tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9506526175954221072011-11-28T21:38:19.147-08:00Mother, daughter, wife, friend, writer, aspiring vegetarian, dread-wearer, people loverCathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-74769809979258434122011-07-21T17:36:00.000-07:002011-07-21T17:40:17.592-07:00

I was supposed to be working last night but couldn't help checking in on my blog friends to see how they were doing. Work has consumed my life, for the most part, lately and I haven't had a lot of time to keep up with the happenings in everyone's lives. Something I read really struck a nerve. It wasn't so much bad and it wasn't what I read specifically. It was more a thought. A thought that came

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-4646739401057784902011-06-28T15:10:00.000-07:002011-06-28T15:10:31.912-07:00

So the last few weeks have been hell. Really. REALLY. Not only have I been working really hard, my hubby found a job. And, of course, change means crazy kids. And sleep-deprived mom means cranky, sarcastic mom. Just like my kids, I have made bad choices left and right. No patience. No compassion. Yep, I headed into my default, pretty head-first. Thankfully, it wasn't quite as bad as my true

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-28363281048506766462011-06-11T16:59:00.000-07:002011-06-11T16:59:41.409-07:00

Changing from a full chemical life, consumeristic lifestyle (yes, I mean full - like everything we ate had preservatives, everything we used had chemicals) to a natural lifestyle has taken years...and we still aren't there yet. I am still discovering/finding new things. And, everytime I discover something new, I get excited...like insanely excited! I am learning that many of my early life issues

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-69272119661144663822011-06-05T21:29:00.000-07:002011-06-05T21:31:53.330-07:00

Okay...so it's coming...it's REALLY coming! Yeah, to say I am excited is an understatement, to say the least. I have waited to read the book cuz I always end up being disappointed in the movie if I read the book first. (Yeah, I know, I'm backwards...what's new?) Yet, my excitement is getting so big I don't know if I can keep waiting. UGH! November 18th seems soooo far away, and, it's only the

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-74802369288083866842011-06-04T01:25:00.000-07:002011-06-04T01:27:24.967-07:00

Okay, so I love this song. Really great message. Enjoy.

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-87776293395823580712011-05-30T02:21:00.000-07:002011-05-30T02:21:03.432-07:00

Rachael's book is not out yet, but I have had a chance to get a quick sneak peak at her upcoming book, Amaranth - Book One of the Resistance Trilogy. Amaranth takes place in Southern Louisiana. The main character of the book, Camille, is trying to escape her abusive past and her deadly vampire ex-boyfriend. Little does she realize that she is about to head right into the very same world she is

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-12513358544648564552011-05-20T02:12:00.000-07:002011-05-24T12:33:43.828-07:00

One of my Facebook friends clued me into a law passed pertaining to breastfeeding. She felt serious conflict about the situation, as I am sure that many breastfeeding moms do. I have decided to share my thoughts on the subject. According to a local news report, breastfeeding any child over the age of 2 is illegl in the city of Atlanta. Let's think about this for a minute. Sure, the law is

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-43268243412676212062011-05-17T14:43:00.000-07:002011-05-17T14:43:49.028-07:00

So I was discussing my soon-to-be dreads again and got the whole, "EW" factor. It cracks me up. Even before I started heading into the realm of dreads personally, I knew. I knew because I took the time to reserch. However, before my reserch, I had the same thought about dreads mysef. It is crazy just how misunderstood dreads are. Those that embark on a "dreadful" journey have to be ready and

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-71221359585560428262011-05-06T20:35:00.000-07:002011-05-06T20:35:42.615-07:00

I recently read Phil Torcivia's most recent book "Just a Nice Guy." We just awarded our giveaway winner with a signed paperback copy and I have to say that I am jealous. Phil is a down-to-earth, honest to goodness guy who is extremely funny. His divorce, his dating life, and the dating life of those around him are portrayed in a humerous, completely male point of view. Like all of Phil's books,

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-43070027858756915152011-04-24T19:22:00.000-07:002011-04-27T09:42:27.028-07:00

If you have been keeping up, you probably noticed a review here about one of Phil's books. Well, his new book, "Just a Nice Guy" just came out on Kindle and is set to come out in paperback this week. So, in all of my excitement, I have contacted Phil to see if I could do a giveaway of his new book. Because he is just awesome like that, he said yes! He's even going to sign the book! Exciting stuff

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-17339120247925714292011-04-21T15:17:00.000-07:002011-04-21T15:17:14.391-07:00

So I finally heard from the family that I discussed last month. Definitely excited to hear from them! The last I knew, they couldn't get into a shelter because they didn't have a birth certificate for the baby and they didn't know where they were sleeping. It was raining that night and I had spent more cash than I had on the two nights at the hotel. The wife just messaged me today, letting me

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-57969168061487358382011-04-21T00:37:00.000-07:002011-04-21T00:54:20.249-07:00

I recently read the book, "Nice Meeting You" by Phil Torcivia. The following is my review of this book. Phil Torcivia writes humorous books about relationships, sex, dating, and being a single guy. To date, he has published four books. His most recent book, "Just a Nice Guy" is set to release sometime before May 1st. It is currently out on Kindle. Phil's book, "Nice Meeting You" contains short

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-43526581846591798302011-04-19T09:40:00.000-07:002011-04-19T09:40:38.780-07:00

Sometimes we feel so lonely Never noticing that companionship was waiting. Sometimes we feel so small Never knowing that we are someone's hero. Sometimes we feel so empty Never seeing the lives we filled with joy. Sometimes we feel unnoticeable Never understanding how much someone saw in us. Sometimes we feel unloveable Never comprehending the unconditional love of another. Sometimes we feel so

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-71990123543709316922011-04-18T01:18:00.000-07:002011-04-18T01:19:43.982-07:00

Before I started learning about credit, I never really paid much attention to the difference between credit repair, debt settlement and debt consolidation. Then, I had a project that required me to research them all. I quickly found out the types that are bad for you. I also found out what works. The following is a really great post that can help you understand the different types of credit help

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-50641902097304459452011-04-15T22:03:00.000-07:002011-04-15T22:03:03.667-07:00

I made a post about this a while back. I am still struggling with this internal conflict. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be sure one way or the other. Our family has a hard time making up their minds! We waver back and forth between two ideas for our future. This future will be determined when our home sells. It is probably a good thing that it hasn't yet because our plans change at least

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-81947098258365237662011-04-12T16:23:00.000-07:002011-04-12T16:27:18.139-07:00

I started out my adult life as a mom. My parents, while they had decent credit, had never really discussed with me the impact that credit can have on your life. Of course, times have changed. Over the years, I have found that good credit is becoming more and more important. More things are based upon your credit. Things that we may not even think about. The really crummy part is that we are led

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-91110402647650868382011-04-12T02:52:00.000-07:002011-04-12T02:52:44.902-07:00

Okay, just to warn you ahead of time, this may not be family friendly for everyone. Some of you may be a little alarmed of the content. However, I have always felt that relationships (which often contain the big "S" word) are fascinating and an essential part of life. Phil Tarcivia is a published author of four different books. They can be found on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble. These books are

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-58955229698075860582011-04-07T16:55:00.000-07:002011-04-07T16:55:52.129-07:00

So, I wasn't able to find any additional help for the family in need. While I am really sad about it, I know that I did everything I could. My only hope is that they are well. It rained last night and I have no idea where they slept. I have no idea if they were safe. That is the frustration of living in a big city sometimes. Help is so limited, shelters are so often full, funds are rarely

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-14209352608972610482011-04-04T15:55:00.000-07:002011-04-04T15:57:29.860-07:00

Today, I met a family. This family has five children that they are trying to get to in Seattle. They have their six month old infant with thme. One week ago, they were on a bus, stopped here, in Phoenix, to grab a bite to eat before they had to board the next bus. Somehow, while they were eating, their wallet was stolen. This wallet contained their tickets. Now, they are stranded here until

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-64955123014709317092011-04-01T02:49:00.000-07:002011-04-01T02:49:14.462-07:00

As I sit here, I think about all the times that I have criticized another mom for doing a poor job. Immediately, the guilt sets in. I remember all the times that I fell short in my journey of motherhood. Yet, there are so many gray and fuzzy lines. Where is abuse? Where is neglect? Where is it beyond the safety of a child? Yes, there are the obvious answers like not feeding, molesting, beating

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-5875291741635250852011-03-26T22:36:00.000-07:002011-03-26T22:36:48.954-07:00

Yep, you heard it. I am (hopefully) heading off to Utah to join a wonderful group of moms that deal with trauma and drama each and every day. I am nervous about going for many reasons: I still have a nursing toddler and a little nervous about how he's going to handle a missing mommy C1 still goes through pretty intense up and down moments I just lost my big paying client (which was my only client

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-41256185681993036332011-03-10T21:58:00.000-08:002011-03-10T21:58:58.510-08:00

So, today, we did C1's IEP. The findings were not alarming. He has sensory issues, socialization issues, and anger management issues. He is above average or average in all areas, except when he is timed. (Timing means pressure, he HATES to be hurried.) What WAS interesting was the approach they are going to take. Christine - I hope you are listening! To address his sensory issues, the school is

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-86557520896748509462011-03-09T00:42:00.000-08:002011-03-09T00:42:30.357-08:00

Yeah, yeah, I know. I am way too good at disappearing for a while on my blog. Life is busy. When I have been typing all day, the last thing I want to do is type some more, lol. But, here I am, back yet again! So, here is what has happened the last few weeks.  Flu...bad! Me and the three little babies. My little sis moved in with her two scrumptious kiddos! (Good thing, trust me!) Revisited the

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-57820737168347420402011-02-11T23:58:00.000-08:002011-02-11T23:58:06.028-08:00

Mood disorder. My guess is specifically bipolar. I am still not quite convinced, to be honest. This is now the second time we have received the same diagnosis for our little guy. While part of me can see...yes...maybe bipolar, the other part says...but wait. So the rages, particularly the length of rages says yes. The fact that he seems to have great days/weeks/even months followed by

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-53637603582191388692011-02-08T17:05:00.000-08:002011-02-08T17:05:50.987-08:00

I promise you, some of our best recipes happen completely on a whim. I always have those times that grocery shopping is not an option and we have to make due with whatever is left in the cupboard and fridge. This is when our best meals are created. Mexi-Rice is one of those meals. So, last week, I did an inventory of what we had. I had a few (four to be exact)cans of black beans, a can of green

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-46153989903193698342011-01-31T20:52:00.000-08:002011-01-31T20:52:29.952-08:00

Okay, I need somewhere to vent. This is insane! Why is it that therapists think they can spend one hour with my son, tell him to try some breathing techniques (which he knows how to do and has been told more times than I can count), and think they can accurately decide what is wrong!!??? UUUGGGHHH!!! Yeah, that was how today went. A complete waste of four hours of my day. Granted, it was just

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-14304469776381072872011-01-30T21:04:00.000-08:002011-01-30T21:04:52.065-08:00

I've talked a little about some of my stuff here and there, but nothing like it really is. And, as you may know, I have one PTSD, which would not have happened had I not made some bad life choices, and then my little guy that continues to wait for a diagnosis. Sometimes, I wonder what I am doing here. Sometimes I wonder how I will make it through another day. Sometimes, I get crazy notions that

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-4158515743138686292011-01-29T18:07:00.000-08:002011-01-29T18:07:46.928-08:00

I am sure this comes as no surprise but feeding 8 people is EXPENSIVE! While we have a number of money saving tips that helps us to survive our food bill is our biggest expense. Recently, we have been working even harder at reducing our food costs. I decided to pass this great tip along to anyone interested. Eating out for our family is pretty much impossible most of the time. What would cost a

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-39949090018396889362011-01-22T01:05:00.000-08:002011-01-22T01:05:42.101-08:00

Ok, I know, it has been FOREVER since I posted a recipe. This is due to many different factors including: *Been a long time since I made a new recipe I liked. *We deterred from eating the way we are used to eating *Uh, life changes...??? Anyway, this soup is AWESOME. I made it up, so please bear with the estimated measurements. Also, feel free to adjust the ingredients to your family's needs/

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-78665817651001834572011-01-19T12:06:00.000-08:002011-01-30T23:18:14.803-08:00

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-48401706218631248982011-01-16T16:11:00.000-08:002011-01-16T16:11:18.491-08:00

It is amazing how, in just a split second, you can make a decision that forever changes your life. Many of us spend a lifetime wishing we could take back that decision. We continously live with regret. I have such a decision in my life. I know we all do. But this decision is the key to my crazy. Now, I will not, in any way, fool you into thinking that I didn't have a crazy before. But, it was

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-7380314041038843072011-01-13T17:03:00.000-08:002011-01-13T17:03:42.185-08:00

It's not often that I find others that share my point of view. This message encompasses a lot of what I think and feel about Christianity as a whole and the problem with the formula. Until we hear, understand, and implement this message, we cannot expect the world around us to change.

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-87413970180867222942011-01-13T01:21:00.000-08:002011-01-13T01:21:34.928-08:00

If anyone has caught it lately, I have made a few social network posts to my new blog, The Copywriter's Desk. I am not leaving What's Your Legacy. I am just expanding, I guess you could say. I have been freelance writing for the last year. At first, it was just a leisure activity that enabled us to have a little extra money. Right now, it is our sole source of income. It is also what I hope will

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-5684449299107102252011-01-06T18:48:00.000-08:002011-01-06T19:08:04.476-08:00

C1's honeymoon phase at school is well and over. It has been over for a while. Part of me wished it wouldn't end. The other part of me is soooo happy that there is now someone in my corner that can SEE that this is more than just a little ADHD issue. That this is bigger and deeper than a discipline problem. That there really is something wrong. But, that really has nothing to do with my post

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-61964746434847413732010-12-16T20:46:00.000-08:002010-12-17T00:57:24.602-08:00

I love how wonderful timing is in our lives sometimes. On Monday night, hubby and I commence with our very first "parenting class" night.We have dipped our toes in almost every parenting idea possible, but theraputic parenting seems to work the best with our older children. Love and Logic does great for the babies, but they don't have any real trauma to fight. The boys do.I have been lovingly

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-61575546774497224162010-12-12T13:19:00.001-08:002010-12-12T14:35:40.198-08:00

Today's post is inspired by another blog post from a woman that is near and dear to my heart, Summer.I had always knew there was something wrong with church. I spent my life growing up in a home that really didn't talk about God, but we went to Christmas Mass and Psalm Sunday. I also remember the horrible discomfort that going to church brought. The up and down kneeling on the weird pull down

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-10520717012291916102010-12-02T22:48:00.000-08:002010-12-02T23:02:23.566-08:00

So, in light of all of the craziness, including spending the entire night at the ER last night, today shed some more dark and difficult news.I woke up to our internet being off. Normally, no big deal. I would just let it go. I have never considered internet to be a need. However, since James is still in the process of finding a job, my writing is our only source of income at this time. So, I paid

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-66849288382551903812010-12-01T18:05:00.000-08:002010-12-01T18:29:22.621-08:00

Okay, so I couldn't decide what to blog on today, so I figured I would do a 2 in 1 post. First topic is fun! I have finally committed to the idea of dreads! So, tomorrow starts my hair detoxification. Time to strip my hair of all of the junk I put in it everyday.I will be caring for my dreads with a "no poo" regimen. For more information on this, see http://youtu.be/y-1zCmiu69cI have also

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-28037503549657825202010-11-27T19:50:00.001-08:002010-11-27T19:55:20.296-08:00

Life has literally fallen apart the last month. Things have been almost impossible to bear. I can't really share the details of the situation because of gossip issues among some family members. However, things got really hard. Harder than hard really. The worst part about it is that we aren't out of the woods yet.So, I am asking everyone that reads this to keep our family in their hearts. If you

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-12474848953103192962010-11-07T01:20:00.000-07:002010-11-07T01:36:05.075-08:00

It has only been forever since I have blogged! I am starting to become massively inconsistent. So, I just wanted to stop in and update everyone as to what is going on in our lives.Chris finally cracked at school, it only took two and a half months.I might finally have a lead in what is going on with Chris.Joe has been disenrolled from Connections. We will resume regular homeschooing.My Dad has

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-28431796983262188462010-09-23T15:42:00.000-07:002010-09-23T15:50:52.889-07:00

Okay, I have to admit, when I decided to enroll Chris and Aiden in PS this year, I really didn't think I was going to miss it THIS much! I am already working on deciding on what we might work on next year.Since my boys have started public school we have seen:-Escalation in Aiden-Aiden getting clocked in the jaw and losing a tooth-Less bonding and communication amongst each other-Less family time

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-48364828049388293562010-09-12T22:57:00.000-07:002010-09-13T00:22:33.214-07:00

I know not everyone reads the Bible. However, when you read Corintians I 13, the explanation of love is exactly as it should be. It explains love in its purest form. And, even if you have not read the Bible, you have probably heard at least part of this wonderful explanation. Love is patient and kindLove is not jealous or boastful or proud or rudeLove does not demand its own wayLove is not

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-36795140252080427582010-08-27T23:00:00.000-07:002010-08-27T23:36:29.677-07:00

First of all, I need to apologize for my extended absence. I haven't read any blogs, nor have I been posting. There are three basic reasons for this.One, moving with five kids is friggin hard!Two, moving seems to cause everyone to regress. Judah became more clingy, and so did Charity. In fact, Charity wouldn't even sleep in her own bed for a month, even though it was still in our room. Aiden

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-62779646442540778412010-08-11T00:09:00.000-07:002010-08-11T00:25:12.327-07:00

Okay, I get massively annoyed at particular comments about how EASY it is to be a SAHM (stay at home mom). Mind you, most of these people have NO idea what it means to spend an entire day without adult conversation.My sister is a victim constantly of criticism about what she does all day....UUUGGGHHH!!!So, just to share with anyone who has never had the joy of staying home with your kids, here is

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-29112723968085157372010-08-06T23:58:00.000-07:002010-08-07T00:38:11.294-07:00

Ok, I know it sounds retarded. But it works!My self therapy is cleaning.I don't know if it's the fact that I feel better about my clean home or if it's the actual physical exertion of cleaning, but when I am done, I feel better.I don't mean just a little tidying up. I mean down on my hands and knees scrubbing floors and baseboards cleaning.Besides, I do my best thinking when I am cleaning. I had

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-81109840323357004392010-07-28T00:04:00.000-07:002010-07-28T00:19:24.211-07:00

I know I'm a little late in the loop. James got home after a really long day at work, I was exhasperated after trying to apply for several more writing jobs and needed a break. So I did what I always do when I need a breath of fresh air...I hopped my happy butt on over to Christine's blog and Summer's blog. That's when I saw it. I knew it....I have made painstaking efforts to remove much of

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-76647075573922112652010-07-21T18:02:00.000-07:002010-07-21T18:08:18.872-07:00

My wonderful and talented hubby has been out looking HARD for a job for three weeks now. Everyday, he comes back feeling defeated. It really is heart breaking. As much as I will miss my babies, the cold honest truth is, with five kids one of us has to start working NOW. We are figuring that he has his resume and application out all over the place, and we WILL keep trying for a job for him, but

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-41487616319589523232010-07-17T01:02:00.000-07:002010-07-20T00:08:25.958-07:00

I had started this post completely different. It went off into several different directions. After much thought, I decided that I really needed seperate posts for each issue. Today, I will only be covering one issue. ABORTION. My thoughts, my feelings, my journey into where I stand today and the history of where I stood yesterday.I have always struggled with the idea of fully adopting pro-life.

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-56039208939838315882010-06-27T23:31:00.001-07:002010-06-27T23:48:44.283-07:00

three days ago, we said goodbye to our friends, to our paid for house. Today, we arrived in Arizona. Although we are leaving so much behind and stepping into a black hole of what ifs, the reason we made this choice can be summed up in one word. FAMILY. When we left Arizona we left all of our family to have a home that is paid for. I don't regret the decision even one bit. We have made some

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-85638409505198885132010-06-13T20:36:00.000-07:002010-06-13T20:45:17.608-07:00

I just want to take a moment to thank my readers for sticking with me in my recent absence. It seems that life has gotten massive crazy lately. We are about one week away from our move back to Arizona. Despite the fact that we have so much work behind us, there is still so much ahead. Now that James is home, it is going way faster because we are able to tag team both the kids and thhe work.

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-64836748691395576752010-06-03T17:37:00.000-07:002010-06-04T00:38:06.170-07:00

One of my dearest friends Christine set a challenge in front of her readers last week. It was dubbed "The Attachment Challenge". At first, it SEEMED simple enough. Here are the guidelines of the challenge.With your traumatized child:-give 10 hugs a day-spend 20 minutes doing an activity YOUR CHILD WANTS TO DO-spend 10 minutes a day doing an activity that requires physical or eye contact...or

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-73831887672315965912010-05-23T13:47:00.000-07:002010-05-23T14:31:02.283-07:00

I could blog about the millions of things that are going wrong in my life right now...but I decided to focus on a massive positive instead!!! We went grocery shopping yesterday and hit an all time low for one week of food. We spent $105! I am excited and impressed! There is no reason that someone with a family of four or so couldn't HALF this cost since we have a rather large family...four of

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-20640230508090595852010-05-19T22:35:00.000-07:002010-05-19T23:26:53.600-07:00

image is a preprogrammed wallpaper in my phoneI would like to take a moment to share the pain and beauty that is my life right now.This week I have:restrained a child as strong as an ox three timesas a result of restraining said child, my back has gone out and I look like the Hunchback of Notre DameCursed at said back a few timesaruged with a member of my extended family that I lovemade up with

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-32744935344648818042010-05-17T10:26:00.000-07:002010-05-17T11:39:02.165-07:00

These are quick, easy, delicious, cheap and nutritious. That makes these perfect for any day of the week. Plus there are no preservatives or junk in here. Totally healthy, totally vegan.Ingredients:1 can black beans, rinsed and drained1 red bell pepper, cut into strips1 green bell pepper, cut into strips1 ripe avacodo, peeled and pitted1 med yellow onion, cut into stripscilantro to taste1/2

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-54009787432408278002010-05-15T08:14:00.000-07:002010-05-15T09:23:01.157-07:00

When I met James, I was at the lowest weight I had been since I had had children. (I had all three of the older boys when James and I met.) I felt GREAT! I could run, I felt active and fit. Then, two weeks after we got married I got pregnant. We wanted our daughter, we were excited. I wasn't excited about the inevitable weight gain though. Once our daughter was born, I weighed more than I

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-88374752688645640832010-05-14T20:32:00.000-07:002010-05-14T20:39:03.030-07:00

Okay, I know this seems totally crazy, but I cannot get a picture to upload of some curriculum I am selling. The window keeps closing and not saving the picture. So, for anyone on ebay wanting to see photos of this curriculum package, here they are. If you are wanting to purchase this package, you can go to http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110533433714

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-34042541519309384412010-05-12T21:37:00.000-07:002010-05-12T22:22:42.398-07:00

I haven't really talked a lot about it because I am still trying to process some of what I have read, but I reacently read the book The Misunderstood God. This book has rocked our spiritual world. I'll give you some quick reference as to how much. Just before we read the book, we were in the mindset that tv is purely evil, I was frustrated with the idea of whether or not I should wear a head

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-19757781600184206072010-05-06T23:56:00.000-07:002010-05-07T00:13:33.247-07:00

Totally hate that I didn't get around to blogging this the day it happened, but it was a pretty big day. I spent Tuesday dealing with some serious behavior issues with Chris. Then we went to see Summer on her last day here. We spent the afternoon talking about paegans, Christians, abortions, and all things contraversial. Then, just as we were working on saying our goodbyes amidst talk of

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-57113750385529875282010-05-03T18:32:00.000-07:002010-05-03T19:13:16.701-07:00

It didn't start out this way for us. In fact, it started out as a fast. After the fast was over, we started eating meat again sometimes. We stuck to a pretty vegetarian diet, but not vegan. We also allowed ourselves to have meat when we went out to eat and once a week at home. Now, I don't know if I can ever look at meat the same anymore. Find out more at Meat.org.

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-53414491213209573782010-05-03T11:13:00.000-07:002010-05-03T11:20:47.161-07:00

I love these for a quick and nutritious meal. Very very good for you, very easy to make. I got the base idea of these from ChristineLettuce wraps1 can black beans, drained, rinsed1 cup frozen corn1 tbsp garlic powder1 tsp onion powder1 can diced tomatoes1 can chopped green chilis1 head of lettuce of your choiceMix all ingredients except for the lettuce in a large bowl. You can either eat it

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-60481638067187862462010-04-29T23:27:00.000-07:002010-04-30T00:08:26.331-07:00

All along I thought that theraputic parenting was meant to change behavior. I thought it was supposed to be some kind of magic pill that was going to make my kids want to behave. Boy was I WRONG!Everytime I ended up having a huge pitfall and feeling like theraputic wasn't working, I would blame the method. I would blame the process. I blamed everything and everyone. I would jump off the band

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-84433873010555274822010-04-27T21:19:00.000-07:002010-04-27T21:23:06.288-07:00

Okay, so I know that my menu post was supposed to be yesterday. However, this has been an interesting week. So, here is the post for the Monday Menu on Tuesday.Roasted Potatoes7 red potatoes1pkg dry onion soup mix1/3 c olive oilcombine all ingredients in a baking dish. Cover and cook at 350 degrees for about 30 min or until potatoes are soft. Serve with garnish of choice.

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-27694403096552054382010-04-25T20:34:00.000-07:002010-04-25T21:02:31.676-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I talked about some tires that I planned to use as flower beds. I used one to plant flowers, the other holds strawberries that I cannot WAIT to eat! Here they are. They are just old tires spray painted white with potting soil in them. One came off of our van, the other I found just sitting on the side of the road. Cost=$4.00 for spraypaint, $5.00 potting soil. I might

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-44239755694176228172010-04-19T22:21:00.001-07:002010-04-19T23:09:19.616-07:00

Ok, so sometimes I do break down and buy the morning star chicken patties cuz I just love them. However, with a family our size, who can really afford to buy three boxes of psuedo meat at almost $4.00 a box? (Higher if I go to our closest grocer). Of course, one of the things that our family missed most about being meat eaters is hamburgers and fries. So, I found a very easy and basic black bean

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-1749574922927381152010-04-18T19:41:00.000-07:002010-04-18T19:50:47.368-07:00

This was the name for our second Thursday. I got this idea from my favorite RAD mom Christine of welcometomybrain.net. After she talked me off of my parenting cliff, she gave me some real ideas to use. Not all things that her and I discuss work with my kids, but some of them do. After the day had pretty much fell apart, my kids and I had both blew it horribly. However, once I lost it, there

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-73613933936077309502010-04-16T12:53:00.000-07:002010-04-16T12:58:36.092-07:00

I'm really not into giveaways and gambling sorta stuff for one simple reason, I NEVER WIN!!! It always seems like a waste of time to me. However, when I saw this....ooooohhhhh boy!!!! I LOVE Chili's...I would melt into a puddle of appreciative goo to be able to spend a night on an adult date with my hubby! Oh the things we could talk about. Heck, I might even put on makeup and a dress!!!!

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-9240064920525934972010-04-15T09:12:00.000-07:002010-04-15T11:51:25.660-07:00

I had that wonderful amazing theraputic trip with Chris on Monday. It was all daisies and roses. Then, all day yesterday, everyone argued CONSTANTLY about EVERYTHING! Nothing I did seemed to deter arguments. One can only do so much when you are running errands and everyone is in the car and you have NO ONE you can trust to parent like you do to watch any of them. Then, we start today with

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-69470779759404952282010-04-12T22:58:00.000-07:002010-04-12T23:29:10.170-07:00

If you have happened to be around or know me very well, you know that Chris is my polar opposite. He is under my skin at least every five minutes with something. He is my undiagnosed problem child. He WAS my middle child. (That alone should say it all!)Needless to say, bonding with Chris has been a struggle from birth. For some reason I internalized his cleft and instead of embracing him, I

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-62658980646058211242010-04-11T20:18:00.000-07:002010-04-11T23:18:49.184-07:00

I really can't think of anything to write tonight. It could be from being tired. It could be because I feel like I have been off track as a parent the last few days. It could be because I was truly genuinely mad at my husband tonight, which hardly ever happens. It could be because I have been pouring myself out into writing articles on the side so I can save money for....who knows what, but I

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-51926784098166693922010-04-08T22:13:00.000-07:002010-04-08T22:39:41.666-07:00

Yep, today was the day! My big guy turned 12!!!! It seems impossible for him to be this old! It seemed like just yesterday I was the 17 year old holding this brand new little life, unsure of what it was going to even be like to be a mother.Being a teenage mom was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but the most rewarding. I wouldn't suggest it for anyone, but for those that are

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-84232049045387055052010-04-07T16:59:00.000-07:002010-04-07T21:09:30.260-07:00

Our family, only recently has started adopting the unschooling kind of mind set. Before, we were very strict school at home. Yet, it seems that more learning is happening now than ever before. Here is an account of our day.BreakfastEveryone did chores LunchJoe folded laundry and read about The Titanic and photosynthesis, voluntarilyChris and Aiden helped to plant seeds in a miniature greenhouse

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-23834781812249372722010-04-06T20:39:00.000-07:002010-04-06T21:09:42.233-07:00

Chris just had his first rage in almost three weeks....do I cry or celebrate.REALLY...Understand the weight of what I just said....three weeks....the kid who at one time raged SEVERAL times a day!!!!It was silly really, he had a tough day and was just all day rude, hurtful, manipulatively disrespectful. Then, he gave himself away on tv shows he has been watching at Luke and Danielles. So, when

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-73295077603965152122010-04-03T23:19:00.000-07:002010-04-04T22:50:08.963-07:00

Our family has been struggling for months with some serious decisions. We can feel that a change in our life is about to happen, we just don't know what it is. We thought for a while that we were going to sell our house and move to Jerusalem...that did not turn out so well. Here lately, our friends and family have heard us talking about moving back to Arizona, and after the house sells, buying an

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-21176528541458180332010-03-01T23:19:00.000-08:002010-03-01T23:24:43.903-08:00

Vegetarian Spaghetti1 green bell pepper, finely diced1 red bell pepper, finely diced1 red onion, finely diced3 carrots, finely diced2 cloves garlic2 cans crushed tomato1 can diced tomato1 can tomato paste1 can black olive, finely diced1 tsp parsly1 tsp oregano1 tsp thyme1 box organic whole wheat noodlesMix all ingredients except the noodles in a large pot and simmer. The longer you simmer, the

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-5962624347403569232010-02-28T22:51:00.000-08:002010-02-28T23:12:15.973-08:00

If you are a parent, you know that there is no shortage for parenting advice. It doesn't matter where you go. Even in your local supermarket, there is someone ready and willing, whether we want it or not, to offer their take on how we should raise our kids. There was a time in which that advice was pretty much the same across the board. Now, we have advice that is all over the place. Some

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-30353714720321296662010-02-27T23:44:00.000-08:002010-02-28T00:24:22.125-08:00

As I mentioned in the earlier post, we had a trip to visit friends and family. We had three states to drive across, a nursing baby, a toddler, a preteen with PTSD, an explosive kiddo who doesn't do well with no sleep, and another kiddo that can't seem to find the GOOD things to follow in his older siblings. Needless to say, just to start out with, this was going to take a miracle!So, needless

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-76048862727642413752010-02-19T22:39:00.000-08:002010-02-19T23:25:26.955-08:00

I would like to, first of all, apologize for not posting a little more regularly here lately, we are preparing for our vacation to visit friends and family. Sooooo excited to see my favorite RADtastic mom Christine ( http://welcometomybrain.net/ ) and family we haven't seen for almost two years now. Anywho, that's not the point of this bloggy post. I wanted to share something that was really laid

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-90176235501885088542010-02-16T22:10:00.000-08:002010-02-16T22:24:07.086-08:00

This is our family's favorite chili recipe!2 cans black beans2 cans chili beans1 can diced chilis1 can diced tomatoes2 cans tomato sauce1 clove garlic, finely minced1 onion, chopped1 green pepper chopped1 red bell pepper chopped3 carrots, finely diced1 tbsp chili powder1 tsp cayenne pepper1tsp black pepper2 tsp salt1 c bulgargreen onions, cheese, sour cream, black olives, whatever else you might

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-81383089594972878532010-02-13T23:17:00.000-08:002010-02-13T23:26:58.292-08:00

I had an awesome day. I got so much accomplished around the house, and the kids seemed to have a pretty good day. I also got to fellowship with some friends that I hadn't seen in a while. I was feeling good. Then, I came home. I sat at my computer and I turned it on. I checked my email, and then I went to my favorite daily blog read http://welcometomybrain.netWhen I got there, it wasn't the

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-18501634844707273812010-02-11T17:34:00.000-08:002010-02-11T18:46:11.009-08:00

I wanted to take just a moment to tell all my readers about the diaper bag I purchased recently. If you have young children, I am sure you can relate to my issues with finding the perfect diaper bag. This one just has the big compartment, this one doesn't come with a changing pad, this one is too small, that one fell apart a week after I got it. You get the idea. Now, if diaper bags were an

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-51436711774318215022010-02-08T10:44:00.000-08:002010-02-08T10:57:41.626-08:00

Ok, so I must admit, this is just an easy post because my brain is dead on Mondays and I am always soooo tired because I end up staying up way to late on Sundays, lol. Yet, at the same time, it might help to make your life more efficient and give you some tasty vegetarian meals to try out. Whether you are contemplating a vegetarian diet or just want to cut some meat out of your diet, these are

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-3827701200362917362010-02-07T22:30:00.000-08:002010-02-07T22:54:42.108-08:00

Sundays are the day that we take a look back in time into the life of one our family members. For all purposes, we will call it our family rewind. This week, it is entitled, Once Upon A Time. Enjoy, digest, learn from our mistakes and pain.Once upon a time, there was young girl. She had dreams of love and happiness. She had encountered abuse in every way thought possible...but everyone

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-49363418278969516772010-02-04T22:05:00.000-08:002010-02-05T10:53:08.857-08:00

I have some history to share with everyone to kind of get everyone up to date on why what I am going to say is so significant.First, I need to say that I was really struggling with some faithlessness late last year. We had been praying about some pretty big things, and it just seemed like Jesus wasn't hearing us. I became frustrated, angry, isolated, and skeptical....wow, where was my faith?!

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-14025070237260116512010-02-03T21:23:00.000-08:002010-02-05T00:57:41.119-08:00

I just read one of the most disturbing posts in my entire life.Before I reveal the post, I want to share WHY it was so disturbing to me. It is a really old post, and it was written by someone I know that I really value as a friend. She is a great mom, and has always been a great friend.My friend Summer doesn't like Christians.http://wiredfornoise.com/i-dont-like-christiansThe saddest part of it

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-9567503091303214592010-02-02T20:37:00.000-08:002010-02-02T20:47:14.141-08:00

Today was one of those days that you just want to run away and hide. Change your name, street address and hair color! Oh yeah....one of those days. In fact, it still hasn't ended. Just to give you an idea of just how bad it got....I ended up pushing Aiden in a cart full of groceries, Charity in a cart, and carrying Judah while Chris and Joe sat out in the van because of problems in the store.

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950652617595422107.post-41700791174523842582010-02-01T22:42:00.000-08:002010-02-01T23:01:33.360-08:00

I know this is a totally weird first post, and probably not really what anyone was expecting, but I had to get SOMETHING up here already! So, I thought I would just discuss something general in our family that has been a big, Imean huge, like Grand Canyon kind of change for us.We used to be big meat and potato kinda people....and we loooooooved junk food! I know you have heard that saying, "You

Cathy Givanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871342360432309521noreply@blogger.com0