BEAUTY SLEEP

Today we will be FIGHTING THE FRUMP IN OUR SLEEP:

We all need our beauty sleep. I know, I know we have kids, husband, dogs, laundry things that stop that from happening.

But without it the following might happen:

memory loss (Check)

Weakened immune system (Not so much right know. Where is some wood to knock on)

ADHD or Attention deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – OMGoodness I have this, my Doctor actually says I have this. (Lisa be quiet) Never thought it could be associated with not enough sleep!

Some ways to help us sleep better when we finally make it to bed could be the following:

Exercise every day: Even 20 minutes of walking can help keep stress hormones from interfering with your sleep. (Ok I have been running (yeah me) for the past week and I can actually tell a difference in my sleepy time)

Minimize light, noise and temperature extremes:

Temperature:

Your bedroom should be comfortably cool, about 68 degrees. Not a steaming sauna.

Light:

I also chose to paint my room chocolate brown. It feels more like a cave and I can sleep a little better. So if the lights are off how does the paint help you may ask? I don’t know it just does, no really its like this. (clears throat) Light colors reflect light, therefore the lighter the colors in the room the more light it reflects even at night. (eg: alarm clock lights, night light from down the hall) Dark colors absorb the light hence a darker room. (It was also a good excuse to get the room painted the color I wanted. Husband does not like dark colors, but I have managed to get them through the majority of the house. But that’s another post)

Noise:

Lets talk about this for a minute. This is my biggest problem. For example the other night, I finally got LL out of my bed. (Don't be saying anything just because he was still sleeping with us) So I thought finally a night with out being kicked in the head. So I lie down, and then get back up to go tuck LL in again. Then I lie down and realize that I forgot to turn the humidifier on. So I think it will be ok this one time. Boy was I wrong. Big Logan snored so badly last night, and he added a new one to the mix he did some kind of snore that sounded like a car horn. I was in the middle of a dream that a car alarm was going off, only to wake up and realize it was him! So I hit him, told him to turn over and tried to go back to sleep, he immediately starts snoring again. You see the humidifier is this wonderful thing in my life that was missing last night. It helps Big Logan not snore. It also gives off this wonderful white noise that lulls you into a deeper sleep.

(Update: last night turned the humidifier on and slept much better.

There was alot less snoring going on)

Get some good sheets:

Go find you some 600-thread count or higher bed sheets. You can find them at Marshalls and TJ Maxx for cheap. I used to would never spend money on something like this, until I slept on some and I was instantly in love. Go get some right now. You will not regret it.

So Bottom Line is:

Get some exercise

Go Paint your room a dark color or minimize the light in there somehow

Get a humidifier if your husband snores or I guess ear plugs might do.

Get some good sheets.

Let me know how you get your beauty sleep or lack of.

That is all for now.

ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!!

ATTENTION EVERYONE!!


My sister finally updated her post, I mean since like January. She did blog one time in this month but I don't think it really counts, because it well just go read it and you will see.


Anyway go show her some love especially since she blogged about me being a blog nazi. Can you believe that. She is listed as Monkey Toes on my sidebar under Go Here.

Leave her a bunch of comments.

CALGON TAKE ME AWAY

Its cold and I am getting a little sick of it. I am still waiting for the beach.

Please, please will someone take me there? I will ride in the trunk if I need to. OK maybe not the trunk I don’t want to smell like gas fumes. How about, I will give you some gas money. I will even chip in on the groceries; you won’t even know I am there. I just want to go lay on the beach in the nice warm sun, and not be disturbed. Valarie get a hold of yourself begging is not very becoming.

Change of plans I just went and checked the weather for Gulf Shores and surrounding beaches, and its gonna be cold there too.

Awww dagdumit! Guess I am not goin anytime soon.

Lets just look at pictures and dream of the beach instead shall we.

Sydie & Chase (he is my great nephew)

Chase trying to roll his pants down

Chase trying to get the sand off his hands

Sydie pouting because I made her go back up to the condo and get the batteries that she had swiped out of my camera

Jessie captured by the sunset

Now notice that Juvenile Delinquent LL is not in any of these pictures. He did not want to come down. I think he was up in the room having a party while his Daddy took a nap.

JESSIE

Lets see, we have talked about Syd on here and I have definitely talked about Logan. So today we are going to talk about Jessie May. (that’s one of the many nicknames I have for her)

Well let’s see it all started about 17 years ago. God gave me this precious little girl. She was the only girl in the nursery at the time and they just loved it. The nurses put bows in her hair, she was so cute.

Here we are bringing her home.

----Lawsy Mercy have we come along way in hair fashion or what. Would you just look at that big hair, and look at Logan rockin that mullet. Business in the front Party in the back. You know thats how we do it in the South. ----

She has always been a light in our family. She was born about 12 years after the last grandchild, and lets see about 17 years since the last girl was born (I think, if I am wrong someone in my family please let me know) on my side of the family. She was the first grandbaby/great grandbaby born since Logan’s cousin Stacy. Needless to say she was and is spoiled rotten. Why my brother-in-law Shane said he didn’t think her feet touched the ground until she was a year old. She brought a lot of people together that little one did.

I can remember thinking what am I gonna tell her when she gets older. (Sorry I have to stop here for a minute to cry). Ok, I’m back. Well one day God told me what to tell her. He said Valarie what you and Logan did may have been a mistake, but I do not make mistakes and I made her. I can’t tell you how much better I felt.

Words cannot describe the way I feel about my kids, I would do anything for them. There is something different and unique about each of them. Jessie is my first and she has brought more joy into my life than she will ever know. (Sorry crying again, can’t see the computer screen)

It is just so hard to believe that we have come so far. She is getting close to taking that next big step in her life and she will be graduating in May. I know I have talked about that some, but y’all I just can’t believe that my baby, my first born is about to go out into the big world. I want her to finish her college and get the career she wants. I want her to get married and have babies. (Just wait till after school and career) I am so proud of her and so scared at the same time. Have I taught her enough, is she ready for the big world out there? (Crying again) I just pray that she will make good smart decisions and that she has listened to some of the things I have said over the years. I also hope she only remembers the smart things I have said not any of the stupid things. Not that I have every said anything stupid, but just in case. :)

Here is my Senior Picture with my little prop.

---------Goodness at the hair, could I have gotten it any bigger! And did I have some fat cheeks or what!----------


And here she is about to graduate.

Ahhhh, It just seems like yesterday that I was screaming in pain asking for a C-Section, slapping Logan with a wash rag, and telling my Mama to be quiet that I did not want to breathe or find a focal point. Oh the memories. :)'

THOUGHT PROVOKING TUESDAY

Her Secret
By Amy Carroll

“Be joyful always; pray continually...” I Thessalonians5:16-17 (NIV)

Devotion:

There's a woman who works at my local grocery store that just makes my day. She is ALWAYS positive and cheerful. I’m sure it isn't easy working with the public and spending long hours on her feet, so today I asked her for her secret. "My secret for bagging?" she asked in surprise.

"No," I explained. "I want to know your secret for staying so positive." She just gave a big smile and explained that God is her secret. She followed by telling me that she had to be at work at 6:00 am today, so she’d gotten up at 3:30 am to spend time with Him.

Tears filled my eyes as I thought of this precious sister in the Lord rising in the dark to spend time with the Lord so that she could minister to all the people that will pass her at the cash register today. She shares her enthusiasm, energy and smile equally with each customer. She is a beautiful woman, but she doesn't have the advantage of youth that many of her co-workers have. This woman had gotten up in the middle of the night, spent time with Jesus, and worked an 8 hour shift. She said that it isn't always easy. "By the 40th hour of my work-week, I'm very tired," she said. "But He is my secret."

R.A. Torrey once said: "The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came...Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory."

Lucia, the checker at the grocery store, is living proof of this quote. She prepares herself with prayer for the battle of each day. She's an ordinary woman just like me, but she has taken the ordinary and made it beautiful beyond measure.

I'm a "doer", and prayer does not come easily for me. I want to start attacking my checklist about the time I open my eyes in the morning. Lucia reminds me, though, of this truth. Prayer isn't preparation for the work. It IS the work. One tool that has helped me tremendously is a prayer journal. Writing out my prayers helps me to focus and not get distracted so easily. It is also a wonderful record when I want to look back and remind myself of what the Lord has done and how He has answered prayer.

Like you, I’ve got several battles that I’m facing. I needed Lucia to remind me today that time with God is invaluable.

Dear Lord, I want to be ready for the challenges of each day. Help me to remember that nothing prepares me like time spent with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Intimacy with God: Your Daily Guide to Prayer by Tara Furman

His Princess, Prayers to my King by Sheri Rose Shepherd

A Busy Woman’s Guide to Prayer by Cheri Fuller

Do You Know Jesus?

Application Steps:
Set a time aside to pray each morning. Make it a “standing appointment” with Jesus before your day starts.

Pray without ceasing. Talk to God all day long. Praise Him, cry out for help or tell Him that you love Him. He is there!

Reflections:
How am I different on the days that I pray?

How does God use prayer to prepare me for the battle?

Power Verses:
I Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (NIV)

Luke 18:1, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (NIV)


Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
http://www.proverbs31.org/

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Lord this is Valarie speaking. I really need help in this area. Please help me to remember to spend time with you first. We get so busy when we first get up that sometimes we forget to go to you and ask for guidence for our day. Lord help me to do better.

BACK TO THE CREEK

Here we go, it’s Sunday and we are going to the creek. Syd, Jess, Taylor, and I went for a little outing down in the pasture today.

They did the usual

climb in the tree

get stuck in the tree

leave there mother in the middle of the pasture !

Girls I mean it you better get back here!

Yeah, I’m yelling what’cha gonna do about it?

Ok so now we are gonna cross the creek, or maybe not it was still up becasue of the rain. I don't know maybe we can still go across. Hmmmmmm

Syd go on out there and see how deep it is.

Roll your britches legs up and get on out there.

Ok just go out there in your shorts.

ahhhhh my eyes, I'm blinded. Syd you need to get some sun on those legs of yours. :)

Syd your gonna have to get farther out there if we are gonna find out if we can cross our not.

She chickened out.

Oh yeah, I will go out there, but I'm goin in over here, and Taylor your coming with me. (Jess is smart she stays on the 4-wheeler) Come on we will do this together.

SNAKE!!!!!!!!!!

HA! HA! That’s what y’all get for leaving your mother.

CHOSEN

We have this wonderful group of kids that my friend MB and I help with at Church. Its an expressive worship group and our name is “Chosen”.

Our expressive worship is a mix of sign language and “expressive movement” (or dance, but we don’t say that because we are Baptist and we don’t dance)

It mainly consists of girls, but we are now up to two guys, and they do a really good job.

God has used these kids in such a big way, and they don’t even realize it. They touch so many people not only with there movements, but there dedication to doing this.

Needless to say we are very proud of them.

This is when we performed this summer and it came this awful rain storm. We got caught on stage practicing and had to run to our cars, which were like a football field away.

Performing "Set Me Free" by Casting Crowns later that same day.

This is when we performed "WE" by Joy Williams at D-Now this past weekend.

I wish I had some good video of us to show you. :( Maybe one day I will take one.

My personal favortite right now is "Amazing Grace" by Chris Tomlin. They did that one too at D-Now and I just cried and cried. I have seen them do it so many times, but when they get up there and God starts moving, Oh my goodness, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

OPRAH IS COPYING FUSSY!!!

Don't be a Shlumpadinka Frumpadinka. Giving up the Frump!

You know every now and then I have to agree with Oprah.

I really like the word she uses here and I think I am gonna change the whole word borrow it from her.

I think today I will talk about, hmmm what will I talk about?

Shoes yes let’s talk about shoes.

(I want these!)

By the way if you don’t like what I say remember this is only my opinion and do not hate me for it.


Ahhh, I just love shoes. I think I am getting close to that Imelda Marcos woman. (Nah, not really, ok maybe)

Lets first talk about heels. Now this can be an area of controversy. Some people can’t wear them and some people just wont. Now I, at one time would not wear them. I thought I didn't know how, and I thought it was just for businesswomen and going to church. Boy was I wrong. I found out that I really, really like heels. I am almost addicted to them. If you get a really good heel(and they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg) they can be very comfortable. Also they elongate your legs. They also get short people like me almost eye level with the normal people around me.

(There are some people that I know who do not realize how really short I am until I take my heels off)

So if it’s just that you don’t want to wear them, go for it and try it for a while. I triple dog dare you. (Now you have to go and try them :}) Go visit my friend “Clarence” and you can find some pretty good deals at the dept stores. Then take them home and practice walking in them around the house. (Your husband might even like it. If you don't have a husband you just might get one.)

If it’s that you just can’t physically wear them because you have like a balance problem or really weak ankles or something like that, I am really sorry. Maybe go with a shorter heel that has a wider base.

I really have to say something right here though. Please don’t wear shoes that are meant for someone like 100 years older than you. There are cute lower heeled shoes out there for you that are really cute.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR NOT A PILGRIM!!!!!

It did not look good on them and it does not look good on anyone now!
(Sorry if you have these, but you need to know)

These are cute :)

And so are these!

My three favorite places to find good deals on shoes are Payless (which by the way is having BOGO as we speak), Target, and Belks when they put there shoes on “Clarence” and then put another like 50% off of them. Now there is another place I like to browse. I haven't bought anything from there, but they have shoes from cheap to steep. Its Piperlime.com . There is no excuse in not finding or having decent shoes.

If your shoes are worn out, please retire them. If they can be fixed, fix them. You can take them and have the heels redone, and it does not cost that much. Also if you have a pair of black shoes that the toe is a little scuffed, (I said a little people, not alot scuffed, thank you Jessica), use a black sharpie marker and just color it in.

Also in the summer if you are going to wear sandals please make sure they are in decent shape. And please, please make sure that you have a good pedicure.

You don't have to go get one done, you can do this yourself and you will feel better for doing it. If you wear flip-flop's alot get new ones if you need to. You can get plan, solid colored flip-flop's in all sorts of colors at Old-Navy for like 3.50. Just don't wear them if your visiting the President, you will get scolded by the press and probably Mr. Blackwell.

There is no excuse for not having decent shoes. I remember my sister Lisa telling me one time a long, long, long, long time ago (well maybe she didn't tell me I think I was eavesdropping) that she would decide if she liked a guy by his shoes. (it was something like that) Point is (whether she really said this or not) your shoes and appearance say alot about who you are. If you take care of your shoes, you probably take care of yourself. If you take care of yourself, you feel better and then you take better care of your family and those around your. See its a cycle that starts with shoes.

I know it sounds crazy, but its true. Believe me on this one.

Now go forth and get some shoes and a pedicure.

L.L.

If you look up the definition of the word delinquent, this is what you would see beside it.

My sweet little, precious boy. :(

My baby, my youngest, has been getting in trouble with the principals office lately. I am paying for my husbands raising. Because I did not get in trouble when I was little. (Lisa, Deta, and Robin don't say a word. Y'all know I was the sweetest little thing) Let me just tell you what the little booger did today.



They received their progress reports yesterday, and L.L.'s was pretty good. He is struggling in math just a bit, but other than that it was pretty good. Well this morning I get this phone call:



VP: Hi, Valarie, this is Mrs. Mac



ME: Oh no what did he do now



VP: (laughter) Well did you see his progress report last night.



ME: Well I did not see it, but his Daddy did and he was telling me about it.



VP: Well it was a pretty good progress report, nothing really bad.



ME: Yes, I agree, he is struggling in math we need to work on that.



VP: Well thats not the reason I'm calling. You see he signed his Daddy's name to the progress report. Then when I said now Logan are you telling me the truth he said, "Oh yeah, my daddy didn't sign it my Granddaddy did." So I told him we need to call his Granddaddy. His response was no you can't call him he doesn't have a phone.




I am speechless at this point. I just don't even know what to say anymore.



And Y'all need to stop laughing because it's not funny. If he is pulling stuff like this now, what am I gonna do when he becomes a teenager.

Guess What!

Guess what time of year it is???????

We, (Jessie's team) had their Red, White scrimmage game Tuesday night. It was great being back at the field, but I just have one problem. It was way to cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(This is Syd and her BF, Jess A/K/A Two peas in a pod)

You see I have this really weird thing that happens when I get the slightest bit cold. The tips of my fingers go white. Now not just, oh my hands are cold kinda white, more like there is no blood flowing to them. Its not on all my fingers either its only like maybe the tip of one. It happens to my toes too. I know I'm weird. I think they call it Raynaud's phenomenon or something like that. I diagnosed it myself off the internet. So I really hope thats all it is. :)'

Anyway the point to this post is that Softball is back. :) So for the next oh 8-9 months or so, we will be doing softball.

This is where the infield goes to the pitchers mound and say something like this.

"Big D no E everybody touch yo knee"

And this is my Jessie playing 3rd, she looks like she is having fun doesn't she.

This is our cousin Tiff, pitching

(thats Jessie standing there freezing)

This is my niece Courtney a/k/a Sparky catching

(she is so good she can catch with her eyes closed)

(Two peas again)

We have a tournament this weekend. I'm just so ready to sit in the freezing cold, in my zero degree sleeping bag, and my case of pocket warming things. Thank goodness my brother says he bought a new portable propane tank for us to all huddle around.

Y'all, I am really sad about all of this though. :( It's Jessie's last year of playing softball. She is graduating this year and she's not going to play in college. So this will be a bittersweet year. So plan on getting lots and lots of post about softball in the upcoming months.