November 4

Tonight, I sit here in my warm, dry house.  With food in my pantry and fridge.  And my computer plugged in and charging and lights on.  And as snow is being rumored to be coming from the sky sometime soon, I'm grateful.

I'm grateful I have a safe, warm, dry house with electricity ~ when I have friends in New York City area and New Jersey who are still waiting for their power to be restored to their homes from Hurricane Sandy.

I'm grateful I haven't had to wait in line for gas for 4 hours.

I'm grateful that we have food to eat.  We don't have to go dumpster diving just to feed my guys.

I'm grateful I had clothes, jackets, coats, and extra food to send down to those in need.

I have lived through hurricane ravaged area's in South Florida.  I understand and can totally sympathize with those who are suffering from Hurricane Sandy.  Only, I didn't have to worry about the cold.

And, I am grateful I live in Syracuse area that didn't get any damage from Hurricane Sandy.  And I'm grateful to have had the experiences in South Florida with hurricanes so I can be compassionate towards those going through it now!

I wish I could do more.  But, I'm grateful for what I can do!

November 3

Today, I am grateful for my guys.  I am a blessed mama!  I have 3 awesome guys!  Their favorite thing to do is to snuggle with me.  I take advantage of it while I can.  Even my oldest guy still likes to snuggle!  I am so blessed to have 3 guys who I get to spend 95% of my day with.  I have the awesome opportunity of homeschooling them.  Although, there are SO many days that I get extremely frustrated with them, with homeschooling and all.  And I have those days that I truly do want to just run away.  And sometimes I do.  I usually run away to places like Target and Kohl's.  But, I know how blessed I am.  And I truly hope that at some point, they will look back and know that I cherish the times I got to spend with them!  I'm so grateful!

November 2nd

Today, I am grateful for my church.  I go to a ladies Bible study on Friday mornings.  And it is such a blessing to me.   To get together with ladies who have spent the week in their Bible studying their homework.  And then to come together and share what we got and listen to Beth Moore teach another lesson about it!

And Beth Moore studies are totally AWESOME.  I was never "allowed" to do discouraged from doing studies like I am doing now.  Too many men who occupied positions they probably shouldn't have were too intimidated by women learning from a strong woman like Beth Moore!  But, oh, I'm a blessed girl to be involved with a church who encourages women to learn to study the Bible!

So blessed indeed.

November 1st

I know I have been MIA for quite a while.  Life has gotten so busy and I have had way too many irons in the fire, I think.  But, now that the weather has turned cooler and I am staying inside more (who am I kidding, I stay inside alot) but not so on the go with things, I really want to dig in and get back to blogging.  And with it being 5 days until the election, well, my life will hopefully slow down even more!
And it's the first day of November and my most favorite month of the year.  The month of my most favorite holiday of all.  Thanksgiving.  And I like to make sure I give thanks.  So, I'm not promising to do it everyday, but I would like to share my things I'm thankful for with you (if I have any followers left).

I'm so very grateful for my husband!  He amazes me every day of my life.  He works so hard, and when he isn't working or sleeping (because he works nights he sleeps during the day) he is with us all the time.  He rarely gets to go do anything without any of us tagging along.  But you know what, he doesn't mind.  He's awesome.  And decisions that he makes, he makes them not based on his desires, but how he can best take care of us.  In this day and age, it is extremely hard to be a one income family, unless you are filthy rich.  Which we are NOT.  But, he works hard to make sure I can stay home with the boys and can homeschool them.  I'm so grateful for that.  Another reason I am so grateful for my husband is he is crazy about me.  Still.  I don't know why.  He just is!  And he makes me so happy.  Even when I get frustrated with him, because after all, he may be awesome, but he isn't perfect.  And I am a hormonal woman, after all.  But he is so patient and sweet and makes me smile and laugh, even if I'm seething at him!  It's a gift, I tell you!  But, I am so thankful he is the father of my children.  They don't realize how blessed they are to have him as their dad, but hopefully, one day they will!  I'm just amazed at all the things we have went through and yet, he is still right here with me, through all my crazy, he still loves me.  I'm just a blessed mess!  Love him so much!  Grateful for my Jesse Daniel McCoy!  <3 p="p">

LOVE

I am just ever so in awe that I get the awesome opportunity to be a MOM to not just 1, 2 but 3 little men.  I am SO blessed.  Here is a picture of my blessings

Today, my baby {did you hear that ~ my BABY} turned 4 years old.  I can barely wrap my mind around that.  It doesn't feel or seem right.  And it certainly isn't FAIR.  I spent Friday night just going through my pictures of when he was born on facebook.  Oh, he was a little fighter!  He was my monster baby ~ 7 lb 1 oz. preemie.  And even though he was in NICU for 8 days, at the size he was born at, I'm really grateful he was born early.  Phew.  But, he was the favorite with all the nurses in NICU.  He was a flirt even then!  Here are the links to my fb albums with a few of those pictures in it:
Gunner1  Gunner2

Oh, how I wish I could just swaddle him in a blanket like back then :'(  He was such a good sleeper from the moment we brought him home.  He was so used to the hospital room ~ quiet and dark!  I kept him in a bassinet in my room for about a week for ME not him.  And when we put him in his room in his crib ~ he slept through the night.  Oh, such a good baby.

But, alas, he is no longer a baby ~ and he makes no bones about it, telling me that he is a big boy and I should not refer to him as a baby.  But, he is!  Oh, how he is my baby.  

Here is my Baby today ~ he currently has a Spiderman obsession.  But look ~ his head is taller than the sofa.  NOT. EVEN. RIGHT.

So, last night we had to get the "dining room" ready for when Gunner woke up.  He's been obsessed with his birthday this year.  Maybe its his age, but I really don't recall my other 2 being this obsessed.  It was cute.  So, I HAD to do it up decent.  So I made a web out of streamers on the ceiling.  And Xavier and Tucker helped me out immensely.  Xavier was my "on top of the table" guy.  Tucker was the confetti spreader.  But, oh, it was just really annoying me {just the hassle of decorating}.  And I was getting frustrated and just grumbling.  Which I shouldn't have.  And I realized tonight that "little pitchers have big ears".  

Xavier, before he went to bed, offered to stay up to help me 'undecorate' but I told him he could help me tomorrow afternoon.  Then we were talking about what he wanted for his birthday {obviously, Gunner's theme was Spiderman}.  I try to decorate for each person's birthday.  And Xavier, bless his little heart, said he didn't want me to have to decorate for his birthday.  Talk about feeling about 2 inches tall.  Oh, I never want my kids to feel like their birthday is not a big deal.  And I told him that when they each made their appearance into my life, they forever changed my life and it was a big deal.  And that they deserve to have a big deal made of them!!!!!!  Now, we don't throw extravagant parties, most of the time it is just the five of us doing anything they want to (within reason).  They get to choose what they want for their birthday dinner and I decorate ~ I try to do something out of the ordinary!  Because they are worth it!!!  

This is the web that Xavier and I were putting up.  UGH.  Worth it, though, because Gunner ADORED it!  

So, I'm thankful for little men and birthdays!

July Dinner

So I had decided that in the month of July ~ I would challenge myself to cooking dinner at home all month long.  I hate cooking, but it is so much cheaper cooking at home, even though, I think I could eat out EVERY SINGLE DAY and not get tired of it.

So, I decided that I would cook every night.  And I would try to remember to document it!  So far, the documentation has not been there.  But the first 2 nights have been at home :D  July 1st was Spaghetti, July 2nd was southern smothered steak and rice, with boiled cabbage.
Tonight, I plan on taking pictures!  So stay tuned for the pictures and post!

LOVE

So very grateful for LOVE personified who came to earth, 

walked among us, showed us grace and mercy, long suffering, 

and what LOVE was willing to do.

 LOVE was abused.
LOVE was rejected.
LOVE was beaten.
LOVE was accused and ridiculed.

 LOVE was condemned to a most heinous death.
LOVE walked the via Dolarosa, carrying a cross. 

LOVE was nailed to that cross.

 LOVE forgave while in agony. 

 LOVE thought of others in HIS pain.

 LOVE suffered for my sins.

 LOVE died.

 LOVE was buried in an unused tomb.

 LOVE rolled that stone away.

 LOVE LIVES. 

~ LOVE ~ 

HIS NAME IS 

JESUS.

Wishing you a very blessed Easter

Bible Studies

And I have been doing so many Bible studies ~ personally and with my Sunday school class.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the ones from my Sunday School class.  They have all just been truly what I have needed.   We just got done with "Living your Life as a Beautiful Offering" by Angela Thomas.  WOW.  Our lives are cracked and flawed.  But we aren't required to be perfect.  We just need to be so full of Jesus so that we can slosh out Jesus, over the tops and out from our cracks and flaws so that HE may be glorified.  And when a woman lays herself on the altar of offering, HE raises her up and will move her in ways that HE will be COMPLETELY glorified.  And isn't that what we all want?!  Our lives to be a beautiful offering.  Our lives used to glorify God.  Our lives offered up for no other use but HIS.  WOW.  That was just yesterdays video.  And hearing Angela Thomas testimony of being raised up.  It was so moving and touching that it brought me to tears. 

I can't wait to get started on our next one ~ Nehemiah a heart that can break by Kelly Minter.  I cannot wait!

I'm so grateful to be a part of my church, and have a Pastor's wife who uses such studies.  I'm so grateful that we found a church that we can go to and hear God in the lessons taught, the sermons brought, and the songs sung.  It is so nice for me to be able to raise my hands in worship to my Lord and not feel bad for it!  It is so wonderful! 

We sang one of my favorites yesterday.  Here it is {you have to scroll down and pause the sidebar playlist}:

What's been up!

I know it's been quite a while since I have blogged.  Sorry!  Life just gets crazy busy, and yet is so boring I sometimes feel like I'm just filling up space needlessly ;)  Know what I mean?! 

Well, I started another blog, too.  It's for political stuff.  And hopefully when I start to PMS and want to blow my facebook page up with political rantings, I can just do it there ;).  And all the people said "AMEN".   I have tried to keep this blog free from politics, so I started the other one!

Anywho.......................
Well, Jesse and I stopped *talking* about joining a gym and we just up and did it.  We could talk all day long about it, but we ultimately just had to stop and just DO.  And I gotta say, I am so glad we did!  We joined on Thursday ~ went and worked out later that afternoon.  On Friday, I met with a personal trainer (got one free session for signing up) who got me set up with a "battle plan".   I am waging war on my fat self.  I stopped drinking soda ~ well, I have had a glass and a few sips since last Tuesday ~ trying to proportion my eating and eating healthier stuff.  So, Jesse and I go and work out (different times of day) almost every single day.  It has been hard, but I'm hoping to be able to look back in 6 months and see a marked difference in my body.  I totally want to lose around 75 pounds.  I would LOVE to be back in a size 6/8.  But, all in good time.  I want to lose the weight, and I am willing to do the hard work to do so, but I want to do it wisely. 
I ended up starting a page on facebook called Suck it up so you don't have to suck it in.  You are more than welcome to join.  It is wonderful to have that place for me to be held accountable and to be encouraged and encourage others.   It's been good for me!  It is a sort of confessional for me too ;)

After we joined the gym, one of the guys that Jesse works with asked him to join his team in the Tough Mudder.  And he did!  So, in May, he will be punishing his body by doing an 11 mile obstacle course.  I can't wait to go and see him accomplish it!   Call me crazy, but I wish I could do it too!  Although, I know I am no where AT ALL ready for something like that!  But I will be next year :D. 

The boys are doing good with their school work.  We are taking a vacation mid-March and going to a homeschool convention in Greenville, and staying with our friends from South Florida ~ Clint and Kelly and their girls!  I am excited.  We just got the list last week of the workshops that they will have and there are several that deal with helping a child with dyslexia or reading problems.  WOW.  What an answer to prayer!  I have been struggling along side of Tucker to help him with his reading!  I just think that God is working to give us the tools to help him!  I am so excited. 
And before we get to Greenville, we will be stopping in at Washington D.C. for a few days.  We are going to be doing some tourist-y stuff, seeing some friends, and just having fun!  I am so excited.  I really can't rightly recall ever having done a family vacation with just the 5 of us before.  And without it being to see family.  Most of our vacations have either been to see family or go places with extended family, and while those a great, I'm really stoked about having this vacation that we can have just "us".  Jesse and I are the independent sort and work best and are happiest when it is just us.  KWIM?

So that is how it's been around here.  Oh, yeah, and I am a great aunt ~ again.  No, that is not what I'm saying I am, I am that.  My nephew and his girlfriend (I won't go there :/ ) had a sweet little baby girl on the 23rd.  They named her Aayvie Lynn.  She is so cute (from what I can tell from pictures) and her cheeks, oh, how I long to just pinch them and nuzzle them!  So cute. 

So, that is what's up here!

Anticipation

Well, Jesse got home about 12 hours earlier than he was scheduled for.  Yay!  It was so nice to have him home that night, to tuck the guys into bed.  Then the next day, I was able to do something that I hadn't gotten to do for 2 1/2 weeks.  I went shopping!!!!!  Oh, it was a beautiful moment when I drove away with utter, blissful silence all by myself!  Now, don't get me wrong, I love my guys {all 4 of them} and I offered to let them go with me ~ but when they heard the words, trying on clothes, they all loudly groaned and unanimously decided to stay home.  Darn!  ;) 

So, I went clothes shopping all by myself.  And I really wasn't intending to purchase anything, just try to get an idea of some stuff I would like to buy ~ I'm kinda in need of clothes that fit me.  You see, I'm trying to lose weight, but it isn't happening all too fast.  And we have vacation coming up.  Now, the clothes I have work just fine for me ~ you know, the ratty old sweatshirts and t-shirts and the jeans about a tich too small.  And those work just fine for me right now, when all I do is stay home all day long and I have a couple of nice pieces that rotate for church every 2 weeks-ish.  But, going on vacation means people are going to be subjected {whether they like it or not} to looking at me and I would really prefer that I look presentable.  Which is why I was clothes shopping.  But, I found some very awesome deals, so I just had to snatch them up!  Dress barn was having some clearance stuff that I got awesome deals on and Christopher and Banks.  Well, lets just say I absolutely love their clothes, but I will never in my wildest dreams ever pay full price for their stuff.  Especially when I can wait and get the deal I got on Thursday.  I found an awesome pair of casual khaki's for..............drumroll please..............................$6.99.  Oh yeah.  That is what I'm talking about.  I mean a pair of $60.00 pants.  Sweet action Jackson.  Plus a Denim jacket/shirt thing there for also $6.99.  Score! 

And last night, I made our reservations for our hotel in Washington DC.  And I am so super duper excited!   We are taking our family vacation in March.  In Greenville, SC there is a homeschool convention that I was wanting to go to.  And a plus side of that is that one of my dearest friends lives in Greenville.  So, I talked Jesse into asking for the time off and he got it.  And we have some other friends that live and work in the DC area.  So we decided we would take a few days and spend it in DC and see our friends, do some of the tourist-y stuff and then head to Greenville. 

As soon as my friend Kelly found out we were coming down to the convention she said "Of course you are staying with us, right?!"  So we are staying with them and Kelly and I are going to hit up the convention together.  I don't think Jesse is going to want to go except maybe once because, as he put it, "honey, that's really not my thing".  But I don't care ~ he can go take the boys and do whatever!  I want to go to some of the workshops and most importantly I want to browse and investigate all my options for curriculum next year! 

So, I am greatly anticipating our vacation.  So excited!  We are going to be taking a tour of the Capitol Building, seeing the Washington Monument (even though it's closed due to earthquake damage), Lincoln Memorial, and all the other fun things we can just walk around and do on Monday.  On Tuesday, we are hitting up the Smithsonian because the boys and I  have never been there.  Before we leave on Wednesday, I'm wanting to take the boys (and Jesse, since he's never been) to Arlington.  I think it's important that they see the price that people have paid for our freedoms in this country. 

So, this is just like Christmas to me, I can barely contain my excitement.  And it's like our first real family vacation.  Usually, our vacations consist of visiting family, and while that's good and all, it's nice to do something tourist-y!  So, I'm just excited and had to tell someone, because I think all 4 of my guys are already tired of hearing about it ;)