Sad Day for BBNTP

This week I slacked. I walked myself almost everyday this week (yay for Amy), but sadly, I only walked Biscuit, wait for it....... once. I also slacked on the green beans because I forgot to refill the bowl and in the morning when they are waiting for food it is just easier to scoop the dog food than open a can of beans and yeah........ Yes. I am a terrible dog owner. Oh how the scales have volleyed this month........ back and forth and back and forth. We think it's her time of the month.

Current Stats:

Goal Weight: 30 pounds

Current Weight: 35 pounds - no progress

Goal Waist Measurement: the number where she gains a few more years of life.

Current Waist Measurement: 24 - up a whole $%^$ 1/2 inch from last week

Attitude at present weight: stinky (has the farts)

No picture. It would be sad.

The End

Tomorrow is our last Sunday as the Pastor of The Bridge International Church. I think it will be sad. Sad for me because I look at this church and see all the things I've done wrong. I wish I could have been a better "Pastor's Wife" for them. I went through alot while there, but I think mostly that is just excuses. I used the circumstances of my life to become a hermit. Anyway, part of me is glad because I think they will move on to someone who knows how to minister to them. And then there is the part of me that will genuinely miss the several families that we became friends with and invested in their lives. I know we can still keep up, I know we can still be friends, but it's not the same for some reason. Or, who knows, it might be even better!

So, the end of one chapter is the beginning of the next, right? The next chapter is titled..... WHO THE HECK KNOWS???? We will be jobless for the next few months (student visas, can't get a job), and then we will travel in the RV for a while as move on to....... um, who knows. I'm not worried, though, amazingly. I have come to terms with the fact that the future is not mine to worry about, I just have to figure out what God wants of me today. So, I will continue to be a wife, mom, and encourage my husband to finish school well.

So, here's what I ask of you, loyal blog readers. Pray for our family. Here are some specifics.

1. Pray for our service tomorrow. John is preaching on the cross and we are doing the Lord's Supper, what better way to finish, right?
2. Pray for the next few months of our lives, that we use them wisely. That we intentionally use them to become healthier spiritually, emotionally, physically and maritally (is that a word?)
3. That we not worry about the future
4. That the logistics of moving when we don't know where we are moving to and don't know if we have the money to do it will work themselves out!
5. That John finishes school, Greek in itself is a major prayer request!
6. That I don't stall in the last few months here. I have a problem with the attitude of not wanting to make friends/get involved/do ANYTHING when we will be leaving in a few months. I don't think this is a Godly attitude.
7. That we finish well!

Thanks guys. I don't know what we would do so far from home if we didn't know we had loyal friends who love us and care for us.

Deeper than the Dawgpound

So, I was wondering what you guys are studying in your Bibles? I figured, hey, we have to be deeper than the dawgpound boys, right?

I am doing three different studies at once, which is just recipe for failure, I believe. I mean, I only have the amount of time in the morning while Sadie is happy in the pack'n'play, so I should just stick to one. But do you ever feel like if you put off one thing you want to study you may never get to it, as if you don't realize you're only 29 and not 80? I'm doing a workbook study with a friend of mine (Christina) called "Making a Difference in your Marriage", I'm doing my one verse at a time study on Prov 31, I'm on "she does her husband good, not harm, all the days of his life", and I attempting to start a book study of James. AHHHHHHH. What am I doing?

All are good, all are definately worth it, I think I should just pick one. Anyway. James is my first attempt at a book study since I finished my Biblical Foundations class where they taught me how to study a book. The textbook "How to Read the Bible For all its Worth", I saw at Sam's last time I was home, which was weird but good! It's worth it if you want to learn how to study your bible better. I don't think any of that was good English. And the Prov. 31 thing is just a lifelong study, so it will take forever anyway, for good reason of course.

So, yeah. That's what I'm studying, what's going on with you guys? I'm curious to know what is happening in your lives beneath the surface.

I should go, Sadie's video is over and she is watching "The View" now. I'm not sure how to feel about that.

BBNTP

So, yes, it's true. Green beans work. Maybe we should all substitute half our meals for green beans, who knows? Maybe we are on to a new diet that could top the bestseller list! I am attempting to keep up with the walking schedule and we've made quite the progress. Apparently it is easier for dogs to lose weight than humans. I mean, I don't think I've shed a pound in the whole endeavor and I'm walking as much as she is..... what gives?

New Stats:
Goal Weight: 30 pounds
Current Weight: 35 pounds!
Goal Waist circumference: to see it
Current Waist circumference: 23 1/2 inches!
Attitude at current weight: Bitch

On a totally opposite note, here is a picture of Sadie's new ride. I am proud of it, and the airline paid good money for it.

Okay, I agree, Donald Miller rocks

Okay, now that I have finished "Blue Like Jazz" I feel I have some authority to comment on it. It was so good I really don't know where to start. Let's start with the fact that God has been really slapping me hard lately with how selfish I am. I mean, I live my life as if it is a play with me as the star and when other people go out of the play they no longer exist. Does that make sense? As if no one has a life outside of me. I don't usually admit to this, or consciously think it, but I do live this way. So, when I read that chapter in the book about "living with freaks" I realized that this man and I are so much alike. The whole book really is like me, but especially this part. He was describing how he had lived alone for so long that he didn't realize that he didn't know how to be around people anymore. This is SO me. When I finally am around other people I talk so much about myself and my life that I don't realize until I'm gone that I still know nothing of other's lives. Case in point, Jessica, when my parents asked me what you were up to after I saw you at Tech, I realized I don't really know because I talk too much about myself.

Anyway, I really like this Donald Miller guy. He seems very much to me to be a "real" Christian. I don't meet many of those anymore. Most of the time I include myself in the the "non-real" Christian category because so many times I revert back to living by rules instead of grace. I loved the comment he made about how people don't want to believe in a God they don't understand and how God is so much higher than us that we couldn't understand him "any more than the pancacke I made for breakfast this morning could understand me".

And Jessica, I spoke too soon about the use of the "blue like jazz" analogy as a title for to book. I hadn't gotten to the end yet when I said that. There is a passing reference to "blue like jazz" somewhere in the middle of the book that is a poor analogy and I didn't understand why he decided to use that as the title. Then I read the last chapter. Wow, I thought the comparison of our relationship with God and jazz music was so beautiful it made me cry. Jazz music is from the heart and can hardly be written down as sheet music because it is so emotional, and that is the way God is, not set lines of music that can be broken down mathematically, but blue, like jazz.

Video of Sadie playing

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Who knows, let's see where this takes us

Okay, so Jessica says I have to blog about something other than my dogs. Here's the problem I have run into lately with blogging, I only have a set amount of time before Sadie Ann explodes from being ignored. After catching up on other blogs, commenting on several, and then figuring out what to blog, my time is up. Today I have given Sadie a cookie in hopes for more time.

Speaking of bribing my 8 month old, I have recently realized that I have done everything wrong as a new mother. Yes, when she cries I pick her up, yes I let her nap on my chest sometimes, and *sigh* yes, she sleeps in our bed. We are coming into the "try to get her to sleep in her own bed" phase and it's not fun. Sarah is still here and doesn't leave for another 2 weeks, so for her benefit we have only started trying to get her to nap in the afternoon in her crib in her room (Sadie, not Sarah). After Sarah moves we will start trying night time, Sarah's room is across the hall and she gets up early for work, and I don't think she would appreciate it now. I am terrible at grammar, how many commas should that sentence have really had?

Anyway, she hates it. She doesn't like her crib, she doesn't like being alone. Why, you ask? Because I'm a terrible mother. So far it has been crying, no, screaming, for atleast 20 minutes before I finally pick her up and I'm always mad at myself when I do it because as soon as I pick her us she is laughing and playing and FINE! But, I have gone to my favorite store in Calgary "Once Upon a Child", the most wonderful consignment store you have ever seen, and purchased one of those crib bumpers with things to play with on it. I was told that would help her like her crib. Although, I do watch SuperNanny once in a while and I remember Jo saying that you shouldn't give them stimulation when you want them to go to sleep, so WHO KNOWS THE CORRECT ANSWERS, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!

Enough about the kid. John just began his last semester in Seminary. The beginning of the end. What a relief. I, however, will be finishing my degree until I'm 87. But, in a little over 3 months we will be moved out of this horrible little apartment and homeless traveling with my parents in the RV for however long they want to go. It sounds like heaven really. No rent, no bills, no real responsibility for John (I on the other hand will still be doing the same things every day, feed, change, play, nap, yada yada. Oh, and yes I know, John will help) We still don't know where we will end up in June/July after the trip across the world, but right now I'm just glad to know THIS phase is almost over. Calgary is not my favorite place in the world and I want to move!

Okay, this is getting long and I do have other housewifely (is that a word) responsibilities like laundry, dishes, cooking and such. Also, I am stroller researching because the airline FINALLY contacted me and I am to buy a new stroller and send them the receipt. Yay. Although, now I have to figure out which one, before someone gave me one so I didn't have to think through all of this. Do any of you moms out there have a stroller you genuinely love and couldn't part with that if I don't buy my world will be a sad and gray place?

Boudreaux

Oh my, it's so true, Boudreaux gets no respect. He's the good one, therefore there is never need to speak of him. I LOVE this picture because it shows his personality SO well. So, here he is in all his glory. He is wonderful, even John will testify to that. Everyone needs a Boudreaux.

BBNTP update

So, it seems to be working! That's right, Biscuit is slowly becoming more of an English Muffin. This week I got to take them four times for a run in the park, which of course is not every day like I wanted to, but then again it is better than nothing! I also stuck to the green beans mixed with half of her food and, even though she doesn't look any skinnier to me, she has lost weight! Her are her updated stats:

Goal Weight: 30 pounds (7 to go....)

Current weight: 37 pounds (down 3!)

Current waist Measurement: 24 inches (down 1!)

Attitude at present weight: She actually has been better behaved this week.

So Glad I Didn't Deal Drugs..

So, there was a time, after the c-section when I still had two bottles of percocet left, that I considered how much those little pills would bring me on the streets of Calgary. But, a life of crime would not fit my "Pastor's Wife" rep, so I didn't. Or maybe because I know it's wrong, and God wouldn't like it, and I really don't want to spread the growing drug problem on our streets, or something like that. Either way, now I'm glad. Why you ask? Because today my neck spasmed again, something that happens every now and then because I have a disc problem, and it's Saturday evening with no hope of chiropractic care until Monday morning, so I took an Endocet! It still hurts, but now I can pick up my child. So, thank you God for keeping me from a life of crime. Just thought I would share.

And on the same note, I saw a news report the other day that they were putting an 80 year old woman in prison for selling half of her medication to pay for food. She was only taking half of what she needed and selling the rest because she didn't have enough money to feed herself, and apparently this is a growing trend among the elderly! How INCREDIBLY sad is this? ANNNNDDD, they put her away! They should feed the woman!

Anyway, because of my altered state this evening, I got A &W and movies out of it! I can't move well, so no cooking for me, and what else can I do but sit on the couch and watch movies??? Too bad, especially now that it doesn't hurt so much and I just feel kinda hazy. In the hospital the percocet made me hallucinate, so I took down the dose for tonight. hehe. Although, sometimes, when it hurts, it would be nice to hallucinate my mom here.

Babies everywhere!

The last few days have been baby madness it seems. Rebecca (Webb) was supposed to be induced on Wednesday and when she called Tuesday I said "How are you feeling, are you having contractions......" and she said "Actually, I'm nursing Caleb!". It went so fast and at 3 in the morning that she didn't get to call anyone! So, Caleb Dale Webb is in the world! Also my friend Angela had a baby boy named Ethan on Wednesday, and I just got pics of Jeremy and Jana (Cardy's) new arrival, Brylee Paige born on January 3! So, it seems May was a very busy month....

Not much else to report from the Schaffner household. Just trying to clean house which used to take me a few hours, now takes me a few days because Sadie won't let me! I'm not feeling all that well today, so that makes things harder too. And, oh yeah, we're still in the middle of figuring out this whole "God's will for our lives thing". Yeah.

Beefy Biscuit's Nutritional Therapy Program

In the future to be called "BBNTP". We like it because it's unnecessarily lengthy.

This is Biscuit 'sandGravy Schaffner. That wasn't a mistake, her middle name is 'sandGravy. My New Year's Resolution this year is for Biscuit to lose five pounds. I would like her to be around a little longer, and the way she's going she's going to have a heart attack soon. If you would like to see how a Beagle is SUPPOSED to look, check out Kristi's blog texasrosley.blogspot.com. Anyway, I need accountability in keeping up this Nutritional Therapy Program, so I've decided to make it a regular occurrence on the blog so that you all can see our progress (even though some of you *Jessica* could care less). So, here's her beginning stats.

• Goal Weight: 30 pounds
• Current Weight: 40 pounds (roughly a two year old child)
• Goal Waist Measurement: To be able to see a waist.
• Current Waist Measurement: 25 inches
• BMI: it says 103.8, um, she's dead. I don't think we can calculate that
• Attitude at present weight: fat, grumpy, lazy, out of control.

Change to diet: the infamous "green bean" diet which is touted by my Aunt's vet. I am mixing in green beans with half the normal amount of dog food.

Exercise: Nose Hill Park. Very hilly. Five days a week (at least). This means I also will be walking those hills five days a week, there goes the baby weight!

Stay tuned for regular updates on the incredibly shrinking Biscuit, in the end she will be "Light-and-fluffy"!

Gee flying is so fun....

I'm back! I got back in last night late and John will *hopefully* be home late tonight and then maybe my family will finally be reunited! John has been driving now for an entire week, can you imagine? All by yourself? He says he's been really bored. I can't imagine why.

So, even though I am home for good I have to back to the airport today. Why, you ask? To make a claim because they BROKE MY STROLLER! Seriously folks, for a new mom traveling by herself with the baby all ALONE, this is the WORST possible scenerio! I traveled once with Sadie alone and didn't take the stroller because I didn't understand why people do it. I mean, almost every airport you are in you can get those little metal rolly carty thingys that you can put the baby seat on. Then I was delayed at an airport that didn't have them. Alone. Carrying a very heavy baby in a carseat all day. That's when the light came on and I realized that all those people are geniuses. So, this time that is the ONLY reason I even TOOK the stroller home, was for the trip back. I had three different airplanes, four different airports, and on the FIRST leg from Alexandria to Houston they crushed the part of my stroller that made it lock on the up position, which of course makes it useless. I found this out after getting off the plane, loading Sadie in the stroller, walking to the boards to look for my next flight, and then feeling the stroller *give*. With my daughter in it. I was so scared, and then I was SO MAD. So I checked it out and, yep, the locking part was completely crushed. Yes, I did the girl thing, I got so mad and frustrated I started crying and couldn't stop! Sometimes being a girl suckes. I can make a claim, they will buy me a new stroller, but I still had to lug the thing around all the way to Calgary, WITH my carseat, WITH my daughter, WITH my baby bag! Needless to say, I had no choice but to get help and spent long hours with nice people like Tommy who earned their money for the day. I had no extra to give him a tip, so I've been praying blessings over him ever since. I hope he wins the lottery. Wait, I don't think I'm supposed to hope that.

Then the last leg of the flight, even though we had paid $250 for John's seat which he did not use, the desk agents would not give me the extra seat for Sadie's carseat, so for 2 1/2 hours I had to hold her in my lap next to a nice Egyptian man who REALLY liked babies and creeped me out. I had to breastfeed next to this man.

Okay, enough with my venting. I'll let you know how understanding the airline is. It was time for a new stroller, so atleast I'm not paying for it, but it would have been nice if they had waited until the LAST leg of the flight to crush my spirit.

I'll probably blog again later because I want to start a "regular feature" on my blog. I haven't decided what to name it yet, maybe you can help me with that! My *New Year's Resolution* is for my dog Biscuit's and Gravy (Biscuit for short) to lose 5 pounds. So, I figure if I post pictures and Biscuits stats regularly I will have some accountablility for actually working hard on this. So, what should I call Biscuit's weight loss adventure? Sideblog your ideas.

Before I go I have to say that when I saw Mrs. Elly on the Sideblog it made me SO HAPPY I almost cried. Mrs. Elly we love you so much! When John and I were talking the other day about the BCM at SLU we were trying to figure out if they had a "Mrs. Elly", someone who actually kept the building standing. It was so funny because we probably said it 10 times and it was always referred to as their "Elly". I don't know if I could go into BCM work without an "Elly"! Okay, this is getting long!

BSU Reunion

Yes, I called it BSU, because the people who were there WERE BSU. We were not BCM. Anway, it was such a great experience. Not only getting to see my friends from the good ole days, but telling our favorite stories was really fun. We were all sitting in the chapel and I had to get up and go to the back by myself to nurse the babe, and so looking up at the stage with just that one stage light on made it look like I was watching a play. A play about my good ole days.

Anyway, after lots of funny stories and then some serious stories (Micheal and demons anyone???) Eric Johnson said "We have alot to be accountable for after going through this place" And I think he was right. Something about the time that we were there was significant. I remember that it was not like that before us, and I've heard it's not like that now (those of you who were there know what "that" means), but for us it was incredibly significant. Looking around the room at those who were there and where God has taken them made me realize that our time was even more special and life changing than I remember it being. I am so glad that we were here at this point in time to actually make it to a reunion!