can you say WOW?

Ok, so I've known for a while now that my carpets needed to be cleaned, and I figure since I was cleaning everything else, now would be the time to do the carptets. Especially since I hadn't brought in my couch yet. Well, I SOO did not realize how bad my carpets were until I cleared out the room and got a good look. And, can you say WOW??
So, I went and rented a rug doctor from Meijer, and I got the carpet cleaner w/the OXY boost in it. Well, I only was able to get half way through my carpets b4 I ran out of cleaner and b4 I ran out of time bc I had to go to work. So, I asked Shaun to pick up a big thing of cleaner on his way to bring back the boys so I could finish last night. Well, they didn't have the stuff w/the OXY in it in the big bottles, so he just got the regular stuff. And, the regular worked SO much better then the stuff w/the OXY. So, not only did I have to finish the other half of the room, but I had to redo the 1st half....GRRRR. Anyways, here are some pictures.
Here's before:

On the left is the OXY cleaner/on the right is the regular cleaner:

Here's an all three view. It goes L-R: no cleaner-regular cleaner-OXY cleaner:

Here's the finished product:

well

I guess I really was more siked about soccer camp for Jaden then he was :P It wasn't what I expected. I thought it would be a fun time for him to get together w/other kids his age and kick the soccer ball around. And, had that been the case, he would have had SO MUCH FUN! Nope, this was more for parent's who are a little too serious about sports, IMPO. They did warm ups and drills, never once just letting them play. He cried Monday and today, and we probably won't go back the rest of the week. I'm bummed. I'm bummed for Jaden bc it COULD have been a lot of fun, and I'm bummed about my waisted money :)

Partnership

Well, this is my 3rd Sunday at Resurrection Life, and I'm still really enjoying it. Today, they had the dedication of what most churches call members, but they call them partners. As they called each person up, they also said what those people were involved in w/the church. I thought that was really cool. The phrasing, but also that their partners feel the want to not only belong to the church but to be INVOLVED in the church. At my old church, it was so hard to get volunteers for anything, at least children related. I know, bc that's the department I worked in. I was always pulling teeth to get volunteers for nursery, and right now, I think we need almost all new Sunday school teachers for the little kids. It was just refreshing.
Also, the sermon was again, very good. It was about mirrors and how we all live by mirrors. Not just mirrors that are on the wall, but also things that the world tells us we should look like or be like. We're constantly tring to improve ourselves according to what the "mirrors" tell us we should be. Then, he said how Christians should use the Bible as their mirror, but not just to look back and forth btwn to see what we should be or what we should do. He asked the ladies in the audience if someone had a compact mirror in their purse. Then, he used it to reflect light into people's faces. His point being, that we aren't just supposed to use the Bible as a mirror to look at ourselves, but we should be using what we get from the Bible to shine into the dark world onto others. Anyways, it was really good, and he's great at putting things down to a level that is understandable. I'm really enjoying it there!

cleaning

My mom and I have spent the last 2 days cleaning my house from top to bottom, and unbelievably, we're NOT DONE! W/the house already kinda torn apart by Shaun moving out, I just felt like it was good time to do a serious house clean. So far, we have the boys' room and living room done, all except for cleaning the carpets. We started on my bedroom and the kitchen today and are hoping to complete them tomorrow. I'm exhausted, but I know I'll be grateful when it's done! I've gotten rid of a lot of junk that I'd been holding onto bc so and so gave it to us or bc it was a gift for a b-day or just bc I'd never gotten around to disposing of it. Freecycle, the Gospel Mission, and Goodwill are all going to love me this week :)

can't they ever be healthy???

So, Jaden has been running a fever off and on for the last few days. He's been sleeping more and not eating, which if you know more son are major oddities for him! He's also been incredibly fussy. So, today, I got him into the doctors. They said he doesn't quite have an ear infection yet, but give it a day or two and it would be there. So, he will be on antibiotics. THEN, we get home, and after Asher's nap, HE starts running a fever!! Can't my babies ever stay healthy??

On other news, I have a van that I am looking at getting. It's a 2002 Town and Country TOTALLY decked out! It's got more options then I can grasp. They're offering it to me at 9.5, and I'll probably get a 3yr warrenty w/it. I'm a little nervous bc I haven't had a car loan in a couple of yrs, not to mention that it's not in the budget.

I know I will come out on the otherside of all of this, stronger then when I began, but I just have to wonder how much longer I am to go down this road? I know God has a plan for my life, I only hope I'm following the path He had planned for me and not taking more detours then necessary :)

The Boys are Away

Yesterday was the 1st time that I had to give my boys away to Shaun and let them go for the night. I did really good packing up their clothes and blankets. I even did okay while putting their carseats in the car. But, when I had to put them in their carseats and say goodbye, I just couldn't take it. I know they need to see and spend time w/their daddy. I know they need him in their lives, but I couldn't help but be upset w/him for taking away my babies from me. Shaun called last night to let the boys say goodnight, and they seemed to be doing well. Asher just kept saying "momma, momma" over and over into the phone. Jaden was also in good spirits. I'm sure they had fun playing at the little park at Shaun's apartments, and I'm sure they enjoyed having 2 whole days w/daddy all to themselves. It was a very emotional day yesterday for me though, and I am very much looking forward to tonight when I get off work and go home to see my babies!!

Working Out

I have been working out w/the Ab roller almost daily for a week or so now. I've also been doing hand weights to help tone my arms. And today, I added stomach crunches. My stomach is ALMOST flat. I think I'll always have a little bump, but I can live w/that. I'm actually starting to feel pretty good about the way I look! Hopefully I'll be able to keep it up :)

Resurrection Life Church

Well, I tried out Resurrection Life today, and I REALLY enjoyed it. I wasn't too into the songs at 1st, but the sermon was AWESOME. It was the beginning of a series. He preached on Genesis 1....creation. He preached about how evolution lessens the impact of creation. In evolution, everything was made the same way and nothing is special. If we weren't special when created, how are we to feel about our lives. But w/creation, God took the time to form us and breathe life into us.

He also pointed out how Adam wasn't made as a baby, but as at least a young adult, hence why some things can look millions of yrs old but not be. He also touched on abortion, and most pastors won't go there.

He also talked about why bad things happen. When God created us, we were put into a perfect place, but we CHOSE to eat the fruit and break the perfectness. Therefore, the bad things that don't seem to fit his character are a result of our choices. But, even though parts of the sermon might have sounded harsh, he preached that everything is forgivable, and how God wants us to turn to him so he can put us back the way we were originally created.

Sorry if it doesn't make complete sense, I'm trying to make sense of everything I took in today. I'm really glad I went and will probably go again. Hope everyone else had a GREAT Sunday!

More Bad News

You know the saying, "when it rains, it pours" ? Well, I feel like I've been in the rain for a VERY long time, and every once in a while, I'll think thing will clear, but then it only starts to rain harder.
My check engine light came on yesterday, so since I work at a mechanics, I had them take a look at it. Mike says to me, "your van is VERY sick". He said the reading he got, he's never even seen before. My transmission fluid, well, it's not fluid anymore. I say it for my own eyes, and it is nice burnt flakes. He's not even sure how or why my van is still running. On top of needing a new transmission, my struts are about to come through their tower. Now, if you don't know what I'm talking about, don't feel dumb. If they hadn't told me and shown me, I wouldn't have a clue either. Basically though, it sits right under neither my windshield, and when it goes, it will probably crack my windshield. Fixing both, is not only more money then I have, it also is more then my vehicle is worth.
So, now I don't know what to do. I can't afford my house w/a car pymt, and I can't afford my house w/out a car. See the problem???

Church Shopping

I am considering looking for another church or "church shopping". I've been going to the same church since '99, and to be honest, I don't feel very much apart of anything. I have my nursery, that I'm the director of. It's definitely where God has led me to minister, but that in and of itself is not enough.
I know people, and a lot of people know me. But, no one really KNOWS me, and I don't really KNOW any of them. Partly this could be my fault. I'm not extremely outgoing. People have offered for me to call and come over whenever, but I never call, just don't feel comforable doing so. It's nothing against anyone, it's just, I don't feel comfortable inviting myself to someone's house. I'd invite people to my house, but it's crowded already w/just my own. I have my 2 Bible studies which I very much enjoy going to, and actually hope to continue going to, but still don't have any deep connections.
Not to mention that my church really doesn't offer anything for me. They don't have progrems to help out struggling families. They really don't have any programs for people my age. There's no one to seek guidance or instruction or support from. My pastor's wife knows what's going on in my life, but I've never heard anything from them. Not that it would matter, bc I know my pastor's stance on everything that is going on in my life right now.
I feel lost, sadly, in a fairly small church. I wasn't for the church's new building. I haven't been happy w/a lot of the decisions my church has been making, but no one wants to go against what everyone else thinks is the thing to do. Let me just state though, that I was 1 of 2 votes. I think. against building the church...I did stand up for my beliefs.
Anyways, it's not an easy decision to make, and it's not one I'll do lightly. But, I do think it's something I need to explore. I will hate leaving my comfort zone. I will hate leaving all my babies, my family, and Lana. If my Bible studies don't let me stay, I will miss them! But, I really do feel this is something I have to do.