Why Facebook is my Lenten Sacrifice.

Okay. I know I am 4 days late on this, but it took me a while to arrive at my personal sacrifice for Lent.
Since my life has changed so dramatically over the past year, having so many blessings to be thankful for, I am really trying to be a more spiritual person having strayed away in the past. One's Lenten Sacrifice should be to do away with something that is negative for your self preservation, health, and betterment.
I have decided to give up Facebook for Lent because it has turned in to such a negative thing for me. I am beginning to see it as a bragging forum for people to go to and flaunt their material possessions in a manner seemingly meant to sound superior to others, or how fabulous their lifestyle is, how much better their marriage or children are than anyone else's, or to spew social, political, or religious negativity or hate. I have found too often that I will start my day filled with joy in my happy home, blessed with a strong marriage and healthy child, and loving friends and family, and I will check my Facebook and take from it feelings of angst, jealousy, worry, anger, someone knit-picking on my every move, obsession, and i find myself sometimes comparing my green grass to others. I NEVER want to do this. It sickens me.
It has taken me a while to choose my personal sacrifice because of the self evaluation I went through. Where was the negativity coming from? Where were the mood changers coming from? Where we're the unhealthy thoughts of comparison and jealousy coming from? Facebook.
I think there are a few users on Facebook that update their status in this manner intentionally to glorify, self-promote, and invoke these very reactions; parading around how much better their lives are in general than anyone else's.
I had become a frequent checker of Facebook on my phone, PC, and laptop and in doing so, would put off something so much more worthwhile, relevant, healthy or important. I need to remove myself for the reality check my Facebook addiction needs. I need to remove myself for the emotional readjustment my mind needs. I need to remove myself as a reminder of just how full and wonderful my life is without it, without the inevitable comparisons. I need to refocus what few precious moments I have to myself during the day (currently spent primarily on Facebook) doing something worthwhile for my son, even if he is napping, something special or helpful for my husband, helping friends, visiting family, and taking care of myself.
I use Facebook truly as a networking tool, and without it I may be just on the outside of the loop. I have everyone's numbers, and if you need me or my email, please inbox me today for that information so we can stay in touch over the next several weeks. I also intend to keep up with my blog. I feel that the blog is about my family, for my family. I may “share” new blog post links on Facebook for my blog followers, but I do not need to log in to do this.
The objective of this Lenten sacrifice for me is that it will be a learning experience, a wake-up call, and a healing time for me so that when I come back, I will have a whole new appreciation for my many blessings, a new self confidence, no more emotional weakness leading to comparisons or coveting, and far less of a need to be so reliant on and addicted to Facebook.
Please pray for me during Lent, for the changes I am trying to make, and for my mind to be redirected in a more positive, less wasteful way. Until Easter, Facebook...

A February Cutie

I have been so far behind with this blog, and with facebook. I just wanted to post a few pics of CUTE significance for friends and family. He is growing up SO FAST!

 Soaking up some rays in the sweet Virginia breeze!

 Rompin' and rollin'!

 I'm a ball pit pro, Mommy!

 My first time on a swing!

 Surprise!

 Peas!

 I love my Grandma.

 Oh, just lounging before bed in my rocker.

 I'm sorry, but it honestly doesn't get much cuter than this.

 I love this adorable child.

 I love my Valentine card!!

 Getting strong at Romp-N-Roll

 Ahhh, sun.

 So much for leaving him semi-unattended with his toys even for a second now. This is my view from my kitchen sink (please forgive this hideous, embarrassing yellow paint) and Cooper, who was once on the other side of a long room, came to find Mommy, traveling about 10 feet without my knowing. I looked up from the sink to see this. He was looking for me:)

 Bursting with LOVE for Mi Amor! Look at this beautiful face!

Pretty much the most amazing video ever made.

Romp-N-Roll!

We joined Romp-N-Roll! After today, I am very excited to say that my friend Ashley and her beautiful son Kade have joined as well, and hope to have many play dates with her in the future as I enjoy her company and Kade is close in age to Cooper.
We took Cooper to a free "baby class" as a 6 month birthday present for him. Scott and I were floored at how he responded. He LOVED it. He really enjoyed socializing with the other babies, the songs, the games, the "romping", the bubbles and parachute, the gym equipment, and the stories. Romp-N-Roll provides for Cooper a change of scenery, but also offers young child "gym" equipment I could never come close to recreating at home. The baby classes and open gym are all geared toward age appropriate physical, cognitive, and motor skill development as well as fun and socializing for the little ones.
Scott and I knew right away we had to do this for him. He benefited so much in just minutes.
Here are a few pics:

getting (back) into the kitchen...

For those of you following who don't know my background but so well, my Granny played, and plays a very huge role in my upbringing and life. My parents divorced when I was 3 years old, and my Granny stepped in as my 'second parent'. I spent much of my week with her as a young child, and Mom and I eventually moved in with her permanently until Mom remarried years later.
My Granny and Papa were the stable role models in my life, both in such a loving, devoted, lifelong marriage, and such caring and special grandparents. I really benefited from such a good environment and it helped me with my issues from my parent's divorce, my Granny helped me with my self confidence, and their marriage really showed me what I wanted my family to be like. Their values, their love of each other and their children and grandchildren, and the running of their household helped shape who I am today, and has aided me in building the foundation for a happy family and marriage.
ALSO........ My Granny just so happened to be the most AMAZING cook on the planet, and you can take that to the bank. Guess who was standing right beside her all those years, apron on, first on a chair, then on a stool, and then shoulder to shoulder... yours truly. I don't even pretend to be 1/10th of the culinary genius she was, (she is still living at 96 years young, bless her, she no longer cooks) but I like to believe I picked up a trick or three. After Cooper was born, and as I've mentioned previously in other posts, the sense of family has become so strengthened for both Scott and me that we have now started eating dinner every night, no matter what, at the dinner table with the TV off, just like Granny would insist, and I have stopped serving sub-par meals (protein, starch, vegetable basics). Every night I cook, and when I say I cook, I mean I cook "GRANNY STYLE"!! Sure I still provide the staples in every meal, protein, starch, veggie, but now it's done right. I've decided to post a few of the things I had the most success with, and am most proud of for anyone out there seeing anything you like, I'd be happy to pass on a GRANNY RECIPE for you. Yes, she was a 'southern' cook, but didn't just stick to that genre as you will see below. She also cooked with real butter, salt, and crisco (and may I remind you yet again, she's 96 with a heart healthier than most), but I have altered her recipes for some slightly healthier alternative ingredients. I really don't think the incredible flavors of these recipes have suffered from the ingredient changes.
I will also have you all know that these recipes are from the most frugal woman that ever lived, and therefore each and every one are extremely economical. For example: The London Broil with dipping sauce and roasted potatoes, by far the most INCREDIBLE thing we both agreed that we have put in our mouths, let alone that I've cooked, that slab of meat was $9 folks, and Granny's recipe made it taste like a million bucks. It lasted 2 dinner's and a lunch, and every inexpensive bite was savored. I would have ordered this at an extremely fancy restaurant and it still would have blown me away if made by a professional chef. We are definitely on a budget in this household, but eat like kings.
Though, it will NEVER taste quite like Granny, the following have come as close as I can hope to get. Bon Apetit.

 Believe me, these ain't your usual stuffed peppers.

 The most excellent London Broil with herbed butter sauce and roasted rosemary potatoes.

 Crab Bisque. Better than ANY I have ordered in a restaurant. Scott "doesn't do crab" and actually LOVES this.

 Crock pot lasagna. Scott says "This is much better than even Stouffers"!

 Ribeye. Her recipe. Wine sauteed mushroom topping. Mine. Together... *sigh*.

 Shepperd's Pie

 Cheddar herb biscuits. Folks, these are better than the "cheddar bay biscuits" from Red Lobster.

 Candy!

If you look closely, Hubby came behind me and rearranged the candy to say "COOP". <3