On the Agenda...

Well today I am getting packing hopefully...if I ever get my boxes! I got all of my calls made to the electric, gas, phone companies yesterday to shut off service. Funny thing when I called they had a switch date of May 30th. I told the employees no, the last day I own the house is the 15th so thats my last day! I dont know if the new owner is trying to pull a fast one or maybe she doesnt get it! Oh well, I got it switched!

We had a long night last night. First Grace woke up screaming, I couldnt get her back to sleep so I took her out of her crib and we cuddled and rocked. Then at about 3 Carson woke up with growing pains in his legs. I got him some Tylenol and we also rocked! I rubbed his little calves and sang "You Are My Sunshine" I thought I was helping him and all of a sudden he sweetly said to me "mommy will you please quit singing" I guess I'm not as good as I thought! LOL!

Hope you all have a good Tuesday!

Grace and her cake

This is my sweet baby girl with her birthday cake! We didn't have her party yet but we did have a cake at home for her thanks to her auntie! She loved it! She first just put her hands in it but then she just took a bite right out of the side!

Monday Monday....

Right now I'm on the computer while my kids are playing in the living room. Carson playing a 4-wheeling game and Grace with her toys! What a great feeling!

On the agenda today call and disconnect everything and get packing!

A Week in Review...

I never knew being unemployed (outside my home) would be so busy! We had a super busy week here at the Bindert household.

Saturday, Dana and I met my good friend Tresa and her husband Mike at Texas Roadhouse for supper. I called ahead and we actually got to sit down as soon as we walked in the door! We were super excited because we were prepared for a hour wait! Tresa was my boss at Sioux Falls Ford but now I can just call her my friend. Although I will probably still call her my boss! LOL! Tresa and I weren't friends at first, but I really grew to respect her and a friendship followed. It's a friendship I hope to keep after we move. I've learned a lot from her and have a lot of fun with her. After supper we met some other friends at The Gateway for drinks, it was a lot of fun!

On Sunday we were rather lazy and hung out at home. My sister Daina and her family was here visiting. Daina stayed here to help me get everything ready for the rummage. We were busy all week!! We worked on pricing, organizing and sorting. Rummage sales are a lot of work! In the future I'll be more organized when I put things into storage! The rummage was Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Well I was only really open on Thursday, Friday we had a crazy Spring storm here in Eastern SD. Dana got stranded at the (Summit exit) Coffee Cup truck stop. He was finally able to get back to Watertown this morning at about 11 or so. So he took a nap at a friends house and is on his way home now! I'm excited to see him!

The best part of the week was on the 24th, my sweet baby girl turned 1 year old!!

To my beautiful little girl:
We didn't know that you were coming, but we are so excited that God is a better planner then we are! You are such a little blessing to us and to your big brother. Carson is just smitten with you, he loves to play with you and protect you from things that you cant have. You are equally in love with him too! Your eyes light up when he is around and you smile from ear to ear! You are so in love with your daddy, when he gets home on the weekend you crawl to him as fast as you can, and he picks you up and you love on each other. It is so fun to watch! Your daddy and I love you so much! You have the sweetest little voice! You talk a lot but never really say anything, well anything we can understand but you know just what you are talking about! I love you baby girl! I love when you keep me company in the kitchen while I cook or clean up. I love the way you grab on to the back of my pants to pull yourself up, or when you play with the letters on the fridge and dance to the ABC's. You have such a sweet little personality. I am very grateful to be able to stay at home with you and know everything about you. To know how your day was without asking someone else. To teach you everything that a little girl needs to know. I will treasure our time together. But, if you could not grow up so fast I would really like that!
Love your mommy!

Now that brings us to today....I should be cleaning but I wanted to get caught up on every body's blogs and make a quick post! We are planning on a relaxing weekend! Then come Monday I will start packing up the house! Ive decided that I'm not taking anything that I don't need and I'm making a place for everything! I have a problem with putting things away where I wont forget them but I always manage to do just that! So I will do a lot of organizing, throwing away and packing next week! Talk to you all soon!

Finally Friday...

We got our appraisal back and we are good to go! I'm happy to announce that our house is officially SOLD! We will close on the 15th of May!

Today was to be my last day at work...well I work tomorrow for 4 hours but it's not the same, my girlfriends wont be there tomorrow. But I think my sweet baby girl has rotovirus. So I am home with the kids, we are going in later to have cake as a little goodbye. I am very sad today, I really wanted to work today. It's silly I know but I really love my job and all the people I work with.

Now the real work begins, next week I am getting ready for a rummage sale that I'm having on Thurs, Fri and Sat. In Sioux Falls we have what is called Kingswood Rummage Sales and it is huge! I know a lady that lives in that area and she is letting me have a sale at her house! My mother in law will be down on Wed. to help me with it! So it should be a fun busy week, then I'll start packing!

Till later!

Woo Hoo! We passed inspection!

Well last night the kids and I took off and went to Chuck E. Cheese's for 3 hours. Oh my goodness! that is a very long time at CEC, but we couldn't be at the house so what better place then the one that will keep Carson entertained for hours! Grace even got in on the action and went on a few rides! Actually the time flew by! A girl from work met us there and our boys played! Carson won 37 tickets, but when he saw what he could buy with his tickets he was very upset and wanted a foam dart gun. Well the gun was 200 tickets a far cry from our 37 but the girl behind the counter took pity on me and called it close enough! We loaded up and were on our way home! Carson was happily playing with his gun pretending to shoot it. I asked him how it worked and he really didn't know that you squeezed the handle. So he handed it to me and I showed him. (while driving) I shot the poor little guy right in the eye...there goes the mother of the year award! Darn it anyway! Good news is he shot me a few times and felt better. When I do something wrong or hurt his feelings he says to me "that's OK mommy, I still love you."

We got home and had to make cupcakes for a cake walk and for Carson's class. Carson is the star of the week at school and since he has a summer birthday and won't get to bring treats I decided this would be a good opportunity for him to bring treats. So we got the cupcakes made, sheet washed teeth brushed and we were off to bed. Well kinda....

The great news is that we passed inspection!!!! Our realtor said there are a few minor things they might ask for but no deal breakers. My feelings on the minor things is if they aren't affecting the safety of the house they can do it themselves! Maybe I'm just a bit crabby, but I feel like we have worked so hard on our house and really have worked with them as it is, I just don't want to give anymore. But I also want to sell the house. Hello rock and hard place, I'm Rachel not so nice to meet you!

5 Years Ago Today....

In the coming months you'll see a lot of posts like this. Bear with me!

Five years ago that was me! Six months pregnant and saying goodbye to my husband not knowing what the future held. Today marks the 5 year anniversary of the day that Dana left Sioux Falls for Ft.Carson, Colorado. Ft.Carson was his "duty station" that is where troops train prior to deploying overseas. My husband was in a transportation unit so they drove all their equipment to Colorado where it was loaded onto rail cars and then to a ship to make the journey to Kuwait where they picked it up. April 9, 2003 the family and friends of the 1742nd lined the roads leading to the interstate. We cheered them on as they drove past although we felt like we were dying inside. My girlfriends daughter was 5 at the time saying to her mommy "why does he have to go? I just want him to stay here" I thanked God that I was pregnant and not having to explain such a grown up thing to my little boy. I talk about the pain, because that is the first feeling I remember. Of all the emotions I felt during that time the heart breaking pain stands out the most. Not knowing when or if you'll see your husband, son or brother again literally feels like your heart is being ripped out. But on the flip side there is an overwhelming feeling of pride and commitment to your country and your loved one that carries you through. You live your life believing that no news is good news and it was! You lived for phone calls, emails and letters. I relied on my faith in God that he would bring my husband home to me, but I also accepted that God's plan may be different.

To all the men and women that went before Dana and all that continue to serve I say Thank you! To all of the spouses who held up the home front and are continuing to do so, Thank you! Thank you for your sacrifices that are so hard and scary at the time. To all of the men and women who have given their lives for our country, Thank you. To all the men and women that have sacrificed their bodies and will live forever with the physical reminder of the war, Thank you! We as a country are forever indebted to you!

Good News.....Hopefully!

Well yesterday we got a call from our realtor and we got an offer on our house! So now as long as the appraisal and inspection go off without a hitch we are good to go and we will close on May 15th! So please pray with us that we will have no glitches.

We are really trying not to count our chickens so to speak, but that is really hard to do!

Scary Stuff!!

I cant view this at work because the system filter wont allow it...it comes up under occult! Even my computer knows its not on the up and up!

Go here if you aren't up to date with Oprah's new age anti-doctrine.It will chill you.

Oprah and Friends.....

This post is not my writing, it comes from Amy at http://www.orangemomma.blogspot.com/ I agree with it 100% Amy was able to put into words what I have been trying to for weeks. Thank you Amy for this post, I hope that we can get the word out there so that people aren't sucked in, because of Oprah's influence on so many in our country. Enjoy the read and please do your own research!

I'm one of the many who are awed by Oprah's generosity & warmed by her giving. But I'm neither warmed nor awed by this latest blow to the very foundation my beliefs are built upon.
It seems Christ is being redefined & reinvented, (basically blasphemed). It's scary to me as I know how influential Oprah is, with millions (of watchers & dollars!).

I also realize how easy it is to buy into something like this. It's appealing. I mean, no sin? no satan? Wouldn't that be great?! An end to thinking that Jesus died for us for our sins? Who wouldn't like to live the rest of their lives ignoring the idea that someone did so much for us?!
I'm sure a lot of people will follow the idea that there are generally no rules. An intrinsic belief system of sorts. I mean I'm all for relying on your own convictions but belief in a system without the true foundation of Christ is complete false beliefs.

I also know that someone wanting to sneak into your house isn't going to knock the door down & yell & growl & scare you. They will come when you least expect, they will be quiet. They might even knock on your door & sweet talk you into letting them come into your living room.
And if you're wanting to convince someone of something, your best bet is to appear as if you have his or her best interest.

I don't let much get my feathers get ruffled when it comes to my faith. But when Jesus died for all of us...and then someone is wanting to use that, turn it upside down, and convince us to not build our basis on it, well, that kinda ticks me off.
Apparently this Helen Schucman heard voices back in the 60s (who didn't hear voices back in the 60s?!). She dubbed this voice as Jesus (I won't poke fun at that particular point, as I do believe Jesus speaks to some). Apparently Jesus 'spoke' to her & asked her to write down each things He said. At which point she created her book, Miracles.I got this info in an email but never believe everything I get in my inbox (otherwise I'd be posting about how I won THREE lotteries in ONE day! The Nigerian lottery & others!). So I did my own research.Here's my sources:http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/smith-oprah.htm
http://www.xmradio.com/oprah/index.jsphttp://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/newageoprah.asp
http://www.oprah.com/xm/mwilliamson/mwilliamson_about.jhtml?_loopback=1

Here's what a I read:
Oprah Winfrey, beginning January 1, 2008, on her daily radioProgram will offer a year-long course on the New Age Christ , in a Lesson a day and completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook."Listeners will be encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long course, and an audio version, recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas will be available on compact disc.Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined Spiritual mindset-a New Age worldview that include the beliefs that There is no sin, no evil, no devil. A Course in Miracles teaches its Students to rethink everything they believe about God and life, and,Bluntly states:

"This is a course in mind training" and is dedicated to"thought reversal.

"The Course in Miracles -in reality-is the truth of the Bible Turned upside down.Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book, Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience.

Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book to the top of the New York Times bestseller list .A Course in Miracles is allegedly a "new revelation" from"Jesus" to help humanity work through these troubled times.

This"Jesus"-who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's JesusChrist-began delivering channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology, Helen Schucman.One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is aCourse in miracles. Please take notes." For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this voice that described himself as"Jesus.

"Here are some quotes from the "Jesus" voice of A Course in Miracles :·

"There is no sin . . . "· A "slain Christ has no meaning."·

"The journey to the cross should be the last 'Useless journey."· "Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the Old rugged cross.'"·

"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol...It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray."·

"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."· "The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of Salvation.

"Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the "brilliant writing" of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world.

The Course in Miracles-based book, Forgiveness, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, "Rethink Conference" at his Crystal Cathedral.It's interesting that our generation is catching a glimpse at the 'end times' (the last days).

Read 2 Timothy 3:

Godlessness in the Last Days1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth

Things I've learned...

I've learned that I really do enjoy my treadmill and water. I hope that I continue to enjoy them. I've got 5 miles in so far this week. I went to sign Carson up for swimming lessons and learned that I'd have to be in the water with him at times....so it is time to work on the parts of my body that still look like I could have a baby on board!

I've learned that I am really sad to sell our house and move. I am so excited to be back home closer to our families. But to leave everything we have worked for over the past 10 years, all the friends we have made as a married couple and adults really is very bitter sweet for me.

I have learned that the world will keep turning once I leave my little post at work. Someone else will do my job and the place won't burn down, although sometimes I wish it would. Not really, but I hope you know what I mean! I have learned that once I am gone, I will not necessarily lose my friends at work but we will lose touch, I will be out of the loop. That makes me sad! As silly as it sounds, and I know it does I hope when my job is filled that my Salesmen don't like her as much as me, I hope that they don't think she can fill my shoes. I don't wish her ill will i really don't she is a very nice girl. I just want them to miss me. I know it's silly and obsessive, but I can't help it!

I've learned that if something is hurtful, confusing or upsetting, you should go to the source and make it right. It doesn't do anyone any good to let it fester.

So that was a very random post! On a very exciting note this morning Grace very clearly said "Brod her" (brother) She loves him so much! The feeling is mutual! Last night Carson was pushing her around the living room in the laundry basket. It was super cute!

(sorry the picture of the kids is so old, I'm at work without my pictures)

Two things my son got from me....

When Carson was born Dana was in Iraq. When he arrived he looked at me just like his daddy, he had the same wrinkles in his forehead that his daddy does. I was scared that with Dana being gone he wouldn't have his characteristics. Boy was I wrong....he is all boy! I used to joke that the only thing he got from me was drooling in his sleep. He has grown out of that...me not so much! But I've discovered one more thing!! He has dreams that he remembers! Last night he woke up at 1:30 for a bathroom break, he woke me up because he thought he lost his blankie. He said to me. "Mom, in my dream there was a bug on my finger and he was flapping his wings, and he pooped on me!" Not really knowing if he actually had a dream or was making up a story, this morning I asked him if he had any dreams. Sure enough he repeated the same dream! You gotta take the little things when nobody ever says your kids resemble you!

the picture is one of Carson and I in our twosome days! it's old I know!