The placidity of our day to day rituals is slowing coming to a halt. The busyness is creeping in again. What do I expect though? :) Clayton is currently involved in basketball, with a practice and 1 game each week. He is also on the archery team, with 2 practices a week. He has his first tournament this month. The academic team adds the final touch, with 1 practice a week. His specialty on the academic team is Science, which I (and might I add Clayton) find ironic because this is steadfastly his lowest grade on his report card. He has yet to find out if he will make the quick recall team (a gameshow fashion of buzzing in with the correct answer.)
The whole 4th grade student body was on the news tonight...the meteorologist came and talked to them about weather and got them on camera, all waving and saying "Hi Mommy!" He also had some exciting news...he won the spelling bee in his class, so next he will compete against the other 4th grade winners. We are determined to go far!
On to my sweetest Logan...I had a call from the school today, informing me had received a "B" card. These are special recognitions the children receive when their behavior excels the norm. He had volunteered to help his teacher with something important. I will add, his teacher seems quite generous with the "B" cards, nevertheless, he does have the most in his class! Way to go Logan! No sports right now for him...he is patiently waiting to play baseball this spring.
I am teaching Audrey some basic piano lessons on her keyboard she was given for christmas. I am looking for someone to give her lessons. She catches on quickly and can play Mary Had A...
after just 3 lessons. She is having a friend from school over Saturday to spend the night. They were in kindergarten together and luckily ended up in the same class this year. She told me not long ago..."I love her" (the friend), and when talking to the girl's mother, found out that Jamie had told her mom that Audrey was the best friend she had ever had! This just warmed my heart. Jamie is a sweet girl and I hope they will form a lasting friendship. I never really experienced that myself. I was moved around so much as a child.
Michael and I have decided to make a big change in our home...our diet. We decided that we are not eating as healthy as we could and NEED to be. I found this article in Woman's Day:
52 Superfoods
Fill up on these nutrient packed foods, which can help you fight disease. Feel more energetic and even lose weight.
1 Eggs Each egg has 6 grams of protein but just 72 calories. No wonder researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, found that eating eggs for breakfast (as part of a low-cal diet) helps you slim down.
2 Tomato sauce It’s loaded with lycopene, which makes your skin look younger and keeps your heart healthy. In fact, a Harvard study found that women with the most lycopene in their blood reduced their risk of a heart attack by 34%.
3 Dried plums(prunes) They’re packed with polyphenols, plant chemicals that have been shown to boost bone density by stimulating your bone-building cells.
4 Walnuts Just 14 walnut halves provide more than twice your daily dose of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fat that’s been shown to improve memory and coordination.
5 Brussels sprouts They have more glucosinolates (compounds that combat cancer and detoxify our bodies) than any other vegetable. For a side dish that will make you wonder why you’ve been avoiding them, slice each one into quarters, then sauté in olive oil with chopped sweet Vidalia onions.
6 Acai juice A glass or two of this anthocyanin-rich berry juice can dramatically boost the amount of antioxidants in your blood, say Texas A&M University researchers.
7 Apples They contain quercetin, an antioxidant that may reduce your risk of lung cancer.
8 Bok choy This calcium-rich veggie can protect your bones and may even ward off PMS symptoms.
9 Steel-cut oats Because they’re less processed than traditional oats, they’re digested more slowly—keeping you full all morning long.
10 Salmon You’ll get all the heart-smart omega-3s you need in a day from just 3 oz.
11 Avocados Their healthy fat keeps you satisfied and helps you absorb other nutrients. For a new u twist, brush a halved avocado (pit removed) with olive oil and grill 1 minute. Serve with red onion, sliced grapefruit and balsamic vinegar.
12 Spinach A half-cup provides more than five times your daily dose of vitamin K, which helps blood clot and builds strong bones.
13 Canned pumpkin It’s filled with natural cancer fighters alpha- and beta-carotene.
14 Cauliflower White foods can be good for you! This one is packed with cancer-fighting glucosinolates.
15 Scallops A 3-oz serving has 14 grams of protein but just 75 calories.
16 Collard greens They’re exploding with nutrients like vitamin A, zeaxanthin and lutein, which keep your eyes healthy.
17 Olives They deliver the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat you get in olive oil, but for just 7 calories per jumbo olive!
18 Brown rice It’s a top source of magnesium, a mineral your body uses for more than 300 chemical reactions (such as building bones and converting food to energy).
19 Oysters These keep your immune system strong. A 3-oz serving (about 6 oysters) dishes up a quarter of your daily iron, plus nearly twice the zinc and all the selenium you need in a day.
20 Edamame One cup has a whopping 22 grams of plant protein, as well as lots of fiber, folate and cholesterol-lowering phytosterols.
21 Strawberries They’re loaded with ellagitannins, phytochemicals that may halt the growth of cervical and colon cancers.
22 Lentils A great source of meat-free protein, a half-cup of cooked lentils also gives you nearly half your daily folate, a B vitamin that protects a woman’s unborn baby from neural tube defects.
23 Bran flakes Their whole grains keep your heart in tip-top shape by reducing inflammation and melting away belly fat.
24 Kiwi Italian researchers found that it reduces asthma-related wheezing, thanks to its high vitamin C content (one kiwi has 110% of your daily requirement).
25 Black beans They’re loaded with protein, fiber, and flavonoids—antioxidants that help your arteries stay relaxed and pliable.
26 Sunflower seeds A quarter-cup delivers half your day’s vitamin E, which keeps your heart healthy and fights infection.
27 Sardines 3 oz provide more than 100% of your daily vitamin D. Sardines are also a top source of omega-3 fats. Try adding mashed canned sardines to marinara sauce and serving over whole-wheat pasta.
28 Asparagus A half-cup supplies 50% of your daily bone-building vitamin K and a third of your day’s folate, it’s a natural diuretic so it banishes bloating, too.
29 Bananas They’re loaded with several kinds of good-for-you fiber, including resistant starch (which helps you slim down).
30 Broccoli sprouts They have 10 times more of the cancer-preventing compound glucoraphanin than regular broccoli.
31 Fat-free milk With a third of the calcium and half the vitamin D you need in a day, plus 8 grams u of muscle-building protein, it’s the ultimate energy drink.
32 Baked potatoes Each one packs a megadose of blood-pressure–lowering potassium—even more than a banana.
33 Sweet potatoes Half of a large baked sweet potato delivers more than 450% of your daily dose of vitamin A, which protects your vision and your immune system.
34 Flaxseed Not only is flaxseed loaded with plant omega-3s, it also has more lignans (compounds that may prevent endometrial and ovarian cancer) than any other food. Store ground flaxseed in your refrigerator and sprinkle on yogurt, cold cereal or oatmeal.
35 Greek yogurt It has twice the protein of regular yogurt.
36 Dried tart cherries Researchers at Michigan State University found their potent anthocyanins help control blood sugar, reduce insulin and lower cholesterol.
37 Wheat germ A quarter-cup gives you more than 40% of your daily vitamin E and immune-boosting selenium.
38 Whole-wheat english muffins You get 4 ½ grams of fiber for only 134 calories.
39 Tea Both green and black tea prevent hardening of the arteries, according to researchers at the University of Scranton.
40 Peanut butter This smart spread has arginine, an amino acid that helps keep blood vessels healthy.
41 Blackberries The king of the berry family boasts more antioxidants than strawberries, cranberries or blueberries.
42 Mustard greens These “greens” (actually a cruciferous veggie) are a top source of vitamin K. For a tasty pesto, chop them in a food processor with garlic, walnuts, Parmesan and olive oil.
43 Grapes They’re a leading source of resveratrol, the plant chemical responsible for the heart-healthy benefits of red wine.
44 Soy milk A good source of vegetable protein, calcium-enriched soy milk has as much calcium and vitamin D as cow’s milk.
45 Brazil nuts They have more selenium than any other food. One nut delivers your entire day’s worth!
46 Canola oil A Tbsp of this heart-healthy oil has all the alpha-linolenic acid you need in a day, plus two different forms of vitamin E.
47 Blueberries They improve memory by protecting your brain from inflammation and boosting communication between brain cells.
48 Oranges One orange supplies more than 100% of the vitamin C you need in a day. It’s also a good source of calcium and folate.
49 Watercress With just 4 calories per cup, this cruciferous veggie delivers a hefty dose of vitamin K, zeaxanthin, lutein, beta-carotene and cancer-fighting phytochemicals.
50 Turkey breast It has 20 grams of satisfying protein but just 90 calories per 3-oz serving.
51 Barley A top source of beta-glucan, a fiber that lowers cholesterol and helps control blood sugar.
52 Shiitake mushrooms One serving (about ¼ lb) provides as much vitamin D as you’d get from a glass of milk.
So, I went through this list and picked out the foods that I could feasibly incorporate into our diet. All but 13...some I just CAN'T eat!! I feel as a family effort, it will be successful. But I know, most of it lies on me...I am solely in charge of the grocery shopping, meal preparing and "snacks". I have struggled with my weight for over ten years now and I am determined to help myself AND my family. I know this may be a silly request, but please say a prayer for me that this will be successful. My health also depends on it. My blood sugar is currently at the insulin resistant level and I do not want to develop full blown Diabetes 2.
If any of you are struggling or could do better in the 'What you feed your family department', I hope this article was of interest to you.
I can't quit without saying something about Michael and Ella! :)
A visitor sat behind us at services tonight and after we ended, she commented to Ella..."I think you're a daddy's girl!" Michael just loved that! She does love her daddy. :)
This weekend looks to be full...shopping, cooking, bible study, company, basketball, more cooking, and more company!
I hope the rest of your week is productive and fun filled!
One more quick thing...I'm getting to be a mystery shopper for our local Longhorns! They reimburse up to $35 for a lunch visit and $40 for dinner. I already have a scheduled visit for the end of this month!
Good luck with your diet. I know that we need to be eating much healthier than we are too!
You & Michael have such wonderful kids & so much to be proud of!
Thanks for the article, Ashley. I've been working on mine for a LOOOONG time now too. I've currently lost only about 10 lbs, but slow and steady wins the race, right? Good luck with yours! (I picked about 12/13 on that list that I already use on a consistant basis. Good to know that they are super good!) Wow! Clayton sounds like he is doing just great! And the others too! How proud you must both be! Keep up the good work! God is good!
I will say a pray for you and your efforts, I know they will be a success! Thanks for the article, very interesting... I didn't see chocolate on there mmmm must have been a typo or something lol Love you guys lots!
Glad to hear you're doing so well! I'm on a diet too....South Beach is the easiest for me to stay on if my mind is set, and it's healthy. I'll pray for you as I pray for myself in this dept.
We had a wonderful Christmas holiday! The festivities started on Field's Mountain with a gathering of 24!! May I add, 13 of those are 9 and under!! We had an absolutely wonderful time with all of the family. A little extra bonus included getting to see Michael's grandparents and both of his aunts. The kids had a blast, as usual with all of their cousins.
Much eating, laughing ,game and card playing, and definitely gift opening took place! Jimmy and Diane are so generous!
My job on the "big day" was setting the table.
Michael and his siblings...they're in order :)
Here's Ella sucking on a piece of ham at dinner!
The Sisters 4
Oh, I musn't forget one small but significant highlight....I beat him and Michael at a game of darts! Can you say OH YEAH!!!
We came home and had Christmas day here and the kids had a blast opening all their gifts. What a treasure children are. And to think God loves us even more!
We headed on up to Portage, IN to my parents house on Saturday. We had a wonderful time there as well...the gathering quite a bit smaller...only 8 :)
We watched a great movie...Believe In Me...based on a true story. I would recommend it for sure. Presents were great! My mother based all my gifts on a theme...setting a nice table. I got a beautiful table runner, cloth napkins, a centerpiece, a set of crsytal glasses...and some pretty jewelry. Michael got a tool box, a set of screwdrivers and some dress clothes. Logan was thrilled to get his own Nintendo DS!! Audrey's big item was a Leapster Didj.
We had some pictures taken yesterday morning before services:
The kids (minus Ella) are still at my parents and will be coming home later this week. Before we got on the road, Michael and I drove over to Lake Michigan. We walked out on the beach; it was a beautiful day and you could see Chicago on the horizon. I got some great shots.
Well, going to bed now, but I had to get caught up on pleo! :)
Michael goes back to work tomorrow...it's been so nice having him off for a while! I love my hubby!
we will not be at the gathering that the brethren are having, we are going to spend the evening with my cousins & their families.
i hope y'all have a good celebration! :)
I notice you live in Lawrenceburg, KY. When we lived in Louisville, we would visit there for gospel meetings. I loved the drive out there and the town itself.
I didn't realize your folks were out there. I was just talking to another friend of mine, trying to convince her that they need to come to the singing, too! I'm definitely looking forward to it - I don't think I've ever been with that group before, and I LOVE singing! :) What's your maiden name?
Hey ashley! Glad you wrote, I knew we have meet many years ago but I didnt know you would remember me! We are in Bowling Green KY. This is were we meet 8 years ago so we will be here for a while! Were are you all living now? I would love to see all the family sometime!
thank you. and my daughter, Addison did get RSV when she was about 9 weeks old so we've been very fortunate that Harrison has made it so long without getting really sick. We just assumed it'd happen to him too, we super thankful he was 7 mos before he really got a bad illness, but boy does he ever HAVE it! Also, as far as the steroid making her hyper, it's not hyper so much as it is an emotional wreck. She's never in her life had such fits of anger/rage or something of the sort. It was frustrating and exhausting because she was staying in trouble and she was sick AND we knew it was the meds making her crazy. It was a rough week. Glad it's over and she's off those meds. Now I know what other parents have to go through with kids that pitch fits and are disrespectful all the time. We're soooo blessed though, she really is normally such a perfect, sweet little girl, I guess that's why it was such a huge contrast. Anyway, sorry for the novel. Thanks for the prayers.
It's Celtic Woman. And yes, it is more than one woman singing but the name is singular...go figure. They remind me somewhat of Enya--kinda, sorta. In fact, they also sing Orrinoco Flow, which is what you and Michael had for the recessional song at your wedding. I always think of ya'll when I hear it. You need to look them up on Youtube--I think you'll like them.
Ashley, great to see you on here! We visited with the Athens church a few months ago and it was great to see them. Brad is their preacher now, as Im sure you know. How are David and Susan? Lisa and I are here in Atlanta still with our two girls. I am in retirement planning (yea, I know :) and she is homeschooling our two girls. Miss you guys
Tonight I hosted a mother/daughter cookie exchange and tea. Two cancelled on me last minute..but I still ended up with 16. I served heavy appetizers. The little girls devoured the Pigs In a Blanket. (I made those especially for them :)) Ever heard of benedictine? It is a creamy dip made of cucumber and cream cheese...and a drop of green food coloring :)
Several other items were on the menu: Grape Salad, Mini Ham & Cheese Tarts, Cheese Wafers, Hot Tea and my favorite...Peppermint Punch (consisted of Boiled Custard, Peppermint Icecream, crushed candycanes and Club Soda.)
We listened to xmas carols and the girls decorated bags to take their cookies home in. They also decorated a gingerbread house, and then ate all the candy off of it upon finishing it! We judged the cookies...a shortbread cookie won.
We finished the evening with a story I read to mothers and daughters. 'Just In Case You Ever Wonder'...by Max Lucado.
If you have not read any of his books, I would encourage you to check them out. They are some of the most precious books I have read.
I will leave you with the last few pages... (this is a father or mother to their child)
And God wants me to make sure you know about heaven.
It's a wonderful place. There are no tears there. No monsters. No mean people. You never have to say "good-bye," or "good night," or "I'm hungry." You never get cold or sick or afraid.
In heaven you are so close to God that He will hug you, just like I hug you. It's going to be wonderful. I will be there, too, I promise. We will be there together, forever. Remember that...just in case you ever wonder.
Hey Ashley! I don't know if you remember me but I do remember you. I saw you comment on my husband's (Frederic Gray's) page. My name is Heather Berendt Gray and my dad used to preach in Fultondale. I went to camp with you and I don't know if you remember my brother Adam and his wife Holley (obviously they were dating then!!!). They got married 10 years ago and have 3 boys and live in B'ham. Anyway...Frederic and I live in Tampa and, as you said, have 2 girls and just found out we are going to have another sweet baby. Anyway...if you don't remember me than ignore this and move on! Either way it's nice to see you on here.
Yep I guess you do remember me!!!! Not shocked about my brother! So as you can see I married Frederic Gray. Small world huh!!!! We got married in Oct. '02 and 6 weeks later found out we would be having a baby! Our first daughter was born in Sept. '03 and our second daughter was born in April '07 and our new one is due August '09. I stay home with them and we are homeschooling our oldest. I guess we are homeschooling our youngest too!! Great to see you on here. I tried to add you as a friend last night but I have too many. I was gold but it just ran out and I'm not sure I want to renew. I might have to delete a few friends! So don't be offended that I didn't add you yet!
