S Club Mama

I'm about halfway through with my trip to Manila; I'm sure I'm missing my boys like crazy but hopefully having a good time doing the Lord's work. I have another guest blogger today. I met Becky in college; she was an RA in my complex and on staff with my hubby. She and I get along so well, probably because we're freaky English majors. Us geeks tend to stick together. Becky has done something I dream of doing one day - wrote a book. Well, 3, in fact. Read on and be sure to head on over to Becky's blog, too. - Randi Hi everyone! My name is Becky and I have a blog over at Turn Around & Say Hello   -- and I am so excited to be guest posting here today! Randi and I met long ago, during those wonder years of college. Big A and my hubs were pretty good friends. A little about me? I’m an English teacher, and in my spare time I write! Recently, I released my third book. It’s a modern twist on an old classic –  Pride and Prejudice . Here’s the info from  Ama

This week I am in Manila, Philippines on a mission trip. So to keep you guys entertained I do have a few guest posters for you. Today you get to "meet" my friend, Ryan. She (yes, she...I think that's why we like each other so much is because we understand having a man's name growing up) actually graduated with my husband, Big A, from high school. Then she and I worked a few years together at the college cafeteria. I loved working with her - minus the kidney punches. Although she did stop doing those when I got pregnant with Moose, thank heavens. So it's no surprise to me that Ryan started karate a few years ago. I'll let her tell you more, but it does sound like a viable option for crosstraining for the runners who read. -Randi Hi, this is Ryan, from Ryan's Random Ramblings, and I've been invited to do a guest post about one of my passions, karate. After many different ideas, I thought perhaps you as S Club readers would like to see what we do in a t

People keep asking if I'm excited/nervous/plethora-of-other-feelings. I don't really feel one way or the other heavily about this trip. I'm not 100% sure what to expect so I'm not sure what to feel. I am excited to meet with the people - I just don't know what that will be like. I am nervous to be in a plane for so long (13-14 hours) - if I think too much about flying, I'll freak out because it makes no sense to me. I am excited for 13-14 hours of no one telling me that they need to potty; that is built in me time (hehe). I'm excited to work with our group of people. I'm nervous about changing currency. I'm nervous I'll forget to pack something important or will overpack. I'm nervous to leave my boys. I'm excited for the Daddy time they will have. I'm excited to come home to them. I'd appreciate your prayers. For me and my family. For my group and for the people we'll (hopefully) be serving. For safety there and bac

A few weeks ago, we bought Moose his first real bike at a garage sale.  Then I got him a helmet (his dad thinks this is silly but I insist) and training wheels.  We were ready to go! Daddy understands the need for a helmet but it was hard to pick a size for our larger-than-life 4yo. Little brother pulls then rides his "motorcycle."  The new wheels! Big brother, ready to ride! He was a little unsure with the training wheels bobbing back and forth. He wanted to quit after about 5 seconds but I prodded (and cheered, loudly) him on for 10 minutes. Then I let him stop.  I am so proud of you, son. You'll get better with practice, I promise!  Did your son do something cool this week? Link up with the MOB Society for Let's Hear it For the Boys!

I'm leaving on Monday to go to Manila in the Philippines (not the Philistines like Moose thinks). While I'm gone I would love to have a few guest posters! Write about running, crafts, Pinterest, motherhood, God, books, movies - whatever you wish! If you're interested, please email me at sclubmama (at) gmail (dot) com Thanks!

I know, I know, Easter is way over. I'm behind (imagine that!).  However, I wanted to share this cute idea of an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt I found here  (well, really on Pinterest, but you know). I hid eggs in varying spots: where mama cooks, where there is something you put on your foot (shoe), where you put your dirty clothes, in the bathtub. It was really cool to have Moose read the clues and figure them out (he didn't get the shoe one).  Squirt just liked to spill the eggs. Over and over. I also found the idea for our carrots on Pinterest (from this blog ). They were cool until they fell down. Oh well. Very simple to make, too. Link up with Angie for Wordful Wednesday . Last day to enter my Yo Gabba Gabba & Dino Dan DVD giveaway .

Two years ago, I wrote a book review about Run Like a Mother . It stands as one of my favorite books: running or non-running related! Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea made running relatable for a newbie like myself. And they've done it again in their new book, Train Like a Mother. In the years between their books, Dimity and SBS have created a wonderful online community centered around their blog, Another Mother Runner , and Facebook page . I am a consistent commenter on both platforms; because I feel a sense of community there, a camaraderie that I haven't found (as far as running in concerned) elsewhere. But beyond their online community, Dimity and SBS have written a wonderful book. I'm excited to try out one of their training plans later this year. I plan to use their 5K plan to help "train" (mentor) a group of ladies to their first 5K. I'm nervous about that, but so much of the pressure is off of me because of the quality of these training plans.

I had the opportunity to review two new DVDs and a board book from NCircle Entertainment: Dino Dan DVD and Yo Gabba Gabba (DVD and book). I wasn't expecting the latter, but I love working with NCircle so I went with the flow. The new Yo Gabba Gabba DVD is called There's a Party in my City . Usually this is not a show in our repertoire. I just find it an odd show - the characters don't make sense to me. It seems loud and strange BUT kids love it (or so I've heard). I honestly did not let my children watch this show; I try to avoid shows that I don't want them to watch (like Calliou). But I will let Yo Gabba Gabba's reputation speak for itself. If you need 60 minutes to finish dinner/laundry/a book/a shower, by all means, I suggest you try this DVD. This high-paced, energetic show has the power to entertain your children. We did read the Yo Gabba Gabba board book sent to us: Try, Try Again. I don't mind reading books about shows that I dislike - they seem

Despite counting my blessings, I feel like I'm in a slump. I have been a SAHM full-time for almost four years now (I graduated college in May 2008). I feel like I'm wearing thin on the idea of what to do every second of every day required to stay home. It's been trickling in for awhile. I'll watch a show while they watch a show instead of watching their show (I have no desire to watch Dora the Explorer). I'll let them play cars and tell them 10 minutes (and that turns in to 30 minutes). I'll scour Facebook, Pinterest, my emails, my favorite blogs...letting them turn those 10 minutes in to 30 minutes. Our schedule is not routine; it's very loose. We may have story time after breakfast but maybe it will be before lunch...or skipped until bedtime. Maybe we'll work on "school" stuff...maybe not. I don't know if this is laziness on my part or burn out. So I keep getting asked if I'm ready for my mission trip coming up (April 23-30). The

I've been dwelling the past few days (after my stint in the complaint department), but it's not what you think. I have been dwelling on my blessings. I'm going through Lord, Change My Attitude in my Wednesday morning Bible study. The first two weeks were about replacing a complaining attitude with a thankful attitude. Which has been my exact week, this week. We have friends going through some tough times: some financial, some marital (one set of friends for one of their parents and one set of friends for themselves), and one tough time that is a blessing (a newborn baby - which is both a tough time- although they haven't said this is a tough time for them, I'm just assuming because newborns are a lot of work and just an adjustment- and a blessing). These tough times make me think back to our own tough times: numerous job losses, postpartum blues, moving so frequently, financial woes, lonesomeness, anger, envy/malcontent, autism diagnosis. I don't dwell on the

...without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Philippians 2:14-15 I know this verse by heart. I have taught it to my children. And yet, I forget. Always, forgetting. I feel like the Israelites grumbling in the desert. No water, no food, but the ultimate God leading...and yet, they forgot. I have a house, 2 children, 1 husband who supports me in every way imaginable, and the ultimate God leading...and yet, I forget. I am ungrateful, envious, lazy, grumpy, angry, gossipy, and many other sinful characteristics. Now, I'm not being hard on myself. I have many good characteristics, even godly ones. But my faults and my strengths don't offset one another; they don't touch. Just as God cannot be around evil, when my sinful nature takes the lead, I am not following God's lead. And it all comes down to choice. I can choose to be grateful, to look at my blessings, to remember th

Before you jump to conclusions about my reason for writing about this book (and you may if you have read Every Man's Battle or know what it's about), know that when I pick books to review, I only have a few to choose from. I, myself, had heard of Every Man's Battle about men's sexual battles, so I thought this would be a good book worth reading. Every Woman's Battle is about "discovering God's plan for sexual and emotional fulfillment." When a friend saw this book sitting out, he was curious "I thought you guys didn't struggle with that." But I told him that we struggle with emotional temptations, not (necessarily) physical temptations. Men are visual and give love to get sex (in a non-Christian way) while women are emotional and give sex to get love. While I'm not struggling with most of the battles within this book, I saw so many areas I have previously struggled with. I wish I had read this years ago (as in high school)! I woul

Apparently I have a good following here at the S Club 4. However, I think my GFC lies. 180 followers? My average of comments per day is more like...zero. So I'm asking you, followers, what would you like to read about? I love doing reviews, but I haven't done many lately. I could write about any number of things: running, autism, being a SAHM, Jesus, fashion (ha..sort of kidding), books, tv shows (my newest love? Touch), my kids. What would you, as a reader, like to read about? I'd really like to get my comments up (aka I'd like someone to read this), but I'm kind of at a loss. Should I just quit? I love blogging, but I don't really have a niche to get a huge following. And I'm ok with that. I'm happy with the 180 but I would like you to actually read the blog. So help a girl out.

This is the second year in a row I've missed lighting my own house up blue (I just plumb forgot this year). Blue? Yeah, blue is the color for National Autism Awareness Day. April is Autism Awareness Month but April 2 is specifically the day to light up your house, building, whatever blue. It's an amazing awareness opportunity for towns, cities, companies, and families to show their support for the community of families who have this challenge daily. My favorite place that lights it up blue is the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, Brazil. Because, of course, no one can comfort families facing such a challenge as our Savior.