My First Meme!

Fellow coaches wife, Megan, tagged me for my First Meme! I've been pretty busy this week so it's taken me a few days to get this posted but it was fun thinking of all the quirky things about me. (trust me, I didn't have to dig very deep!)

Here are the rules...

1. When tagged place the name and URL on your blog.
2. Post rules on your blog.
3. Write 7 non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Name 7 of your favorite blogs.
5. Send an email/comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.

SEVEN THINGS MEME

1. I space the hangers in our closet. Each hanger has one fingers space between them. (neurotic, I know! I just can't help it.)

2. I own the Air Supply Greatest Hits CD (enough said)

3. I think too much. I am ready & willing to over-analyze absolutely anything. Case in point...I am white. The Coach is black. I met him one October and didn't start seeing him until the following February. During that time I read books on interracial relationships, bi-racial children and even asked my PawPaw what the Bible said about it. See what I mean? (again, cra-to the z - to the y!!)

4. I took piano lessons for 6 years, sang in a travelling youth choir for 6 years, was in choir at school for 6 years - even competed in UIL State Solo competitions and I do nothing with music now. What happened??

5. I just recently threw away all Veggie & Saucy's baby teeth...that the tooth fairy delivered to me. (wink wink) Why was I keeping them? Did I plan on making a necklace? Whatever.

6. The predominate color in my wardrobe is currently bright orange. There's a possibility it will change to purple sometime in April. Why? We're all about the team around here! We root for the home team and right now the home teams colors are orange & black. (Saucy even has hair ribbons, bows, pom-poms and earrings in orange!)

7. We've moved 8 times in 10 years...Hey, you know I'm a coaches wife. That's how it be's sometimes! :-)

I tag...

Rachel Anne at Home Sanctuary

Ami at Cup Runneth Over

Lisa at The Preacher's Wife

Joanne at The Simple Wife

Nutmeg at Life in A Nutshell

Jessica at Shower of Roses

Kelly at Love Well

When You're Over the Target...

...you're catching flack.

Ever heard that saying? Our pastor has used it more than once in the last few months and it seems to resonate in our lives lately. The Coach has experienced some struggles in his school over the last month or so and the stress of it weighs on him heavily. As his helpmeet I really desire to help him. I hate seeing him wade through the waters of discontent and discouragement. Although I know God's plans for our lives may include a little refining fire it is still hard.

Beth Moore posted about this topic today and I love love love the way she broke it down. "We don't understand that the pressures we face getting to our places of full-throttle effectiveness in Christ are crucial for developing the muscle to sustain ministry there. He's developing the character the calling requires...Satan will never oppose us more than when he thinks we're onto our callings. Bet on that."

I need to release the anxiety, trust in God's plans and provisions for our family and press on because, when you're over the target...

Menu Planning

Stranger-Friends: "Two weeks in a row? What? "

Me: "I know. It seems a bit out of character. I'm doing something - dare I say it? - consistently."

Monday - Chicken & Rice w/Green Beans
Tuesday - Spicy Beans & cornbread
Wednesday -Chicken Quesdadillas
Thursday - BBQ Baked Potatoes
Friday - Homemade Pizza

Be sure you check out the other great menus at Org Junkie!

I would encourage you all to watch the premiere of "A Raisin In The Sun" tonight on ABC. We will be firmly planted on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and our fuzzy blankies.

from the ABC website...

The title "Raisin in the Sun" comes from the opening lines of "Harlem", a poem by Langston Hughes: "What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?".

"A Raisin in the Sun" tells the story of a family living and struggling on Chicago's South Side in the 1950s. A fiercely moving portrait of people whose hopes and dreams are constantly deferred, Ms. Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" was the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. It premiered in 1959 with a cast that included Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Ruby Dee and Louis Gossett Jr. The critically acclaimed work was honored with the 1959 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best American play. A Columbia Pictures feature with the same cast followed in 1961. The classic, still-relevant story now will be showcased in this totally new television movie adaptation.

Sean Combs, who reprises the role of Walter Lee, Jr. which brought him acclaim, stars in the highly anticipated, special three-hour television movie adaptation from Sony Pictures Television of "A Raisin in the Sun," along with the cast of the award-winning Broadway revival who recreate their roles for the new film, including Emmy and Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad, four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Tony Award nominee Sanaa Lathan, plus "ER" star John Stamos.

Phylicia Rashad won the Best Actress Tony Award for her role in "Raisin" -- becoming the first African American actress to ever win the Tony in this category. Audra McDonald won the Best Featured Actress Tony Award for her role in the play, and Sanaa Lathan was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress for her performance.

Stranger-Friends, don't miss this! Take this opportunity to soak in a great story. More than a civil rights story - it's a story about personal integrity, family, and love. It's a human story.

GERMS!

Stranger-Friends,

What's going on with all the germs? Seems like everyone we know is sick, trying to get sick, or just got over being sick. Including me. I can't quite shake the congestion & coughing.

I subbed at the elementary school last Monday and I was one of about 5 or 6 subs in the building!! Then a good friend subbed Thursday and Friday and now, guess what?? Yep! She's sick. Taking "tami-germ" and trying to get as much rest as possible when you have 4 kids (ages 2-9) and a sick hubby! Ouch!!

Well, I pray this post finds you all feeling well. I hope no germies have come to live in your house or, worse yet, your body!

Love to you all,
Christie

No Child Left Behind??

This football version of "No Child Left Behind" is hilarious.

Teaching with the belief that all children can learn is a necessity, but extending it to a required level of excellence for all results in mediocrity for most.

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction.. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. This will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals.


Kinda puts it in perspective, huh?

Makin' My Menu

I've not participated in Menu Plan Monday in quite a while. I'd love to say that it had nothing to do with the fact that I wasn't actually menu planning, but.....Here's to gettin' back on track!

Here's what The Coach & kiddos will be munching on this week.

MONDAY

Breakfast...Blueberry Pancakes

Dinner...Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce, salad & garlic bread sticks

TUESDAY

Breakfast...Banana Bread

Dinner...Hamburger Pinwheels, green beans & steamed carrots

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast...Oatmeal Muffins

Dinner...Red Beans & Rice and corn muffins

THURSDAY

Breakfast...French Toast

Dinner...Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, edamame & corn

FRIDAY

Breakfast...Cereal

Dinner...Homemade Pizza

Be sure to stop by I'm An Organizing Junkie for other great menus.

Stuff

I have not always been the minimalist that I am today. The Coach sorta forced me into that role when, shortly after we married, he inadvertantly threw away several boxes of keepsake things (old piano awards, an entire box of piano music, yearbooks, etc) and even broke my mom's childhood piggy bank. I know it sounds really bad, but I must admit that nearly 10 yrs later I really haven't missed that stuff at all. Mainly, because that is what it was...stuff.


I was quite pleased with the fact that we are minimalists (by my definition anyway) everytime we've had to move and again last night. We needed a new couch for the living room since our IKEA futon/couch thingy was showing it's age and, frankly, horribly uncomfortable. The Coach was to bring home a new 45-degree sectional and I had to empty the living room all. by. myself. I've never been so happy to only have one cabinet full of stuff. Ok, there's that word again! Stuff.


Inspired by Megan's conviction (I'm still in denial regarding my stuff...because did I tell you? I'm a minimalist!) and Meredith's cheerful frugality, I searched Craig's List for days and found several pieces I'd love to have in my home, but not for the low-low price of 2K! But look what a couple of coaches brought to my house last night!



I was so excited about this piece for many reasons...1) it cost us $150 + $30 for the coach's gas and 2) it was re-upholstered in the last year and steamed cleaned before we picked it up.


Alright, stranger-friends I must admit that I'm feeling pretty good about buying a secondhand sofa. :) I didn't contribute to the consumerism conspiracy and I've kept a very large item from a landfill near you!


From The Story of Stuff...


"Buying used items keeps them out of the trash and avoids the upstream waste created during extraction and production."


"The more we visibly engage in re-use over wasting, the more we cultivate a new cultural norm, or actually, reclaim an old one! "

In the name of The Father, and of the Son...

Saucy Girl has a lil' bff at school this year, G. G is not Catholic. As a matter of fact, G's Daddy is a Protestant pastor. G & Saucy apparently were praying yesterday that I wouldn't be able to make it to the school in time for pick-up and they could go home together (note: twice I've been stuck in traffic trying to get to the school so G's momma took Saucy home with them). During their prayer, Saucy instructed G on The Sign of The Cross.

At bedtime Saucy described the scenario to me. Of course I just about died as I thought of G telling her Mommy & Daddy all about crossing herself! :) I told Saucy that G & her family are not Catholic so they do not cross themselves. Her puzzled little face looked at me while she asked, "Then what do they do when they pray?" I told her that usually they just bow their head and close their eyes. She asked if they make 'praying hands' also.

After thinking about it for a minute Saucy said, "Well, she got the hang of it".

Hard As Nails

The Coach and I happened upon this HBO documentary during the Christmas break. Tonight we've run into it again, only this time we are allowing Saucy Girl and Veggie Boy to watch it with us. It is a moving, honest, compelling look as the Hard As Nails Ministry and it's founder, Justin Fatica.

I would encourage you to view it and I would be interested in what you think about it. Comments open.

Wordless Wednesday

Success!!

Wouldn't you agree that sanctuary is in the small things? Rachel Anne at Home Sanctuary has been encouraging us to take it one small thing at a time! In joining this adventure with the other Company Girls, I'm feeling great about the idea that we're doing it "together".

Last week we re-introduced fruit to our family. (10 points for everyone who ate a piece) I eagerly put out my bowl of fruit - 2 pears, 2 apples and 3 kiwi.

Veggie Boy nearly knocked me over to get a kiwi right then (which is why there are only 2 in the picture), but after that....nothing! Since we're on the honest system with the points I'm putting it out there - we earned 10. That's it.

But success was eventually realized...

(see only the remnants of the hairy little kiwi is left!)

It only took 4 days - guess I'll be heading back to the store! :-)

Making My Home A Haven

I've decided to join Crystal in one of her new year challenges. Mondays will be "Making My Home A Haven" day! Crystal will post a challenge each Monday intended to help us make our homes the haven we desire. An accountability system of sorts!

My day started by making my to-do list. I'm trying to keep it do-able. Lots of times I have grand plans for the day and it doesn't allow for any interruptions or down time. So in the spirit of simplicity I'm keeping it short.

Here's the coat closet before... (don't make fun!)

After spending a few minutes cleaning and organizing, I'm pleased with the clean result!

Yea! Off to item 2! I've been using the tortilla recipe at Hillbilly Housewife and my family loves it. When I make the batch I usually get about 2 dz tortillas so it's more than enough. We had a neighborhood mexican-themed potluck and I tried them out there. I came home with a empty bag so I assume they were well received (in addition to the fact that there were 3 pkgs of store-bought tortillas which did NOT get finished off) :-)

During the fall semester I really struggled to get up early and get everything done before 8am that is necessary around here. My biggest problem was procrastinating at night. I really should pre-prepare (is that a word? lol) breakfast and iron the night before, BUT it seems I never get it done. So now that The Coach is back to school I'm trying to do better. Ironing today what he will wear tomorrow should help me tremendously!

Veggie Boy decided he wanted to do my pilates video with me. I pulled out an extra band for him to use and we got set up in the spare room upstairs - plenty of space. He lasted 5 minutes! What a weenie! Oh well, maybe he'll stick it out a little longer today.

Alright, stranger-friends quit looking all my messy spaces and get out there and Make Your Home A Haven!

Be sure to check out the others participating over at Biblical Womanhood.

The Story of Stuff

Calling all Stranger-Friends! This is a must see video!

The Story of Stuff

Click on the "comments" link below and let me know what you think.

You Know You're A Coach's Wife When...

...you & The Coach are in bed; snuggled up to each other. You smell his skin and feel safe and warm. The kids are sleeping soundly upstairs. Life is good.

The Coach: Anyway, like I was saying...
Me: (inside my head) Huh?
The Coach: I really need to pick up a couple of linemen. If I could just get 4 new kids I think I could make it work. We just need to focus on one game at a time. My goal right now is to win Game 1....blah, blah, blah....blah, blah.
Me: (again, inside my head) Huh? Dude. We weren't talking. I was hoping we wouldn't talk - especially not about football.
The Coach: ...blah, blah...I've really tried to set up a schedule that's conducive to winning. We have to get our momentum. I really think that if we'd have won that first game against the Jaguars the entire season would have been different...blah, blah, blah.
Me: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I Received My Saint(s) For 2008!

I was quite intrigued by Melissa's post regarding her "patron saint for 2008". Being a "baby" Catholic this was a new idea to me. So, what's a babe to do? Of course. Run out and find the lovely blog that was doing the matching!

I was given St. Thomas the Apostle AND St. Lawrence! Apparently 2 saints wanted me this year. ;-)

I'm very excited and can't wait to really dig my heels into some research on these two guys!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Stranger-Friends!

We made cupcakes

...toasted with the kids (Ginger Ale) ...

...and I even got a pedicure!

Good friends, good food, family - what more could we ask for?

Quick! Time's Running Out!

If you're fast you can still make it! Laced With Grace is holding a great give-a-way that's sure to start the winners' new year off just right! Be sure to stop in and register.

Peace out, Stranger-Friends!

Did You Keep Track & Other Christmas Questions

Well, now that it's all over (around here there are several stops before Christmas Day even arrives!) and I've had a chance to sit back and reflect on it, I have one word...Wow! Even when we try to pare it down it seems so overwhelming as I sit amongst so much stuff. Next year, I want to be more like Meredith at Like Merchant Ships or Milehimama at Mama Says!

So, my question to you. Did you keep track of your spending? Did you stay in budget? I'm a little afraid to actually sit down and tally it up at this point. As usual Meredith did a fabulous job and I'm truly in awe of her abilities to acquire such fabulously frugal finds.

Which brings me to my next questions. How do you organize your kids gifts? Does Santa bring everything? Are some wrapped and some not? Are some from Mommy & Daddy? I'm curious how others do it. We've tried to stick with one from Santa and three from us and it usually works.

One last question, do you and your spouse exchange gifts?

Ok stranger-friends, let's hear it! How was your Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

I know I've been really quiet lately, but I wanted to take time out to wish you all the Peace of Christ during this holiday season. Regardless of what the year has brought to your life tomorrow brings new beginnings.

Aimee over at Historical Christian has a great post up about the struggle we all seem to go through trying to have the "perfect Christmas". It expresses my sentiments so eloquently.

Merry Christmas Stranger-Friends!