It's all I could think of...

Hi there,

Just finished week 2 and it's hard to believe it's already been that long. I haven't had any withdrawls and I honestly could care less that I don't have facebook at my fingertips. I made another decision that I will not be putting Facebook back on my phone after this month (your welcome Mrs. Betts ;)), and that the computer will stay away until the kids are either in bed or it's a rainy day.

This past weekend we went to Maine for a weekend away, and we went as long as we could in the van to turn on the movie. But once little Miss Katya started screaming I took the easy way out and put on a movie. But the kids knew they could only watch it once, the boys understood this well since they are older but Katya has no idea what I am talking about. So she watched her movie and then we sang as many nursery rhymes that I could think of. Plus the new game I won was perfect for the boys and they were able to play it on the drive down to Portland.

Our tv in our hotel room didn't get turned on once and the kids didn't once ask for it to be turned out, I was so proud of them.

Not really sure what else I'm suppose to say cause nothing really isn't going on except that I am spending so much time with my family and I love every minute of it even when I am frustrated. I thought I would get a lot of reading done and that my house would be spotless, but I haven't finished a book nor done an extra cleaning that I usually do cause the kids tucker me out, so when they go to bed, you better believe I go right after them.

So I guess that's all, maybe next time I'll have something a little more interesting to say :)

New Start

Hi everyone :)

It's been awhile probably not as long as it seems since I've been on here. Actually it's been 8 days since I've actually been on a computer. Both our laptops just happen to become disfunctional two days before our Month 2 started.

Let me start off by letting you know how the ending of my Food month went. I have to say I am pretty proud of myself for doing it. And let me also say I haven't had chicken in 8 days, haha. The morning after I woke up feeling like I haven't ate in months so I started eating everything in sight. Literally. I couldn't eat enough, even when I felt full I still kept eating :s The next day was not pretty. I woke up sick to my stomach and was sick for the whole day. I felt really gross inside and I didn't want to eat anything.

I also realized how much junk affects my body. I've hitten the tired mode already cause of what I've been eating. I'm sure I've gained back the 9lbs I lost last month... yes I lost 9lbs last month. And I've got that bloated look back (Booooo). I think it's time that I really start paying attention to what I put in my body and start taking care of it. I always said I wouldn't give up junk food and I'm not so sure I will give it all up but I will definetly be limiting it and my family will also be doing it as well.

Now on to Month 2. NO or I should say limited technology. I'm on Day 6 and I WAS going strong until I started this dang computer and voila my homepage pops up and there is Jo-Anne's Facebook staring at her in the face. Ummm didn't I deactivate my account??? Appparently only on my phone, dang!!! I have 4 inbox messages and 9 notifications,BAH!!!. Ok I'll just sneak a peek at my inbox, ok two that I know don't need to be opened and oh what is this a inbox from Joy FM, oh what? I won game, woo-hoo!!! Okay now deactivate this thing, do you think I can find the button, nope. Now I gotta get someone to show me. So there you have it I cheated, but atleast Im getting a free game out of it :)

Surprisingly enough it's not as hard as I thought it would be to give this stuff up. Chris and I have decided to keep the television out of our room after this month, we never realized how much it took away from real us time. I made jars for the kids so everytime we don't have plans on a certain day we take turns picking from the jars. We have already found treasures at a thrift store, took silly photos to make an album and went to the library and tried a new recipe together. The kids are digging this, which makes it all worth it.

The last thing I want to add is that I seriously have some amazing friends. I went to two friends house last week and they were so kind to turn off all the electronics for my family and accomadate to us. And I had another friend send me a letter in the mail. They really are blessings in our lives :)

Oh wait and I forgot to let you all know that I delivered the food and we filled up FIVE boxes of food. How awesome is that??? So thank you to everyone who donated. I donated this food to Boaz Ministry which is an awesome organization. You should look them up.

Talk soon,
Jo-Anne

The Hard Truth

So for the last few weeks I have been working on preparing myself for Month 2 of 7 which is clothing. I had almost decided exactly what seven pieces I was going to wear, the debate was still on with my beloved sweat pants. I thought of an awesome challenge for all my friends and their friends and I was starting on the works of trying something "new" to me.

Then yesterday happened,okay so it wasn't just yesterday, I know it's been in the works for awhile and I have just been ignoring the issue trying to deny this truth. I was excited that I was going to be heading to a meeting on becoming a mentor and I was going to meet with one of my council members and discuss my upcoming project for my clothes month. Well that's not exactly what happened. I never made it to either one of those meetings and I was beyond frustrated. So I decided I needed to have a cool down moment in my room alone and discuss a few things with the Lord. I asked for answers on why the plans I had for myself were just not happening. I thought this is what I was meant to do with my life. Please just give me an reason why. Well in walked the three little people.  Those three little people that I always dreamed of having, and there was my reason infront of me. I knew right there that it was time for me to make a change and my change was with them.

First off let me make something clear, in no way do I think I am bad mom, but am I the mom who I want to be and said I was going to be? Sadly that answer is no and boy does that hurt to admit it. Would you like to know why? It's a thing called technology, it has corrupted me.

Well sorry computer... phone... tv... I am going to be leaving you very soon for a whole month. My family is far more important than you are. Making sure I raise my children to the best of my ability is far more important. Showing my children what a marriage should be is definitely not me being on the computer while Chris is on the phone. Reading up about what other parents do with their kids and only wishing I was doing that is not okay.

With this being said, Month 2 has now changed to NO technology. I will not lie, this month is going to be HARD, but I will do it for my family's well-being. There are a few exceptions, I will check my email once a day. Unless its from someone important or is regarding information on one of the activities, it will not be opened. I can come on here to blog once a week, unless I feel like I really need to share something important with you all, but I will not read all my favorite blogs when I come on here. You text me, I will not text you back. So if you have a question... put the phone by your ear and TALK cause I will not answer you!!! And there will be absolutely NO FACEBOOK!!! All televisions will be unplugged and the only radio station we are allowed to listen to is Joy FM.

And that is that!!!

P.S. You should consider doing this as well. Just a thought.

3 Weeks Down!

Wow, I can't believe it's been three weeks already since I've started this journey. Since starting this journey some people have been really supportive and others have given me that look that they are thinking I'm crazy. But in just three weeks I have learned so much. I cherish the food I eat, I rarely throw any food away unless a piece doesn't look like it should be put in my mouth. Even when I feel full I don't dare throw the leftovers away. I think about all the people in this world who go hungry every day and don't have that luxury to throw food away knowing that any moment they can go back for more. I have never ate so much of the seven foods in my life, thank goodness I picked food I love otherwise I could have been in for a long ride. I've read more of the Bible then ever before, and am learning so much of God's word and what he wants for us.

Now my kids are on the countdown for Hashbrown casserole day. I told them I wouldn't make it for them unless I could enjoy it with them and they agreed to wait for mommy. How sweet is that? I like to think they thought of me when really they probably only agreed cause they know who does the cooking in the house.HAHA.

I am on my last week of collecting food for those in need and I am so grateful for the people who have donated. But I still have a week left so even if I can't come pick it up, bring it to your local food or somewhere you know people could use it. Doing something so small can have such a big meaning to it.

I've got my council member or members I should say for next month picked out and I am working on something that I pray will work out.

Here is my last week request from those of you reading this:
Pray!
Pray for those who are hungry, pray for those who are working to feed the hungry,and pray that together we can make a difference.