The 'Total Money Makeover'!

Well, we have been listening to Dave Ramsey's 'Total Money Makeover' CDs now for a couple of weeks................. (www.daveramsey.com) and I think it has totally transformed us... we were always, despite Dan's great salary, looking for ways to cut back and get ahead....... but, without a direct and precise answer, we weren't sure what to do..... and nothing was working. Now, we have a concrete plan and are so excited to plan our future!!!

Since all of this has transpired, you must understand that our spending patterns must change....... Tonight I went out to spend $300 in groceries ( this is a ridiculously low amount for my family of 9... I usually spend close to $800 per shop).... I got to the checkout, very uneasy, and trembling a bit... It looked like we would be over (my usual. ugh). I had my Sam with me looking at the UNO game ($4.97)..........I told him that if we came in under $295, that he could get it.........well, we did it! we came in at $294.76.... we had just enough for his game, and we 'splurged'!! Wow, it is amazing how God works sometimes.......

I am officially an 'ULTRA marathoner'!!!

Well, we did it! Dan and I ran a 50k race (http://www.geocities.com/catherinesbigbutt/) on Saturday... our goal for the day was to come in under 9 hours.. sounds ridiculous, I know... that surely is a LONG time to run!! Well, after 8 hours and about 34 minutes (26 minutes to go...), we thought we were only 1 mile out (we knew we had it in the bag at this point, since we could practically crawl a 26 minute mile), so even though we hurt really badly and were SO tired, we RAN to get there before that 9 hour time passed us by.............. well, we realized after the race was over that that 'mile' was actually 1.9 miles....at least...... and we finished in 9:02! We were SO close, and you know, if it weren't for the huge FAT rattle snake that we encountered at mile 25, we just might have made it. All in all, it was a GREAT day!! We really enjoyed the course, the people we ran with, the race director and volunteers (thanks!!), and being together doing something we both love! We will most emphatically be doing that again..... once my body recovers.... :) I am off to bed now for some much needed sleep!!!

A great time!

Mary and I had a ball! We shopped, we ate out, we stayed up late, we talked, we watched TV, we walked across the highway in our pjs to get 'midnight snacks', we put on fake nails........... how quickly our evening went, but we anxiously await the time when we can go out together again!!!

Coming of age....

Before our kids enter middle school (around age 12), we take them out for an overnight to talk about some of the issues they will encounter upon entering teenagehood... and also for just some good, quality one-on-one time, which is so rarely found in a large family. Since my first 2 children were girls, it has so far been my turn to go for the overnight. Well, tonight is Mary's 'bar mitzveh' as we have come to call it. (don't know if I spelled that correctly..) This is her 'rite of passage' into being an 'older child' who gets more privileges. It is scary on one hand... we really would love for them to remain their innocent, childlike selves forever..... But, hopefully, by God's grace, we can bring them into adulthood with a good sense of responsibility and a desire to seek God's will in all things, a desire for purity and holiness in all aspects of their lives... Gee, parenting has certainly taken on a different twist from the 'good ol' diaper days'........ how simple that time was. Well, we are off for an evening filled with fun, good food, shopping and good conversation. Please keep us in your prayers!

A reason to bond.......

Dan has decided to take out one of our kids each month as a 'dad's night out'... In a family with seven kids, a night out alone with a parent is so rare.... so, this month, it was Gus' turn. They went to Spelunkers ( the kids' favorite restaurant) and then to the arcade. So, Gus comes home in a triumphal state (being able to show his brothers all he has done, and the 'goods' he has acquired... ). Unbeknownst to all, even Gus who 'won' it, Gus brings home a prize that all would covet... the woopie cushion... well, for the rest of the evening, all of my boys who normally would be fighting non-stop, are rallying together around the 'blessed woopie'. They all think it is absolutely hilarious and can't stop using it..................... aaaah, the price we pay for peace... :)

Thanks to my kids!

As I said in an earlier post, Dan and I have gotten in to running... well, training for marathons is no small feat, and it surely takes a lot of time... Back in the 'old days', we had to call in outside babysitters (Dan's mom) for our long runs. Now since we have 2 very capable girls old enough to babysit, we can go at our leisure, and be assured that all will be well. It really means the world to us to have this opportunity for many reasons, some of which being our time spent alone together (definitely #1!), the benefit of exercise (MUCH needed after birthing 7 kids...), time to just 'experience' the changes of seasons, time to pray, time to think about the kids and our lives, time to be thankful, time to be quiet (NEVER happens at home.. :), time to push our bodies (and minds) further than we thought they could go, and so many more... Well, after our marathon in May, we decided to take the kids out to Cracker Barrell as a reward for all their 'help' with our training. We got the usual reaction as we told the hostess that we needed a table for 9... 'uh, well, let me go see if we can rearrange some tables to accomodate you'... When our waitress came to the table, she was beside herself at the size of our family. Every time she came back to the table for something, she would comment on how good our kids were, how quiet they were, how amazed that we could have 7... and finally at the end of our visit she says, 'I am going home to ask my husband what we did wrong...'. Well, I know what we go through on a daily basis, and that all days aren't quite as perfect as that dinner experience was, but I smiled to myself and thought, 'You know, she is right. What a great bunch of kids. As tough as some times get, what would we ever do without them?' Thanks, guys, for being you and for being teriffic! I love you, Mum

Cancer free!

Well, after weeks of wondering if my brother was correct in guessing that I had a 'basal cell carcinoma' (a non-spreadable form of cancer) on my face... a spot he detected on our trip to OBX in June.. you can imagine my overactive imagination running wild with that one.. .how many months do I have left, what will happen to our kids, what will Dan do without me, will it hurt, etc, etc... Anyway, I went to a dermatologist today who basically said it was just a 'blemish' maybe caused by age...... (argh).. He also checked out the rest of my moles and gave me a clean bill of health! So, my years of overexposure in the sun haven't killed me yet!! :) Thank God for that!!

Our wedding song.........finally

Well, as you enter my blog world, the song that is playing is my 'intended' wedding song........ we were supposed to dance to that song at our wedding...... BUT.. yes, there is a but. Apparently, even though I told them months in advance what song we wanted to have available to dance to, they didn't get it....... and they didn't tell me until I was about to walk into my reception.. so, we had to pick a song on the spot (which I don't even remember what it was). No bitterness here... ha. After almost 15 years, I still remember............ (don't ever cross me.... hee hee) Anyway, I am elated to find a site that actually plays it now and I dedicate it to my loving husband. What a gift our marriage has been..... I love you.......

I have arrived!

Hello world! Here I am... a computer illiterate, on the web. I have been wanting to start a blog for a while, and even thinking up entries on my long runs....... well, here I am. I am a mother of 7 beautiful children. I am Catholic. I used to home school, but just last year have put my oldest 4 in school (we love it!!!). We live in a fabulous, pro-life, Catholic community. We are so grateful for that! I have a million stories to tell............ some about my kids, and some about our runs... Dan and I started running about 4 or 5 years ago. We were smokers, and wanted an outlet for the natural weight gain that comes with quitting. So, he suggests, let's run a marathon.......... (what?!?!) Anyway, years later, and many miles under our belts, we are hooked. In 2 weeks, we will embark on a 50k 'race'. Shew........ what was I thinking?? It has proven to be a wonderful way to spend 'quiet time' together though.. we know no one will follow us on a 4 hour run.. hahaha. So anyway, these will be the chronicles of a very large family just trying to survive in today's world....