Weekend Plan.. CleaninOut... Tball..Father's Day

I'm happy about the weekend's arrival! :) I'm ready...Friday Tonight- is a cook out at your's truly's home...some of Jake's aunts/uncles and siblings are coming to hash out details of our big Clum Adventure :)... So- it wouldn't surprise any of you if you know me.. I don't keep the super put together home.. lol :) You know that sign you see on Pinterest... "excuse the Mess: we are making memories"... I need that sign in my home...

I believe this religiously :)..or it makes me feel a little bit better when people stop by and our home isn't what I want it to look like lol 

So- But Anyways... Last night we cleaned the house up...Sondra is at that age where she doesn't totally understand ..So I'll start telling you... When she was younger before Stuart got here..when it came to cleaning like living room and stuff..she didn't have a job... like I would ask her to help me..but nothing on a regular basis..(maybe I failed there)....when it came to her room: 

This is what it looked like a lot of times...lol 

but when it came to her room...I would clean it when I got sick of stepping on her toys and stuff..she would be int here with me and picking stuff up but the brunt of the job I did...I mean I guess I could make her clean it up...but that would require more attention and effort to telling her step by step directions on what to do...SOOO... now these days..she has a few chores she HAS to do....in the mornings we run around like crazy and change the kid's clothes in the living room and throw them on the floor..so when we get home after work..she puts away the dirty clothes...and then after dinner she rinses off the dishes... So..last night..I told her a couple jobs more b.c. I want the house in visitor condition lol..and I had Stuart pick up the shoes around the house and put them away... then he lost focus and I eventually put in a super hero movie for him...and I called out Sondra to the kitchen and told her what I wanted done....her reply "MOM that's is not fair! Stuart is watching TV~"....now- at first ya that doesn't seem fair..but here is my  thinking.... I for the first 4 years of her life picked up after her and so forth... so that means...she can for the next few years clean up after her brother....THEN when our next one comes along... Stuart can help clean up after him... make sense??...made enough sense for Sondra last night to without complaint finish cleaning his room! :)... Either way..we got the house picked up...except for our bedroom which doesn't matter.. b.c. nobody will go in their...any Clums reading??...your not allowed in our bedroom.. :) You'd be scared what you might find in there lol :) 

Saturday...Sondra has her last TBALL game that I probably don't have to go b.c. I'm maybe going to take some pics of my cousin's baby..then in the evening its a wrestler's Grad Party... one of my favorite Wrestling Family...gonna miss them next year...they are sitting out a year till the next son is in high school... ugh!... 

Sunday- fun day..father's day! :) ... alright.. my kids are pretty lucky to have such a good Dad...I have a few awesome choices in my life..and he is at the top of my list...Then...the week starts all over again!... 

TBALL- I'm so glad for Tball to be over... It really wasn't So Bad...but I'm happy its over... It made me happy that Sondra was happy and I was going to support her either way...Now...Wednesday Tournament game...I really wanted her to lose..but I did cheer her on... lol...if they lost they would have been done..but of course they won and they played last night and now Saturday... Thank you to all the family that came out and supported Sondra at her games :) ....Very Much Appreciated!~ 

also- I need extra special prayer..for God's Will and his guidance... I'd really appreciate that! 

Whelp!.. I must be going! :) Have a great weekend and see you next time :) 

Vacay!...HerbLady..Reds..weekend Cowgirl

This is from Jordan & Brittany's Wedding walking in... :) Doesn't Jake look so lovely without his beard. HE thinks he likes his beard... 

SO- in a little less then a month I will be on Vacation...oh I can't wait...I"m ready for a break...with that being said..if anyone wants some portraits done please let me know..I'm trying to make some extra money :). We are going to Myrtle Beach for a week w/Jake's family..no not just his Mom Dad Brothers Sister and niece and nephew...a lot of his extended family too... :)... I'm excited...Sondra & Stu will be running wild with their Clum Cousins

My Potted Herbs 

Also- I have become quite the little Herb lady... I've been reading about each one I have and their uses...Here are the herbs I have:
Basil
Sage
Oregano
Parsley
Cilantro
Orange Mint
Lemon Balm-Melissa
Kentucky Colonel Spearmint
Garlic Chives
Eucalyptus

My Favorite.. Orange Mint smells so good!...Least Favorite...Eucalyptus...it just looks like it isn't doing to well..I don't know what else to do for it..I did however use my first fresh herbs... now mind you I know know very little about herbs...anytime I have questions I'm googling it..I have just been watering them...today I was reading when to harvest and how to....so anyways... On Wednesday I was reading about how easy Basil is to grow and was a bit disappointed b.c. mine was looking rather sorry and then I found a article about how they should be pruned..ohh okay..so I went home and pruned it..brought it inside to keep a careful eye on him...but I wasn't sure what to do with the leaves I took off..so I added it to supper... which was...Hamburger helper lol.... You might be a redneck.... you know what..it did make it taste better...I'm just a little embarrassed to tell people I did that... oh well..My next venture... I'm going to make some Pesto with my Basil produce..I see it all the time and wonder what it tastes like...

MY Weekend plans... hmm..lol..well.. unexpectedly We are going to a Red's game with my Great Aunt Catherine! Jake heard her say she wouldn't mind going to a reds game..so you know Jake..if there is a will there is a way...oh and also The Friday before our vacation we are going to a reds game and THEN driving to myrtle beach lol..... tonight is home doing laundry and more laundry...I hate trying to keep a tidy house..never seems to work! ....

Sondra was pretty excited about her new lasso & boots my Mom brought back from her trip. She had to dress up in FULL cowgirl gear the next day...yes lol..I know... 

Well- I gotta get going! :) I've got stuff to do!
 

scatter brain....STu the big boy...mean mom ...

I have joined the Iphone world via Iphone 4 (free one) 

Its been harder to get used to then I thought...anybody that owns a Iphone4 know how to make a group that I can just pull up whenever to send a mass text too. I text prayer requests and I can't figure out how to create a group... They are nice though... I like mine...

My days have been kept busy... why or why? this Tball shit...grr...am I the only parent in the world not to be excited about their kid getting into something...like...I'm happy for her..and excited for her..but this sucks...(bad mother thought)... well I know I'm not...last Saturday at her Tball game..ya SATURDAY @9AM...ya.. another mother on the other team comes up (one of my best friends from middle/high school)...and she went on to rant how she thought tball was stupid and blah blah blah...lol..I just kept smiling b.c. One..this is normal..or 2.. this is why we were such good friends in school... I wish we did more together... jeeze..I need slow down...or really..God can you just add 8 more hours into a day..or maybe..me be able to not have to work every stinking day?!?!?!?...

Mother's Day was good ....I got special things that they made a school........here is a picture of a questionnaire that Stuart answered about me:

as a mother I've realized I've lacked here lately... didn't realize it but I'm too hard on my oldest.... or more appropriately I'm mean to her.... I can tell you since Stuart turned 2 I have tended to lose it more..there are times that I just say kids get up to your room and stay up there till I call you down for supper lol.....or maybe its so noticeable because I've wanted to treat Stuart and baby him as much as I did Sondra..so it looks or feels like I am harder on her more... she is 5...6 next month... there are things and situations that I expect her to behave....I wonder what will happen when we add to our family next...will I be shipped off to the crazy place??.. :).. so please keep me in your prayers..for my sanity....

Here is some Awesome News.....STUART IS SEMI POTTY TRAINED.....and I was so excited to wake up to Stuart crying asking his Dad to pull up his pants at 4am in the morning last night ... he actually woke up and felt like he had to potty and he came down! :)... was it on purpose..I hope so :) ..he ended up sleeping in bed with me for the rest of the morning.. :).. the whole pooping thing he hasn't got down at all...at daycare he hasn't had any accidents this week..probably today sense I just shared none....but you know what did it??... instead of asking him if he wanted to wear big pants I told him You are putting your underwear on and instead of asking him if he wanted to potty.....I say its time to try..and if he says no..I don't give him that option.I then reward him with a stick and after 8 stickers he gets a price(which is cheap 99cent toys out of a bag)....now..I don't have to ask him to potty when he is outside..he loves to pee on random things..whether they are dead or alive... :)... hopefully this keeps up...I'm telling you..its the biggest parental hurdle for me... what does that say about me?? lol...

I wanted to say.. my IAMSECOND sunday school class has been going good...ya..I'm a bit disappointed..but there are a few kids that are actually being honest and giving good input... I guess I kind of forgot how uncool it is to be truly authentic when your Jr/High school...or maybe how truly hard it is to be authentic... I don't know whether this is a success or a fail...I've lead it pretty much...we have a promise if we reach 22 people in our class next Sunday we will bring juice and donuts the following class.... :)..its the little things...our class likes the donuts...


also- my diet... I've lost over 10 pounds :)...I wish it were more...but I'm not doing radical things to lose weight...bc I won't be able to continue it..so I'm doing little things..switching stuff up...I'm not sure how I will do this week..I kinda fell of the wagon Sunday by making homemade pizza and have had a hard time getting focused .... pray...yes pray again..

well... I will be going.... please pray for me... I have a few decisions to think about and make.. please pray for wisdom and guidance...

The Ball Was in my court!!!...Weekend Update Plans

Howdy!
Have you ever heard the voice of God????
We discussed God's Guidance last Wednesday in bible study...when someone asked have you ever heard God's Voice.....hmm...I thought... well.. I can say I feel like I have recognized where God has guided me to situations... Where God has put certain people in my life.... But have I ever truly heard God's voice speak to me?? Wow...which I have really really thought about that... for the past few weeks... our bible study moves at a slower pace..so we have been talking about this subject last two weeks....so last weekend on our way to this dog clinic - bible study had got me thinking... if you know us..you know it is in our future to adopt... I know it will happen..Not soon enough for me I don't think..but I know it will happen...but we had this friend that need a lot of our support...I considered this friend family... well the friend had a 3rd baby on the way... and she was barely surviving with the 2...so I would here from her every so often it seemed like the last year we kept in touch b.c. she would call when she needed something...well..I get this call out of the blue...and she tells me how she is so embarrassed she is pregnant again..she don't know how far but she tried getting "rid" of it but couldn't follow through and what not...and asked me if Jake & I would adopt the baby when it was born.... I don't know what I was thinking...but I just said the first thing that came out of my mouth... No. I told her there were many many programs out there that would help her find a family for the baby and help her get back on her feet. That we didn't know what our future held and she told me she couldn't trust anybody taking the baby...and I said one way or another... then you need to keep this baby..you already have 2...this 3rd one someday will come looking for you. how will this baby feel when he/she realizes you kept his/her brother and sister...

it was probably one of the hardest conversations I've ever had in my life..I didn't tell anybody till a couple days passed by... In my mind this friend needed some tough love...you might not think that but if you knew the full details...it was time for tough love... I didn't hear from her till after the baby was born..and I was surprised to hear her say thank you to me..for my support?????..lol..okay.. I thought surly I did the right thing... I only seen her a couple times after that... the kids eventually landed in foster care..and she ended up giving that 3rd child up for adoption....

When we talked about God's guidance these past 2 weeks...the first thing came in my mind was...did God allow me to know this person so that I could help her and she help me?...Did I ignore his direction..looking back it was the perfect situation...we could have avoided a "agency" fee... and all that crap...but what held me back?? I didn't want her to be in the picture. The baby we  adopt someday..that baby will  be our flesh and blood..he/she will be a clum..I wouldn't want the "mother" to still be in the picture.... BUT NOW looking back I should have....when I try to reach out to this person every so often..I'm ignored....I worry...I pray for her and all of her children... I just have this strong feeling- I dropped the ball and should have told her...Let me think about this and I'll call you in a few days...  that has been on my mind a lot lately. God has given me a strong desire to adopt... it will happen..all in due time....

This weekend????? Tonight shopping in Findlay .. Tomorrow Jude/Dane's pictures...Sunday... Sydney's 1st birthday!!!... how fun how fun.... and this is a slow weekend for us..lol...don't seem real slow huh?...

much love..
keep me in your prayers... our church has a group down in Haiti right now too..so keep them in your prayers too!!!

also WW...I've been losing at a very slow pace...something has got to give!...Jake Has done wonderful...I've heard he looks like a "skeleton"...grrr...my whole thing was I didn't want to be his "fat wife"....I want to be his hot wife..lol...oh well... please pray for my will power to keep on this..its a lifestyle change that I am trying to make!

Love you
JOie

Summer please come..Reds Date...TballDrama...PracticeMakes Perfect..Dog Clinic

the weather right has been so wonderful...I have been grabbing for my camera a lot here lately... this one is fly.... she is a pretty dog...I've been playing in light room and edited this in that...I've actually got  a couple people I'm going to be taking pictures of here real soon...my adorable nephews Dane/Jude and then Syd's... how fun... then before I know it.... the Triplets for their 9 month pictures... so fun so fun..

So- this past weekend Jake, Sondra, and Me went to a Red's game with another couple. Jake is friends with the husband through wrestling...and over this past year or so...they have been better and better friends...I'm this close (holding out my thumb and index finger merely millimeters apart) to calling him his "boyfriend".. lol..JK... but Jake a few weeks ago asked if me if I wanted to go to a reds game with them..and I thought oh ya okay...then as it got closer I was a wee bit nervous... I didn't really know the couple and their daughter..I hope they are easy to get along with..you know just because to 2 men get a long doesn't mean..I'll automatically get a long with the wife or Sondra the daughter...well..thankfully we did...it was a lot of fun and we left with promises to get together again!...

Also...does it make me a bad parent I was so happy/excited that Sondra's TBall practice was cancelled lastnight! lol... Tball has started..I've been excited... not very excited...happy...sad... and feelings of caged too... When Sondra was a baby we talked about the future and how we would chose things of our children... As far as sports.. of course if the kids wanted to we would more than oblige....but lately its been well what sports will the kids be playing..I myself.. didn't want to go the TBALL route...I watched my fair share of Colt's Tball games ...and thought..man..I don't want to do that.. They sit..pick flowers...whine...don't pay attention...I actually want the kids to play soccer...they will run A LOT...but that is like a "SIN" in my family... lol.. especially if Stuart played..but man..you have to be physically fit to play it.either way...I'm going to encourage Sondra to play... my opinion on Stu is..let his father decide... another thing that has come up....

Sunday night a few Sundays ago I get a voice mail from Sondra's coach's wife..telling me Wednesday is Sondra's first practice at 6:30. Wednesday???????aaahhh.. the one thing I don't want... So I call back letting her know when Sondra's birthday is..and ask if EVERY practice would be on Wednesday because we have church that night...she told me only a few practices would be and I felt assured it would be okay....then..when we got her schedule ya there were only a couple practices on Wednesday .but the majority of her games are Mondays and Wednesdays....ggrrrrr.... I hate this part... I love going to bible study... so the first Wednesday practice... we decided one of us would stay with her and the other would take Stu to bible study...well I lucked out b.c. Jake helped the coach and I think will keep helping the coach during practices..so that means I'll get to go to bible study..but man..when games start..I'm not exactly sure what we will do..I don't want to miss Bible study...but also I don't want to miss Sondra playing... The other Moms have told me that games last about a hour...so that means I could go to bible study late... I hate that I have to decide between the 2…I wish I lived about 50-60 years ago where it wasn't a question whether anything else would be happening Wednesday night besides church…

I've been practicing more and more with my camera... 

I was at a stand still at work a few minutes...so... I practiced on messing with aperture in my pictures...

Tomorrow Jake & I are going away for the weekend. We are taking Jake's dog Fly to a clinic..Its where we bought her from...Fly has made leaps and bounds since the last one day clinic we went too..its amazing..she can't wait to go outside to work the sheep..and she has gotten more and more open to people...so tomorrow we will be there Saturday and Sunday .. it should be a good time...Sondra is staying with my parents and Stuart with Aunt Brittany & Uncle Jordan...it will be a nice time away...we need that.. :)... 

This past year..we have realized that we need some away time where I'm not worrying about the kids..or Jake about what he needs to get done... we are much happier people to be around when we are alloted that. 

Miss Sondra has freckles... and beautiful eye lashes... :)

well I must be going..I'm off to a dentist appointment eee....its me Jake and Sondra's turn for a teeth cleaning! 

see you later :)

            

WW Update.SecondHand

Who is that skinny couple??? 

mannn... what the hell happened to me????????? lol... okay... I can say..I'm not fairly judging myself I guess.. thats me at 18 years old... at our wedding rehearsal .. but seeing this picture the other day as we were going through old pictures at Jake's parents house at Easter Dinner..made me smile.. man not to be conceited.. I had a decent body..at the time I didn't believe that though..I was gaining weight up to the wedding..I felt like the "fat girl"..but seeing this photo..I wasn't the fat girl... I just had curves lol..
The last time I did WW..I wanted to lose weight... I really did..but I still wanted to eat whatever... if you know me..you know I love to eat...  SO..its not a far stretch me not wanting to stick with WW the first go around... or people had their doubts...

So we started on Monday- and everything was good. Its all been a pretty good experience... I family friend messaged me with encouragement and told me how she does WW and a tip how she weighs in on Fridays so if she eats bad on the weekends then she can work extra hard during the week...hearing that I decided man...that is a good idea...I'm most weakest on the weekend... so lets do that....we weighed in on Friday before we went out to eat with the Dues.... We lost in 5 days Respectively Jake: 7.5 Me: 4.5.... I hate men...I hate how men loose weight so easily... rrrrrr... but there was relief there... we lost weight...Jake was a bit skeptical..of this "point" system and all that...Me..I know it works.... So over the weekend we ate in the evening out on Friday at Texas road house... Saturday.. The Schwartz and then Sunday at the Massies... my worst night..probably Texas road house... I was over my points on Sunday...I tried really hard too... lol...like Jake's last week... this is my skeptical week...he is all about just losing weight...he is very competitive .. me on the other hand...my last go around with WW I just wanted to lose the weight and not change...this time... I've been conscious of portion control... I'm eating salad...salad... lol...really its not that I don't "like" salad...I just wouldn't normally go out of my way to eat it...so I've been having salad for lunch these days..having a nice dinner...or vice a versa... so..this week... I was bad on the weekend dinners..and sticking to the system through the week...this weigh in if I lose weight..I'll be a bit relieved...

I'm so happy about this warm weather...so happy... me and Sondra went on a walk monday to the corner.... which I hope to be doing that a lot more and farther.I need a walking partner...Jess has to get moved over here and pop that baby out... since it has been warming up... we have been out side a lot this week..and its daunting looking at our back yard and seeing all the work clean up we will have to do... Honestly we didn't even know the back looked so bad because the grass was so tall and weeded...thank you to the sheep to cleaning it up...I'm also on a mission to acquire some outdoor toys for the kids b.c. this summer they will be home all day and I don't want them inside watching TV all day...I'm looking for "play house"... and should have a swing set..we just gotta go to Dayton I'm thinking to pick it up..  we have plenty of riding toys actually... and I'm not sure what else... I just would like to give the kids options..

Another thing is... I love to sit on the porch in the evening... I really want to find a patio set... I can't go out and buy anything right now..so I'm going to have to look at garage sales or ask around to people who want to get rid of their old ones... that's kind of the beauty of me... I like like second hand things..old things...things that people no longer want... its like clothes(just ask my friend Andrea)... I've never had a problem taking hand-me downs from anybody... I think it is a great thing to keep things useful and not stored away or discarded.... so that being said... if you know someone that is throwing out or wanting to get rid of a patio table or chairs let me know...

Seeing the weather the way it is right now..hopefully it clears up...I've got a hunny do list for outside..and it won't happen if its raining!...

I shall be seeing you guys later :)

IAMSECOND/SUMMER BREAK/MEANGIRLSCLUB/WW IS BACK

how do I prepare my heart to start this new "study" for Sunday school? its "I am Second"... with much rigidness... and resistance I have finally got the class and Jake to start a real "structured" lesson plan...my biggest fear...what if they aren't touched at all by these lessons...and testimonies?.... SO... please keep me in your prayers... pray that the students have a open heart and mind to this... and for God to give me words they need to hear and have answers for any question these kids may ask... :)

I have had a good week...Monday and Tuesday my cousin babysat the kids because Sondra was off school for Easter Break....OOHH wait a sec..."Spring Break"...anyways..it was kinda nice..not having to get the kids up and dressed because she was coming there to sit...I can't wait for summer :)

Tuesday... a long lost best friend Krista was in town... a few of us girls got together at Lachas..as I drove there- I thought to myself..I'm off to go get made fun of from a group of mean girls lol... that was tweet worthy...I don't think a lot of people really get me...but these girls... oh my...I'm home..they crack me up.. we are horrible... I"m not kidding..some of my most horrific ...embarrassing moments in high school..came from the hands of them lol...  ya...some friends...but I got there a little after 5:30 and didn't walk out till past 8:30...we didn't stop talking... but when Krista comes home in June..we have plans to get together for a bachelorette party....maybe real..maybe pretend lol...

if you friends with me on pinterest you know by now...judging by my recent pins..I've started Weight Watchers again ..eehh...truthfully...seeing old pictures is my motivation... :)... so why will it work now??.. I've got my man's support...he is on WW too with me... We weighed in on Monday... we are doing this from home... but we weighed in...he even seen the scale..and he is still alive and still with me... I have high hopes for myself...my first goal...lose 10 pounds... :)...

Well I must be going... I'll update again...

THIS IS STUART BEHAVING IN CHURCH... THIS IS THE ONLY TIME STUART BEHAVES...