***All videos have been added!!***

Thanksgiving day was a pretty good one. Truth is, is started out pretty rough. I had spent the entire night previous trying my very best to get to sleep and got a grand total of one hour of restless shut-eye. Usually I can tolerate one sleepless night- it happens fairly often- but this had been the fourth night in a row during which I got less than four hours. By day four of sleep deprivation I am usually sick and cranky. So there you have it- I woke up sleep deprived, sick, and cranky.

So, Ben drew a Lavender Soak Epsom Salt bath for me and put a plate of peanut butter toast by the tub. Oh man, I felt like a new person as soon as I got in. I’d never had an Epsom salt bath. It was glorious and it saved my Thanksgiving day for sure. I AM THANKFUL FOR EPSOM SALT! And for a husband who took care of me.


One day he will smile for pictures!

( Many More Pictures and A Few Video Clips )

Our At-Home Family Day in Pictures

Adry enjoyed watching his daddy hang Christmas lights outside.


And also had fun trying to shove rocks in the air conditioner.


( See More. Scroll to bottom of cut to see VIDEO CLIP of Adry's 'Sad Face' )

My Thankful Twenty-Five List!

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is already tomorrow! This month was a blur.
This Twenty-Five List is a combination of all my ‘Monday Moment of Reflection’ Thankful For lists.
It is not in any particular order.

Some of the things I was thankful for in 2009:

1) Our new apartment- We have more room and extra space.

2) Adryel- He is happy and healthy. If it weren’t for him I’d sometimes feel like giving up on life; he keeps me grounded.

3) Pictures and journaling- they motivate me to stop and breath, enjoy the beauty around me, and then keep going.

4) Beautiful days- perfect spring days, breezes, soft cool grass to sit in, relaxing shade trees, sunny and cool summer days, fresh air (+ the smell of freshly-cut grass), and FALL with its changing leaves, crisp air, hoodies, and bike rides.

5) Grace, renewal, encouragement- "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. **For when I am weak, then I am strong**." God uses weak people; he equips the ill-equipped. He uses people who humbly fall to their knees and cry out to him, who NEED him. And when I feel hopeless about my depression and anxiety, I’ve stopped asking God to take it away from me. Instead I THANK him that it drives me to Him, that I am constantly clinging to Him, that I constantly need Him. I want to be in that state forever.

6) This beautifully created world with changing seasons and changing experiences- it keeps it fresh.

7) Unconditional love and support- people who love me, even when I am a giant fail. I have my problems- I get anxious, I get depressed, I get grumpy- and there are people who stand by me day after day after day. Thank you. Really, from the bottom of my heart. I am thankful for close friends who I know will be there for me through anything-- their offer of babysitting, concern, support and thoughtful e-mails.

8) My family- I love them more than anything. I am thankful for our health and time spent together, our memories and future. My family is always there, always consistent, and unconditional. I'm so thankful for their love and support every day of my life. I can’t express how deeply I love them.

9) Those who’ve fought and died for our country

10) Ibuprofen

11) Antibiotics

12) A new workout plan and renewed motivation

13) My job as a mom and wife- all the challenges it comes with; the motherhood lifestyle of celebrating milestones, creating family traditions and memories, and the privilege of providing ample snuggles, kisses, and hugs.

14) My dad- He's a source of strength and hope and encouragement in my life.

15) My life- what I’ve been given to work with, all of the opportunities that are at my fingertips, all the support I have, and the freedom I have to reach for the stars; I love all of my current blessings and future hopes and dreams. I don't even mind the challenges I've been given to overcome.

16) Benjamin and I- We’ve been getting along great and he’s been good to me.

17) These lyrics and their reminder to me-
"Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

18) Roses- God's gift of a precious, tender loveliness. I can't think of many other things that remind me so much of that gentle and beautiful side of God and his creative personality. I'm thankful he shares it with us.

19) Parks and playgrounds

20) My family and friends- great evenings of sitting around a table playing games, visiting, and laughing. I'm thankful for belly laughing- deep-gutted belly laughing with people I love. My gosh, does it get better?

21) Assurance and contentment

22) what’s raw, what’s real, what’s honest

23) Resolve

24) A God who cares about me-
"You looked into my life and never stopped,
And you're thinking all my thoughts
Are so simple, but so beautiful.
And you recite my words right back to me,
Before I even speak
You let me know, I am understood.
Your voice has broken my defense,
Let me embrace salvation."

25) The opportunity and freedom to seek him, know him, learn, and grow.

Michigan Day was kind of a lady's day over in the Sanders household. Mom, me, Les, Pammy, and Maurine were there. Dad, J, and Becca showed up later. Of course The Bucks won. Duh. Truth be told, I wouldn't have minded if Michigan won. We were already headed to the Rose Bowl- we didn't have much to lose- and I think it would have fueled the fire of our rivalry. Not that it needs that much fueling (yet), but still :-P. What, was this our sixth or seventh win in a row? Plus, Michigan is part of the Big Ten, so I always root for them to be a good team. Not that they didn't play well during the game.... Better season next year, Michigan!

I took a few random pictures before the game started on Saturday. Just wanted to post them here.

( Osu-Michigan Game Pictures )

Have you ever gone to the gym and hopped on the ellipticals or treadmills with the palm heart monitors? And there's usually a scale at the side that lets you know what the "fat burning" and "cardio" heart rates are for your age group? The fat burning zone is a lower intensity than the cardio zone, and that never made any sense to me. Obviously higher intensity exercises burn more calories while pumping up your metabolism AND they make for a healthier heart, so I always figured that in the long run the cardio heart rate zone would help me burn more fat. That just seemed like common sense to me, so I always skipped right over the fat burning zone and went straight for cardio intensity.

From a WebMD article titled "The Truth About Heart Rate and Exercise"-- http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/the-truth-about-heart-rate-and-exercise

"TRUE OR FALSE: Moderate exercise promotes weight loss more effectively than vigorous exercise.
FALSE. Weight loss is a matter of simple arithmetic: To shed pounds, you must burn more calories than you consume. And when it comes to burning calories, the greater the exertion, the greater the rate at which calories are burned.

Working out at about 60% to 75% of your maximum heart rate (the so-called 'fat-burning zone') burns fewer calories than working out at 75% to 85% of your maximum heart rate (the so-called 'aerobic' or 'cardio' zone).

But caloric burn depends on a workout's duration as well as its intensity -- and it's easier to work out longer when exercising at a lower intensity."

In order to extend the duration of my workout, I usually fluctuate between the fat burning heart rate and the cardio heart rate (power walk for a few minutes then jog/run for a few minutes, bike on a high gear for a few minutes then lower the gear, etc)

So now my problem is sticking to a schedule of regular workouts! ;-)

Hi, guys.

I am posting a ton of pictures under the cut from one scene of Adry. Just wanted to warn you. My dad watched Adry this morning while Ben and I went to church. He let him play in leaves and took a bunch of pictures- I loved them all, but I did actually choose favorites to post here. 23 of them :-). It's kind of part of my "baby book" segment of this journal. But I also know some of you out there actually really enjoy Adry photos, so I thought I would share.

Teaser:


( LEAVES!!! Adry Photos )

***Edited. Finally added missing videos.***

I have to sit down and write about my Saturday because I had an awesome day and I want to remember it.

First, Ben's parents came to my apartment in the morning to pick Adryel up for the day. I can never be too thankful for all of the family members that love him so much. He has 4 grandparents that each adore him, 4 fantastic uncles that get a kick out of him, great aunts and uncles, great grandmas, a boat load of second cousins (No seriously- I'm pretty sure I'd run out of fingers and toes if I tried to count them all) that think he's a cool kid, honorary grandmas, honorary aunts... the list goes on. He is one stinkin' loved kid and I am so glad he has that. Anyway- it was super nice of Ben's parents to watch him all day. As much as I needed a break, my heart sank as soon as he left. I missed him.

Well, my mom, Les, Mer and I went to lunch at Cap City Diner. Yum. Then we stopped by a floral shop to pick up our red roses for the OSU-Iowa game-- we were very optimistic and decided to just plan on winning and looking forward to the Big Ten Championship and heading to the Rose Bowl. Mer and I would have stuffed our roses in a bag until the end of the game, but my purse is basically a pocket wallet with a strap, so I carried it around. One guy said, "Optimism! That's what I like to see!" but then other people, such as Hawkeye (Iowa) fans, flashed me disapproving looks and said, "Um, she has a rose. Whatever." You know what? Whatever YOU, Hawkeyes! I smell Roses!

( LOTS of Pictures. Several Videos, Too! )

One Year Ago:







He was a cute baby, right!? Gosh, I hardly remember those days. They go by so fast. I had a baby once? You mean my home wasn't ALWAYS filled with pitter-patters of little feet constantly running around, or that squeaky toddler voice demanding EAT and WATER and QUACK and NIGHT NIGHT and EE EI EE EI OH? The same Adry I know used to just sit on the floor in one spot while playing with his toys?

He's graduated from Adry Baby to Adry Padry. Adry Padry Pudin' Pie-

Adry Padry pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
When the boys came out to play,
Adry Padry ran away.

...based off of George Villiers of the seventeenth century-- good looks and questionable moral character.
I think it fits!
;-)

I love him so much. I love all of the laugher and life he brings to our home. I love how he thinks he is soo clever. I love how he knows his animal sounds and will randomly break out in "OOO OOO EEE EEE EEE". I love how everything is so exciting to him and walking is never good enough- everything must involve RUNNING and JUMPING and EXCITED FLAILING! I love how when he really gets a kick out of something he sucks in instead of laughing. I love how, when I get him out of his crib in the mornings, he says, "mamaaa!" and he wraps his arms around my neck and gives me a long, drawn out kiss. I love how he has a different dance for each genre of music and he can spend hours on a drum set without tire or loss of interest. I love how, when I play Regina Spektor, he gives me his best high note and holds it out for as long as he can, and he doesn't crack a smile- he is so serious when he sings to Regina Spektor. I love when he talks to me as if I know exactly what he is saying, and he will randomly nod his head and do one of those conversational laughs- "heh heh heh"- and launch right back into his discussion. I love how he is so curious and always really intrigued by how things work- he's not just satisfied that a thing works, he likes to know how. I love how he is a sharp observer- when we go to a playground he's perfectly content to just watch the other children play and interact and I often find him mimicking their play later on at home. And, I love how he loves books, how he begs me to read to him and how, when he finds the right book, he reads it over and over and over again.

I love you, Adry Padry. And I love being your mom.

Now-a-Days:

I keep being reminded that God has called me to be the humble underdog.
I'm glad that I at least recognize that because pride can be an ugly thing.

But, ya' know what? There's a glorious sense of freedom in being the underdog, handing over the victory, accepting last place. Comparisons, competition, compromise, and control are the shackles that hold us back from living in The Kingdom under the will of God. And when I finally fall to my face and recognize that, life is good. I can breath, I can take things in stride, I can live.

"Underdog. I wince everytime I say the word.
Especially in connection with Jesus.
Yet, as I read the birth stories about Jesus,
I cannot help but conclude that
although the world may be tilted towards the rich and powerful,
God, Hallelujah, in his mercy is tilted towards the underdog!"

Mom and Dad went to Pennsylvania to Beaver Stadium for the OSU game this weekend. They said it was awesome, and probably even more fun than home games because the traveling fans are all HXC Bucks fans. Mom said the Buckeye crowd stood up and cheered the entire game. My parents had a really great get-away weekend and I'm glad for them.

Meanwhile Les house-sat (because of Great Grandma Ginny). She is awesome and took Adry overnight on Saturday so that Ben and I could have a date, and then the next day she prepared Sunday lunch for all of us. She is so great, I love her.

Well, it was honestly a rollercoaster of a weekend for me- lowest of lows, highest of highs type of deal. But in the end everything was more than okay. My heart is so full. My life is so full. I'm holding on to that.
On Sunday night, I don't know how it got started, but we began going through my dad's case of keepsakes and memories in the family room. You've probably noticed it in pictures before. Here's a cropped picture of the case:

It was really neat to rehear a lot of the stories behind those items because I'd forgotten many of them. My grandpa (my dad's dad who passed away when I was 11) brought back all sorts of awesome stuff from other countries he'd been to. At the top of the case (cut off at the right side) is an authentic (as in not touristy-- grandpa didn't want touristy items so he got a man to sell it to him) drum used for dancing and celebrating in New Guinea. Then, up on the fireplace mantel (top center of picture) is a real ice age stone axe head. Dad said it wouldn't be unlikely that it was used to kill a person. A Mayan calendar is above that. There was also a Chinese calligraphy brush, a pretty letter opener from Argentina, and many other things.

Dad also has stuff in there from his personal life memories like his own grandfather's barber straight razors (he had a barber shop), and a smurf figurine that my mom got for him when they were teenagers; he'd set it up by his drum set when he'd play shows. And Matt about had a heart attack when dad pulled out our all time favorite childhood book CAPS FOR SALE! He'd been concerned about finding it for months, and you should have seen his face when dad pulled it out of the case- he seriously flipped. All three of us distinctly remember how dad used to read the book to us every night. He must have read it to us hundreds of times. Matt and I simultaneously broke out into a fit of shaking our fists and exclaiming, "YOU MONKEYS, YOU! You give me back my caps!" the way dad used to. Gosh, we had such a great childhood.

Anyway, it all gave me a renewed appreciation for that case and all of the things dad has in that family room. It was fun to look through it and hear all of the history and stories connected to each little treasure.

And, on another note, I HAVE to share this video with you. My parents have a boom box in the family room by the fireplace, and of course Adryel has discovered how to turn it on and turn it up. He's not satisfied until his music is LOUD. So, in this video he is groovin' and gettin' down to the music and he keeps turning up the volume. As he is dancing he bumps the station tuner so the music turns to static and it startles him so bad he about jumps out of his pants. So funny.



We ended the night with the greatest game of Uno ever in the history of Uno. Throughout the entire game I laughed so hard my belly hurt, and I needed that. We learned that my dad might be the greatest strategist in the world, but luck is definitely not on his side. The man cannot win a game of luck to save his life.

( Bonus Picture )

Current Worries:
1) My Mom- health and healing
2) New endeavor to regulate imbalance. Side effects?
3) My Mom

Working on...
1) trusting, putting my faith in Him, believing everything WILL be okay
2) surrendering, inviting Him to live through me in every facet of life
3) being patient with Adry

Thankful for...
1) Family.  So so so so so SO SO thankful for them.  I can't express how deeply I love them.
2) Close friends who I know will be there for me through anything.  Their offer of babysitting, concern, support and thoughtful e-mails.
3) Belly laughs.  Deep gutted belly laughing with people I love.  My gosh, does it get better?

Well, the neighborhood Trick-or-Treat experience was not as successful as the retirement home experience. I don't think Adry ever quite caught on to the whole door-to-door thing. Plus, I think he had some major gastrointestinal issues and was NOT in the mood to walk. Poor fellow.

Even so, it was a pleasant night. Next year I know he'll catch on and he'll love it.



In this video we are cheering because he was ACTUALLY WALKING!!! He'd go as far as the candy bucket on a doorstep to receive his treat, but then he was perfectly content to just stand there. And stand there. And stare at the person handing out treats. And stand there some more. And admire the candy in his bucket. And stand there again. But then, just this once, he walked. All on his own!



( More Pictures and Video )

Now's the time to make sure you are getting ALL of your vitamins and rest and keeping strong!

This is how I do:






I lurve me that Magic Bullet, mmm!

---1 full banana: potassium for my heart, nerves, muscle strength, kidneys, and bones; B6 for that feel-good serotonin and healthy immune system; dietary fiber. 110 Calories.
---1 cup of strawberries/raspberries: Vitamin C; phytonutrients and antioxidants that fight cell damage; TONS of other nutrients and vitamins packed in those little things- your body LOVES berries, trust me!. 50 Calories.
---1/2 cup skim milk: bone health and fat burning boost. 45 Calories.
---1/2 cup fruit yogurt: active cultures for an immune system boost and bone and digestion health. 60 Calories.
---3 ts. sugar: yumminess. 45 Calories.

Quick, filling, delicious :)

Keep it raw this season. Stay healthy.

Dad's Halloween party was really, honestly, a great success.

He worked SO hard on it; he must have planned, prepared, and purchased for that party for an entire month, and he did it all on his own. Usually mom is the social get-together planner, but this was dad's baby.

He had activities for everyone and excellent food that received a TON of compliments all night. I just had a great time watching everyone visit and laugh and enjoy themselves. When Tony was leaving at the end of the night he said, “I really needed this. We need to do this again soon… for Thanksgiving!” lol. And the next day Les said, “I had a really great time at the party last night. I hadn’t laughed like that since… well, I can’t remember when.” And feedback like that, that’s what makes it all worth it- keeps my parents doin’ what they do, and I’m thankful they do :-).

Pictures Under The Cut!
( Halloween Party 09 Pictures (about 25 or so) )

I LOOOVE this time of year. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that 1 or 300 times. But seriously- my heart SWELLS this time of year. I mean, I am the one girl on earth who seems to absolutely love all four of the seasons (yes, including hot sticky summers AND freezing cold winters), but there is something a little extra special about autumn.

Anyway, Ben's mom made and put together the rest of Adry's costume, which was unexpected. Now it's even more amazing than I originally pictured it would be. I mean, I am saving this thing and all of my children, girls or boys, WILL be Max for their second Halloween.

Adry gets to sport his costume for two Trick-or-Treats this year. We are taking him to Friendship Village (nursing/ retirement home) on Wednesday night and Ben's parents' neighborhood on Thursday night. And then we are confiscating all of his candy and giving it away, probably to the charity of Ben's tummy. But it's the experience that matters!

If you have kids you should seriously consider trick-or-treating at Friendship Village. My dad is a nurse there and he said they bought hundreds of dollars worth of goodies and are afraid there won't be many children to give them away to. Also, children, especially cute costumed ones, make old and lonely people happy! Wednesday night. Go put a smile on their faces.

This week we carved pumpkins with Adry. I am posting pictures under the cut below (along with bonus Lester the Hedgehog pictures!!).
Also, my dad planned a Halloween Get-Together for tonight during which worm juice, dry ice, scary movies (um, including Tales From The Crypt- ROCK ON, right?! ;-)), candied apples, campfires, funnel cakes, visiting, chatting, and laughing should ensue. He also bought huge bright backlights so that they would have a lit badminton court in their backyard for the party- fun! So, stay tuned and in a few days you will undoubtedly get to see pictures of that, too.

( Pumpkin Carving AND BONUS LESTER THE HEDGEHOG PICTURES )

Hello, everyone!

I've been working for a long time on a business plan that I am finally ready to launch to the public!

Ellwood Tutoring
Columbus, Ohio Home Based Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction

I am offering a tutoring and enrichment experience for public, private, or homeschooled students, personalized to meet their individual needs and goals.

Students may participate in one or more of the following programs:
-Homework Assistance
-Subject Tutoring/ Supplemental Instruction
-Extracurricular/Elective Course of Study
-Homeschool Curriculum Assistance

I charge a fee of $20 per one hour of instruction.
For more information please visit my website at www.EllwoodTutoring.webs.com

If you are interested, or if you know anyone who may be interested, feel free to e-mail me (EllwoodTutoring@gmail.com) or give me a call at (614)326-9980

Thanks, LiveJournal!


www.ellwoodtutoring.webs.com
ellwoodtutoring@gmail.com
(614)326-9980

Hey guys!
I am excited to announce my new 2010 journal project.
I wanted to announce it way ahead of time incase anyone else would like to embark on this endeavor with me.
This project was NOT my original idea; I got this idea entirely from Amanda Dudley (lovelydenial) (hey- I learned how to link usernames in my entries, how bout that). She was inspired by Jason Mraz and launched what she calls "Appreciation Project". I thought it was too splendid of a project to pass up!

So, on January 1st, 2010 I will begin my own 365 Appreciation Project.
EVERY SINGLE DAY during 2010 I will think of something I TRULY appreciate and will dedicate a journal entry to that something. I will try to post these entries daily, but may combine a few.
I LOVE this project idea because it will really inspire me to open my eyes to the world around me- its beauty and all of my blessings.

(and, as a side note [incase parenthesis didn't clarify enough that this was a side note- I just like to be redundant] I think I am going to do a 365 Picture Project for 2011. Talk about planning ahead. It'll be a fun two years for journaling.)

(Remember how "good writers" are supposed to avoid parenthesis and idioms and "..." and "etc." etc., etc., etc....)

(oops....)

(At least I don't break the writing rule that says you shouldn't use "big", complex, fancy words when simple straight-forward words suffice.... mostly because I don't know many big words. Maybe if I did know a crap-ton of big words I would use them just to show off. EXTRANEOUS STENTORIAN VERBALIZATION *she says with her "god" voice*)

Anyway, 365 APPRECIATION PROJECT 2010!!! Hooray!!

Ben and I were able to take Adryel to the pumpkin patch yesterday (Sunday).
We woke him up from his nap in order to go so he was incredibly tired. But he loved it. I know for a fact that he loved it because, even though he looked like a zombie, he pointed to everything during the hayride and he has been asking for and carrying around his little pumpkin ever since he got it.


Sleepy Baby on the Hayride


Sleepy Baby in a Corn Maze

( More Pumpkin Patch Pictures )