Not Me Monday!!!!

We went to the fair this weekend. This is a rather small one but nevertheless it was a blast. Of course there were a lot of Not Me moments. I thought I would share just a few.

I did not force my child to hold his little hand out with animal feed in it for a goat to eat out of. Messy eaters!!!!! Slobber and spit every where. Oh but was it fun!!!!!

Not only did I NOT do it once but I did it again!!!!!!

Then it was off to the rides. I did not PUT him on a ride of motorcycles to go around and around in a circle.

It did not take Daddy and the operator to get him buckled in. He only went around one time and we had to stop because of the tears.

We DID NOT pay $15 for the paper bracelet attached to his ankle for him to go to the fair and play in the water puddle. Could have saved $15 but it was worth every penny to watch him find the biggest puddle he could!!!!!

Hope you have a great week!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam
PS-off to a delivery tomorrow!!!! Can't wait!!!!! Check back for updates.!!!!!!

Super Supper Saturday Sunday

SQUASH BAKE


4 medium squash (use zucchini or yellow squash)
2 cups finely crushed club cracker crumbs (I sometimes use Ritz as a substitute)
2 tablespoons butter
3 eggs
1 small onion, finely chopped or grated
½ cup 2% reduced fat milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (reduced fat can be used)
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
¼ tsp. sugar
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9-inch pie pan or 9-inch square baking dish.

Cook squash and drain well (just until tender). Press cracker crumbs in bottom of dish to form a crust. Dot with butter. Spoon squash on top.

Whisk eggs in a bowl until fluffy. Stir in onion, milk, 2/3 cup of cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. Pour over squash. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese.

Bake uncovered 35 minutes or until golden around the edges.

Serves 6 to 8 people.

Laboring (and Cooking) with You,

Doula Mama Pam

Thoughtful Thursday

Thoughtful Thursday Already....
Can you believe it? Things have been so very busy and so hectic but at the same time, all in all a pretty good week this week. I have been able to do several workouts and it feels so good. There is enough stress in every one's life sometimes and I have discovered that exercise/running is my release. There is something about those endorphins that get going and things just seem to fade away. Things seem to be easier to handle. Attitude is changed. Stress is down. Physically feel better. Mentally and emotionally feel better. Not to mention just clear headed.
Sometimes it's only a 30 minute spot that appears in the middle of a crazy day and it's just enough to put on the headset with the Ipod and hit the road. It's just time to be quiet. Time to get out the emotions of that day.
Question keeps coming back to me though, even as I type(write) this entry. "What if I had 'work-out time' each day with Him? I don't mean driving to work. I don't mean at a meal with a 10 second grace. I mean a real, work-out time, with Him.
So....now that we have that thought. Let's take it and run with it.

Warm Up- Get the heart rate up a bit. Get ready. Get things moving.
Warm Up with Him- Find the same place everyday. Kitchen table, floor next to the bed, sitting at a desk, favorite chair, favorite bench in the yard. Bible in hand, a pen and a piece of paper. Close your eyes and just envision Him. Him sitting next to you, across from you, sitting knee to knee with you or you sitting at His feet. If that doesn't get the heart rate up a little, we may need to have you check with your doctor.
Work Out- Lasting however long possible. Heart rate up. A little strength training, a great deal of sweating going on. Focus on the ultimate goal. Muscles working, heart is working and this really feels great!!!!!
Work Out With Him- Focus on Him. Focus on His goal for you. What does He have planned for you? What does He want to share with you? How does He want to challenge you today? Where does He see you at today? Are you hiding behind unconfessed sin? Angry over a diagnosis that you have received? Despair over a wandering child? Frustrated with infertility? Saddened by the thoughts of losing a child that you have carried and may lose with in moments after you meet them? Yes, heart is racing and this is the time. Lay it out. Tell Him how you are feeling. He is a big God and He can handle it. He already knows. He is right there holding your hand and loving you and wiping your tears and sharing His light and His perfect love with you. WRITE IT DOWN!!!!!!!
Cool Down- Basking in the awe of what you have accomplished. Feeling good, bringing the heart rate down, drinking water, loving the feeling of the muscles that have been worked.
Cool Down with Him- BASKING in His glory. Be still and be quiet in His presence as His love just simply washes over you. The calm that comes from Him. The love. The excitement. He is so good. He is so perfect. He loves you sooooo Very much!!!!!!!

That would be the ultimate work out!!!!!! Amen? Amen!!!!!!!

Laboring with You,
Doula Mama Pam

Wordless Wednesday

Remember this picture????? I have managed to work out quite a bit this week and it feels great so why not!!!!!!! Signing up for Myrtle Beach Half Marathon this weekend!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!! Anyone want to join me????? Cool place to meet up for some Starbucks???? Let me know......

Have a great day!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Stop the Presses!!!!!!

I have been e-mail interviewed!!!!!! I am so excited I could bust a gut!!!!!!
Monica, who writes this blog sent me an e-mail interview to get to know her "followers". I am honored and humbled that she has done this!!!!!!! I'll keep you posted to when it appears on her site.

Thanks Monica!!!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Blog Hoping Artwork!!!!!

I love to take pictures but not nearly as good at it as my son, Kyle. These pictures remind me that "His Mercies Are New Every Morning!!!"
There are about 6 other pictures. I took a picture every 2-3 minutes during sunrise at the beach. My favorite time at the beach!!!!!
Have a great day!!!!!
Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Not Me Monday

I am soooo glad that McMama is going to do a Not Me Monday today. I love doing these but wasn't sure if I was going to get to or not.
Of course, this weekend was my birthday and I actually made it through the weekend and I only remember shedding tears one time (or maybe 2). It was awesome. Mom and Dad were here and my oldest came and spent the day with me on Saturday. It was just awesome!!!!!!!!!

OK, let's get going!!!!!

I did not go to the gym on Saturday morning and get a work-out according to my oldest child and then proceed to come home and eat a bacon-egg-cheese biscuit from McDonald's.
I did not only eat a slice of birthday cake for lunch.
I did not go to dinner with my husband (by ourselves!!!!!) and watch us split the appetizer and then proceed to eat my entire dinner and on the inside WISHING they had a dessert menu.....what in the world was I thinking????
I did not sit last night with the 2 year old that has now had his first experience with markers and watch him color his toes and toenails red. (Papa taught him to do that while they were here).
I did not actually get nervous about teaching 4 year olds yesterday, afraid I would forget everything. (IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!)

It was a great weekend with lots of fun and lots of looking and shopping. Oh, and I got a new Vera Bradley bag......as my physician-mentor-of-the-doula-world would say, "very granola". It is sooooo pretty. Reds and blacks. LOVE IT!!!!!!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!!!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Today is my Birthday!!!!

I have no idea why birthday's have become so difficult for me. Last year I hit the big 4-0 and that was really hard. I was even listening to the radio this morning and someone was celebrating their 45th birthday and they were having a hard time as well. I felt a little better knowing that I was not the only one. It is only a number and we make it seem like such a big deal and we try to make it define who and what we are. Who and what we are in Christ is the most important thing. That is what dries my tears when the flood gates open and I realize what all I have experienced in 41 years.
On Thursday we did the alphabet. Today we will do numbers. I sound like a teacher....LOL
So let's see what happens with this. If it is close to your birthday, give it a try and see what you come up with. You can list characteristics, whether good or bad, and then who and what you are. So, let's get started.

1-Child of The King
2-Loved by my family
3-Daughter
4-Sister
5-Aunt
6-Granddaughter
7-Mother
8-Wife
9-Friend
10-Pray-er
11-3 children- Ages 20 to 2yrs old
12-Blogger
13-Doula
14-Perinatal Fitness Instructor
15-Childbirth Educator In Training
16-Full Time Employee
17 Certified Nursing Assistant
18-Bank
19-Listener
20-Independent
21-Dependent on my Lord
22-Cry-er (I can cry ANYTIME)
23-Sinner saved by Grace
24-Teacher of 4 year olds in Sunday School
25-Former Preschool Teacher
26-Not a college graduate
27-Love for pregnant women and teens
28-Funny
29-Great Cook(so I have been told.
30-Passionate
31-Love the mountains
32-Love the beach
33-writer/journal-er
34-Lived in California
35-Grew up in Ga.
36-Lived in Maryland
37-Lived in Texas
38-Gone to Nepal once
39-Gone to Ukraine twice-hope to return some day
40-Gone to India twice-hope to return some day
41-Celebrating my Birthday

Today WILL be a good day. My parents are in town, life is great!!!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Super Supper Saturday Sunday

GEORGIA BRUNSWICK STEW


1 whole chicken or 4 chicken breasts (cooked & chopped)
1 small pork roast (cooked & chopped)
1 small beef roast (cooked & chopped)
1 can cream-style corn
1 can whole kernel corn (drain)
1 & ½ cups catsup
1 & ½ cups Cattleman’s bbq sauce (or your favorite)
2 medium onions, thinly chopped
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup white vinegar
Salt & pepper (to taste)
Tabasco sauce (to taste)
Cayenne pepper (to taste)
Chicken broth (at least 3 cans or you can use left-over broth from cooking chicken; you
can add more if you like your stew thinner.)

Cook and chop meats (I use a food processor). Add all ingredients. Cook on medium or low heat for at least an hour (longer it cooks, the better it is). Browned hamburger meat or ground turkey could also be added if desired. I also sometimes add a can of small butterbeans or lima beans, drained well.

This recipe can be altered in many ways to suit your taste. If you like it less tomato-tasting, use less catsup & bbq sauce. If you want it thinner, add more broth. If you don’t eat red meat, it is okay to leave out the beef roast (still tastes good).

This freezes well also. Enjoy!

Laboring (and Cooking) with You,

Doula Mama

Thoughtful Thursday- Grab the button and join me!!!!

I was reading another blog the other day. They had this really cool idea on it. They had taken the alphabet and listed it out. Then by each letter, they had listed a Name or Description of God. It was amazine. She had listed characteristics, names, descriptions, praises, and even a request or 2. I have gone back to try and find it and I can't locate it. I'm not trying to copy someone here or take their idea but thought it would be good to do for a Thursday. So, with that in mind, let's get started. I am sure this is going to be harder than it looks.....

A-Alpha
B-Begining
C-Caring
D-Defender
E-Everything
F-Forgiving
G-Gracious
H-Holy Spirit
I-Immanuel
J-Jesus
K-King of Kings
L-Lover of my soul
M-Maker of new beginning's
N-Never-ending
O-Omniscient
P-Praise
Q-Quiets my spirit
R-Redeemer
S-Savior
T-Truth
U-Unconditional Love
V-Victorious
W-Wants ALL OF ME
X-xed-out ALL my sin!!!!!( I did look in a thesaurus and xed out is a word)
Y-Yoke is easy
Z-Zealous for me.

That was pretty neat. I would challenge you to sit down and do this today. I think it would interesting to do this once a month and just see if it changes. Do we change our thoughts and descriptions depending on our situations? Let's meet again on October 8th and see if mine is any different. Have a great day!!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam