tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13139481349962556472011-12-28T08:54:16.888-05:00The successes, failures, triumphs, and struggles of one Christian Stay-At-Home Mom.Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.comBlogger751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-17372509581943756332011-10-22T13:42:00.000-04:002011-10-22T13:42:38.329-04:00

I haven't done one of these for awhile, so I figured I'd pick it back up. Outside my window...it is bright and sunny and warming up. It will probably be in the 70s today. Perfect walking weather.  I am thinking...oh good gracious, I hope that consistent discipline makes this fit-pitching stage my almost two-year-old daughter short-lived. I am thankful...that it is the weekend, so I'll get

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-77579749351293361302011-09-23T21:06:00.000-04:002011-09-23T21:06:00.929-04:00

After taking the summer (and late spring) off, I've decided to start blogging again. I can't say that it will be every day. As a matter of fact, I can probably say with a fair degree of certainty that it won't be, especially after the arrival of baby #2, due in January. Sweet Pea is growing up way too fast. She's almost two now. She's not overly verbal yet, neither was I at her age. I didn't

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-35413797759013409942011-05-21T17:36:00.001-04:002011-05-21T17:38:24.645-04:00

Dairy Free Soft Taco Turkey Burritos This recipe came after some experimenting when I realized that most Mexican restaurants put butter or other dairy products in the beans and/or rice they use for burritos. I realized that if I wanted burritos that I could eat, I needed to figure out my own recipe. Ingredients: 1 lb. ground turkey breast Old Elpaso taco seasoning Rice Roni Spanish rice 3

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-80600141771185917382011-04-05T01:09:00.000-04:002011-04-05T01:09:58.405-04:00

I was a bit rattled yesterday when I learned that a woman that I graduated from high school with had passed away in a motorcycle accident. She left behind two young sons, ages 4 and 6. It was a sobering reminder that we don't know when our time on this earth will be up. I'm sure the woman of whom I am speaking never thought that she'd die at the age of 31 and not get to see her children grow up.

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-84965853287357708202011-03-29T10:27:00.000-04:002011-03-29T10:27:26.481-04:00

My Christian walk as of late has felt like what sometimes happens when I crochet. I'm going along fine, and then there's a huge knot that I have to untangle before I can move on. I just get going again, and another knot pops out of the skein. Lately, my "knot" has centered a lot on Romans 12:1-2 and exactly what it means to be separate from the world. When I hit a "knot" I tend to withdraw to

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-62090651508484819872011-02-24T23:42:00.000-05:002011-02-24T23:42:09.896-05:00

If your church ever offers the study "Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival," I have to say that I highly recommend it. It is a powerful, convicting study that is bringing me closer to the Lord than I ever have been.

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-89413946102376444522011-01-24T10:12:00.000-05:002011-01-24T10:12:45.055-05:00

So much for getting my mission statement up and posting more frequently. I got busy during the month of December, and I promised myself that after Christmas, I would pick right back up. That was until my sinus infection, followed by my daughter's cold, followed by me over-doing it and getting pneumonia. Basically, I've been sick or recovering from an illness since the last day of December. Not

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-55914741772612284572010-11-25T23:49:00.000-05:002010-11-25T23:49:41.217-05:00

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as great as mine was. I am thankful for so many things, but this is my "short list": 1) Jesus, my Lord and Savior 2) My wonderful husband 3) My beautiful little daughter 4) the fact that we have a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, and warm beds to sleep in. 5) The fact that the Lord used some recent trials to bring me closer to Him 6) My two best

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-48126998652855215942010-11-23T15:31:00.000-05:002010-11-23T15:31:35.380-05:00

About all that I can say about this book is that it's about the most convicting (but NOT at all condemning), life-changing book that I have ever read. In a nutshell, it talks about how often, Christians believe in Jesus and know that He died on the cross to save us from sin, but we still live as we did before we were saved. Basically, Christian atheists are people who believe in Christ, but don't

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-18067135872385354112010-11-20T10:21:00.000-05:002010-11-20T10:21:25.669-05:00

FOR TODAY Outside my window...It is sunny. I am thinking...That I wish this stomach ache would go away. I am thankful for...This cool, crisp fall weather. From the learning rooms...I'm working with my one-year-old on new words.  From the kitchen...Leftovers today. Hubby is away for the weekend. I am wearing...Jeans, warm socks, and my Michigan long-sleeved t-shirt. GO WOLVERINES!! I am

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-67103865158759274972010-11-19T14:48:00.000-05:002010-11-19T14:48:28.495-05:00

This post was inspired by a post I read here entitled "Ask Your Husband." In case you don't have time to read it, the gist of the blog post was that often we ask anyone and everyone except our husbands for advice on how to solve certain problems. This post comes from a lesson that I learned very recently in my own marriage - don't just dump problems on your husband. When we take problems to our

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-26601585836085591552010-11-19T13:58:00.000-05:002010-11-19T13:58:42.378-05:00

I haven't posted a lot lately, mostly because I had "blogger's block" but also, truth be told, because of some trials that I have been going through lately. One upcoming post that you can expect is the mission statement that I feel led to write. The mission statement will be my mission as a Christ-follower, a wife, and a mother. More to come!

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-47905983496901471012010-10-06T17:59:00.000-04:002010-10-06T17:59:13.939-04:00

FOR TODAY Outside my window...it's sunny and about 73 degrees. I am thinking...that I might be getting a cold or sinus infection. I am thankful for...Sweet Pea's weight gain -- 8 oz. in two weeks. From the kitchen...leftover chili from yesterday. I am wearing...jeans, a University of Michigan long-sleeved t-shirt, and socks. I am creating...nothing at the moment. I'm trying to decide what

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-30732021009592470322010-09-28T17:22:00.004-04:002010-09-28T20:53:30.559-04:00

A couple of my blogger friends are doing this, and it looks pretty cool, so I think I'll jump on the proverbial bandwagon. FOR TODAY Outside my window...it's still sunny, but clouding up. I am thinking...of everything I still want to accomplish before my husband gets home. I am thankful for...the fact that my baby's appetite seems to be picking up. From the kitchen...nothing yet, but I'll be

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-20695096896427446322010-09-21T11:35:00.000-04:002010-09-21T11:35:13.237-04:00

...to buy ant traps. Fa la la la la, la la la la. They send in scouts looking for your food scraps. Fa la la la la, la la la la. Tho' every day you vac and swee-eep Fa la la, la la la, la la la Still around your house they'll cree-eep Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-69180132244216361532010-09-11T11:06:00.000-04:002010-09-11T11:06:34.085-04:00

Nine years ago today, I was on the campus of the university I was attending. I decided to walk over to the library after my 8:00 A.M class. When I got into the foyer, I noticed a growing number of students congregating around the televisions there. I walked over to see what all the fuss was about, and was shocked by what I saw. As I was watching, the coverage, the second plane struck the World

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-86619120223554553962010-09-11T01:07:00.000-04:002010-09-11T01:07:11.512-04:00

I recently came to a major decision...I am going to majorly curtail the number of hours per day that the television is on. We've probably all heard about the studies done that show that too much TV (and too much early exposure to it in infancy and todlerhood) can cause academic problems later on, as well as the obvious problem with being in front of the TV rather than outside being active,

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-17873162701745261202010-09-03T22:47:00.000-04:002010-09-03T22:47:12.438-04:00

Something has really hit me lately - I am SO thankful that the Lord has brought me out of some of my old mindsets, specifically the "I can have it all" feminist mentality. For so long, I felt that to truly be of value, utilize my intellect, etc. a career outside the home was a necessity. I always figured that if I ever got married and had children, those children would go to daycare, and I would

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-46515629285438492752010-09-02T11:03:00.000-04:002010-09-02T11:03:53.601-04:00

I'm so happy that September is finally here. I'm so excited for the leaves to change to beautiful hues of red, orange, and yellow, the weather to cool off a bit (pregnancy made me more "hot-natured" than I used to be), and even for football season. I'm almost finished putting out my fall decorations and getting my "fall cleaning" done. I'm praising God for the opportunity to be able to experience

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-47206006541152522042010-08-31T13:01:00.000-04:002010-08-31T13:01:38.151-04:00

There has not been a lot to report lately that's positive. I've been trying to avoid posting nothing but a bunch of negativity. I figured I might as well post something though, lest people start thinking that I found a way to overcome gravity and fall off the face of a round planet. My post will be in the form of a couple of prayer requests. My grandfather has Alzheimer's disease. He is in his

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-82285184419890631002010-08-06T09:58:00.000-04:002010-08-06T09:58:50.954-04:00

I can't believe that it's been a month since my last post. So much to update... My little Sweet Pea is now crawling AND has figured out how to pull herself up to standing. (Right now, she's in her jumper where she can't get into trouble.) She'll be 9 months old tomorrow! My husband and I have been going to the mountains to hike as often as we can (weekend trips). We finally got actual hiking

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-32900082784399969482010-07-07T12:40:00.000-04:002010-07-07T12:40:17.131-04:00

My 8 month-old daughter absolutely loves these products. Her favorite seems to be the Plum-Banana-Brown Rice combination.  I love the fact that they're all organic and not made with any genetically modified ingredients. There are also no "filler" ingredients, such as gelatin, that you tend to find in other brands. Also, ordering from Amazon will save you money, especially if you are a member of

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-59830361030556858202010-07-07T11:00:00.000-04:002010-07-07T11:00:40.582-04:00

A lot has happened since my last post on June 27. We went to my husband's family reunion/July 4th picnic over the Independence Day weekend. It was a lot of fun, and Sweet Pea got to meet cousins she hadn't previously met. She is such a little social butterfly at this point. She just LOVED being passed around to all of the different people there. She also learned to wave hello/bye-bye for the

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-25213525214589398852010-06-27T13:28:00.000-04:002010-06-27T13:28:23.962-04:00

Well, in the last two weeks, I've managed to lose a total of 4 pounds. That leaves about 16.6 to go until I'm at my goal weight. Weight loss is really an exercise in patience for me. Although I know that 4 pounds in two weeks is good, I'm very impatient for the end result. I'm just one of those "Type A" personalities that likes things to happen quickly. I'm seriously going to have to pray for

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-5321881368342801922010-06-24T22:30:00.000-04:002010-06-24T22:30:31.053-04:00

Fox News Article The article above talks about something that is happening in Massachusetts, and it really made my blood boil. "Protection" is now going to be distributed by Provincetown School District to ANY student that requests it for free...WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT. Right now, it's (as far as I know) just that district, but how long before public school districts everywhere start

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-73024566576188606112010-06-21T21:32:00.000-04:002010-06-21T21:32:48.380-04:00

Well, so much for "Scale Down Sunday" happening yesterday. I forgot to weigh myself first thing in the morning before church, and I don't like to weigh myself after breakfast, because then I'm weighing myself plus whatever food and drink I've consumed. Same thing happened today. I dove right into my coffee pot and ate something before I remembered. I know I lost at least 2 pounds last week though

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-13007074723934297202010-06-13T14:31:00.000-04:002010-06-13T14:31:34.952-04:00

I'm starting a series that I'm going to call "Scale Down Sundays." I am calling my series that because each Sunday when I weigh myself, I am hoping to see the scale moving down. Basically, I've still got about 10 pounds of baby weight to lose, and I would like to lose an additional 10 beyond that, taking me from 123 to 103. (Relax. I'm only 5'0" tall, so 103 is healthy for me.) I was 103 a few

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-34124861557656078782010-06-10T13:11:00.000-04:002010-06-10T13:11:59.600-04:00

Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend and the subject of work and career came up. My friend was lamenting about how hard she has to work and how unfair her working conditions can be. I empathized with her because I have had some tough jobs, and the one I have now (SAHM) is probably the most demanding (yet rewarding) job that I have ever had. She then looked at me and said "Hey, at

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-42026648783094109792010-06-09T21:51:00.000-04:002010-06-09T21:51:47.664-04:00

The title of my blog used to be "Living as a Christian Woman in a Fallen World." It struck me lately though, that I have never wished so strongly that the world was not fallen as I do now. Because the world is fallen, my child will sin, experience pain, experience hurt, etc. I am just so thankful that God saw fit to send us a Redeemer, Jesus, and that this world is not all that exists for those

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-67377044944825259512010-06-08T17:13:00.001-04:002010-06-09T22:10:57.860-04:00

I've been following the schedule for a few weeks now (except for last week when my family and I were away at the beach). My house has never been cleaner or better-maintained. The schedule is doing exactly what I was hoping it would do - force me to focus and help me to prioritize what needs to be done and when. I LOVE the fact that it's flexible enough to do "make-up days" when I am not able to

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-84874507317676443762010-05-26T19:03:00.000-04:002010-05-26T19:03:24.862-04:00

I just finished reading the book "Feminine Appeal" by Carolyn Mahaney. For someone like me who has not been Christian for very long (a few years) and did not grow up in a family where biblical principles were consistently modeled in the area of true femininity, this book was a real blessing. It talks about the 7 virtues of a biblical, Godly wife and mother. Carolyn Mahaney wrote this book not

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-17571468203867465602010-05-14T21:24:00.000-04:002010-05-14T21:24:14.433-04:00

I don't know about any of you, but when it comes to housework, I'm completely schedule-challenged. I grew up with a working mother who did her best to keep the house up, but I never learned how to run a household from the position of SAHM. My best friend told me today of a WONDERFUL website: www.motivatedmoms.com. At that site, you can buy for a mere $8 a cleaning schedule calendar. You can pick

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-70969754495865951762010-05-10T22:34:00.000-04:002010-05-10T22:34:49.688-04:00

I hope that all of you who read my blog had a wonderful Mothers Day. I know I did. My husband and I went to Charleston, SC for a long weekend (with Emma, of course). We all had a wonderful time, and it was so nice to get away. I still cannot believe that my baby girl turned 6 months old already this past Friday! Here are a few pics taken of the deltas of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers: We

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-90855354502724380562010-05-04T12:24:00.000-04:002010-05-04T12:24:45.763-04:00

My little Sweet Pea with "bed head" after a nap yesterday. I love it when she wakes up smiling like this.

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-85201283610891130272010-05-01T16:52:00.000-04:002010-05-01T16:52:13.052-04:00

As my profile states, I had been a public school teacher for three years. I left that profession after last year because I was pregnant and my husband and I wanted me to focus on being a mother full-time. At the end of last school year, I was asked by a male, Christian colleague "How do you feel about the thought of being dependent on a man?" At the time, I didn't know how to answer that question

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-82501852726100376582010-04-25T23:57:00.000-04:002010-04-25T23:57:14.238-04:00

You've probably noticed that the title of my blog has changed. I thought that was in order given how much my life has changed in the last year. Here's a recap: I became pregnant with my little Sweet Pea in February 2009. I had been a public school teacher up until the end of the 2008-2009 school year, but called it quits because I knew that I wanted to be home with my little girl. I've been a

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-6426144362469138092010-04-25T22:25:00.004-04:002010-04-25T22:33:37.324-04:00

I have finally finished my online medical transcription program!! Between that and trying to run this household and raise my daughter, I just haven't had a lot of extra time lately to blog.I can't believe how big my baby girl is getting. She's 5 1/2 months old already. She still doesn't nap for more than about 45 minutes at a time on most days, but likes being in the Moby Wrap while I get things

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-63486956866292421022010-02-12T17:46:00.003-05:002010-02-12T17:55:22.094-05:00

I haven't seen it snow this hard since I moved to the Southeast from Pennsylvania!! The snow is actually accumulating.Anyway, I guess it's been a while since I've posted anything on here. To be honest, I've been struggling a lot with my walk with the Lord. I've had a lot of stressors in my life lately, and that, unfortunately, is when I notice my relationship with the Lord suffering the most. I

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-55408142285063546072009-10-06T10:07:00.004-04:002009-10-06T10:14:51.975-04:00

I've been extremely busy (and tired) in the last couple of months, hence the blog silence. Getting this house unpacked, getting the nursery in order, and fighting off early braxton hicks contractions (which actually caused me to spend one night in the hospital around 27 weeks gestation) have been taking up a lot of my time. Right now, I'm 33 weeks 5 days along and getting kind of uncomfortable.

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-63335561036508431842009-07-29T09:16:00.003-04:002009-07-29T09:29:02.854-04:00

I don't know about anyone else, but recently there has been a spike in crime in my area, particularly with regard to robbery, hold-ups, and home invasions. Don't get me wrong. A few of these people could be stealing to feed their families (which still isn't right because there are other resources out there), but for the most part, when these people are caught, that is found not to be the case. It

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-47598174861428781912009-07-21T16:25:00.003-04:002009-07-21T16:28:02.753-04:00

God led me to the right one today. My husband's work schedule didn't allow us to look at them together, so he said he trusted my judgment. I know what we both look for in a house, and this one was so perfect, that it was pretty obvious that I had been led there. It means a lot to me that he trusts me so much to make a decision like that when he cannot be there to do so. The rental houses are

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-12822613413598752512009-07-21T10:13:00.002-04:002009-07-21T10:26:01.093-04:00

Well, things are certainly moving along in this pregnancy. I can't believe I'm almost 23 weeks along already!! Preparations for this baby are beginning to happen more quickly now. Right now, we're really having to trust the Lord to point us to the correct rental house. We just cannot see buying one in the current economy when most of the homes in our area are still grossly over-priced. So far,

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-17162162198381447752009-07-01T21:03:00.002-04:002009-07-01T21:06:30.078-04:00

I had the ultrasound today. It's a girl. Everything looks healthy so far. We've decided on the name Emma Katheryn. We're extremely excited, but I must admit that I'm shocked. I've had a gut feeling since I found out I was expecting that the baby would be a boy. I guess this just goes to prove that I'm about as intuitive as your average bag of rocks. :-P

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-84202200054619150642009-06-13T17:15:00.003-04:002009-06-13T17:23:33.881-04:00

Kristilea left an award at her blog for me called the "Honest Scrap Award." It requires that I write 10 things about myself that are honest, so that the people who read my blog can know a little more about me. Here are my 10:1) My favorite colors are Victorian lilac and light pink.2) I'm really short (5'0").3) I absolutely LOVE to cook and bake.4) I abhor doing laundry.5) My eyes are hazel and

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-75022090328555719092009-06-05T20:04:00.004-04:002009-06-05T20:15:56.313-04:00

Well, my public school teaching career is officially over. My very last day was today, and I couldn't be more at peace with my decision to leave. I already made out my summer schedule so that I can use my time to manage the household efficiently. I actually purchased "Managers of Their Homes" from www.titus2.com. It's a scheduling technique for Christian homeschool families, but I figured why not

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-25464495335850830592009-06-03T21:07:00.005-04:002009-06-03T21:30:06.079-04:00

1 Peter 3:3-4 3. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.Titus 2:4-5 4. Then they can train the younger women to love their

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-37328504775265141042009-05-30T07:51:00.005-04:002009-05-30T08:24:47.890-04:00

Five years ago, if you asked me what my future plans were, I would have listed accomplishments like "get my Ph.D.," "be a psychology professor at a major research university," "make enough money to support myself comfortably and pay off my student loans," etc. Notice that marriage and family were nowhere in the picture. I now find myself one week from my first day of what would normally be "

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-77098168511454409262009-05-26T21:16:00.006-04:002009-05-26T21:28:24.012-04:00

So far, everything is going well. I had my 15 week appointment today (even though I'm not technically 15 weeks until 5/28). The heartbeat is still going strong. The doctor said that she thinks it might be a boy since the heart rate is on the lower side. We will get to find out the gender of the baby on July 1, 2009. My husband and I can't wait. Right now, I'm trying to wrap up the school year and

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-29068179177294713652009-05-09T21:59:00.003-04:002009-05-09T22:15:40.394-04:00

The past month or 2 have been quite interesting. I'm still adjusting to being pregnant (12 weeks 2 days now), my job has been crazy, and basically it has felt like my entire life is in an upheaval. I was not prepared at all for the level of fatigue that the early and middle parts (and even this late part) that I have been experiencing in my first trimester. Combine that with morning, noon, and

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-43039317911332878852009-03-18T19:31:00.004-04:002009-03-18T19:41:21.383-04:00

Well, I scheduled my first prenatal appointment. It will be on April 2. I'll be having my first ultrasound, getting the blood work done (ick!!), and doing the "interview" that apparently takes place on the first appointment. The morning sickness (more like morning and night sickness) is getting a bit stronger. My family doctor had given me a prescription for some anti-nausea medication, but I

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-39314655097553008872009-03-14T11:53:00.002-04:002009-03-14T12:00:42.165-04:00

Well, I'm 4 weeks pregnant today. I'm feeling lots of the typical symptoms of early pregnancy, including tiredness, being emotional, nausea, etc. I've been stressing a bit too. The pregnancy is so new. I know at this point (1st trimester), anything can still happen. I'm trying very hard to let go of my anxiety about all that can go wrong at this point and trust God, but it has been hard. I have

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-15565488460645987712009-03-10T17:39:00.001-04:002009-03-10T17:40:32.944-04:00

I'M PREGNANT!!!!! I just found out today, and it's still very early, so I need all the prayers for a healthy pregnancy that I can get.

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-91661608180753082672009-02-23T20:01:00.005-05:002009-02-23T20:14:02.509-05:00

One thing that I've always had a hard time with is praising God when things in life seem to be going "around the bowl and down the hole" so to speak. Lately, it seems that NOTHING at work can go right. The harder I try, the flatter on my face I seem to fall. The Bible says that we are to be content in all circumstances - that's something that I majorly struggle with.For some reason, it seems like

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-31928894589441798672009-02-02T16:29:00.005-05:002009-02-02T16:48:14.889-05:00

As any of you who have been reading my blog the last few months know, I have been praying for guidance regarding my career and which direction I should go - should I continue teaching or go in some other direction? Going back up North to visit my family really allowed me to clear my head for a few days and that, in turn, allowed me to hear an answer from God on this important issue. Medical

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-7563392860782455612009-01-29T18:39:00.002-05:002009-01-29T18:41:31.882-05:00

In case anyone was wondering, I arrived safely at my destination (though it was about 3 hours later than I was supposed to). I got rerouted through Washington D.C. (after my scheduled flight was cancelled) and then caught a later connecting flight to my final destination. Both landings were a bit hairy, but all went well.

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-74496942595142943142009-01-27T23:29:00.002-05:002009-01-27T23:32:25.150-05:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm flying up North tomorrow to see my parents for a long weekend. (I took my personal days at work.) Did I mention that I am a VERY nervous flier? I wish I could drive it instead, but the trip would take almost 12 hours each way, so it would kind of defeat the purpose of even going because I'd have to spend so much time on the road and be so exhausted. Anyway,

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-88761103721758273102009-01-26T23:37:00.006-05:002009-01-26T23:57:12.585-05:00

I've been suffering from a severe case of it lately. I have so many thoughts and ideas floating around in my head, that I can't seem to settle on something to blog about. There's a lot going on with work right now (starting a new semester), my husband is away at a 2-day, out-of-state meeting, I'm flying up to visit my parents from Thursday through Sunday (I took my 2 personal days), trying to

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-52230740463484404182009-01-19T11:52:00.006-05:002009-01-19T12:30:34.653-05:00

Some people might have noticed that a few blog entries got deleted - namely the ones relating to my teaching career. What I have decided to do is delete those entries and consolidate them into one big entry/rant because they were all pretty similar anyway and just taking up extra space on my blog.Basically, my problems with teaching are as follows:Problem #1: Extra Time, Money, and StressTeaching

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-66583558171988256472009-01-19T10:28:00.003-05:002009-01-19T10:54:49.201-05:00

I think many women (if not most) have at some point said the words in the title of this post. I know I have. God put it on my heart do write this blog after a dream I had the other night, when I woke up thinking "I'm so glad I didn't end up marrying ________." I wrestled with doing this all weekend because this post is about a time period in my life that I would love to just forget happened. God

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-34414356604208835962009-01-13T18:55:00.003-05:002010-04-26T10:53:10.914-04:00

"Be independent!" "Never depend on a man!" "Men are stupid!" "A woman can do anything a man can do and better!" Those are some of the attitudes I grew up with. I grew up with these attitudes for several discernible reasons, namely that I did not have Biblical values when I was younger, I was encouraged in these views by many family members and friends, and that these values permeate the society

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-39078107733196081792009-01-12T18:20:00.004-05:002009-01-12T18:57:47.776-05:00

I was not planning on blogging today, but Miss Jocelyn's most recent entry cut me to the core and I just had to write about it. The post dealt with the fact that there is often no discernible difference between Christians and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, I find myself falling into that category in more ways than I'd like to admit.I still struggle in many ways with conforming to the world

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-50787029386522995022009-01-08T22:28:00.006-05:002009-01-08T23:24:02.042-05:00

It's been a while since I last posted. The reasons for that are many...holidays and the lack of time, busy and drained due to work, and the fact that I had fallen away a bit for the last month.I've noticed that since accepting Christ, I've basically been a "hot or cold" Christian. I'm either completely on-fire for God or I'm discouraged and/or rebellious. I've been told (and I've observed in

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-21184471800784011812008-11-23T12:08:00.006-05:002008-11-23T12:25:47.114-05:00

My life has been so busy lately, that I've hardly had the time to think let alone blog. Getting grades in for progress reports, tidying the house, getting ready to fly home for Thanksgiving - there just aren't enough hours in the day. I have noticed that lately, I have been feeling very rushed and not "at peace." I tend to be a "type A" personality though, so it's something that I've struggled

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-4330503866390433962008-11-13T15:52:00.005-05:002008-11-13T16:23:28.106-05:00

Overcoming a life of feminism is not easy. It is an everyday struggle, but it is more than worth it. Although wearing dresses and skirts and having a quiet and gentle spirit are not a salvation requirement, they are commands from God in his Holy Word. Being feminine is what God wants of his female children, so who are we to argue? Being raised in a feminist and/or non-Christian environment is not

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-24737512760438393082008-11-04T19:48:00.005-05:002008-11-04T20:22:10.094-05:00

To anyone who is reading this who is in a Christian marriage and who was not raised in a feminist environment: consider yoruself lucky. I was raised in an area wherein I was taught that women should have a career, never depend on a man, take charge (or at least be equal in every way to their husbands), be tough (i.e. not sensitive, feminine, etc.) etc. That caused me to accumulate north of

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-32819418632453049402008-11-02T15:17:00.004-05:002008-11-02T15:35:59.098-05:00

The post title does not refer to literally walking (as in one foot in front of the other), but my walk with Christ. The last several weeks, I've been derailed a bit by questions that I have that don't seem to be getting answered. None of the questions are surrounding my salvation, but rather the finer nuances of living as a Christian woman. A bit legalistic, you ask? I don't think so. I was

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-42721066998966355032008-10-08T21:15:00.003-04:002008-10-08T21:26:33.473-04:00

I was sitting at a red light on my way home from work, awaiting a green light so that I could turn left. I had just finished a Jolly Rancher that was in my mouth, and I decided that I would like another one. The light was still red, so I quickly reached into my purse. When I looked at the candy in my hand, I realized that it was watermelon. I don't dislike watermelon Jolly Ranchers, but I was

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-56971730882410403082008-10-01T19:45:00.008-04:002008-10-01T20:05:04.562-04:00

The title of this post defines how I've been feeling lately - convicted. I know I have posted a few times in worldliness and worldly influences, but that's seems to be the Lord's current conviction of choice in my life. As a matter of fact, it's been a pervasive theme in my life lately. Day by day, I have been becoming more and more aware of the fact that I still have a foot (or 2) in the world.

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-75882242801579226502008-09-23T09:34:00.004-04:002008-09-23T10:28:26.818-04:00

Romans 12:2 - "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. "Lately, I've been noticing a lot of "worldliness" both in my own life and in society that would have gone unnoticed (by me) before. The Bible says not to conform to the world, but my question is where exactly

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-8699935105981285222008-09-09T18:09:00.002-04:002008-09-09T18:29:34.592-04:00

Yesterday, I wrote about being under attack by the enemy. Something just occurred to me - we as Christians, are supposed to be a source of "light" for those who are not saved. Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. " Basically, Christians are supposed to allow Christ to shine through us in all that we do because

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-61041141144295816042008-09-08T17:25:00.003-04:002008-09-08T17:39:22.878-04:00

I've been under attack by the devil the last day-and-a-half. As usual, it's my mood. I'm trying very hard to strengthen my walk with the Lord right now, so of course, he's on the attack. My joy is gone right now. I feel like a slug - like I just want to crawl under a rock until I feel better. That's what the enemy wants though. He wants me to feel like crap, be snappish with my husband, not do as

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-56729741763244859722008-09-03T18:58:00.004-04:002008-09-03T19:56:32.392-04:00

Selfishness - Galatians 5:19-20 refers to it as a "work of the flesh." It's something that I've struggled with for a long time - probably at least the last 15 to 20 of my 27 years. Oddly enough, I never realized how selfish I truly was until I got married. That is something that is very hard for me to admit, but it's true just the same. I have often found myself automatically considering myself

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-17392721198312790582008-09-02T15:57:00.006-04:002008-09-02T17:42:54.177-04:00

The title of this post is a question that I find myself asking God on a more and more regular basis. I struggle with this because this is not something that comes naturally to me after being told by the world, my family, etc. that I need to be tough, assertive, independent - basically a feminist. The thing is though, 1 Peter 3:3-4 states that being so hard-charging and aggressive is not what God

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-48690317893905112352008-08-30T10:08:00.004-04:002008-08-30T10:39:24.036-04:00

There seem to be 2 views on life in this country - secular and Bibilical. Having been raised in a mostly "secular view" family and growing up with "secular view" friends, I now find that I am often at odds with myself on the way I view things. Since accepting Jesus in May 2007, my viewpoint is starting to change, but in many ways my old secular viewpoint is still asserting itself. Nowhere is

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1313948134996255647.post-3708530663687385932008-08-28T22:39:00.000-04:002008-08-28T23:20:38.426-04:00

After getting married last month, I have been feeling two things more strongly than ever - God working in my life and the Enemy attacking both me and my marriage. In one ear, I hear God's voice telling me to love Him, obey His commands (be a good, Christian wife, resist sin and tempation, etc.) and in the other I hear the Enemy to think only of how I feel, do what pleases me, to rebel against the

Mrs. P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06692821390370158036noreply@blogger.com0