I recently was having a discussion with some family about what we as Christians should do in a situation where someone confides in us when they are going through troubles in their marriage. We as a group decided that this situation is one that can't be handled by one person in the marriage but has to be a team effort on both of your parts.
Last week I was talking to someone that Shawn knows who is going through some rough relationship stuff and has been confiding in him about it. I know this person very little but ran into them last week. When we were briefly talking this person was telling me how awesome my husband is and how enviouse they are of our relationship. This really bothered me and really made me think back to the discussion with my family. Something felt off and uncomfertable so I went to Shawn and explained what I was feeling about the situation. He of course said I have nothing to worry about but he made a suggestion that I wasn't to keen on but prayed about all weekend. This person was having a birthday party for their child and invited my family.
Well Shawn was in Portland for the weekend visiting Jim and Kim so the party was a no in my mind.
Friday I was talking with Shawn while he was in Portland and was explaining that I wasn't sure why but her comments were still really weighing on my mind. Shawn said well I know what I think you should do. I jokingly said go to the party and laughed. Shawn's answer was I never would ask you to go without me but if it is still on your mind there has to be a reason. I hung up a little upset that he would even ask me to do that without him. I prayed and thought about it all night and even had dreams about it. I woke up a little upset because I knew that I had to do and as a Christian I knew what God wanted me to do.
Sat morning the kids and I went to the Christian bookstore and picked up a dvd and stuffed animal for her son. After picking up the gift we headed to the party. The kids had a ton of fun and I'll admit that I had some good conversations and it was fun. I know I did what God wanted and I felt at peace the entire time. The issues that I had have gone away and I feel like I had the chance to talk about the Holy Spirit and how she needs to get her kids and herself into a church.
I know we all go through struggles with what we know is what we should do but I did what I didn't want and feel so much better now. I also know that she knows that Shawn and I are a team and that she can come to US with her problems.
Just had to share.
Ali

Isn't it funny how God works in our lives? Shawn and I started working at our new churches VBS last night. We are both group leaders. Shawn is a leader to 12 4th grade kids and had 3 7th grade helpers, I have 17 3rd graders and 2 junior helpers. We learned about Gidion and the kids had so much fun. I came home energized and ready to go back, I have a great group of kids that all listen and can stand still for more than 4 min. Shawn on the other hand has decided after one night that kids are not his calling:) He had fun but his patience was tested. Anyways I am explaining to children what baptism is and how you can ask God into your heart. It is refreshing to see how without much effort the Holy Spirit get's into their little hearts and how easily they believe.
So we gave offering for the first time in awhile now that we have a church we are calling home. Now I am really bad about getting the house mail so when we got home last night I decided tog et the mail. How amazing was it that we recieved some checks in the mail that equal up to the exact amount we had givin. I am always leary about giving 10% because it is suck a large amount, I mean we could buy a new car if we didn't give, but we gave and we know that God is watching over us.
Ok so for the Non God stuff j/k
I still have no desire to diet, I just can't get back into it. We are going away camping with our family in about 2 weeks and I am thinking that I will use the away time to vamp myself back up and catch up on reading about the diet and stuff. We will see.
My tooth is feeling so much better, I go back in 3 weeks to get it finished but for now no pain at all, such a great feeling.
alright well I am off to look for some little inexpensive gifts for my VBS kids,
Ali

Please don't think I am avoiding you. I have been so busy. I have been painting and redoing the boys bedroom and bathroom for the last week. In the middle of that I got a terrible toothache and had to get a root canal. I have been kind of uninspired in the diet area when I have been feeling like poop. I had the root canal done this morning so now I am swollen and sore. I will post again soon but I just didn't want anyone to think I had disappeared.
Please pray for us as well. We have been going to church and getting God back into our lives. Someone doesn't like what we are doing and we feel like we have been under attack. The best part is that we know we are doing something right if we are going through trials like this but none of the family has been able to sleep the last 3 nights. The kids keep waking up with nightmares and hearing noises. The kids also keep waking up sick and strange stuff so please keep us in your prayers.
Ali

Happy 9th Birthday Cody!!!!!
Last night Shawn and I watched the movie Fireproof. What a good make you feel good kind of movie. We liked it so much that we are planning on buying it for one of the girls at Shawn's work who is going through some bad marriage stuff right now. I love the idea of not only relying on God but giving in when things are bad and making people try at a marriage.
I am so excited for a few reasons today. I will tell you something that many of you do not know. I can't pray out loud, never have. I have never prayed with my kids or husband out loud. They pray in front of me and I pray in my head and say Amen. It's not that I don't pray at all, it's is extremely hard for me to pray out loud. I have never prayed out loud in a group EVER. Scares me to death. Well I have been really working on this area in my life. Cody woke up with an ear ache a few nights ago and it took me 45 min. to ask Shawn but I prayed with him out loud for Cody. Last night at dinner I prayed for the meal out loud with my family. I know they are baby steps and I have no plans to pray in a big group but God is working in my life and giving me courage to be the wife and Mom I need to be.
Ok so the second reason I am so excited today is that on Sat. is my big graduation celebration. Whoo hoo. We are taking 60 people to Quakes stadium to see a baseball game and have all you can eat BBQ. It doesn't seem realy yet becuse I haven't had to work at all. I am so excited to see everyone and celebrate my accomplishments with the people who not only mean the most in my life but also the ones who without I wouldn't have made it to my college graduation. I will post pics on Monday as well as do some W.W. talk as I will be restarting the diet on Monday.
Have a great weekend,
Ali

I have been slow to post recently and I am sorry. I can't seem to get back on the diet. Typical Ali behavior. I weighed in at the end of the beach at 183 and weighed in this morning at 183, at least I am staying the same. Logically I know I need to go back on but I keep reasoning with myself about it. My grad party is on Sat and I am getting food in the house for a Monday start.
What have we been up to? We had a great 4th of July party at our house with all the family, we had a great 3rd of July baseball game, and we went to my brother and Brandy's baby shower on the 5th. Busy weekend but so much fun. The most fun was watching the kids be old enough to be in charge of lighting the fireworks.
I am working on homeschooling the boys for the summer and it is going well so far.
Last we have two boys with ear infections. Cody and Pj both have swimmers ear and the meds are taking a long time to work. Please pray for them to start healing and for the pain to go away.
Now for a big admission, Shawn and I have tried many churches since moving but never found one that we liked. We had gotten tot he point of giving up because we were frustrated with not finding what we were looking for even though we were out there looking. We decided last Sunday to try the church closest to our house again. It is a mega church which isn't our favorite but it also has a ton of kids programs and is less than 5 min away from the house. We really enjoyed it there. The kids had fun. We are no matter what giving it a 3 month trial run and then will decide if it works for us. Shawn and I have never really been a great couple in God. We do things seperatly but we are starting to work on praying and reading together. I will admit that I am scared of God. When I was younger ever time my Mom would go to church or read a Christian book bad things would happen to our family. It has stuck in my head and I am really working with God to get through this crazy fear. I read yesterday "A woman that fears God is to be praised" God and I are working together to make me a better Christian and a great Christian wife, woman, and Mother. I want my kids to see God in our lives and we are on a road to being better Christians. Ok with that off my chest I need to go homeschool the kids.
Ill catch ya later.
Ali

What a week back from vacation so far.

Cody went to the doctor yesterday because he just wasn't getting better like we thought he would. He is going to get bloodwork done today but the doctor thinks he has Mono. He is tired and dizzy. I woke up yesterday with a tooth ache and getting a dentist appointment on a holiday week seems to be proving harder than I thought it would be. We are moving slow but it is kind of nice as we readjust from vacation.

Happy Birthday to Porter. Pj for his birthday wanted doughnuts, to play at a playground and wanted chicken nuggets for dinner. We took him to Victoria Gardens and they played on the playground aand in the water fountainn. They had so much fun. We had doughnuts in the afternon and for dinner we went to Mel's Drive in. Mel's is a 50's diner complete with a juke box at each table. They serve the kids meals in a paper car. Pj loved it. The food was only ok but the shakes were awesome.

Ok so I am officially starting weight watchers on Monday July 6th. I have alot of crazy stuff going on this weekend with the 4th, a baseball game, and my sister's birthday so I am taking the easy way out and being diet free a little longer. I know I will regret this decisioon when I have to weigh in but I don't care at the moment.

Well Have a great 4th of July and be safe.

Ali