"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11


Saturday, March 29, 2008

Going Organic

Ok, so I am not switching EVERYTHING over to organic, but I have really been investigating and thinking about the quality of our food, and am going to try to buy organic when I can. I finally found organic milk at Meijer (it is double the price of regular milk), but I feel it is important so I am going to buy it and try to cut back on something else.

Here is a list I found online of the top twelve things you should buy organic if you can...Not all of us can afford to go 100% organic. The solution? Focus on just those foods that are laden with the highest amounts of pesticides, chemicals, additives and hormones and deploy your organic spending power on buying organic versions of these whenever possible.


Meat. There's the likelihood that chicken, pork, and cow feed is grown with the help of pesticides, antibiotics and chemicals. Similar to milk and milk-based dairy products, many chemical pesticides could end up in the animal, which may end up in you.





Milk. The fat in dairy products is another haven for pesticides, antibioltics, and bovine growth hormones. These get passed on to you through commercial milk, cheese, and butter. Organic dairies do not use chemicals or growth hormones like rGBH or rbST.




Coffee. Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries that don't regulate the use of chemicals and pesticides. Look for the Fair Trade Certified label on the coffee package or can; it will give you some assurance that chemicals and pesticides were not used on the plants.









Peaches. Forty-five different pesticides are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards.



Apples. Scrubbing and peeling a fruit doesn't eliminate chemical residue completely so it's best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Organic apples taste sweeter than conventionally grown, too.




  1. Peppers. Peppers have thin skins that don't offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They're one of the most heavily sprayed vegetables out there and may be coated with nearly 40 commonly used pesticides meant to keep them insect-free.

Celery. Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the twenty-nine different chemicals that are used on conventional crops.



    Strawberries. On average, strawberries receive a dose of up to 500 pounds of pesticides per acre. If you buy strawberries out of season, they're most likely imported from countries that use less-than-stringent regulations for pesticide use.





  1. Lettuce. Leafy greens are frequently contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food.





Grapes. Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Vineyards can be sprayed with 35 different pesticides during different growth periods during the season and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape's permeable thin skin.

Potatoes. America's popular spud ranks highest for pesticide residue. It may also be tainted by fungicides added to the soil for growing.




Tomatoes. The standard regimen of pesticides used on conventionally raised tomatoes numbers 30. Their easily punctured skins are no match for chemicals that will eventually permeate the whole tomato.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Dancin' with Cinderella


I stumbled across this song today and absolutely love it...I can see Hubby dancing in the living room with Punky and this brings tears to my eyes. Somtimes it is hard when Punky is crying or not obeying to remember that she will not always be this little and she will grow up so fast.
Click HERE if you want to hear Steven Curtis Chapman explain why he wrote this and click HERE if you want to actually hear the song. It is wonderful. I am so thankful for my little Cinderella.
(This is Punky dressed up in my wedding dress.)


She spins and she sways to whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world.
And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders.
It's been a long day and there's still work to do,
She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited and I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy, please!"

Chorus:So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone.

Verse 2:She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancin'
"Oh please, daddy , please!"

Chorus:So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Verse 3:But she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowin' and tellin' us all they had planned
She says, "Dad the wedding's still six months away but I need to practice my dancin'
"Oh please, daddy , please!"

Chorus:So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Monday, March 24, 2008

Happy Easter (a day late)!

Sorry, I meant to post Easter Greetings yesterday, but we were just way too busy (as all holidays seem to be nowadays.)


We have been trying to explain to Punky that Easter is when Jesus rose from the dead (a concept she doesn't quite get yet). So when I asked her what Jesus did on Easter, she said, "He found ALLLLLLL the eggs! Too cute.


Here is a picture of Punky in her Easter dress holding her new baby Jasmine, which was in her Easter basket. She looked very cute and even let me put her hair up for church!




Friday, March 21, 2008

Ten Things...

Ten things I can't live without (in no particular order):

1. My computer...Blogging and email is so much fun...and now I have started Facebook...endless possibilities!

2. Baby wipes...Who knew how useful these would be! I use them for everything...cleaning the bathroom, wiping faces, cleaning hands...even the kitchen sink!

3. Hairspray...what did women do before it (or should I say, what did they look like!)?

4. Makeup...I would be a homebound hermit without that.

5. TV...I admit I don't watch nearly as much of it as I used to before Punky, but it is still addicting.

6. My minivan...it hauls so much stuff...very handy.

7. Chapstick...I would feel completely gross without it.

8. Milk...my most favorite drink.

9. My heating pad...no, they are not just for old people! They are the best invention ever...I can usually get rid of my headaches using it instead of taking medicine. (they are also good to heat up your bed before you get in it!)

10. Sweets...I have cravings EVERY DAY for something sweet, sometimes on more than one occasion. Since I have given up chocolate, I have to find other interesting ways to satisfy these cravings.

These may seem trivial, but I am so thankful I don't have to do without them. Email or leave a comment about the 10 things YOU can't live without!

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Texas Friends

Tuesday night Punky and I got together with my friend N and her adorable little girl H. N is one of my best friends from high school, but sadly for us moved to Texas. She was up for a visit, so we had a girls night (sorry for the rest of you CBA girls, you should have come!). It was fun and the girls really enjoyed playing together. H is so cute with her little glasses! Here are a few pics of the evening.

Summer

Well, we have been struggling as of late knowing that we would be needing to find a new babysitter for Punky for the summer (our wonderful J will be moving out on her own in a few months and needs to get a "real" job~unfortunately, we can't pay her a ga-zillion dollars to keep her, or we would!). Please pray that she finds the perfect job! We knew we couldn't keep her forever, but hopefully she will still be able to watch Punky part of the time.

Our next door neighbor has been watching Punky a day and a half each week and Punky really likes it because she has a nine month old little boy. Punky is all about babies. However, her schedule is becoming crazy and she will only be available as a back up. So, I have had a few leads here and there as to someone that could watch Punky.

As a brief history lessen, our family has been VERY spoiled with J. Since Punky was almost 3 months old, J has been coming to our house each day instead of us having to take Punky out in the morning. What a blessing. It is so easy to just be able to leave the house knowing she is in good hands. Well, I was starting to think (and others have told me) that phase may be over and I will probably have to start taking her somewhere.

However, there is a girl Hubby and I went to high school with that lives just behind our house. Her sisters are younger (in college) and I have been told that one of them is looking for a summer babysitting job. I have called and talked with her and things look promising. She is interested. So, please be in prayer that things work out with this, so that we can continue to be spoiled (or should I say Blessed) by having someone come to our home.

Either way, we truly have been blessed with the people we have found to watch Punky. Also this year, I was able to find a wonderful family in our church that will watch Punky anytime I need them. So, I am definitely feeling better about this whole situation. I pray (and know) God will work all things together for good. I am so thankful He knows what is best for us.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Really?

So, Hubby and I were talking and he brought up a very good point, one that I hadn't thought about...

I guess everyone is supposed to get "free money" in the mail courtesy of the U.S. government's economic stimulus package. Great! I will take it! I initially thought this was a good idea. However, do American's realize that all this money is going to be used for is gasoline!?!? It went up 50 cents just this last weekend...so really, the government is just feeding our gasoline habit. I am sure most everyone will not save the money they get for gas for their vehicles, but it is something to stop and think about...

All criticism aside, I am very thankful that I live in America. It truly is the best country in the world and I feel blessed to be here. God Bless America. We need it!!!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Busy Times...

Sorry everyone...it has been a week since I last posted...we have been so busy, and when we aren't I feel like I am just catching up on the regular everyday tasks of life!

Punky said the cutest thing the other day...we were running an errand and I had a shirt and hooded sweatshirt on, so I didn't wear my coat. Punky said, "Mama, you forgot your coat!" I said it was okay and I didn't need it. She said, "Mama, you NEEEEED your coat!" I said no, I had a sweatshirt on. She sighed heavily (much like I do) and said, "Mama, this is NOT a good idea!" AAHHHH, sometimes it is the little people that teach us the most (and sometimes we don't realize what they pick up from us big people!)

I feel like I am surrounded by sickies...people with the flu and bad colds...I pray I do not get it, or especially that Punky does not catch any of this stuff. I am so thankful that we have been VERY healthy this winter, with only one round of a mild cold...I hope we make it to Spring!!!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Look at these!

Someone I work with emailed me these pictures...they are amazing...babies made of frosting! I just want to kiss them! Too cute!

 

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