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A Long Winter's Night - 12/27/2007 6:51:29 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Acts 19:11-12 "And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out."
December 27th! Wow, the year is almost at an end. Christmas Day has passed but it is not yet over in our hearts. Nick and I have a birthday this Saturday and we will all enjoy a celebration New Year’s Eve. It is amazing how quickly time flies. It goes ever more quickly as we age.
I slept until just after 8:00 this morning. Jim had to be up for basketball practice, which started at 9:00. Two days in a row, not one girl nor the head coach showed up! He’ll go again tomorrow but is pretty disappointed because he could have slept in or done school work while sitting around the gym.
That being said, he did an outline for a term paper and submitted a flow chart for a government class today. There’s a 2 CD based program to go along with his government classes and he’s been watching that today on his laptop.
We were almost out of milk so we ran up to Wal-Mart and walked around. I have two broken curling irons that still get hot but one falls apart and one will not squeeze the hair. On the clearance aisle, there was a gift set that had four brushes, a big comb, hair clip and a curling iron for less than $5.00. In addition, my hair color is on sale right now. Two for a little more than the price of one box. Men’s blue jeans are only $8.00. Jim got one pair.
We had a big lunch of leftovers from Christmas day. We finished the stuffing and have just a tiny bit of the Scalloped corn and Sweet Potato Soufflé left. I won’t eat any supper after such a large lunch.
I haven’t walked Scooter except in our yard or in front of our house today. There are two pre-teen boys on bikes who think it’s fun to torment him and the dogs next door. I saw them throwing sticks and pebbles at our neighbor’s Dachshunds earlier. The dogs are kept in the yard by an electric fence. The boys would get right on the ‘line’ and torment the dogs. Eventually, the boys chased the dogs onto the porch, following them up the steps and began hitting the dogs with soda cans and other things from their yard. I had tried calling the neighbor’s house, knowing she’s probably still out of state with an ill father, so I yelled out to the boys and made them go home. They used sign language (you know what I mean) and said they were only playing, but they left when I insisted and offered to call the police if they hit the dogs again. The one dog WILL bite. I won’t go near either of her dogs, but there’s no excuse for such behavior.
I ordered Scooter’s Heartguard online today. I buy for 50 -100 lbs. I don’t know if he weighs a bit more or not. He’s too heavy to lift. He’s too big to try and get him on any scale. I need to call the Visiting Vet and find out his schedule so I can take Scooter for his Rabies shot. The Vet parks his RV outside pet stores and groomers each weekend. It’s quite inexpensive because he does a quick exam and only charges for the shot. No office visit cost.
I’ll have one daycare child tomorrow. That means I have to be up and alert by 7:15 at the latest then I won’t have the girls again, tho, until next Thursday. I have gotten so much done this past week! My house has also stayed clean. There’s so much I can’t do with two toddlers running everywhere. I do enjoy them, tho, and the income is a major blessing!
Nick got another Christmas gift. Our oldest son and family sent him a $100.00 gift card to Old Navy. He got it the day after Christmas. He’s going to get more jeans and some shirts that can be worn when it warms up. It’s not cold for long here. My mother is sending him more money for his 13th birthday. He got everything he wanted for Christmas so we got him a Game Shark (new release) for his PS2 and a game for his Wii. It’s a spy game where you save the President’s family.
Rain is moving in and is to last until Monday. I'm thankful for the rain but wish the moisture were in the form of snow! Monday the temperatures are supposed to drop drastically with lows in the teens. I’m so thankful I have a coat!
For New Year’s Eve, we’re going to have our usual hot wings and shrimp with veggies and dips. New Year’s Day is always Black-eyed Peas and Turnip or Collard Greens. That’s a southern tradition meant to bring you pennies and dollars in the New Year. I’ll eat and enjoy within reason and start my weight loss challenge in mid January with a big group of friends from church and our community.
Jim’s listening to Jazz. Nick’s playing Call of Duty 3 and Scooter is stretched out on the sofa, taking up all three cushions. Patches is sleeping somewhere, probably somewhere that she should not. I’m ready for a soda and some TV.
Take a minute to read the devotional and poem I chose to share. Have a nice evening and
God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
The Bible warns against being blinded by this world and speaks of the danger of the blind leading the blind. That warning puts us on notice that things, people, and ways of thinking totally rooted in the finite world of time, space, and matter will keep us from discovering, experiencing, and delighting in the greater realities of God, spirit, and eternity that can only be known by faith.
Faith isn't self-talk or self-deception. It is neither wish projection nor wishful thinking. It is our willingness to hear and stand with the things God has shown us through events and people as awe-inspiring as a trembling, smoking mountain in the desert and as modest as a baby's first cry in the village of Bethlehem.
By Rubel Shelly
To read the full devotional, click here: Click to Enjoy or Subscribe
A Prayer for the Home
God Bless this house and all within it;
Let no harsh spirit enter in it;
Let none approach who would betray,
None with bitter word to say.
Shield it from harm and sorrow’s sting,
Here let the children’s laughter ring;
Grant that these friends from year to year,
Shall build their happiest memories here.
God Bless this house and those who keep it,
In the sweet oils of gladness steep it;
Endow these walls with lasting wealth,
The light of love, the glow of health;
The palm of peace, the charm of mirth,
Good friends to sit around the hearth;
And with each nightfall perfect rest–
Here let them live their happiest.
-Edgar Guest, a poet for the common man
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Celebrate - 12/28/2007 8:00:24 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14 Psalm 51:1-13 And Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving-kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight, that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin, my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You. 
Well this has been a long day. Something kept the dog up much of the night so I was up and down with him. He woke at 12:30 and again at 2:30. He couldn’t get back to sleep, so I put him outside at 4:00. At 6:00, our weather alert radio went off and I had to get up and shut that off. It had started to rain so I brought the dog in, turned on the television and gated him in the t.v. room and hallway. He climbed on the sofa and watched DIY. I, on the other hand, didn’t get back to sleep before my daycare child arrived.
I had the two-year-old today. She has had an awful head cold and a bit of laryngitis. She felt fine much of the day. She ran and climbed, opened drawers got into things and told me ‘Patches is taking a shower’. What she MEANT was, ‘I just locked the cat in the shower’.
I’m going to have the two year old Wed., Thurs., and Friday next week. I believe the one-year-old returns on Thursday. I don’t know if her older sisters are out of school. They might come with her if they are. That gives me a few days of sleeping in.
I took advantage of having just one child and cleaned out our home school cabinet. Once I took out the books from last year and threw out old papers and articles, I have a huge amount of unused space. I have a few home schoolbooks I can put up for sale. Nick has completed his history, science and literature books for the whole year. I came across a stack of science and history books we can use to supplement. He always finishes his favorite subjects very early in the school year.
I made some turkey salad for sandwiches and have that chilling in the fridge. Tonight we had Creamed Turkey on toast. I make a lovely white sauce out of Corn Starch and milk, butter and salt and when it starts to thicken, add chicken, turkey or tuna. We love it over toast. We don’t add pepper but most people would. It’s cheap and easy, fast and low fat.
Jim went to basketball practice again today and one girl showed up. They worked on free throws for about 1 ½ hours and he told her to call and get mom to come and get her. I know he’s a bit disappointed that the head coach scheduled this and never showed up and the girls who were so interested in practicing couldn’t be bothered to come or call. He probably won’t go in Monday through Wednesday next week. There are teacher work days on Thursday and Friday so he’ll be there already. Students return on the 7th, our Jon’s 31st birthday.
Speaking of birthdays, our Nick turns 13 tomorrow (December 29th). He’s so very excited. He shaved for the first time today. His upper lip was just covered with dark fuzz and looked dirty. I hope our family remembers his birthday. Being born four days after Christmas means most people forget about you. I know from experience!
Tomorrow, December 29th is also MY birthday. I’ll be 57. I don’t feel 57. I’m in perfect health other than being a few pounds overweight. I don’t like the sound of 60, tho. EEK! I also don’t like weighing 150 lbs but can DO something about that! My weight loss challenge starts soon. The community kickoff is January 12th. I’ve not heard yet which night our church group will meet.
There’s a number of good shows on t.v. tonight and I plan on being in bed early. I’m quite sleepy.
Have a nice evening and God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
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Chilly Sunday Here - 12/30/2007 8:35:25 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." Hebrews 1:9 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Oh, that everyone could find this comfort! I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you ... Psalm 91:1-3a "Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left; Turn your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:25-27 
We had a really good day in church with a good sermon on ‘Praying Big’. It reminded me of the many serious prayer concerns my family faced this past year, how faithful God was to bring us through with good reports and how thankful we should be to Him.
Many of our youth are away on a retreat but it’s all older kids so some classes were way down. We went out for Mexican at lunch. So many church members were there, too. We basically never eat out, but were wanting something different for a change.
It rained and rained today and is quite chilly. Nothing like we’re expecting for later in the week, tho. It’s supposed to get down to 19° several nights! Yikes! I hope it’s a dry cold.
I’m really hoping I can sleep in a bit the next few days. The daycare girls return on Wednesday and Thursday. Jim goes back to work on Thursday. I’ve not slept in past 8:00 this whole time off.
So, I began today writing down everything I eat or drink. Everything. I’m not breaking it down into ingredients and calories yet. I’m going to wait until after New Year’s Day. We always enjoy shrimp and hot wings on New Year’s Eve and our Black-Eyed Peas and greens on New Year’s day, but I don’t want to feel guilty eating healthy foods. I’ll just watch the amount. I’ve not yet heard the date of our first weight loss challenge meeting with our church group. My beautiful daughter in law weighs 126 lbs and she’s my height and a perfect weight. I’m going to aim for that. That’s a 24 lb loss.
Here is a ‘birthday picture’ Jim took yesterday of Nick and me. Look how tall our 13 year old is! He’s wearing men’s 30 x 30 pants and men’s small shirts.
Not too much else going on today. My boys watched some sports and I talked to my best friend and my mother on the phone. Just a quiet Sunday afternoon.
Have a nice evening and God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
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New Year's Eve! - 12/31/2007 8:49:38 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Revelation 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." "Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the god news that the Messiah is Jesus." Acts 5:42 
Thought I’d write a bit before settling down to television and waiting for midnight.
We had a nice day. I was cold, tho it got up to 53°. I had taken Sudaphed for my sinuses and that always opens my pores or something so that I feel chilled all the time. We keep the gas heat set on 62° because I can’t afford a huge gas bill, but we run two small electric heaters in the rooms we are in. One is a Broan-Nutone Big Heat that we’ve had for 15 years and it does a great job. The other is just okay. My electric is a flat bill, no matter how much or little I use each month/ year, so it remains $121.00 year round.
Jim worked on some of his college courses today. He has gotten three 4.0 and a 3.33 so far this term. Another course is awaiting grading on one final paper and he has an outline awaiting grading so he can do his paper for his final in that class. Better him than ME! He’s reading ‘Huck Finn’ tonight and will read ‘My Name is Asher Lev’ when he completes the other. We’re still waiting on ‘Emma’ and another book from the library. He has to read these five novels for his literature class.
Jim went out early today and got chicken wings and shrimp. We had Buffalo Wings for supper. Nick had chicken legs. He doesn’t like hot sauce. We’re going to eat the shrimp tomorrow and have our beans and greens for ‘luck’. All I need is something to eat, right?
 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 I TOLD you there’s a Bible verse for everything!
Yesterday I shared a birthday picture of Nick and me. This is a picture of Jim and me from today. Boy are we old or what?
There’s a Monk marathon on tomorrow and we all love Monk. It’s on USA. We’ll watch that when Jim’s not interested in football. It’s going to be very cold and very windy tomorrow then very cold for several days. Sitting around under a blanket and watching t.v. is my idea of a New Year’s Day!
Nick’s invited a friend over later this week to play Wii. He has another friend he’d like to invite over another day. I finally found the phone number, tonight. Different last names.
Jim’s turned off football and turned on Law and Order so I’ll close. Have a nice evening and God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
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Peas 'n Greens for luck! - 1/1/2008 5:50:43 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." Philippians 3:14, 17 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 
Did you eat your Black-eyed Peas and greens for luck today? We did. Oh, we don’t really believe in such superstitions, but the meal is a southern New Year’s Day tradition and I love the foods anyhow. We had chicken left over from our Buffalo Wings and legs so used that up. We’ll have our shrimp as a snack later tonight.
I started the day off by making a big pot of homemade turkey soup. Nick ate three bowls of it for lunch. I make a good soup. I also started the peas at the same time. I had defatted when I made the stock but defatted it twice today to make sure it was as close to fat free as possible. I added the turkey, rice, potatoes, carrots, peas, corn, green beans and one chopped tomato. It looks and smells as good as it sounds.
We took Nick to the mall so he could use his gift certificates at Old Navy. He tried on the clothes and men’s pants size 30 X 32 are just a little bit long. As fast as he has been growing, we thought that was a no brainer. We had gotten size 16 jeans a month ago and they are already letting his socks show! Size 18’s are barely long enough. He got three pair of jeans and four nice shirts. The shirts were all half price and the jeans were reduced to $25.00 a pair. Nick got his long legs from his birth father. The guy was quite tall and all legs. Good looking, too. There weren’t many people at the mall.
Jon and Mary called this afternoon. They bought a 73” t.v. and invited us to come over for the Super Bowl. That’ll be fun. I’ll make Buffalo Wings again because Jon loves them. I’ll think of some other low calorie foods to take so I don’t blow my diet. I don’t have any dessert recipes for low calorie, good for you desserts that satisfy my sweet tooth. Jon turns 31 on January 7th. He’s taking the night off. He works 3 -11. His wife works 7 – 3 at the same place.
My daycare kids return tomorrow and Thursday. I never got to sleep in! I only took one nap! Oh well! Jim returns to work on Thursday. The kids don’t return to school until Monday, tho. Thursday and Friday are teacher workdays. I would expect him to be home early, unless the head coach schedules basketball practice.
Boy is it cold here and supposed to get a lot colder. Our forecast calls for wind chills near zero the next few nights. Yikes! We still have our heat set on 62°.
Nick’s friend is coming over tomorrow afternoon from 1:00 til 5:00. I’ll warm up the rec room for them with an electric heater so they don’t freeze playing the Wii. It doesn’t get terribly cold in there because that part of the house is almost totally underground. Jim’s office/ music room is above ground and has a number of windows. That room can get chilly.
Some people are moving into one of the homes up for rent on my street and Scooter jumps on the sofa in the t.v. room to watch the truck out the windows. He’s slobbered on the windows. I’m quite sure one slobber art is a picture of an angel and the other is the virgin Mary on a surf board. I’m thinking of selling the windows on Ebay. Whadda ya think?
Well, I have a load of clothes to fold and want to change the sheets. Football is boring me to death! Think I’ll put in a movie and watch it tonight while the boys watch the Sugar Bowl or whatever bowl is on.
"We have passed through one more year. One more long stage in the journey of life, with its ascents and descents and dust and mud and rocks and thorns and burdens that wear the shoulders, is done. The old year is dead. Roll it away. Let it go. God, in His providence, has brought us out of it. It is gone; . . . its evil is gone; its good remains. The evil has perished, and the good survives."
Henry Ward Beecher
Keep Warm and God Bless!
Diane Tavegia
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FRIGID night! - 1/2/2008 7:36:12 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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Ephesians 3:16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 "That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God's deep secrets."
Back to ‘work’ for me today. I had only one daycare child and she arrived two hours late. That messed up my morning, but I dealt with it. Jim offered to watch for her and her mother while I showered, but I didn’t want to overwhelm the 2 1/2 year old who doesn’t like change. The 17-month-old child returns tomorrow but the 2 ½ year old is spending the day with Grandma. Friday should be back to normal with Monday up in the air. First dental appointment for the 2 ½ year old.
Right after I posted my blog last night, the head coach called Jim to say she wants to have basketball practice the rest of this week. He thought she’d said 2:30 til 5:30 and so did a player. They both showed up and the parent called coach to find it was 3:30 til 5:30. Since the gym was locked and our wind chill is in the teens, they didn’t wait the hour but went back later.
Jim goes back to work tomorrow but Thursday and Friday are teacher workdays so no students. I’m sure he’ll enjoy the next few days since he has so many good friends at school. I do need to make sure he takes his lunch!
For supper, I made a Shrimp and Pasta in a white sauce. That’s a quick and easy meal we all love. Since it’s homemade, I can control the calories and fat content, adding a little butter, garlic and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. It was very, very good. Jim and Nick ate seconds.
I’ve been very careful with my eating lately and am keeping a food diary. I’m keeping track of what I eat or drink and how many of each type diary but not calories yet. I threw away my ‘How Many Calories’ list I’d printed out years ago. 29 pages! I can always just look them up online each day, tho. I remember many of the amounts. I use this site: CLICK
I should tell you that I’ve been able to lose a bit of the weight I gained at Thanksgiving and should be down to my pre Holiday weight in a day or so.
I’ve not yet heard when our group meeting will be for those in our church who are accepting the Weight Loss Challenge through Tanner Hospital for the community. My goal is 20 - 30 lbs. 25 would put me at our daughter in law’s weight and she’s perfect!
A lady on Freecycle had gotten a new stereo for Christmas and offered her old one. My 5 disc CD player had died right before the holidays and she gave us a very nice one! She also gave us some other things, including a VHS player. The one in our t.v. room died a few months ago and we still have many VHS tapes. We are thrilled.
Boy, oh Boy is it cold tonight! No, we did not get any snow in Villa Rica, tho there are towns in Georgia that got snow last night. Our wind chill is already down to 10° and it’s only 7:00 p.m. By morning, it’ll be near 0° wind chill. I feel so bad for those in Georgia who live in old mobile homes and heat with electric space heaters and open stoves. I have the option of cranking up my gas heat tho paying a large bill is out of the question. Many have no option. Brrr!
Nick’s friend came over and stayed from 1:00 until 5:00. They had so much fun. I saw them when they came up for snacks and another time when they came up to play on the PS2 in Nick’s room. I heard them laugh once. Will is such a lovely young man. He is a year older than Nick. He, and his siblings are also home schooled. They go to church with us. I am so thankful Nick has some good boys as good friends.
Keep Warm and God Bless!
Diane Tavegia
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Today - 1/4/2008 9:10:38 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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Psalms 16:11 "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
Thursday: I woke just after 7:00 today, got up, started my coffee and got the baby items set up for the youngest daycare child. She still requires a high chair for her meals and the Pack ‘n Play for her naps. I put those away each holiday or weekend so our home isn’t so cluttered. She’d not been here since before Christmas. She came in and was ready for a nap. She took two naps today. Mom said she had been up since 4:00 a.m. so that makes sense.
Well, I just cannot get warm! Brrrr! Our high today was only 37° and the sun was out, but the house is just much too chilly for me even with three room heaters spread around. I did realize by having a space heater near the whole house thermostat that portions of our house were falling well below a decent temperature. The thermometer in Jim’s office / music room said 56°! His space heater is quite pitiful! It doesn’t have a blower.
My mother had another dental appointment today. We’re convinced she’s allergic to a compound they’ve used in her mouth. She’s had horrible complaints since the dentist did some follow up work a few months ago. She’s healing from a bone graft and sinus lift and this bout of blisters, pain and redness keeps her from eating well. The dentist is supposed to check her out and remove that compound today. Mother is 75 and quite thin. She really needs to eat!
Jim returned to work today. After lunch, they were going to watch a movie. I believe he said it was ‘Finding Forrester’ with Sean Connery. After school, the girl’s basketball team is having a scrimmage with the high school team. Several of the players have big sisters who play on that team. I’m sure they’ll have fun.
Friday: Jim got home last night and needed to do some schoolwork. He’d left his laptop at the middle school so he used mine. He also had a bi-weekly phone call from his college mentor and they use the computer during that call.
I finally got to talk to my mother late last night. She’d gone to the dentist to have her dental work changed. He removed the old rubber material and convinced her to let him try another. All seemed well until she was almost home. She had to pull off the highway and buy Benadryl. Her lips and tongue had quickly swelled up and her mouth was on fire. She called the dentist, went back and he removed that material. She felt a bit better this morning but was going to see her internist this afternoon. I’ll call her soon. She’s in a different time zone than us. I’ve suggested she see her allergist for testing before she has the rest of her dental surgery. They’ll be putting metal in her mouth and she’s allergic to some metals. She began to have multiple chemical sensitivities many years ago when she and my step father moved into a new home. She’s recently moved into a home she had built and she’s been reacting more and more to chemicals, smells, and other things in a normal environment. I sure hope the allergist can help her! She’ll have to stop taking a heart medication first. The medication she takes for a benign heartbeat cannot be taken while she’s given allergy shots.
I had both daycare girls today. Both were gone by 6:00. The youngest one got irritable just before Dad arrived. I think she is overly tired but Dad said she’s cutting an eye tooth and she’d cried during the night. She is generally so happy and easy going. When she fusses, I know something is going on.
I don’t have either girls on Monday. One Dad has off and the 2 ½ year old is going to the dentist. Her grandmother has that day off and wants to go with them. She’ll take Hailee home with her.
Nick went to his friend’s house for the afternoon. Jim only worked until 11:30 but had to go back for basketball practice. He took Nick over and then picked him up tonight. Nick really had a great time. He enjoys being with the boy and his sister. They’re 13 and 14 and are home schooled, also. They have a younger brother. I’ve taught them all at church at one time or another.
We decorate our whole house for Christmas. Today I picked up figurines and knick-knacks in the bathrooms, the stairway, the hallway, the television room and the rec room. I needed to dust and vacuum and that makes it easier. I enjoy the decorations and we leave up our trees until mid January but the small things come down earlier. The Christmas Village my sister in law made us about 20 years ago, the snowmen, Santa figurines, reindeer and nativity will stay in place in our living room until I take the trees down. I think the Christmas season should last as long AFTER Christmas as it does before. Seems to me we celebrate just til we ‘get stuff’ and then it’s over.
Tonight was frozen pizza for supper. We’d eaten leftovers last night. It was good for frozen.
Talked to my mother and she saw the internist. She’s wearing a monitor for 24 hours.
Well, there are a few good shows on tonight and I’m quite sleepy. Keep Warm and God Bless!
Diane Tavegia
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I'm so lazy! - 1/6/2008 7:51:53 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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Well I have been quite lazy the last two days. I took naps both days, too.
We had a really small turnout in Sunday School. Jim had to throw out a lot of pancake batter and we hate to be wasteful. Oh well, it couldn’t be helped. The kids who usually eat a lot were not there.
I’d put a pork roast in my slow cooker at 7:00 this morning so we had a nice lunch waiting when we got home from church. I felt like I missed church. A message went up on our screens that two workers were needed in the nursery. I went back and so did a friend and a lovely pre-teen. We had one class of the four year olds and there were three or four very wild children out of the 9 or 10 kids. I had never worked with any of these kids. It was not fun.
Our weather has been quite lovely. We had a high of 66°. Tomorrow is supposed to be a little warmer. The sun was out, too. I’ll bring in our outdoor decorations tomorrow while it’s warm.
Tomorrow, Jan. 7th, is our middle son’s 31st birthday. He took that night off. Our grandson, Jackson, turns 5 next week. I can’t decide what to send him for his birthday. Living so far away, it’s hard to know what they like from week to week.
I really want to go see the movie ‘The Orphanage’. I never go to the movie. I’ve seen a few of the Johnny Depp movies and some kid movies, but not much else in 13 years.
My poor mother is not getting better. She’s to see her dental surgeon on Thursday and I researched and found the dental college also has a section for treatment and diagnosis of diseases, infections of the mouth. She’s going to try and see an oral pathologist while she’s in Birmingham. Originally she was to see them tomorrow and would have been in Birmingham by today. We were going to ride over to visit with her. Her appointment was changed to midweek and the dental college is 140 miles from us, one way. That’s too far for a mid week visit. She’ll go back again in February so maybe we can go over then.
Jim’s working on a college paper. He submitted an outline for his final exam essay and has been waiting a very long time for it to be graded and released. His final essay is due in 8 days. This is a bit aggravating. His mentor said they’re aware of the problem with ‘graders’ being so slow and are working on it.
I’m so very upset about the hiker who is missing from a state park north of us. The man found with her bloody shirts, blood in his van, her wallet, credit card and license is also a possible suspect in the killing of a husband and wife hikers (age 84) in North Carolina. The body of the wife was found but the husband’s body has never been found. There’s also a missing college boy who’d left a college bar to walk home near where this suspect lived in his van. That boy has been missing a few months. The poor hiker has been missing since New Year’s Day and I’ve prayed and prayed she’d be found alive. The FBI is saying there is almost no chance she’s alive, based on the amount of blood found on her three shirts. My heart aches for her parents, boyfriend and good friends who’ve been up day and night awaiting news.
Our daughter called today. She works nights and grabs sleep whenever she can. We talked for two hours. Her girls have been back to school since Wednesday.
My favorite television shows are new episodes starting this week. That’s neat. Television is my only form of entertainment. I do not enjoy the internet and start a book, only to be interrupted. I used to read a novel every few days. Now I read one a year.
I'm still writing down everything I eat so I am aware of any snack attacks. I did eat some yogurt tonight, low-fat. I'm not counting calories yet. I felt I needed to start slowly so this isn't such an overwhelming task. I've lost a little weight but won't post every pound. I'm boring enough as it is!
Well, I have a sinus headache and am ready for a soda. Think I’ll grab a Pepsi and some Sudaphed. Have a lovely week!
Diane Tavegia
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My 'day off' - 1/7/2008 5:36:19 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. 3 John 1:2-4 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. 3 To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory. 
I slept in today! Jim had to be up a little after 7:00 so I did get up and put the dog outside. I decided not to keep the car since I had no money to shop. I went right back to sleep and dozed until 9:30! I’ve not done that in a very long time. It felt good, tho.
It’s quite warm today so I took down our outside Christmas decorations. It’s an easy job and I enjoyed being outside without a jacket. In fact, I didn’t even need a sweater! It’s going to stay warmer for a while but rain is going to move in sometime tomorrow.
I accomplish so much in the house on the weekdays when I don’t have the daycare children and Jim is at work. There just seems to be so much more time in the day for chores. It’s also a lot quieter without all the music, chatter and noisy toys.
My dieting: Well, today I wrote down the calorie count of what I was eating because I found myself back eating yogurt late last night and drinking lots of soda. Sunday, I stopped myself just before joining Jim in a late night bowl of cereal! I need to be more aware of my wasted calories and work on self-control when it comes to snacking.
Basketball practice is early for the next two weeks so Jim will get home each night around 6:00. The regular season ends on Jan. 19th with playoffs the next week. I know Jim will enjoy the short break before baseball try-outs and practice begin.
Today is our middle son’s 31st birthday. We talked for a few hours last night. He has enjoyed his long weekend off and doesn’t go back to work until Tuesday afternoon.
There’s more news about the missing hiker. The man charged with kidnapping her and suspected in her death is now being looked at for other missing people in this area. A woman’s body was found not long ago after being missing for 20 months. She’d disappeared from the beauty shop she owned. Her body was found behind a church, near where the bloody shirts were found in the hiker case. Another young woman disappeared from a dog park on Dec. 29th. There are at least 6 people who are still missing or have been found beaten to death that may be linked to this monster. This man is now suspected of being a serial killer. He is 61 and you have to wonder how many unsolved and senseless murders are ‘his’. I wish he would talk and admit to any killings so the families can have closure. It’s so very, very sad.
Diane Tavegia
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Tuesday and Wednesday - 1/9/2008 7:27:46 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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Psalm 147:16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
2 Corinthians 2:14 "But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume."
Tuesday: I didn’t sleep well last night. I woke several times and had many bad dreams. I’m sure it was because of the news right before bed and a show I’d watched. My heart is just broken for the families who’ve lost loved ones to the man who killed and decapitated the young hiker. I cannot begin to imagine the horror she endured the three days he kept her hostage or what her family is going through. He’s now being eyed in the Levi Frady (Levi’s call) murder, as well as a number of other deaths. I wish he’d confess to all the murders he’s committed and tell where the bodies are so the other families can have closure and bury their loved ones.
We’re having lovely weather. Rain did not move in yet and we’ve had sun and clouds. It’s quite warm. Our high was low 60°’s. Our low last night was 48°. Perfect! I’d enjoy this type weather year round, if I can’t have snow.
I had both daycare girls today. Things are back to normal here. I don’t get as much done in our home when I have the girls. Because of their tender age, they need constant supervision and care. Thankfully, I have potty trained the older girl. That’s less lifting for me.
Jim’s got early basketball practice this week and possibly next. The season ends very soon with one playoff game the next week. There’s going to be a baseball team meeting next week but practice won’t start for several weeks.
Wednesday: It stormed for a while last night, starting around midnight. The storm woke me and I heard a child crying or calling out. The noise woke our dog, too. I took him out for a quick walk, in the rain, and saw the family who live one house over and across from us was out on their front porch with their four-year-old running around and playing. It must have been him.
I woke again at 5:00, thinking the clock said 7:00 and got up. As soon as I saw the real time, I went back to bed and slept until just before 7:00. The day has seemed to drag past.
My weight loss challenge group will meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 at our church. Over 20 church members of all ages, both men and women, have signed up. I was surprised to hear they’ll weigh and measure each of us. I’m not at all happy about that! I don’t want to know how big my backside is! I hope they don’t tell each person’s numbers. I’m sure that would discourage many of us. I’m quite sure they won’t. Probably will report inches lost but not beginning or ending inches.
My daycare day ran a bit late. Jim got Nick to church on time, tho. We’re both pretty tired tonight. Think I’ll go to bed a bit earlier than usual. Have a nice evening and God Bless.
Diane Tavegia
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Went to the movie tonight - 1/12/2008 10:22:30 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 James 4:17 "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." John 5:30 "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." Proverbs 4:25-26 "Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe."
What have you been up to? Me? Well…
Friday was Friday with both daycare girls a bit hyper and certainly very loud. Jim had not slept well on Thursday night so I was quite tired all day. We both slept really well Friday night, tho.
Jim had a basketball game Saturday morning and they WON! Wow! He got home about 1:00 and had a quick lunch.
Right after Jim got in, we went over to Jon and Mary’s house to see their new 73” television and take them an Elac Surround Sound System we’d had a few years. Jim used to rep for that company so we had gotten the system for less than 1/3rd of the price stores pay. The t.v. is HUGE and has a great picture! That was the FIRST TIME I'd been out of the house since last Sunday! Yep!
We played with Jon’s puppy. I have the scars to prove it. His nails are sharp as pins and his teeth are too. Dare I tell you? He got a Blue Pit Bull. I know, I know. The puppy is 9 weeks and very loving but very playful, too. He wants me to hold him or pet him but he’ll try to climb up on me and he cut up my hands quite a bit with his toenails. Anyhow, we stayed til after 4:00.
We went to see ‘The Orphanage’ tonight. What a disappointment! All the reviews fail to tell you it’s in English sub-titles. All the reviews claim it’s very scary. Nope. Not at all. There’s one scene that startled me, but it wasn’t a ghost type scene but a street scene. Don’t get me wrong. It was an okay movie, but I expected to be frightened. Sixth Sense is better. Signs, The Village, Sleepy Hollow, Unbreakable are all more scary. I didn’t guess what had happened or the ending, tho. The only cussing is at the end when the father says two cuss words, which you get to read in big white words across the bottom of the screen. We get senior citizen prices so only paid $8.00 each. Still, I was quite disappointed.
It’s turned off quite chilly again and my Broan Big Heat has a bad switch or something. It won’t turn on high heat. We’ve used it for about 14 – 15 years. Jim will take it apart and fix it for me, if he can find what he needs locally. New ones cost $39.95, but there’s no local distributors and shipping is a killer. No other bookcase heater gets as hot or blows as hard as these. I have three electric heaters and only this one truly warms the rooms. Drat! I may have to raise the thermostat and worry about the bill when it arrives.
So, are you registered to vote in the presidential primary? Ours is February 5th. We’re quite excited about Mike Huckabee. The choices this time are quite pitiful. If Mike were not running, I would vote for Fred Thompson. If someone else is chosen, I may not vote for the first time in my adult life.
Isn’t the news just filled with horrible stories lately? The serial killer near us who went so far as to chop up people. The father who threw his four children off the bridge by my mother’s new house after a fight with his wife. The mother in DC who killed her four kids. The stabbed mother and four kids in the burned house, Daddy is charged. The baby brutally killed because the father wanted a boy. The pregnant Marine whose burned body was found (baby intact) in the backyard of the man who’d raped her. Horrible stories. Come Quickly, Lord Jesus.
So, Jim’s watching sports and Nick’s playing Resident Evil on the Wii. He’s completed the game once already. Scooter’s asleep on the sofa and Patches comes and goes, trying to bug the dog. Me? Not doing a thing. Our virus scan has started so everything is now so slow.....
Have a nice Sunday and God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
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Restful Sunday here - 1/13/2008 8:45:41 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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 1 Kings 19:11-12 "Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." Ephesians 4:14: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” 
Did you have a restful Sunday? I woke at 7:00, went ahead, and got up. It takes me a while to curl my hair. The new curling iron I got for a bargain price right after Christmas was not much of a bargain. It takes forever to warm up and never gets very hot. I have a lot of hair, tho it’s as fine as a child’s hair. To shower and be all dolled up by 8:45, I need to be up earlier than I’d like.
We’d stayed up way too late last night. If all I get to watch on television is football or baseball, I tend to stay awake to watch t.v. after sports is off. That’s what I did last night. It was after midnight when we went to bed.
We got to church just after 9:00 and started breakfast for the youth. Jim stopped cooking around 9:55 and began clearing up. About 10:10, a big group came in and wanted pancakes. He made up more mix and cooked for them. We’re getting later and later getting into the Sunday School rooms. Here’s a big concern, beginning in a few weeks, we plan to go to one service, with Sunday School starting at 9:00 instead of 9:45 and service starting at 10:15. I don’t get it. I can understand the need for only one service, but so many people already arrive quite late to Sunday School that I’m afraid we’ll have less people come at all.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:31 
After lunch, I took a two-hour nap. I’d put in ‘The Village’ and saw only the opening scenes before falling asleep. I slept hard and had troubling dreams. I know why I had the bad dreams. I’d talked with my mother for a while and she’d brought up all the ‘what ifs’ and ‘one day’ type things I might face someday. I don’t think on those things, nor do I worry about those things. God is in control and has not failed me yet.
Jim worked on my Broan Big Heat today. It needs a new switch. It’s a special switch so we’ll have to order the part. He sent an email asking for pricing. I’m sure I’ll hear back tomorrow. We can use the heater on low heat. There’s low and high heat and then a fan only setting. It’s the high heat setting that no longer works. It’s going to be quite cold and very windy this week. I hope I can keep warm enough with extra clothing and the less effective heaters. I sure can’t afford to turn the gas heat up!
One of our grandchildren has a birthday on Tuesday. I have no idea what to send him. We’ve not seen him in a couple of years. I talked to him a few months ago. He’s at that stage where interests change quickly so I don’t want to assume Thomas the Tank Engine will still be the big hit it was last year. I’ve searched and searched the online toy stores and just can’t find anything I think will be okay. Many things are out of stock. I’d like to get him a DVD from Lifeway, but they are out of the series I’d like to send. There’s a Lifeway in Douglasville. Maybe we can get over there tomorrow and get it mailed.
I’ll only have one daycare child on Monday. She’s usually a bit tired on Monday after a busy weekend visiting relatives and playing with mom and dad. I need to begin taking down my Christmas decorations. I’m not excited about it because the boxes and bins are in the storage room at the front of our garage. It’s cold out there and the boxes are large. I may just get up the smaller things and wait until it’s a bit warmer next weekend to take down the three trees.
Next week I think I’ll not have any kids on Monday. That’s a school holiday, too. Jim will have the day off. He has a term paper to do this week. He’s getting quite a bit ahead in his studies and hopes to being a few new classes a month or so early. I’m very, very proud of him.
Well, I’m going to watch some television and enjoy the evening. Keep warm and God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
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Snow in the forecast - 1/14/2008 8:41:23 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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I Believe
by Norma Stephenson
I believe in the old rugged cross,
I believe there my sins were all lost,
I believe Jesus lives,
I believe Jesus died,
I believe that He rose from the dead.
I believe He lives by His Father's side,
and His Spirit lives in me.
I believe from an old rugged cross
Comes a call to every heart
I believe Jesus died
I believe Jesus lives
I believe that He's coming again
I believe He lives by His Father's side
And His Spirit lives in me.
I believe on an old rugged cross
Jesus paid for my sin.
I believe He lives by His Father's side
and His Spirit lives in me.
Yes, His Spirit lives in me.
"We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2
Brrr…. It’s chilly today but it’s going to get a lot colder with a chance of sleet or snow on Wednesday and Thursday nights. If it snows in Georgia, it happens overnight so we never see it. I promise you, if I ever win the lottery, I’m outta here! Heading north!
I only had one daycare child today, as expected. She was quite content to play alone, color and watch movies. I was able to get all my laundry washed, dried, folded and put away. I really need to bring up the boxes and put away our Christmas things. They just look so pretty and bring us joy. Another few days….
Tuesday night is the first meeting of the group from my church who’ve accepted the weight loss challenge. I’m only aware of one specific person who has joined but was told by the organizer that there are over 20 people of all ages, both men and women, who have joined. I really hope I can be successful at this without feeling deprived. I don’t mind cutting back drastically on my sodas, but I don’t like water, can’t tolerate drinking water even with flavorings, etc. That’s my one vice.
Jim has to work on his final paper for two reasoning and critical thinking classes he had to take. One class is completed and this last class only needs this final paper. The outline is done already. He has only got one assignment left in his Social Science class. It’s U.S. government, geometry and U.S. History class. He has until March 15th to complete it but wants to get that done and begin his literature courses and a final assessment test for S/S that is required next term, March 15th thru Sept. 15. The faster he completes each course, the sooner he can teach. Once those two are completed, all his courses will be ‘how to teach’ type courses. His literature and math classes taken at Ottawa Baptist University do not transfer toward his teacher’s certificate because the school he chose, Western Governors University, insists that all class work toward your major must be through their school.
Jim had his bi-weekly phone call from his mentor tonight. It lasts almost an hour. We leave the room and take the dog and cat down the hall so he can talk without being distracted. As soon as he finished the call, he went down to his office/ music room to work on his paper. I really am quite proud of him. I could never apply myself to college courses at my age and he’s almost four years older.
Have a lovely evening and God Bless,
Diane Tavegia
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Employee of the month and weight challenge - 1/15/2008 9:43:07 PM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 2032
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
Status: offline
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Ephesians 6:18-20 "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains ; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Tuesday. My first ‘weigh in’ and weight loss challenge meeting is tonight. I’ve felt quite negative about this for a few days. I’m sure it’s because I feel deprived or mistreated because I won’t be able to eat junk food all evening or drink soda constantly. I WANT to lose the weight, tho. I think it’s hard for me to get my mind into this because I was underweight for the first 30 plus years of my life, a perfect weight for almost 20 years and then I gained. At 150 lbs, I weigh 61 lbs more than when we married! By age 36, I had reached 120 lbs. Even at 137 lbs, at age 45, I looked okay. It’s those pounds gained in the last 12 years that are a killer. I crept up pretty slowly and now want to lose it overnight, without denying myself my all night snacking. 8:00 til 11:00 are the worst hours for me.
Our weather is supposed to be quite snowy on Wednesday and Thursday. I really hope so! I’m quite excited about the possibility.
** I’m home from my meeting. I’m quite overwhelmed. I was told that for my age, my weight isn’t really that bad but my problem is the fat percentage. My BMI is 27 but they used some light that shines on upper arms (think flab in my case) and I’ve got too much fat instead of muscle. I’m about 2-4% above fair to average. I need to lose about 8% body fat to be in the good range. Ack! I’ve lost my appetite! Oh. My weight is less than I thought. My scale reads a f | | |
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