Weight Loss Update

6 pounds gone this week!  I feel like I am on the Biggest Loser!!! (which, by the way, my children are way obsessed with!)

He Leads Us - Faith Walkin' to Kaleb

He Leads Us - Faith Walkin' to Kaleb

Help my friend bring her son home! She is doing a couple of awesome fundraisers!


iPod Touch, $150 & $100 Visa Cards & More

Check them out!! And, the first week on Dec. I am teaming up with Anita and my etsy store where 50% of my sales will go to helping to bring Kaleb home!

another Josiah story

Although, this may be more about the ladies at our church!

Yesterday at breakfast before church service, Josiah was drinking chocolate milk.  At some point he decided to pour it evenly between 3 cups. (Don't ask my why, I don't know.) When I came up he had coffee stirrers in the cups and was trying to drink out of 2 cups at the same time.

The next thing I know one of the ladies, I'll call her Carol (because that is her name!) was egging Josiah on to try to drink out of all three at the same time. Never one to back down from a challenge, Josiah figured out how to position all three cups so he could drink from them at the same time, while the ladies cheered and took pictures!  Oh, my.....now I understand why Preacher's Kids turn out like they do!

( I must say he was disappointed to not finish all three cups at the same time.)

My Son

  

My son is just the coolest little guy. He has a heart of gold.  He is sensitive and super sweet, yet doesn't hesitate to stand up for himself when he feels he's being taken advantage of.  He's surrounded by 4 sisters.  Two older and two younger.  He handles it really well, although sometimes he is heard to voice displeasure with the situation, "Dad, I am tired of playing with my sisters," he says.  (We haven't found any boys his age in the neighborhood yet.

He is way too smart.  Today he informed his hot Sunday School teacher that the word JOY is alphabetical.  Hadn't really thought about it, but he is right.  I haven't told him or the girls this, but the school called asking if we wanted him moved up to second grade.  Nope! Yes, he is a couple of grade levels about first grade, but he fits in beautifully socially.  Moving him up could change that.  It could make middle school really difficult on him, so he stays in first grade, reading 3rd and 4th grade level books, working on the 5th grade word list and going to the gifted math program.  At home he is learning Spanish.

We watch the Biggest Loser on Tuesday nights together.  After the first episode he asked me how many calories in milk.  I told him.  Then he asked how many calories in water.  I told him.  He told me, "I will have water because I don't want to be on the Biggest Loser."

Recently, he has been working out on the wii to the Biggest Loser. He comes upstairs panting and saying, "Bob really killed me with that workout! See how skinny I am!"

He is addicted to the computer.  And he is good on it.  I do have to keep an eye on him because he has discovered Google.  We are on safe search of course, but you never know.  He loves Google Earth.

At the bus stop, no matter where he is in line, when the bus comes, he drops out of line and gives me a hug, putting himself at the end of the line. EVERY DAY!

What a great little guy I have.  He never fails to make me smile.

Every Child Deserves a Family

A friend of mine has started a new blog.  It is called A Family For Everyone.  You should check it out!

Back to Weight Loss

Here I am, still struggling with weight loss.  Yes, I have lost about 55 pounds. And it feels GREAT! But I still have 35 to go and have been at a standstill for about 8 months.  There has been a lot of stress in our lives, so I am grateful to be hanging out in the 180s, but don't want to stay there.  And the holidays are coming up. Starting TOMORROW!!!!! Halloween.  Boy do I struggle with that one, in many ways, but that is not what this post is about.

I have to say that eating, for me, is really a spiritual issue. I do a lot of self medicating. If I eat myself numb I don't have to feel, right? But how healthy is that, really?  Eventually those feelings have to come out or they take more and more food to stuff them down.  There goes my 55 pounds.  So, I am dealing with the spiritual issues I am facing. And I am facing them! Not eating them away.

On Monday,  a friend and I are starting Faithfully Fit.  A 40 day journey to getting at the heart of it.  Yes, I hope to lose some weight on this journey, but more importantly, I want to loosen the grip that food has on my life.

So, I ask that you pray for me.  Spiritual warfare is never fun and never pretty, but it sure is rewarding!!

In Him
Tonni

Things I Am Learning

This is not an easy post to write.  It has not been an easy week.  I am supposed to be at our Saturday evening service right now, but had to come home because 2 little girls could not behave.  We gave up wrestling with them and, since I was the one with a headache, I came home. The house is really quiet right now.  They are both sleeping. Hmmmmmm..... I wonder if waking up at 7 on a Saturday is catching up with them.  Personally, I have been awake since 3, (yes that is 3 AM) so 7 sounds like sleeping in.

We have a house still not selling in Cincinnati. Yes, we live in Toledo. No, we aren't rich. Yes, it is frustrating. But, ya know what?  I can't control that! (The selling of the house.)  I got a substitute certificate so I can sub in our local school district to help ends meet.  But, ya know what?  I haven't gotten a single call to sub!  I can't control that either.  Whining Worrying about it doesn't change it.

God and I had a talk about that this week.  He's not been looking at my planner.  Or following what I think needs to happen. Oh, it is a good thing He is a patient Father.  He keeps reminding me: (from Proverbs 3)

 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;
 ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight. ^[a]
 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
       fear the LORD and shun evil.
 ⁸ This will bring health to your body
       and nourishment to your bones.
 ⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth,
       with the firstfruits of all your crops;
 ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
       and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Then He reminded me of all the ways in which He has provided for us (monetarily) as I have been so concerned about our financial situation:
        ~people have brought us groceries
        ~we have had to buy almost no clothing for our five children
        ~we have been given a van for free(!)
        ~we have almost never paid for a baby sitter
        ~free movie tickets for our date nights
        ~free clothing for me and Kevin
        ~strangers handing us money when we were commuting between Cincy and Toledo to help pay for food and gas
        ~and many other things!

(If you have been the hand and feet of Jesus for us, thank you.  If you have prayed on our behalf, thank you.)

And I have always struggled with headaches, depression, etc...I don't usually blog about those things but God has been talking to me about them, too.  I was whining to Him about them


⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Okay, I may not be where I am gladly boasting my weaknesses, but I am starting to understand that grace is enough for me!

Shopping

Today I went here.  My husband will be so excited! And you will be jealous!  YUM!

More Money Saving!

What I am about to say may be shocking to you all, but here it goes.....I PAY for coupons!!  Huh?  How is that saving money?  How can paying for something that is free save you money? 

Easy, it's all about volume!  I go here .  And buy coupons in bulk. There is a nominal "handling " fee.  Truthfully, I look at as if I am paying someone to do the cutting for me.  I really dislike cutting coupons and the whole mess of it.  But I can get multiples of coupons for things I really use!  (Hint: do not get coupons for foods you don't normally keep in the house.  For me that means sweets and desserts.  Then I take these multiple coupons to Kroger or Meijer (both places double coupons) and use them when the items are on sale.  I stock up on what I need.

I got 10 boxes of free pasta!  They were on sale for 10 for $10.  I used $1.00 off of 2 coupons. My Kroger doubles up to $1.00 so each dollar off was actually $2.00 off!  FREE PASTA!!  I got the Ragu for 62 cents a jar.  Yep, I can feed my family of 7 for 62 cents!!!  Wonder how much spaghetti they will eat?

Most groceries with double coupons only double up to 50 cents and everything above 50 cents is raised to $1.00.  Still, that would have been pasta for 50 cents a box! (Not store brand!)


This does take some practice and planning, but I save 45-70% off of my grocery bills!!

You Just Never Know What They Are Going To Say

Charis: (with Wide, Expectant Eyes) Mom, Mom, Mom, do you know who's Mary?


Me: Mary?

Charis: Yeah, do you know who's Mary, the REAL Mary?

Me: Mary?  You mean Jesus' mother?

Charis: No, Mom,  the bus driver is Mary!  (of course, can't imagine why I didn't catch onto that!)

Strange Day....would you expect anything less from the Jobe crew??

Today my kids went to church full of their usual energy.  Two were a bit grumpy because we tried a little experiment and let them spend the night at friends' last night.  Josiah went wearing his bright blue cape with a yellow star and a red J on the back.  After the Sunday School hour we found out that our girls told the teacher that she was "hot." (Lord, help us!)  She said that she asked them exactly what they meant, we waited on edge for their answer.  According a 5 and 6 year old girl, "hot" means you are cool and cute! (whew)  Our grandmotherly teacher was happy with that definition.  (So were Mom and Dad.)

I took Charis to get her hair cut this afternoon.  It was well past her shoulders, mid back really.  So, I had it cut into a cute bob just over her shoulders.  The hair dresser asked her if she liked it. Charis said, "no." (!)  Then proceeded to tell Nice Lady Hairdresser that she wanted it cut up over her ears (think bowl-cut!)  Needless to say, she has a really cute bob.

Afterward, we headed to the Wal-Mart next door.  Surprisingly, She was so good!  Picked up a few things.  It is a minor miracle to get out of that place under $100 and I was well under $50!!  On the way out I saw this in a mini-van window.

 

Did not think much of it until I saw THIS outfit hanging in the van also....

(Yes, Tracy, Elvis is alive and living in Oregon, Ohio!)

Did I mention it has been an interesting day?.....Didn't see anyone who looked like Elvis in Wal-Mart, but will be checking the People of Wal-Mart website later tonight!!!

Saving Money!!

These days I am all about saving money.  So, I am going to occasionally let you in on some of my "secrets".  These are some of the sites I have found that have really helped me!!  Some of these are city specific, but even these have helped me, no matter where I am living!

I really got started at Cincinnati Coupons.   Lots of great deals and where to find them. Be sure to read how to save money shopping at Kroger.  I think she explains Walgreens, too.  I haven't really gotten started on that yet,  but I do save 40-60% on my grocery bills!

Conversations with Ella

Overheard this evening:

Ella to big sister Olivia: You're not beautiful.  Because you think you you're beautifuller than me!

WANNA TRADE?

Okay, friends,

Christmas is just a few weeks months away. (That sounds better doesn't it?) And, if you are like us, money is way tight this year.  So, I was thinking maybe we could help each other out.  LET'S TRADE!!

Could your daughter/niece/sister/friend, etc....use some hair bows or headbands for Christmas?  Great! What do you want to trade for them? Do you make tutus, jewelry, dolls, toys, blankets, etc.? Let's use what we already have and help out all of our wallets!!

In the comments, post what you are looking for and what you can trade for it!

Link to this entry and see if we can get others to join in.

Honestly, I am not 100% sure how this is going to work, but I thought it was worth a try! What do you think??

More of the Tour! THE BASEMENT

 

This is one of 2 finished rooms in the basement. All of the books and games are down here. We spend a lot of time here as a family.

 

Here is the room from another view. Yes, our only tv is down here. The laundry room is through the door on the left.

Here is the bedroom in the other basement room.  The kids refer to it as Tio Jose's room.

 

Don't you just love the elephant on the wall?  To the left is a door that goes into basement storage.

And Sometimes It is Hard Being the New Girl

In general, Grace is adjusting really well to her new school.  She seems to love it.  I am, overall, pretty impressed with the school.  The teachers really  seem to care about the kids. They put a lot of responsibility on the kids, but don't just push them over the cliff, if you know what I mean.


The week after Thanksgiving break, they are taking all 180 sixth graders to camp.  For a week.  As one who has been in the trenches of teaching middle school, I can say it takes a special kind of crazy to teach there.  They are going to Camp Michindoh.  Silly me, I thought that must be an Indian name.  Nope.  Mich=Michigan. Ind=Indiana.  Oh=Ohio.  Duh.....

Anyway I went to the parent info meeting last night and they said that each child chooses a bunk mate. Someone they know who be in their cabin so they feel like they have a friend. Then the teachers mix up the rest of the kids so they have opportunity to meet and get to know other kids.  Sounded good.  Except Grace hasn't been able to find a bunk mate.  Everyone she asks has already found theirs.

Oregon is very much like Norwood was.  There are not a lot of new students.  So, in the case, the new girl is left feeling left out.

Yesterday, I also went to pick up the four younger kids up from Bible Club after school (Yes, a Bible Club held in the public school!!!!)  And as we were all standing around waiting for the kids to get out, all of the parents chatted.  Except with me.

Being the new girl can be hard whether you are 11 or 43.

Can You Keep A Secret?

I just went to the bathroom, with the door open, and no one walked in, or called my name, or anything!  I love school!

The Tour....

I cannot sleep....again, so I thought I would start to give you a tour of our new home...

This is the living room, to the right as you enter the front door.  Love this room. Cannot wait until the house in Cincy sells so we can have some wall hangings!  LOL

One of my new pieces! Displays my Willow Tree statuettes as well as many of our favorite pieces from Cuba.

The piano is on the wall of the steps leading to the second floor. Pardon the clutter!!

The little girls' room

Love their closet!  

  

 

More to come!!!

I Guess If You Are Tired Enough

Ella, sound asleep. Slept like this for 40 minutes.

The House

This is the new Jobe Abode!  Looks small for 7 people doesn't ?

Back to School

Grace went to school looking way too grown up and oh so beautiful. She loves middle school.  She has already brought a new friend to the house.  That's just the way Grace rolls. Not a shy bone in her.  I wouldn't have her any other way!!

Olivia is such an amazing big sister.  She really liked school too, but she is more shy than her big sister.  She'll take a little longer to make friends.  She really leans on Gracie and big sis just isn't in the same building this year.

Charis LOVES her new teacher!  But, like last year, her big brother is her choice of playmate at recess.

Carrying all of the supplies.  It is amazing how much they ask us to contribute on top of school fees.  But I guess if the state would get it's act together and fund schools legally it would make a difference. (Now I will step off of my soap box.)

And our little man.  All personality.  Also loved school.  Josiah has such a thirst for learning!!

Ella doesn't start until Thursday. She is none too happy about it and threw a major fit when the bus left without her. Shocking, I know....

Starting To Update

Here we are! We moved to Toledo on  the 3rd of August.  We love the house.  Although it is stressful to still own a home in Cincinnati.  I guess I will start with now, and eventually move back to how we got here.

Today we went to visit the elementary school where 4 of the kids will attend starting next week. Coy Elementary is a new building.  The kids are really excited about it. (I think the younger 4 are most excited because they are in an air conditioned building.)  The very nice lady principal gave us a tour.  We got to meet 3 of the 4 teachers that will have my kids. 

On Thursday, I will take Grace up to to Fassett Middle School on Thursday.  I hope I am ready to have a middle school student! It didn't seem like a big deal when my niece, Maddy, went to middle school as a fifth grader.  In fact, I remember reassuring my sister that it would be just fine.  No big deal.  It is different when it is your own, I guess. Unfortunately, Grace is NOT in an air conditioned building.  Something her siblings love to remind her of...often!

Oregon (pronounced Oregone) Ohio is a really pleasant little town.  Toledo is so different from Cincinnati.  Much less suburban sprawl.  On one side of Oregon is Toledo proper, on the other side is farmland. The school district goes right up to Lake Erie, although we haven't made it to the lake yet.

I haven't really met anyone yet, besides our neighbors.  On one side there is a very nice couple with a 14 year old son and 17 month old daughter.  A single man lives on the other side. I am hoping to make some friends with parents once the kids are in school.  I am going to start to work on  paperwork to substitute in the Oregon City Schools.  That should give me more opportunity to make friends.

I know all of us are missing our friends and family in Cincinnati (but it is such a blessing to have my mom closer as well as my cousin.)

I will start to get some pics and give you all a tour of our new home later in the week.

Our Last Sunday at Grace Church

I cannot believe that last week was our last Sunday at Grace Church.  What an amazing 6 years we've had there.  We've been so blessed.  I was not nearly as emotional as I thought I would be.  I just want to share with you some images of that day.

Trust

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding; 

 in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

I've had this running through my head that past couple of days.  Trust....trust....trust....

We went house hunting again yesterday in Toledo.  We are supposed to move up the week of June 20th. Trust....trust....trust....

We cannot go until our house sells.  Trust....trust....trust....

I just find it so hard to let go sometimes.  Yesterday, stress level was pretty good better. Maybe because I felt I was doing something?  Today, not so good.  Trust...trust...trust....

So just not really sure how I am supposed to be  praying.  Do I pray for the number one house on our list?  Do I pray that our house sells?

We've only had 2 couples look at it.  No feedback from the first couple.  The second couple liked the exterior of the house, but wanted something more modern on the inside.  Of a 99 year old house? Really?

So I feel like I should be doing something, yet there really is nothing to do.  Trust...trust...trust....

Creativity

For her birthday, Charis wanted paper and tape.  So with her birthday money from Nanny, I got her some on Saturday.  She has been busy ever since.  It is amazing what she creates!  Although we couldn't decide if she was a Storm Trooper or the Flying Nun with a lance?!?

Learning a Few Lessons

This has been quite a week for me. I am learning a lot of lessons and some times that is pretty humbling.

 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

This is one of my favorite verses.  I love that God wants our belief, but if we are not believing as we should He will give us faith if we ask for it.

What does this have to do with my week? Well (digressing again) a few found a house we love in Toledo.  Just perfect for our family.  Move in ready.  So we put in a bid and it was accepted.  With a contingency.  Because we needed to sell our house first.  

(yes, this house!)  Anyway, we knew there was a possibility that we could lose the house in Toledo. They were still open to bids since we needed to sell our house to buy theirs.  So, this week it happened.  They got another bid on their house that they wanted to accept.  So, yesterday around 2, we got the final word.  We had 48 hours to come through on our offer, or we lost the house.

I don't know about you, but we don't have the money for a down payment on a HOUSE just lying around.  So, it was going to take a miracle for us to keep the home in Toledo.  So we prayed and our friends prayed.

Guess what!?!  Ha, fooled you, no miracle!! Of course, there are still 20 hours until we lose the house, but no one has shown interest in coming through the house.  Now, I know God can still make it happen, but I don't think He will. I think He has a lesson He wants to teach me.

Kind of strange, I KNOW that He has called Kevin to our new church in Toledo. No doubts there.  We wouldn't be going if we hadn't prayed about that.  If we didn't feel sure.  Kevin would have left the ministry rather than accept an assignment he didn't think was God's calling on our lives.

So, what is the problem?  What is my lesson?  It has become very clear to me in the past few days that I don't trust God with every aspect of my life.  I trust Him to tell me what city to live in, but I don't trust Him to lead me to the right home.  I don't trust Him to make sure our house here sells.  I don't trust Him to meet our basic needs....

 ²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[b]?

 ²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  (Matthew 6:25-33)

So, I have got to learn this one.   To give up this control.  To trust HIM to take care of even the little details.

Lord, I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!  Give me the trust I need to trust you!

Publish Post

Fun Run at School

Looks like fun to me!!

Dining Room Make Over

This is the dining room floor before work was done. We figure it was last finished during the Great Depression. The floor was not finished where the rug was to save on materials. As you can tell it really needed love. What you cannot tell is that the boards were slightly spaced apart. Any spill would fall right through to the basement! Spill milk on the floor? Clean up in the dining room and the basement!


Here is the finished floor. And furnished dining room, of course. Isn't it a pretty room?

The Jobe Abode...

has been resurrected! I figure with all that is going on in our lives, it is appropriate to start blogging again.

In case you haven't heard, about a month ago, Kevin was reappointed to a church in Toledo! So we have been in the crazy process of preparing our house to sell and finding a new home. As well as dealing with leaving behind family and friends who we love and will miss beyond words.

We've painted, put down new floors, painted, fixed a chimney, painted, cleaned, painted, put up wallpaper border, cleaned, painted....you get the idea.

I'll post some pictures. My house looks great, just in time for us to move.

I've been stressing a lot about the house selling . We found a great house in Toledo. But it is on a contingency. In order to get it, we have to sell our house. If they get another offer, we have 48 to respond, but we can't do it without a down payment and we don't have a down payment without selling out house.

There was an open house this weekend. Only one couple came through and they were not too interested. So, for the time being, I'm trying to rely on God's timing. Because, honestly, I have no control over the situation, as much as I would like to. Right now, the best I can do is to do laundry and keep the house cleaned up as much as possible with 5 little monkeys running around!

My Right Brained Children

I guess it is no surprise that our children are right brained. If you are not sure which you are, you can take a test here. Try it, it is fun!

Kevin and I are both waaaay right brained. He is a musician, actor, writer. I write, create, vision, etc. But our kids make us look systematic and orderly!
For example, our kids cannot just drink a juice bag....you know pop in the straw and suck it down. No, we have to cut off the top put it in the freezer and eat it as a slushy.

Play doh. Can we simply build things out of Play doh? NO. We have to break it up into all sorts of little pieces and then reconstruct them into little balls of many colors. Then chop them up and, well, I am not really sure what they do with them after that.

Yesterday we watched Charis destroy several gift bags from Christmas as she tried to stuff full size comforters into them.

For Christmas this year we had to replace several board games. And lay some rules in place. They are no longer allowed to use game pieces for other things. They would use them in pretend play, even the little pieces from Sorry. What can you possibly do with those??



And did you know that if you blow on the pieces of Trouble that they whistle? Trust me, they do.


Guess what their favorite thing to play without side is? Come on, guess! Okay, you'll never guess, it is



WOOD CHIPS!!!! (Which by the way, they are not allowed to play with.)

Most days I think that for Christmas next year, I should just wrap up a bunch of junk to see what they will do with it!