your "followed" list if you wish....most importantly, spread the word!

Power Ministries Happenings

Songs That Move Me

Random blog post today....I've actually started 2 in the past couple of months and then never finished them. We've got some big activities out of the way, so hopefully I'll have some more time on my hands to get out more thoughts :)

If you know me well, you know I am a music lover! Let's just say, my husband and I own a lot of CDs...we both love our music! We minister with our praise team at church, and I totally appreciate the songs our director pics out for us! Mixed in in this list are some songs I listen to on the radio and songs that we sing with our praise team. I am driven by the lyrics! Hope they touch you as well :)

Run Kid Run ~ "Freedom"

Oh my chains,
I can't disengage,
I don't believe that I want to,
one hand sings your praise, the other brings me shame,
I have selfishness to blame...

And I'm singing for freedom,
I know I'm not the only one praying to the one,
who can bring me this freedom,
I'm ready for change, change, change, change...

Looking down I lay,
I keep holding my chains,
no longer bound but here I stay,
I scream father please,
I need rescuing,
I need and you alone..

And I'm singing for freedom,
I know I'm not the only one praying to the one,
who can bring me this freedom,
I'm ready for, I'm ready for...

Still you patiently await yet I won't just let go,
I see you and you alone,
say come follow me cause there is ???? you can't see ???

So I'm singing for freedom,
So I'm singing for freedom...
The time has come-separation lost the war to love,
take my hand, grace is found-yeah-where your words begin,
you're alive, you're alive,
in the waking of new life,
take my hand, in the end there's only love...

(ooooo) there's only love (oooo)

there's only singing for freedom,
i know i'm not the only one praying to the one,
who can bring me this freedom,
i'm ready for, i'm ready for-
father please, i need rescuing, i need you and you alone...

-Now for the old school:

Big Dismal ~ "Rainy Day"
I used to hear this on the radio alot...and oddly, usually when it was raining! Put a different spin on the rain, when it seemed so gloomy outside :)

On a rainy day
I feel like I can change the world
Cause somehow I know that it's all gonna be alright
And on a rainy day
I can feel my heart beating
And I can taste the tears falling from the sky

On a rainy day
(won't You come and save the world?)
On a rainy day
(I know You're looking down on me)

Love
It keeps us hanging on
Even when all hope is gone
I believe that Your love rains down on me
Faith
It carries us away
It takes us to a place
Far above this world
And I can see you in the clouds
On a rainy day

On a rainy day
I feel like I'm in tune
And I can clearly see how much I have to lose
And on a rainy day
I feel like I am free
Cause I know You did it all to rescue me

On a rainy day
(won't You come and save the world?)
On a rainy day
(I know You're looking down on me)

Love
It keeps us hanging on
Even when all hope is gone
I believe that Your love rains down on me
Faith
It carries us away
It takes us to a place
Far above this world
And I can see you in the clouds
On a rainy day

Won't You come and save the world?
Won't You come and save the world?
Won't You come and save the world for You and me?
Won't You come and save the world?
Won't You come and save the world?
Won't You come and save the world for You and me?

Love
It keeps us hanging on
Even when all hope is gone
I believe that Your love rains down on me
Faith
It carries us away
It takes us to a place
Far above this world
And I can see you in the clouds, yeah
Like a rainbow shining down
On a rainy day
Yeah, on a rainy day
On a rainy day
(Won't You come and save the world?)

Superchick ~ "We Live"
This was played at my parents church during a sermon titled "What's your Legacy?" AMAZING message that week that has stuck with me!

There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost a son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be the last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
So she could say she loved him one last time
And hold him tight
But with life we never know
When we're coming up to the end of the road
So what do we do then
With tragedy around the bend?

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

There's a man who waits for the tests
To see if the cancer has spread yet
And now he asks, "So why did I wait to live till it was time to die?"
If I could have the time back how I'd live
Life is such a gift
So how does the story end?
Well this is your story and it all depends
So don't let it become true
Get out and do what we were meant to do

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

Waking up to another dark morning
People are mourning
The weather in life outside is storming
But what would it take for the clouds to break
For us to realize each day is a gift somehow, someway?
So get our heads up out of the darkness
And spark this new mindset and start to live life cuz it ain't gone yet
And tragedy is a reminder to take off the blinders
And wake up and live the life we're supposed to take up
Moving forward with all our heads up cuz life is worth living

We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love

MercyMe ~ "I Can Only Imagine"
We used this at my Grandfather's memorial service during a slide presentation we created. I cannot hear this song now without getting misty...it makes me excited to think that both of my Grandfathers don't have to imagine what Heaven is like anymore!

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus]

I can only imagine [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine

Christ Tomlin ~ "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"
Great update to an already great hymn!

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Leeland ~ The Sound of Melodies
I like the lyrics and music to this song....so, based on this one song, went out and bought the CD, and really liked the rest of this band's music too!

We who were called to be Your people
Struggling sinners and thieves
We’re lifted up from the ashes
And out came the song of the redeemed
The song of the redeemed
The song of the redeemed

Can you hear the sound of melodies
Oh, the sound of melodies
Rising up to You
Rising up to You, God
The sound of melodies
Oh, the sound of melodies
Rising up to You
Rising up to You, God

We have caught a revelation
That nothing can separate us from
The love we received through salvation
It fills your daughters and your sons
Your daughters and your sons

The sound of Your love
The sound of Your love
Is what You’re hearing
The sound of Your sons
The sound of Your sons
You’ve won Your children
The sound of Your love
The sound of Your love
Is what You’re hearing
Your daughters in love
Your daughters in love
You’ve won your children

The sound of melodies
Oh, the sound of melodies
Rising up to You
Rising up to You, God

Revelation Song
WOW song for me! Love it Love it!!!!

Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Holy, holy is He
Sing a new song to Him Who sits on Heaven's mercy seat

(Repeat)

CHORUS

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything, and I will adore You

VERSE 3

Clothed in rainbows of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
To You, the only wise King
CHORUS

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything, and I will adore You

VERSE 4
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is power, breath and living water, such a marvelous mys- tery

CHORUS

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything, and I will adore You

(Repeat)

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything, and I will adore You

I LOVE this!!!!

I'm a member of sparkpeople.com, a weight loss community site....used for personal goal setting, journaling, keeping track of eating habits and exercise, etc. GREAT site, lots of good information. Today I got an email with the blog post of another member there that I LOVE!!! Had to share the wealth:

"No More Shopping Until Goal Weight!

Dear Plus-Size Clothing Store,

I'm sorry, but it's over between us. I realize that we've had a long and complex relationship throughout the years, and although you've seen me through many (size) changes, I feel it's for the best that we make a clean break.

For far too long, I've relied on you to outfit me for any occasion. I think my dependence upon you was born out of comfort -- I knew that I could always find something that would fit me, and for a time, it really didn't matter what that was.

Those times are over now. My closet is full of your fashions in every possible size. The things I have currently will be more than sufficient to sustain me through my weight loss, and I simply cannot justify spending any more money on clothing (especially when I have no intention of fitting into it a month or so later!)

Instead, I will be saving my money so that I can go on a *major* shopping spree once I hit my goal weight! Until then, I will wear what I have, and if I really truly *need* something, then I will buy it at a "regular" store.

It's been a good long run, but it's time for me to move on. "

I read this and got a little jazzed! I did some shopping after Christmas for myself, but I'm to a point now where I have what I need, more so in fact! I love to shop, I love to bargain hunt and get the most for my buck, and I like trying to overcome the challenge of finding cute clothes for my size. BUT, since I've been able to find a couple of things here and there that make me FEEL cute, I've gotten too comfortable with my 'big girl' clothes! In my head, and a tad vocally with a couple of my closest friends, I have made the commitment that I want to get OUT of the plus sizes by my anniversary! This year is J's and my 10th wedding anniversary, a pretty big milestone if I do say so! I want to knock his socks off with some sort of cute, or dare I say, sexy outfit for the occasion! And if I keep spending money on 'comfort clothes', I'm not going to have money to shop for SMALLER clothes!!!! OK...I've put it out there in writing!!!! I've gotta do it now!

A Lil Off Track

Well, it's been a couple of weeks again! I'm here in front of the computer regularly, but when I start to think about blogging, I guess my brain kind of freezes. It's not that nothing interesting happens to us, it's not that I'm unmotivated to write. I HAVE, however intended for this blog to be a bit of a purging process for me at times, and I think I stray away from that purging process. For instance...we are a little off track on our weight loss mission...for a number of reasons! We headed out of town this past weekend for a family wedding and splurged! I had that monthly womanly visit.....yup, you guessed it! I caved to my cravings! We haven't been on the scale in nearly 2 weeks now. I'm more than a little nervous! I was totally thrilled by the progress I'd been seeing and got a tad frustrated with a week of maintaining, and then the next week was when we got a little 'off'. So, I've got a couple more days to hopefully make or break my weigh in on Friday!

Spiritually, I'm a lil off track there too! I've been doing the read thru the Bible in a year thing with the church. I was just about totally caught up from starting late, and then last week hit and I had a million and one things to do to get ready for the weekend trip. Now I'm all sorts of behind again! I was really getting into it too, finding lots of relevance in my currant life in the portions I was reading....and it's not like I can't pick up my Bible and start again! I totally can! I guess i just dread the catch up process because I know how long it took me to catch up in the first place! WOW I sound lazy!

We're behind in school things, I'm behind in work things....I'm a master procrastinator!!! Ergo, I've avoided being honest too! So....here I sit, confessing....and I intended to (after a decent nights sleep) to turn my motivator back on tomorrow! I have a LIST of things that I wanted to reignite this year, and I need to get back on track! February is almost over, so it's not like I can't get back up to speed! I'm STILL determined to get out of the plus sizes by the time our 10th anniversary rolls around, I'm STILL determined to get caught up and through the Bible this year, I'm STILL determined to follow a budget again, caught up on school, and on a more organized schedule at home....which is going to take a major overhaul on ALL our parts!

There you have it! Me being a tad transparent to all of my 3 readers to see! Say a lil prayer for me! I'm gonna need it!

I'm Sleeping with Darth Vader!

J finally has his c-pap machine for his sleep apnea, and while the thing itself doesn't make any sound, he on occasion does! His lips will come apart just the tiniest bit, and air hisses out. It's fun! That and last night I came to bed after him and he was spread all the way out onto my side, and bless his heart, I could NOT get him to scoot. I had about 1/3 of the bed for myself...awkward! I'm sure it will all get easier!

I've got to take pictures, C-man's lost another tooth! C was over at a buddy's after church today, and while eating supper with their family, one of his top teeth fell out! YAY!!! We've been trying to tell him it was just hanging there, just yank it out or bite something with his front teeth...but, he wouldn't! Thankfully it came out on it's own! I"m not real good with the tooth pulling...I was squeamish about it as a kid, it took an act of congress to get any of my teeth out with ANYONE'S help! J got C's first tooth out, and C did something, I think just played with it, and got the 2nd out on his own. Today was his 3rd and he's got 2 more loose. It will be interesting to see how the tooth thing goes with our Diva Darling!

Weather the past 2 days....A-MA-ZING!!!! I had out short sleeve tops today, it was kind of nice! However, living in E. Tennessee, I'm fully aware that this could be too good to stick around! It could very well change in an instant, but the sun is welcome for now!

Well, we are down 5 weeks on South Beach and 4 on Biggest Looser! I've lost 20 lbs!!! Just gotta keep up the momentum! I won 2 weeks at Biggest Looser, and I'm willing to bet J's won this past weeks! He lost 6 lbs this past week. I think that's 9 or 10 at Biggest Looser, and I'm not sure his overall. He missed the very first weigh in. I think what will help is keeping up the exercise at home, which I haven't been very consistent with, and keeping a handle on the carbs throughout the day. If we have 1 meal with carbs and are sparing on the others, we still seem to loose at a healthy pace. The 1st week on phase 2, we were getting used to adding them back in and didn't do so well. This week showed better results. It's all a process!

Alright, I'm going to try to go back to bed and see how this Darth Vader thing goes....I may meet up with the couch....gotta get some sleep tonight!!!

Winter Purging....GooGobs of Fun!

OK...I'm cool! I started this entry 3 days ago and NOW I'm finally going back and writing it! Over the weekend I was trying to make a dent in the kids room. Hard as I try to keep them organized, I feel like it's an ever failing process! I got them new shelves last week to try to keep more of their ju...stuff off the floor. They were fascinated with the sorting process, but now there's just clothes all over the place! My Darling Diva, changes clothes ALL THE TIME!!! It's like musical outfits...2 outfits may be the fewest she's been in in a days time...bless her heart! This trend needs to change! C-man would wear the same clothes for a week if I'd let him!

So, we've not been out a whole lot this week. ALL of our activities this week were canceled...basketball, co op, dance, Biggest Looser. The funny part is that there's not really been all that much snow! It makes me laugh sometimes how much it would take for us to get out of school in Indiana, and before the first flakes fly here, things start shutting down! Good times! The kids finally wore me down and we got out and played for a little bit on Monday. They were pelting each other with snowballs, pelting me with snowballs and making snow angels everywhere! It was fun!
I have a whole other blog entry in my head...it's gonna be pretty deep! I've had some thoughts swimming around in my head due to my Bible reading. I have this calendar that has the 'suggested readings' for each day that our church has provided, and I've been making notes all over the thing. I'm only, what, 4 days into February and running out of space already! God's been hitting me with some pretty tough convictions and things to re-think, and it's been really awesome!

We're doing really well with Biggest Looser I think. I won the first 2 weigh ins at Church which was fun! I think I got around $15 both times. I know I didn't win the one this past Friday. I gained 2 pounds, but that still leaves me with loosing 15lbs. in 3 weeks! The 4th weigh in is this coming Friday. Hopefully I'm back on track with a loss. Our eating habits are getting SO much better. Exercise is up and down. Two of the B.L. workouts have been canceled at church, and I/we haven't always done anything to make up for that at home. I have taped stuff off of the tv, but haven't done really well at actually turning them on and doing them! I really need to do that today, because I haven't exercised since last week and my body is going to rebel when I finally do again if I'm not careful!

The fun part is, I'm noticing a difference in my clothes, and a difference in my stamina! That's exciting! BUT...I have a looooong way to go to truly get healthy again! I have 2 gift cards from Christmas that I've been hanging on to, and my sort of short term goal is to be down a couple sizes or so by June, J's and my 10th anniversary! I want to be able to use those gift cards to go out and buy something in a smaller size...maybe even OUT OF THE PLUS SIZES...for our anniversary! I think it's do-able! One of my biggest obstacles has been that even though Jeff ALWAYS tells me that I'm beautiful or gorgeous...I don't FEEL it! I've even gone so far as to have a hard time believing him when he tells me. I broke down right before he went to TCTC...seeing pictures of myself from Christmas had me pretty down...but, I broke down on him, just feeling low about myself, we were all tired from our travels and had kind of been 'missing' each other even in the same house, if that makes sense. Just a general sense of distance. We talked for a long time, I told him about my self-image issues, and how 'estranged' I'd been feeling from him. Telling him those things was HARD, and I even think some of the estrangement was me...me holding back because I don't feel cute, pretty or beautiful. I think coping with "The Great Divorce" over the past year and a half has made me edgy too. Knowing that such things can happen to the most unlikely people shakes my foundation at times. Is that crazy? Anyway...we've prayed a lot more together lately, and talked more openly about how I'm feeling and how he's feeling. Our Unplugged week with the church had us forming some more habits, good habits. I/we didn't follow it as strictly as some families, but it was cleansing for us nonetheless.

Alright...I've rambled on and been brutally honest for long enough today :-) I'm going to start showing you how REALLY neurotic I can be if I'm not careful!!! Instead, I'm going to get up out of this chair and go EXERCISE!!! Good times people!!!