I'm going on an 11 week blog hiatus

Forced discipline. It's the only time I've really been successful at doing something hard....when I'm forced to.

1999-2002 We were forced to cut back our "do whatever we want, when we want" lifestyle when we went from 2 incomes to my income. We moved from Houston to Tallahassee. Matt was in grad school at FSU, I taught 2nd grade. Forced discipline. It was good for us. We didn't feel deprived, but we felt purposeful. Looking back now we had some of the best, frugal, fun times there. I think those 3 years living on my income really prepared us for years 2003-present, living on Matt's income, having 3 kiddos and still being frugal. Don't get me wrong, we always need a tune-up on finances, but having those 3 years where I was the breadwinner really led us to stay with that kind of lifestyle. And even though I do work (12 hours a week), I'm so thankful to get a paycheck and have my 2 out of 3 kids right down the hall from me. For me...it's the best of both worlds.

2004 - A friend of mine, leading an online Bible study group I was a part of, challenged us all to give up something that was taking up Bible study time or a negative habit, etc. and replace it with our Bible study. I chose to give up watching Days of Our Lives (something I had watched in college and began watching again while staying at home with Collin) and watching rated R movies (also a hard one to give up because I liked seeing the latest movies, the academy award winners, suspence, etc...most of which are rated R). And now...6 years later, neither of these are a temptation for me....forced discipline.

August 2010 - A horrible kidney infection hits me. I was told to cut out drinking Coke and OJ! What??? I drink OJ every morning and a Coke every day! I asked how long? How long do I go without either? Doctor: A long time. Me: A long time like a week? Doctor: A long time like a year. Me: A year? Doctor: You've got a sick kidney. You haven't treated it well. Give it a break and let it heal. Drink lots of water. So 3 weeks into this project...in fact 22 days...no coke, no OJ and I'm drinking lots of water. Do I feel better? Yes, no pain from the kidney. I've lost 5 pounds. But the Coke is still a temptation. Forced discipline.

September 2010 - I begin a Bible study called "Becoming a Woman of Simplicity". That is SO what I need right now. I'm excited about it. Now my group leader didn't ask me to cut out anything. But I've been thinking about what I spend time doing. My nightly routine involves checking email, facebook, reading blogs and maybe posting an update of my own. I LIKE knowing what others are doing. I know some of you blog friends better by blogging than by us just getting to know each other face to face. And there is certainly isn't anything wrong with that. I'm just going to use the next 11 weeks to NOT know people's FB status and to NOT know the latest fun thing going on with your kiddos via computer anyway. I'll probably ask you (in person), "How are you? What's going on in your life?" and really mean it! It's going to be hard. I like to know what's going on. But I feel cutting these 2 things out of my life (for 11 weeks anyway) will help me keep it simple. Some evenings both husband and I are sitting next to each other on the couch, each with a laptop, doing stuff on the computer - separately. Sometimes we say to each other...when did we become like this? When did it become OK for us to be in the same room for an hour but not speak to each other because we are so engaged in our laptop activities (me: FB, blogs; him: answering 50,000 student emails). It's not OK anymore. Forced discipline.

Based on my past experiences with "forced discipline" I feel I will only be blessed by this experiment. I'm excited about keeping things simple...or simpler at least. Blessings my blog friends. I'll see you in 11 weeks...maybe.

My homesick heart loves this post....

Go to www.brandonscottthomas.blogspot.com. Or scroll along my blog roll and go to BST's blog. Love it!

Bowling With the Boss Year 4

Katie and Collin played on an all kids lane against 3 other professor's kids and Katie won with a 108!
Dinner: pizza, cookies, Sprite - Collin and Katie say it's their favorite meal ever!

Collin got his first spare and didn't seem to care that Katie beat him for the 2nd year in a row.

Love.

Our other bowling ball - Jackson - was only interested in eating leftover pizza crust.

And I know you are wondering who won on the faculty/staff lane, right? Me. With a 158. Against husband and another male professor. I've already taken a Tylenol PM.

Jackson's 2nd Momma

Katie feeding Jackson applesauce.
Katie has even come up with his nickname: Chubba Chubba Choo Choo.

I am so thankful that Katie loves on Jackson so much. I am also thankful that he has slept through the night the past 3 nights! This is one happy and rested Momma.

Collin's First Day

Collin - all ready for the first day of second grade!
Dad and the kiddos walking up to school.

Wishing our "little one" a great first day.

Collin was quick to let go of my hand and head off to see his friends.

The line-up to Mrs. C's room. When I picked him up from school he said, "This was the best day ever!"

Jillian's Wedding

Jackson terrorizing Ms. Jillian's brother.

Me: Look at Mom and smile. Hmmm...let's try that again. Why don't you guys stand up?
Me: Alright. Yes, you are standing. Next picture let's not stand in between the hand rails and put your arms down.


Me: Good, good. Arms are down. Step over to the side away from the hand rails and smile. Well, let's scrap the picture of you two together. And let's not even try one of all 3 of you!

Collin, the ring bearer-bearer. The actual ring bearer, Scout the dog, was not allowed indoors when the wedding was moved inside due to rain.

Katie, the flower girl. She wanted an orange flower in her hair to match Ms. Jillian.

What a fun and beautiful wedding Jon and Jillian had. Thank you guys for letting us be a part of your special day!

Collin, Ms. Jillian and Katie. Oh how our family LOVES Mrs. Jillian!

Jackson Matt

Jackson is a great eater! He loves carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, applesauce, bananas, peaches, pears - are you loving the curls here?
Jackson seems to be the messiest eater of all my kiddos or maybe I've just forgotten just how messy the other 2 were.

The curls are tamed here and he is looking pretty solemn.

Jackson cannot stand to not see the door of his bedroom while he is in his crib. So he has smashed down his bumper pad so he can keep an eye out for me. I think it's adorable.

Here is that sweet boy in an aerial shot. Oh, he is so much fun! And has such personality! Love, love, love that boy!