A New Lease....

I feel as if I have a new lease on life. For the past year and a half I've worked from home. It seemeed like such a great opportunity when the job was offered to me. What stay at home Mom doesn't wish they could contribute somehow? The problem is that I'm not just a stay at home Mom. I'm a homeschooling Mom too and for the last 10 or so months my husband and I have also been responsible for a ministry at church. Also, for the past year and a half I have beat myself up for not being able to juggle it all well. Like I should be able to be super Mom and be a great wife, mother, teacher, director, employee and friend all at the same time. Well, I have been losing the juggling act for a very long time. I had no back-up at work and most offers to get me help fell through. I worked on every vacation that we took. I worked everytime I was sick and got VERY behind when I had bronchitis for 8 to 10 weeks. I worked when my kids where sick. I worked when I wanted to playing. It wasn't a full time job, but I still felt tied to it. So, after much prayer and consideration and literally months of what should I do. The Lord finally gave me my answer. I sat down to work yesterday and thought, " I wanna go to the park and have a picnic with my kids." and immediately knew in my spirit I needed to quit my job. I called my husband and as soon as I told him he told me to go for it. So, I did. I turned in my notice and I feel like I got confirmation that I am doing exactly the right thing. From 2 people that are supposedly my friends, I received such a cold reception. No well wishes, no understanding.... It's not like I made it hard on them. I assured them I would stay until someone was hired and things were all in order. I promised them that I would not leave them high and dry. Even though when I worked for them previously and found my own replacement and trained her and helped them open a new department at a new gym, they paid her significantly more money than they had paid me. Even though my being behind has been placed on my shoulders and no responsibility for the fact that they never followed through on getting me a back-up or getting me help. Somehow it seems I'm the bad guy. Maybe it's partially because they are mothers that work long hours and miss a lot of time with their children and think that I have it made because I work from home with my children here. That argument doesn't work for me though. It's not like my hubby makes a ton of money, so I don't have to work if I don't want to. Thankfully my husband makes decent money and works hard to provide for us, but when I became a stay at home Mom we lived well below the poverty level, while paying child suppport and having newborn premature twins. We lived like that for years. It was VERY hard, but it was a sacrifice we were willing to make. The money has been nice, but I began to count the cost....I refuse to continue to live a life of regrets, sitting in a corner in my bedroom at my desk, while my kids are fixing their own breakfast and lunch and living their lives without me. That is not what God called me to and I will not continue to do it and I will not apologize for it.

We are looking very forward to some freedom. I have lots of plans for us to make up for some lost time. I can't wait!

WW Weigh-In #10

I lost 2 lbs. this week. Which brings me to a total of 15. Yay! Because of vacation I did have to adjust some of my goals. I had wanted to lost 25 lbs. by camp in the beginning of July, but it looks like I'll be more in the 20 lb. range and that's okay with me. 20 lbs. lighter than I was at camp last year is not too shabby. I may still be able to reach my 30 lb. goal for my anniversary. I sure hope so. One of my goals in all of this is to become more comfortable with my body for my hubby's sake. He's such a sweetie and really loves me the way that I am. He still looks at me as if I'm the same size and shape that I was when we married, but I'm so uncomfortable with myself that I'm so reserved. I just don't put myself out there very much. He's so very patient with all of that, but he deserves better. Hope that wasn't TMI, but it's all the truth.

I did fudge a little this week. I knew yesterday would be a weird eating day, so I weighed yesterday morning instead of today, so I wouldn't have a wonky weigh-in today and I could make up for it the rest of the week. Just knew I'd be eating a lot of sodium and didn't want retaining water to hinder my numbers.

Hope you all have a fabulous Monday!

Chocolate Gravy

I hear that Chocolate Gravy is a Southern thing and to be honest you either love it or hate it. We mostly reserve it for special occasions at my house, like Christmas morning, birthday breakfasts etc., but sometimes we have it just because. It was something that our Mom made special for us and her Mom for her, so it's a tradition for us. Everyone here, except my hubby, loves it. It may sound kind of weird, but think chocolate covered pretzels. It's kind of got that sweet and salty thing going. When my girls were little a neighbor and I would stay up late for girls nights and would sometimes have this (or cinnamon toast) as a midnight snack. I think you should try it....

Chocolate Gravy
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. cocoa (can use more or less if desired)
2 tbsp. flour
2 c. milk (or water)

Place sugar, flour and cocoa together in pot. Stir with a fork until it's thoroughly sifted; add milk or water. On medium heat stir constantly until gravy thickens to desired consistency (It will get slightly thicker as it cools). Remove from heat and serve over a warm biscuit with a pat of butter.

Quick Buttermilk Biscuits

This recipe is from The Southern Living Cookbook. My grandmother gave it to me when I got married and it is my go to favorite. On top of recipes, there are lots of educational sections. I want to find something similar for my girls hope chest.

Quick Buttermilk Biscuits
1/2 c. cold butter or margarine (I use light butter)
2 c. self-rising flour (you can use 2 c. all-purpose; 3 tsp. baking powder; 1 tsp. salt)
3/4 c. buttermilk

Cut butter into flour w/ a pastry blender until mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add buttermilk, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 3 or 4 times (I tend to skip the kneading). Roll dough to 3/4" thickness; cut with 2-inch biscuit cutter. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 425* for 13-15 minutes. Yield: 1 dozen (3 WW pts. each)