The Wait is Over!

That's right. I've finally got some pictures of the bathroom rennovation process. It was quiet exciting, a definite learning experience, and only included one major catastrophie - which is not bad considering all the stuff we did.
So here is the process in pictures.

Our Bathroom right before Demo


Nick removing the old plumbing in our bathroom


Yea! The nasty sink in out! At long last!


Out with the old......


In with the new!

O.K. let me just tell you how much Charles did NOT like all of this mess and noise. However, as soon as we got the new one in, he had to come inspect it fully, and make sure that he claimed it as his own - just like the rest of the house. He cracks us up! :)



O.K. Charles we know the sink is yours......

Now for the before and afters for our bathroom:

Before (obviously)

After.....

and After

Next up was the guest bathroom. I must say that I got way better before and after photos of this one.

Right after demo


Good bye to nasty sink #2


This is a way before picture - before we got our new tile and toilets last year. Check out that rad pink tile and the designer toilet seat! And, WHO puts light blue and red together? That is NOT ok.


After!


Before angle two


After angle two


And finally....Before


After!

So there it is....we still have a bit of finishing touches to do. The tile guys have to come back and redo 1 tile in each bathrooms since the new cabinets are slightly smaller than the old ones. After that is finished we have to instal the baseboards. Currently, we are changing out all the light switches and outlets in our house since the current ones are almost 30 years old, broken, and/or nasty. Nick is doing them little by little after work each night. It's amazing how even the smallest things can make such a difference. The best part about this, besides growing in our marriage and the satisfaction that we did it ourselves, was that we saved a boat load of money on installation! Yippie! Happy rennovations to all.

Alas!

Alas, school is back in full swing, and at least one of my professors is on crack - I'm quite sure. No really. What other reasonable explanation is there for someone who has 5 text books + additional articles as assigned reading for the semester? Honestly. By the next class, I have to have finished reading a 191 riveting page turner on "The Evolution of Cooperation". NON-STOP fun I tell you.In his defense, he is not the only one on crack. Apparently I am, too. I have (like a loon) signed up to take 3 classes this semester. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 6-9:40PM. The good thing is I will be totally finished the week before Thanksgiving. Then it will be all downhill from there.

School has plighted my knitting activities, though. :( Sadly, I am going to have to face the reality that I will have to put it on hold for the next 12 wks. "sigh" I was able to get a couple projects under my belt this summer, though. I made a baby sweater, a hat (it's really not worth wearing, but it was great practice honing my dpn skills - that's double pointed needles for all you non-knitters., and a really cleaver headband/hat thing. I will have to make another one of these. You know how winter hats always give you fits if you wear your hair up? Well, this little ditty lets you have the best of both worlds. It's a fairly simple pattern if you focus on your counting. It's a simple K2 P2 pattern worked on straight needles, but I think I'm going to modify it a little bit on my next one to make cable stitches on the center stripes. I have taken pictures of my pieces, and eventually (I promise) I will get some of them posted.

In other fascinating news, Nick and I are continuing to work on our bathrooms. We- well Nick really - tore out the cabinets, counter top, and sink in one of the bathrooms last night. I am very impressed! Nick, the man who, when I married him could hardly hammer a nail in the wall has been just amazing with this bathroom project. Now, you may be thinking, demo - that's easy. You're just tearing apart something. You are partially true, but he also had to unhook (and not destroy) the plumbing fixtures. Plus, he - all by himself - repaired a hole in the drywall. AND, now that it's painted and textured (also done by wonder husband) you can't even tell where the hole was! Let me tell you! I AM AMAZED!! Today we are going to Lowes to buy all the new stuff. We went a few weeks ago priced and picked out all the things we wanted. Today is ZERO% financing for 12 months on our CC (nothing like getting to hold on to your money for another year!), so today we will be going to purchase all the goods. I am SO EXCITED!! I have been waiting oh so patiently for this day to come. :)

Other than that, it's been same old, same old around this joint. We won't be doing anything too exciting this weekend. Staying around the house working on the bathrooms. So, if that sounds like your cup of tea, you are welcome to come over.

NYG Baby!

Sorry for the delay - after a long but inspiring week at the 2007 LCMS National Youth Gathering, I came back to work for a few days and then we were off to the Midwest to visit our friends from college. I think this is the first time I've been able to catch my breath!

The few days with our friends can be summed up in a few phrases - foam 'n fellowship, lots of girl talk (did I get an education!), non-stop Mario-carts, 3am nights, a very pregnant friend waiting for the big day, reconnecting. It is truly a sign of a wonderful life long friendship when you can go without seeing each other for over a year and pick up like it's only been a week. I love you guys!!

So back to the NYG...it was in a word - AMAZING! As usual, it delivers, praising Christ the King and touching the hearts and minds of so many youth (and adults, too). The theme was CHOSEN scripturally based on 1Peter 2. We are all chosen in Christ, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God! - what a wonderful thing to know! The kids we took (22 in all) were absolutely fantastic, and they appeared to have had a great time. I sure hope so. So here are a couple of pics from the gathering:

The Backpacks - fun and really easy to decorate this year, but since they weren't colored, it didn't have the same effect when you were walking down the street.


Nick serves communion during the worship service on Tuesday night. This was a big highlight for him!


Tommy and Dave being silly. I love you guys!


I can't belive it's been six years since I met you. I can't imagine my life without you! I love you!!

Bragging......

Yeah, just wanted to say I have the best husband ever!!!

He sent me flowers today at work......for no reason. :) Even the tightest of tight-wads like myself enjoy the surprise and joy of getting flowers for no reason. AND he got me daisys so they should last a long time.

Continuing on, we are going to be re-vamping our bathrooms shortly!!! Yea! I have been waiting patiently, and it is almost here! Saturday we went and picked out what we wanted for both bathrooms, and priced some things. Turns out, it is going to be less expensive that I had origionally thought. Bonus. I primed the hall bathroom, and plan on painting tonight - sage green, thanks for asking (it was a light and navy blue "under the sea" theme - I described it as looking like a children's coloring book- not too pretty). I've got to get the painting taken care of before the cabnits and countertops come in - don't want to get paint drippings on the new stuff. I will try to post some before and after pictures when everything is finished (may be a month or so).

Family news.....Mom, Dad, and Courtney all arrived safely back in Texas - Praise God! and God willing she will now begin her long road to healing and getting her life put back together. Keep praying!!

Knitting news... I have completed the back and the front left panal of the baby sweater I am attempting to knit. I am getting a little bit faster, but I am still pretty slow. At least my stitches appear to be even. My first project (a little hat) wasn't completely horrible (but far from gift worthy), and best of all, I learned a few things from it, so that's the important thing.

The LCMS NYG is this weekend in Orlando! All the hard work and planning will finally come to fruition. I pray that the kids have a wonderful, faith building, friendship making, inspiring time! Keep us all in your prayers! We are leaving Friday evening and having a night of fun at (appropriatly) Fun Spot before the gathering starts on Saturday afternoon. I've never been go-carting before, so I'm sure that will be an experience!

All in all, this has started out to be a fabulous week! Hope yours is going just as well!

Sometimes you have to wonder........

Well, a bit of bad news. The St. Paul administration building was broken into and robbed the Monday night. The culprit took loose cash and stole Nick's laptop. It unfortunatly gets worse - the computer guys at church didn't have his laptop connected to the server, so ALL of his hours and hours of work were lost. Needless to say, it wasn't a great day yesterday. So, last night I tried to make things a little better. I made a manly man's meal of meatball subs and we watched a movie. We also prayed for the safe return of the computer.

This morning when Nick got to work, he was greeted and then sent down to the police station. Why you ask? Well, it turns out that the robber (aka idiot boy) was caught trying to break into the middle school building last night. Hitting up the same spot two nights in a row! That's smart. Doesn't this dude watch Cops? It sounds like it was quite exciting, though. The superintendant was called out at 1:30 this morning and there were 6 units, a canine unit, and a helicopter! That would have been a sight to see. Despite finding Nick's laptop bag, on him, idiot boy said it was his "friend" that hit up the admin building the night before. Riiiigghhhtttt. That's why Nick had to go down town - to identify the bag.

Unfortunately, the computer was not in the bag, but perhaps there is still a gleaming ray of hope that we will get it back.

P.S. This upstanding citizen has a record. He was caught breaking into another church in town not too long ago. What a winner. Someone made the comment, "Isn't that like a straight ticket to hell? That's like mugging a nun or something!" I thought that was pretty funny.

Ah, speaking of God working in mysterious ways, my sister is going to come home to my mom and dad! At long last, our countless prayers have been answered (at least partially). She was recently diagosed with fibromyalgia (where your muscles just hurt all over for no apparent reason), and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. I am so thankful, and will continue to pray for all since it is going to be a long hard road for all physically, emotionally, and financially. Please keep everyone in your prayers!

I do have to report some happy news, though. It can't all be depressing or deep! I am getting close to finishing my first knitting project! Picture to come soon..... :)

Knitting, although much more tedious than crochet, is way too cool and I can't wait to get better and better!

Taking the bad with the good.....

Sometimes life is unfair and you just don't understand why. That is what happened to me this past weekend. Per my previous post, I had planned to go to Texas to see my dear friend, Jonathan, get married. Well, I didn't get further than the Tampa airport. It was all the joys of going to the airport and on a trip without the end result making all the hassle worth it - pack, check and double check I have everything, drive to the airport during rush-hour malfunction junction traffic, airport parking, airport transit, SECURITY, delays, sitting alone waiting for hours reading a book that is not so good (For Planets and Kings by Ethan Canin did not float my boat. I kept reading hoping there would be this great ending and I would understand the point of the book, but, alas, the ending did no more for me than the beginning or middle). All this only to find out that I will miss my connecting flight and they have no other flights to San Angelo until 6 the following evening. Great just great.

Disappointed and upset doesn't even begin to describe what I felt. After calming myself down, and touching base with the people I needed to, I had to trust that God's knowledge is much greater than mine and I must continue to trust in Him. I did receive word and some great pictures from Kim, and it seems to have been beautiful and wonderful - for that I am thankful.

So what do you do when life hands you lemons.... I called up Julianna and we went shopping - she had to get some cool duds for her upcoming speaking event. She was able to find some great outfits and bargains for the NYG and work, too! We then headed home and I made grilled chicken with vegi kabobs and baked potatoes (yum!). Another friend who was baching it this weekend while his wife was out of town came over as well, and after dinner we all played a rousing game of Apples to Apples. Let me tell you, if you haven't played this, you should grab some friends and try it out. FUN and Funny!

I have also learned the two basic knit stitches courtesy of Julianna. I've done multiple rows, and it doesn't look extremely atrocious! How exciting! It's going to take lots of practice and learning how to read a pattern before I can make some socks, but I'll eventually get there.

For the 4th, we hopped on over to the Space Coast to see our dear friends, Dave and Sonya, who's recent call to Faith Lutheran Church brought them closer to us. It was so great to see them! We went to eat dinner on the 3rd, and woke up in the morning to drink coffee and chat. Sonya and I went to lay by the pool in between the rain showers and read while the boys played PS2. We got around about 1 and headed to the park for lunch - hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and coke for $1. That's right, $1. Pretty awesome if you ask me! After that, we drove around, toured the church, went to Target (they had an AMAZING clearance section, and I found some great deals! 2 pairs of cropped pants for work, a cute skirt I can dress up or down, a nice white button-up dress shirt, and a cute t-shirt all for $40.) Not bad, not bad at all!
**Side note: Is it just me, or do you find that after HS your closet slowly but surely migrates to Target and clearance items? Currently, about 80% of the clothes in my closet are one of those two things.**

But, I digress...After that excitement, we went home, and watched some Mythbusters and Food Network while Dave worked on his home-made pasta we had for dinner (it was awesome!). We then trucked it down to the city park where they had a great symphony orchestra and a fireworks display. We played Phase 10 and ate funnel cakes and cotton candy that Sonya insisted on because it was "holiday food". :) Early this morning we came back for another exciting day at work.

So, all in all, I can't complain. Despite the bad this week, there was lots of good, too. Blessings to all for a great weekend!

Another Quick Trip to the Homeland

That's right folks, in a mere 12 hours I will be back in the homeland (Texas for those of you who don't "get" the whole "I'm proud to be from Texas and even though I no longer live there I will ALWAYS be from there" thing). It will be the quickest, yet most expensive trip that I have ever made there. I leave Friday night and return Sunday evening.

What's the occasion, you ask? My good friend from HS, who was also an usher in my wedding, is getting married tomorrow! I can't miss that! My wonderful husband consented without even a bit of hesitation to let me come. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky. I will miss you this weekend!

Here we are by the Eden Fire Truck a few weeks ago at Kim's wedding. (Everyone now, "awwwwwww".)

Anyway, enough of that. I am excited to see my grandparents who felt rather neglected, I must admit, at Kim's wedding since we only saw them for a couple of hours. Not that this trip will be legnthy by any means, but at least we will have a little time to chat.

Last night Julianna came over, ate dinner with us, and played sequence with us. Wow, what a way to celebrate your birthday, huh? Sorry we aren't more exciting, J! We did get her a new "friend" - Ivy, but I will let her tell you all about that. House plant (who we decided to name "Lindsay"), you will be happy to know, is still at our rehab facility working towards a full and healthy recovery. She was in pretty bad shape when she first came to us, but she is doing much better.

In the book arena, I finished The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. A++ If you want a feel good book with a great ending, this is something for you. I have tried to start "For Kings and Planets" by Ethan Canin, but it is not going well so far. It's slow to start, and it has been really dark with a sad sort of feeling thus far. I brought a backup for my travels - just in case this one really gets stinky.

The most exciting news I have lately is that I have decided that I am going to learn how to knit! Yes, I know this may not be that exciting for most, but in my world this is super! I can't wait to learn how to hone my mad skills and make a pair of socks. I have been seeing all of these awesome knitted socks, and just have to learn. I think I've mastered (well gotten pretty good at) crochet, and now I want to start this venture. My ultimate goal is to make myself a sweater. Now, I know that visions of really awful Christmas sweaters are floating through your head right now, but I am talking about something cute and modern. Something that people will not know is "homemade". That will be the true test. Something like the top one (the bottom one is a tinsey bit ugly):


I'm getting way ahead of myself, though. Must slow down, and contain myself. The learning will tentatively commence next Saturday after an afternoon of shopping with Julianna. She, as you may have guess, will be the teacher, and I her pupil.

Welp, that's about it for now. So-long for now, and have a fantastic weekend.

Keep me in your prayers as I travel.....

Book and Weekend Stuff

Just as I have promised, I will give my book review:

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks- great book, and then I found that it had a sequal. So, of course, I had to see what happened next even though the book had a fine enough conclusion by itself.

At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks- the sequal to True Believer. Let me just tell you this, it was really good too, but in a different way. If you don't want to end up bawling, stop at True Believer and make up your own happily ever after ending. For drama and emotion, continue reading on. Want to know how much? Let's just say that it takes A LOT for me to cry. Especially over a book.

Other exciting news is that I finally completed my baby afghan. It turned out really cute after all. Now I just have to find someone to give it to, or wait two years to see if I have a girl. Sometime, if I get a chance, I will post a picture of said blankey. It's mostly 5 dc shells and puffs with the exception of part of the edging that is 7 rows of sc. It really added a lot. I like it. My next project is a cute little tote bag. Julianna, I'm going to try out some of the crazy yarn you gave me - the second hand-me-downs. :)

In other exciting news, Nick and I are going to the beach tomorrow! Fantastic! The tragedy is that this is the first time this summer we have been. I am going to bring along my new Nicholas Sparks book that I just started - The Wedding. The way I have been reading lately, I'll probably have it finished before the weekend is over. I must be rubbing off on Nick, because he has started his second book. Of course (for anyone who knows him you could have guessed) they are Tom Clancey. Books for a man's man. Naturally.... :)

On Sunday we are going to see Evan Almighty with what ever HS youth show up to see it with us. Nick and I are Office addicts and love Steve Carell, so I'm really looking forward to the movie. I hope it's good!

My final source of excitement is that I will be making a dessert for our Bible Study group on Sunday, and I'm trying out a new recipe from www.kraftfoods.com. It's a lemon cake with a coolwhip/ coconut frosting cleaverly called "Cool Lemon Coconut and Sour Cream Cake". I think I might top with some rasberries. If you are ever in a cooking slump, that websight is awesome. It's free to set up an account and you can save your favorite recipes in your recipe box for future reference. They will also send you a weekly email with themed recipes for the week. For example, the week of the Super Bowl, they had all these great appetizer and dip recipes. The recipes are simple enough and don't use any crazy ingredients. It's what I like to call "normal people cooking". If you are any kind of foodie like I am, you understand what I mean. :)If anyone tries it out, let me know what you think of it.

Anyway, those are my exciting weekend plans. I hope you all have a great one!

Reading for fun?

Yeah, that's right -- for fun. I almost forgot what that was. In case you are looking for a good book to read, here are the 6 I have read so far this summer - they are diverse (hey I like to mix it up sometimes):

The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Johnson - courtsey of my pastor's wife; about a hodge podge group of women the meet a a conference and somehow continue to grow and help eachother despite all of their differences. (It's a series, so I have like 6 more of these to read...sometime)I give it 3 out of 5 stars ***

Postmortem by Patricial Cornwell - courtsey of mom; a CSI type mystery that is very entertaining, exciting, and keeps you guessing until the last few pages. 4 Stars ****

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks - another one from mom; Wow! What a great book. It's a love story, but not your traditional one. Follows the life of a man looking for the hit and run killer of his deceased wife as he raises his son. Execellent! 5 stars *****

The Englisher and The Bretheren by Beverly Lewis - I picked up and started reading The Englisher without knowing that it was the second book in a series (Annie's People), so you may want to start with the first book in the series. They were both a good read. I decided on these to get me in the mood for Amish country. These tell you a lot about the Amish culture and religion. I found them interesting. I love books that are fiction, but you still learn a lot from them. 4 stars ****

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks - in process - I liked A Bend in the Road so much I wanted to read some of his other books. I'm only on Chapter 5 right now, but so far, so good. I'll let you know it's final rating when I'm done.

So, as you can see, I have been really poductive lately. Worthless, actually. Once I get into a good book it is really hard for me to put it down. It's addicting, for sure.

Anyone else have any good reccomendations for me? I'd love to hear about them.

I am also trying to finish up my baby blanket I have been working on (on and off) for the past 4 or 5 months. Hopefully I can get that tackled soon.

I gave in

O.k. my lovely blog made me create a google account, so I finally did it. There was no other way to post, so I caved. It has just been so long, I needed to do it.

So here is an update on what has been going on with me the past few months:

Finished school for the spring - and the best part is that I'm out all summer!!!! Gloria Dios! I have been enjoying the time off thoroughly. I am on my 6th book of reading for fun - I almost forgot what that was like.

In mid May I took a trip to Texas to visit my mommy and daddy. It was so good to see them. One day dad and I took a trip to the Witchita Mountains about an hour north of where they live. It was absolutely beautiful. The hike up the 2270 mountain took about 1 hour to the top and 40 minutes back down. Here are a couple shots of the hike:

View from the top


Part of the hiking trail

Later that week, we drove down to my old home-town to celebrate my best friend from high school's wedding. It was a great time, and we did end up getting Kim and Chad hitched. :)

Me and the bride


The Fam

It was a fun time had by all. It was sort of strange to see some people I haven't seen in years. It's funny how some people change so much you can hardly believe it, and how others haven't changed a bit.

Monday, Nick and I got home from my grandparents' 70th wedding anniversary/ family reunion in Indiana. I'll save that experience and pictures for my next post since this one is getting rather lengthy.

Ah it feels good to be back in the saddle. Sorry to my two loyal fans. I will try to post more regularly now....

I'm Weird

So, at the request of my good pal Julianna, I will confess to you 6 things that are down right strange about me. You may or may not know that:

1)Babies frighten me. I've never really been around very small children much which is probably why I don't know how to behave around them. That and the "you don't want to get pregnant and ruin your life" speech we all heard when we were in high school. Maybe the negative connotation got to me. Yeah, I'll probably make a terrible Mom. Thank goodness they'll at least have Nick. :) **As a side note, yesterday was the very first time - ever- I have felt the want to have a baby, so maybe I'm having a break through of some kind.

2)I have a budget, an excel spreadsheet for all expenses during the month (with formulas), an amortization schedule for all of our loans with a targeted payoff date (I created in excel), balance my check book to the penny, and plan to do a complete analysis of how the budget worked out for the year making any modifications I feel are necessary. - I'm a teensy bit anal about finances.

3)I have a dwarf thumb. Tis true. Fortunately for me this tiny freak of nature isn't really noticeable. In other words, I don't have people come up and comment on the wondrously small size of my phalange.

4)I love my job. I get to work with data and create reports and learn cool new things with excel and access and other databases. Nick thinks I'm insane.

5) I have never permed, died, highlighted, etc. my hair, and I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 21. My hair-do is frighteningly similar to the hair-do I had in the second grade. Risk averse. Maybe.

6)I'm a younger version of the crazy old cat lady. I love my cat, crocheting, and cooking.

So top that! :)

Update.....a little late

To the one person who reads my blog, I apologize for my lack of recent posts. :)It's been a busy time, that's for sure. Christmas was glorious. We got to go to Missouri and spend it with all of the Moss'. The weather was grand and relatively mild for that time of the year - glad we're not there now, though! I got to cook lots and relax and not do much of anything. We got to go to a college friend's wedding as well and see lots of people we haven't seen in a while.
Now it's back to the old grind stone again, but it's not so bad. Classes have started for me yet again, but I think I'll be o.k. It'll be a lot of work (I have a 20 page term paper in one of my classes, and between the two, 4 group projects....I loathe group projects).
Work continues to go well. I will have my first review in my new position this coming month. I am anticipating a good one. I am learning so much it's unbelievable! My boss is really a good leader. I have been able to learn and grow so much with his help. I feel blessed for sure with a great family, church, and job. I really can't complain.
Well, I wanted to leave you with a couple pictues from Christmas. Enjoy!and I hope your 2007 is going well so far.

Thanksgiving Bliss

Nick and I made it safely to and from South Carolina yesterday evening. I was not ready to come back home, I must admit! We had a great time. It was nice to get away and be with people that you can really be yourself around. Being married to a church worker, I usually have to mind all my p's and q's and not fully be myself sometimes, so I revel in the opportunity to "let my hair down". Poor Dave and Sonya! :) Dave did a fantastic job with Thanksgiving dinner! The turkey was fabulous, and so were the trimmings! Here's a picture of the beautiful table that was set -







On Saturday we played "tourists" and saw the sites of Hilton Head. Here's pictures of us at Harbor Town:



All in all it was a great time. I made a new friend, Savannah (Dave and Sonya's cat). Ate some good food, and had a wonderful time in general. Wish you didn't live so far away!

Yea for Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for Thanksgiving! Tomorrow Nick and I are traveling to Hilton Head, SC to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with our good college buddies Dave and Sonya T. I have been waiting for this for a long time.

Is it just me, or do you find that when you get older vacations are even more cherished than when you were a kid? I do. I appreciate them much more now. I am definitely ready for one, too.

The stinky thing is that I still have to go to class tonight and since the prof said that this lecture and the next will be the bulk of the final exam, I really have to focus. Double poop! I just have to make it through tonight, and then I get a nice break.

So keep us in your prayers, and I will try to post some pictures of what I know will be a fabulous Thanksgiving. - I get to cook with Dave!

P.S. Also Nick caught a cold yesterday, so pray for him. For me, pray that I don't pig out too much! :)

What's yours is mine, and what's mine is mine....

Don't we often times have that attitude when it comes with God and money? I know I'm guilty of it some times. Nick and I are in the middle of a 10 week Bible Study on how to Biblically handle your finances. It's certainly been an eye opener, and a convicting but at the same time, growing experience. Who knew God has given us so much direct guidance through His Word regarding our (really His) possessions. Did you know that there are more than 2300 bible verses regarding money/possessions? Gee, I wonder why? I think that he knew us stupid, self-serving humans would have an ongoing struggle with this issue. It encompasses so much of our lives. We need money to feed, dress, and shelter ourselves. Everything we seem to do "costs" something. What should we spend the money that God has given us on?

I have always heard the term "steward", but never bothered to learn exactly what that word means. A steward is defined as someone who manages the assets of the master. How are you managing your Master's assets? OUCH.

As if I didn't think about money enough already, I now think about every purchase I make - is this a God-pleasing purchase? Though, I must admit, that this awareness has been a blessing. I worry about money much less than I used to because I know He is going to always provide. If I'm faithful, He has also promised to be faithful.

Nick and now have a "game plan" to get out of debt completely (something previously unimagined). I thought that we were doing pretty good - we don't have credit card debt, or debt on furniture, a t.v., etc. All we have is the house, the car, and student loans (lots of student loans - ON Concordia, and on and on and on!). I learned that "Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7 If you think about it, it does make sense. Just think of how much I could do for God if I wasn't paying all this money to creditors?

Everyone needs to learn what God's plan is for managing finances. I think it's one of those things that people don't like to talk about - it's taboo. How dare you tell someone what they should be doing with "their" money! They can handle it perfectly fine on their own, thank you very much! But if we are going to truly turn our lives over to God, that includes our finances. A really cool dude named Martin Luther once said that to love God there must be "A conversion of the heart, the mind, and the purse."

The study has been amazing so far, and I encourage everyone to learn more about God's will regarding your finances. The things He asks of us are sometimes not the easiest, and the world often screams the opposite message in our face, but with Christ all things are possible.

Change, You've got to be kidding me!

Yeah, that was the title of our sermon this past Sunday. Isn't that how we feel most of the time? I know I do. Just when you have gotten into the swing of things, something else comes into the picture and throws a kink in the wheels. A couple our age that we have made friends with down here just told us Monday night that they are going to be moving to Michigan for a job promotion. Do you know how hard it is to make friends nowadays? While I am happy for them, it still makes me a little sad for me. You know, it's my selfish human nature rearing its ugly head once more. Then again I should be used to having my friends living at the four corners of the U.S.

But I digress, not all change is bad. One exciting change that is about to begin is changes to our house. We have been wanting to make some changes to our house - it needs a few improvements, that's for sure - but we really didn't know how to go about it all and what to do first. Of course, God being the giver of all good things and the supplier of every need (and a few wants, too) brought a wonderful lady into our lives to help us out. She is fabulous. She is going to help us get a "game plan" for our house, and work with our budget and our timeline. She has already come over to our house and met with us, and tomorrow, we get to go talk to her about choosing products and getting ready for the instillation. This weekend, Nick and I will begin scraping off our popcorn ceiling that has started to fall down. Fun fun fun! Hopefully it won't be too bad. We have to get the ceilings done before the new floors come in, and that should prove to be quite a task.

Anyway, I should get you some before pictures, and then some after photos when it's all said and done.

Moral of the story, not all change is bad, and we can rest assured that we have a Changeless God who works for the good of those who love Him. So we know He uses change to mold us and shape our character. How lucky are we that we should be called His children? Change! Let it begin with me.....

The Armadillo

Have you ever seen one of these repulsive creatures? Well I have, and I saw it last night about 5 feet from me. They are gross! So, it was bedtime, and time for Charles to come inside for the night. He seemed mesmorized by something in the bushes. I figured it was the neighbor cat again that likes to come over and play sometimes. But there was no meowing. And this "thing" kept moving.

So I do what any other damsel in distress would do. I screamed for Nick to come out there and rescue me. "There's something in the bushes!!!! Get out here!" Just grab the cat and come in he replys. There is no way I'm going out there not knowing what in the world is waiting for me. What if it were a skunk, and it was rabid, or it sprayed me?

Just then the "thing" emerged from the bushes. And behold, it was a nasty armadillo digging around the yard for his dinner. This thing is pretty big too. So I scream. Finally, this gets Nick's attention. He comes out and says, "Oh, it's just an armadillo." Just an armadillo!! This nasty thing is in our yard just feet away from us and the cat. Now, I know that these things are blind, and nocturnal by nature. Nick, armed with the BBQ grilling brush, claps his hands really loud and stomps his foot. Like a lightening bolt, this thing books it across our yard to it's apparent home under our shed in the back yard. ........Lovely. The horrid beast has made it's home inches from our porch. Great. How do I know this you say? I saw the nasty thing early one morning a couple of weeks ago rooting around our back yard. Plus it ran in a perfecly straight line right to the hole below our shed....like he'd been there a time or two.

So, does anyone know how to get rid of an armadillo?

Pet Pandemonium

They say when it rains it pours. Well, it's been raining cats and dogs (badoom ching!) in Clara, TX where the rents reside.

It all started a couple of weeks ago when Mr. Kitty took a turn for the worst. Mom called to let me know that he wasn't doing well, and they were taking him to the vet. When they took him in, it was determined that Mr. Kitty's time on earth was drawing nigh. His liver was failing and he wouldn't last much longer. So my parents made the decision to go ahead to put him to sleep. He had a good 17 1/2 years. I can't believe he lived so long. So now Mr. Kitty is keeping my brother company. ***Question of the day - Do you think pets go to heaven? Some say yes, others say no."*** So, once the pain had ended, the vet boxed him up and they went home and buried him under a tree in the back yard. It was my dad's first pet funeral. They said a prayer of thanksgiving for his companionship and the joy he had brought them over the years.

I thought my mom would have a really hard time with it, but she has done pretty well. God works in mysterious ways. So, just days before Mr. Kitty departed from us, mom and dad were out walking the dogs (they live out in the country in the middle of nowhere) and were about a mile from their house. Dad said he thought he heard meowing, and then a little 3mo. old kitten popped out of the bushes. What are the odds? I can't believe that thing was alive considering all of the wild beasts that roam that area - bob cats, mountain lions, wild boars, snakes, you name it. Anyway, that thing must be awfully smart - it followed them home -- all the way home and let them pet him and even pick him up. Which makes them think that someone just dropped him off out there - to me unfathomable. Well, mom couldn't be cold hearted, and set out some food for him. They named it Vernon (after the town my mother teaches in). He has been trying to prove himself worthy ever since that day. He used the litter box immediately after mom showed it to him, so as to show her he knew exactly how to do is duty. He caught this massive field rat about half the size he was and brought it to the porch as a token of his appreciation. And, finally, he somehow made it into church on Sunday!
So now Vernon fills that empty spot on the bed where Mr. Kitty used to lay.
In other breaking news from little house on the prairie, mom and dad were out walking again - that same week- when they noticed one of the dogs wince and a little brown snake slither away. They couldn't tell if it was poisonous or not, but by the time they got home, Becky (the dog) was drooling uncontrollably, and her face was swelling up like a balloon. So, they rushed her into the Vet. Turns out, it was a prairie rattle snake, but after the doc administered steroids, antibiotics, and fluids through an IV, she was doing much better. They sent her home with more meds and some pain killers. Later that night dad went over to the other dog - Freckles- and noticed that his ear was about 3 times its normal size! So they gave him some meds and pain killers they had brought home.
That, I say, is plenty excitement for one week, wouldn't you think? My goodness. Pets, they bring joy, they bring excitement.

The past few days...Ups and Downs

Yes, it too has hit me. I have had this nasty cold for the past 3 days. But, alas, it will not prevail! I get sick once in a millennium, thankfully, and I think I am on the downhill slope of it. I haven't gone to the doctor yet, because the marvels of DayQuill and Tylenol Cold and Flu Nighttime seem to be doing great work. Fight the good fight glorious over-the-counter meds!
In other breaking news, Nick and I have new neighbors. I met the wife Tuesday, and Nick and I introduced ourselves to the husband last night (they were both mowing the lawn). They are young - late twenties - moved from Miami last year and this is their first house. I am excited. They seem very nice and quite. AND they have a nine month old Basset Hound!! As you know this is my favorite dog - the same dog that Nick has shunned and refuses to have as a pet. So maybe every once in a while I can get my basset fix. :)
Tomorrow is the High School Beach trip. We are going to Ft. Desoto for some fun in the sun. It will probably be the last time this year. School is starting back up for me next week, and the dreaded red tide is creeping up the coast as we speak. We have a few additions to our HS youth group from last year's 8th grade class. It's a good core group of 4 girls. I am thankful for that. We lost two seniors, but have gained 4 freshmen. I hope that they continue to come and be filled with God's love. The older kids are really good with accepting and including others, so the transition has been nice. Pray that we have a great event!
Well, I guess that's about it for now. I'll post again later~ Have a great weekend!

Yoda and Fozzie kin?

So I was driving to work a couple of days ago listening to the radio. Somehow the DJ and the traffic report girl got on the topic of Yoda. Then, of course, the DJ did his best Yoda impression (not bad either). As the conversation progressed, she said that he was starting to sound more like Fozzie than Yoda. (You know, Fozzie from the Muppets.)Then the traffic report girl pondered aloud, "I wonder if they're related." Immediately, I thought of the perfect person to ask - Julianna. Not only is half of her nickname Yoda, but she is the queen of pop culture as well. On top of that, she faithfully watches A Muppet's Christmas Carol every December. So, Julianna, are Fozzie and Yoda mysteriously related? Is there a bizarre pop culture path that joins the two? I must know!!! (Anyone else who thinks they know are welcome to comment as well; even if you don't have all the credentials as the infamous Spoda.) :)

Boring

I've recently come to the realization that I am very boring. That's why I don't have many posts on my blog. Nothing exciting really happens to me. It's not like I have people coming up to me telling me that I resemble a famous star of the 80's/early 90's, or have an odd happening at the grocery store, or other amusing instances. It doesn't make matters any better when I don't have anything to do at work. I'm ready for a project.

We did get new neighbors to our left recently. We haven't met them yet, but I heard a dog barking when I was in the back yard this week, and, like any good neighbor would do, I peeked my head over the fence. As fate would have it, they have a basset hound. If you aren't familiar with my love for basset hounds, let me tell you. I really really want to get a basset when we decide to get a dog, but Nick thinks they are ugly. Can I get some backup that these lovable canines are just about the sweetest and cutest things ever? Yeah, I know. Nick has his heart set on a lab. Yes a 90lb dog....super. Don't get me wrong, I think they are beautiful dogs, but they are just so darn huge! Ah, the battle/saga continues along with the naming of our not yet conceived unborn son.

In other breaking news, we are kid/house sitting for a church family starting tomorrow night for a week. Hello to a gourmet kitchen with t.v. so that I may watch Emeril while I make dinner. Hello to a memory foam mattress that is like sleeping on a little slice of heaven. Hello to a big swimming pool. Hello to surround sound and cable t.v. Yes, it will be rough. Especially if you add on the fact that all 3 kids are extremely well behaved and well mannered. However, it should be interesting. It is the first week of school, and two of the three are starting a new school.

I'm sure I will have lots of updates throughout the week. The little one is down right hilarious! He keeps me laughing.

For Julianna: I have begun an afghan pattern out of the Disney Pattern book and it's looking pretty fabulous. I'll keep you updated and let you see the finished product.

So, that's all for now. More to come next week.....

Pictures!

Since it's been a while since I've posted some pictures....

Now for your viewing pleasure:


Me and my Daddy when he came down to visit me last month. I love you Dad!




Nick and I at the southern most point of the U.S. - The infamous trip to Key West! (See two posts ago!)



A great shot to make my parents jealous. :)

Newness

Seems like every so often something changes - sometimes good, other times bad. I have a good change that has manifested itself in my life. I have been blessed with a job promotion. It's pretty exciting. I'm not sure what to do with myself. My boss got back from vacation today, so now the fun can begin.

Now with the good news there has only been a little bit of bad news. I have had to fight with the IT department. It's always a pain trying to get everything set up and access to the appropriate applications. I now have a phone that works, access to a certain file folder that I need, a computer, and printer access. However, I am still waiting patiently for my software. You would think that they would be in somewhat of a hurry to supply people with access to programs that are essential to doing their jobs, but apparently not. It's been over a week. So I called, and they said it would be soon. I said soon as in a couple days, or soon as in a couple of hours?

Anyway, it will come, and things will be fine. I am not too overwhelmed yet, and I think that this is something I am really going to enjoy. God is a giver, and I am thankful. Do you ever feel guilty that you have more than your fair share of blessings? I do. But then again, I'm Lutheran and we are bread to feel guilty! :)

All I can do is try to use wisely what he has given to me. The other day, I decided to define the purpose of my life and this is what I came up with to inspire and motivate my everyday:
"My purpose in life is to learn and implement God's will for me, to be a good steward of the gifts He has given to me, and reflect Christ's love to others around me."

It's like writing down goals. It just feels good. Makes me keep in mind why I'm here.

I is Ghetto

Deep down I always knew it, but a recent happening solidified the notion.

A couple weeks ago Nick and I finally went on vacation - by ourselves - with no family - it was glorious. We have not taken a vacation alone together since we have been married, so it was nice to get away from the hum drum of everyday life.

Destination - The Florida Keys! Wow, that sounds awesome. Certainly we can afford to take a 3 day vacation, right. Of course, my husband is in church work, so money is not an object. To save money, we decided to take along a cooler. It was a grand idea, at first, but became less and less of a great idea as the trip progressed.

So, we packed up the cooler with PB&J, a loaf of bread (our lunch for two days), watermelon, banana bread (for breakfast), butter (for the banana bread), and some water and soda. Yea, we were set, and we were saving money. (Already you can see that the story has a pathetic ring to it!)

So, we iced it down, and drove. Like I said before, this was great the first night. Then we went to pick up two more bags of ice - $3. $3! We are getting no where if we have to spend all this money on ice. Then it occurred to us - the hotel has an ice machine (I'm laughing as I write). What a splendid idea!

Also, we do not find this weird in the least. Our bed and breakfast in Key West had an ice machine right by our car, making fill up rather easy. The problem didn't occur until the last night. We were staying on the 29th floor of the Marriott in downtown Miami.

Nick says to me, "Candace, I need to fill up the cooler, come with me." O.K. "How are you going to get the ice down to the cooler?" "Oh, I've got a plastic Publix sack." (That's right, folks, a plastic grocery sack.) So we trot down to the ice machine and start filling up the sack. It was at that very moment we realized the extent of our frugality and started busting out laughing. We were laughing so hard we almost started crying.

The bad thing was, that we had already committed ourselves to this escapade and must finish our mission. To do this meant going all the way down the elevator and across the lobby - the very big lobby where many people had come to attend a rather large wedding. So, we boarded the elevators along with several other people, of course. I'm trying to block the bag of ice with my body so people won't notice what lunatics we are. Meanwhile the ice is beginning to melt and starts to drip on my leg. By the time we get down to the lobby, there is a little pool of water on the floor. We make it across the lobby with a water drop trail following us every step of the way.

The last thing that set me over the edge is when we finally got to our car and Nick put the ice in the cooler, he turned to me and asked, "Do you want to save the bag?"

We is ghetto.

Alberto how I loath thee....

Yes, you guessed it. It's not even two weeks into official "Hurricane Season" and Alberto is already ringing in the new year. Thanks me amigo. I drove to work in a torrential down pour today, but made it safely to work - for which I am thankful. One thing I have become accustomed to since my relocation to Florida is Hurricanes. Once they were only things to be flipped through on the national news, now they stare at me June - October when I look out my front door.
You know what I love about this increase in hurricane activity? It brings out the wack jobs. Now, I'm not saying we aren't all wack jobs in our own special way, but in this case, I am referring to the ones who's wackiness is exemplified by the extreme weather. To begin my list of favorite hurricane wackos (from now on referred to as "HW's") are the ones who think that the escalated hurricane activity indicates that the world is coming to an end - Armageddon is near! Run around screaming! Frighten small children! Etc. I say that isn't something to be bothered by. If Jesus is coming, I'm ready to be taken home - I'd love to see my brother again as well (today would have been his 22nd birthday - lucky him, it's his 5th birthday with Jesus!). Another favorite HW's are the idiots, whom live on the coast that is predicted to be a direct hit, that voluntarily decide to "ride it out". Why, why do these people challenge/ignore the inherent danger? Ahhhh for many reasons:
-They have lived in the house for 30 years and they aren't going to leave it
-It will be cool - Yea, getting killed by the brute force of nature will be "cool".
-The government can't tell me what I can and can't do. Yes government, why do you insist on looking out for us? That sure is rude of you to try and protect us from our own stupidity. How dare you.
Lastly, in my list of HW are the aftermathers who just can't find enough people to blame. Blame FEMA. Blame the governor. Blame the president. People - hurricanes are no one's fault. We can have nice little plans, but when D-day comes, those nice made plans might not be feasible to the situation. So stop your griping and go help your neighbor!
Well kids, this concludes my ranting and raving over the current hurricane season. Thoughts?

All about Charles..........

First of all you must be thinking.....two posts in one day!!!???!!! I know, I'm full of surprises. But I thought I needed to write about the other man in my life. :)

First of all he goes by Many different names. Some are not appropriate to publish, but here are a few:
Noogs/Noogsy
Woody
My boy
Woonin

You would think that all theses names would confuse the poor fellow, but that's the great thing about animals - as long as you talk to them in that high-pitched pet talk, they will answer to just about anything. It's a proven fact, I've had pets my whole life, and I've never called them by their "given" name. They still come when you call them, though.

He is certainly something else, pets are just too fun. Everyone should have one for entertainment purposes. Here are some of his quirks.....
*He's a food slinger. I don't understand how something that small can make such a mess with dried food! Here's how it all plays out. I put the food in his bowl and he stares at me........like I'm going to give him something else. Hello, you've been getting the same food for the past 623 days. Don't look so shocked! Seriously. Then he proceeds to eat his food. After he begins chowing down, he starts purring and realizes how much he really does like the food. So he eats, and shakes his head. This causes bits of food to scatter across the floor, on the wall by his bowl, and in his water dish dirtying up his water. I've never seen anything quite like it. The wall behind his bowl looks like abstract art. Which gets me thinking - maybe I can just start hanging pieces of paper back there and sell the "art" on E-bay making millions. Hey, they did it with monkeys and elephants, why not a domestic tabby cat?
*He is not a lap cat, but is very affectionate....go figure. He would not stay in your lap if his life depended on it, but he will let you pet him all day long.
*He seems to be frightened of beds. If you try to put him on one, he immediately jumps off and runs out of the room. He's nuts.
*He can sit in the middle of an ant hill and not get eaten alive. This, to me, has to be the eighth wonder of the world. Cats must be immune to ants. I never knew that, did you?
*He knows just how to piss off Nick (this is the most entertaining thing of all)! Have you ever seen a grown man yell at a cat? It's pretty hilarious.

I could go on and on, but I suppose you have better things to do with your day than read about my weird cat. Hope it gave you a few chuckles, anyway. If it didn't and you are a visual person, feel free to drop by our house anytime for free amusement!

VBS Update, and Insights from Life's Friction

Things are beginning to wind down on the VBS front! Yea! I am so proud of my husband. Only the Lord knows how he made it through. He has certainly been equipped with amazing talents (though he would never admit it or take any credit).

Looking around at the people in my life leads me to think of a conversation I had with my sister yesterday. She said, "People are different, Candace." and I said, "Yes they are, Courtney, and there's The God who made us and loves us all just the same." Each person that I know and love has been made very different and unique. I am very thankful for that....most of the time :). Nick and I, as you all know, are very different, but I tell you, God certainly knew what he was doing when he brought us together. He knows how to calm me down (after he has pressed all my buttons!)and he always gives me something to think about. He is the greatest listener anyone could hope to find, which is great for a talker such as myself.

You know, it's life's friction that helps us to grow. That darn "pruning" can be painful, though, but, in the end, I want to yield good fruit, so I better roll with the punches, right?

O.K. Enough of the deep thinking stuff.....Peety (I named the parrot from two entries ago) is no where to be found. He has either found another back yard to perch in, or he is now in that big margaritaville in the sky. Either way, all the best to you Peety, all the best.....

Down with VBS!

That's right, you heard me. This is absolutely the worst week out of the year, and I'm not even directly involved! Yeah yeah, it's great for the kids...blah blah blah, but I do not like what it does to my husband. He gets this crazed look in his eye, and is extremely irritable. I try to be understanding......really I do, but I can only take so much. I see where he is coming from. He is working 80 hours this week, and when it's all said and done, 12 days in a row - a feat that few are able to push through. I admire him for his sticktuidiveness (sp?).
So any prayers this week would be greatly appreciated. 1 1/2 days down, 4 1/2 more to go. Sunday afternoon, the peasants will be rejoicing and Candace and Nick will be on the beach recovering from the effects of all that encompasses VBS.

Yeah, I know........

I have been extremely bad about posting. This is of no fault of my own, however. I have been uber busy with everything that I call life. Happenings since you last heard from me:
*Went to KC for Abby's college graduation (sister-in-law). It was awesome and she was recognized with a Service Before Other's award. It was great to see all of the inlaws!
*I applied for a promotion at work. It's in the same department, but mgmt. level and salaried instead of hourly, and I hope to find out sometime this week if I get the job.
*Nick went to Haiti on a mission trip and had an amazing experience. I was upset because I was unable to contact him the entire 8 days he was gone. You can bet that I was super happy that he came back home safely to me. I am glad that he had a great time and am excited to see how God uses this experience.
*I got new glasses. Julianna calls them "Indi-urban" chic. I asked her if they made her want to rush up to me to have an intellectually stimulating conversation! :)
*While Nick was gone, I got more dinner invites than the president! It was extremely nice for people to think of me, but I was feeling quite bloated after about the 3rd dinner out. I am thankful to have such a supportive congregation.
*Had a super-fun time with my good pal Julianna last Friday night. We went out to eat, I got some new crochet patterns and raided J's yarn stash, and battled one of the most terrible dogs I have ever laid eyes on. You certainly earned your paycheck on that one!
*Started my summer classes - Financial and Marketing Management. Yeehaw. I don't think that either on of them will be too hard conceptually, but the work load is going to be larger than usual.

In other breaking news, we have a parrot in our back yard. That's right, a parrot! I saw this lime green streak fly out from the bushes and across the back yard. Now, Florida is tropical, but not that tropical! We think it is someone's pet that escaped (possibly accidently on purpose), because we were able to get pretty close to it. I found myself trying to catch it, but thought "what the heck would I do with it once I caught it".

That's about all for now. This isn't that difficult when your life is not extremely exciting! I will try to keep you posted more than once a month, but no promises!....:)

Thoughts on Swimsuit Season

Well, it's that time again already (at least in Florida)- the dreaded swimsuit season. Donn donn DONN! For skinny 16 year olds with perfect bodies, this is not such a big deal. For the other 99% of us, it is. I read somewhere that most women would rather go to the dentist that shop for a swimsuit. I would agree with that.
So, last weekend I took the plung and went shopping. Mind you, I am not a shopper. I don't enjoy it. It's not something I choose to do on the weekends. In fact, I only do "serious" shopping about once a year. For most females, shopping is a way to have fun and relax, and for some an essential part of their being. For Candace, it is a stressful, nerve-wracking experience. Everything I like is too expensive, doesn't fit, or is not in my size. How do people do this ALL the time - for ENJOYMENT?!
(I went to try to find an Easter dress as well as a SS. I found nothing worth anything under $60.00, and I'm not spending $60.00 on a dress. Yeah, I'm cheap...I know.)
Anyway, back to the swimsuits. So I trompped around the mall for 2 hours to no avail. Did you know that people sell SS for $50.00/piece?!! $100.00 for two tiny pieces of material? I don't think so. The material isn't even worth that, and you know it probably wasn't "made in the USA", as most all manufacturing/textile production is now outsourced across the big pond. How? Why? I'm became more disgruntled as time went on and with every store I entered.
With no luck at the mall, I head to good old Target - The one store that I don't completely loath shopping at. (Hind-site, I should have gone there to begin with).
I walk in, and they have a great selection with reasonable prices. I actually find 3 suites (7 pieces in all for different sizes) plus two shirts and a skirt to try on. So I walk to the dressing room where the girl (the 16 yr. old with the perfect SS body) informs me that I can only take 6 pieces into the dressing room. So what? Try on the tops and then come back for the bottoms and try to envision what they would look like together? (I didn't say this out loud, but I was thinking it.) So I take a couple of the suites, try them on, put my clothes back on, trade out for the other pieces, go back in the dressing room, try on round two, and dress again. I consider myself and efficient person and like to do things as expidiciously as possible - you can imagine how annoyed I was.
This story does have a happy ending, though. I did find a SS that I actually like, and that fits me, and I will be set to go for another 2 years, hopefully.
Now I just have to work on tanning my albino body.........

Weirdness

I had a great conversation with my best friend from high school last night. She is doing great and might be getting engaged shortly. Then - the super genius that I am - got to thinking that her last name is going to change. How weird will it be to call her Miller?
Anyway, all of this got me thinking about high school. Don't worry, I'm not one of those poor souls hanging on, and living vicariously through the memories of days now past. To me, HS seems like a life time ago. I guess in some ways it is. So much has changed - not only in the world, but in me as well. I wonder about what changes life has brought to my classmates, and where they are/ what they are doing now. Since I live literally half way across the US from my home town, and haven't been back in quite some time now, and tend to lose touch with the grand happenings of Eden. If Kim gets married, that will mean I'll have a reason to go back and see some people. That just gets me worked up. What do you say to people that you haven't seen in years? It's so WEIRD! Yet, in a way, I would be as happy as a lark to catch up. This, I believe, is spawned by my curiosity of how people are now. Have they changed? Are they married? Do they have kids? I guess I'll find out some day.
The old 10 year reunion is a mere 4 years away! Now that's a scary thought!

Something to "chew" on, and listen to.....

If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world will satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world.

~~~C.S. Lewis

Don't you love being a Christian? Where else can you be fully satisfied and, on the flip side, never be fully satisfied? I have recently purchased my first CD in years (literally). Who, you ask, brought my fruglness to its knees? Well, it's Barlow Girl's latest - Another Journal Entry. I'm not one to promote music, as everyone has their own tastes, but this one is definitely worth doting on. There's something on there for every mood you happen to find yourself in.

Feeling rebellious and wild? Listen to Track #1 ~~~So give me the fire, yeah God give me your fire~~

Boyfriend just dumped you, or someone hurt you? Track #5 ~~~Broken Heart one more time Pick yourself up, why even cry Broken pieces in your hand Wonder how you'll make it whole~~~~

Going crazy at work? Track #6 titled Take me Away

Just want to rock out to the love and awesomeness of Jesus? Track #10

My favorite has to be Track #3 because it optimizes my relationship with my Lord:

Why, why are You still here with me
Didn't You see what I've done?
In my shame I want to run and hide myself, but it's here I see the truth
I don't deserve You.
But I need You to love me, and I
I won't keep my heart from You this time
And I'll stop this pretending that I can
Somehow deserve what I have
I, I have wasted so much time pushing You away from me
I just never saw how You could cherish me
'Cause You're a God who has all things And still You want me.

For a "preview" visit www.barlowgirl.com

Have a great weekend everyone!

Where do pets come from?

A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"

Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."

And God said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.

And it was a good animal.

And God was pleased.

And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.

And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."

And God said, " I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him
DOG."


And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.

And they were comforted.

And God was pleased.

And Dog was content and wagged his tail.


After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."

And God said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.



And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.

And Adam and Eve learned humility.

And they were greatly improved.


And God was pleased.

And Dog was happy.


And Cat didn't give a crap one way or the other.

Honesty

It's such a funny thing. We always say we want it, but is that always the "honest truth"? I love my husband, I really do, but his honesty comes at sometimes unwanted times. Two specific instances come to mind:

Instance #1-I had just spent two hours making homemade lasagna (any of you who have attempted this culinary challenge know how involved this dish is)and I asked him if he liked it, as he hadn't said anything inbetween bites. He said, "Yeah, it's good. Did you use a recipe?" Mind you there are only two of us, so instead of making a huge 9X13 pan, I cut the recipe in half. Otherwise we would have been eating it for a month. I replied, "Well, sort of. I made it smaller for us." He says, "Oh...", to which I respond, "What?" -
N:"Well, it could use more sauce."
C:"MORE SAUCE?! Wait, let me make the amendment in my cookbook!"
N: "I don't see why you are getting all mad. Don't you want me to be honest?"
C:pause.....Ouch.......How do I respond to that? "No, husband, I don't want you to be honest with me? I don't think so." So I told him that I did want his honesty.

Instance # 2 - I'm getting ready for church, and decide on this black velvet dress I haven't worn in a while. Nick comes around the corner, looks at me, and says "Are you going to wear that?" No, I just put it on for fun. It's my "getting ready for church wear". Of course I'm going to wear it.
C:"What's wrong with the dress?"
N:"It looks like something a pregnant woman would wear." (Nice not only a put down to the dress, but a subtle innuendo regarding my size as well, even if not intentionally.)
C:"Alright master, what would you like me to wear?" (He hates it when I call him master)
N:"Anything but that dress."

What can I say, I have an honest husband. Even though my feelings have been hurt before, I know he really does mean well, and looking back - he was right. The lasagna did need more sauce, and the dress is certainly capable of accommodating a pregnant woman. In the end, I thank God for a husband who is honest, as brutal as it may be at times, and who can communicate with me. I can only wish that for others.

***Disclaimer. Let's get one thing straight. In no way do I mean that Nick is ALWAYS right. I'm was just trying to convey my appreciation for his honesty.

A Thought on forgiveness

It's always amazing to me what forgiveness brings - whether you are asking for it or giving it to another. It seems to always bring out what is right in the world. The forgiveness between a husband and a wife is something I can't fully describe. I screw up all the time, and Nick forgives me time and time again. In turn, when he happens to do something that is less than desirable, and then comes to me asking forgiveness, I feel loved. I appreciate that we can come to each other truly sorry for our actions and ask the other for forgiveness.
This also makes me contemplate God's forgiveness. I just can't fully comprehend that 1) I can even go before The Almighty and ask for forgiveness time and time again. I'm like the monkey that reaches for the banana and gets shocked every time he does, but yet keeps reaching for it anyway. It truly is a humbling experience. and 2) That God grants forgiveness to dumb monkeys like me even when he knows we will inevitably screw up again.
Forgive others just as He forgives us. What a great pearl.

Babysitter/ Update

Well, they aren't really babies, but you know what I mean. Nick and I have agreed to watch 3 kids for the weekend while their parents go out of town. This is going to be WEIRD! The oldest is a freshman in HS, the middle child is a 6th grader, and the baby is a 5th grader. I'll be cooking for them and making sure they get to bed on time, and Nick will be making sure they get to school on time. Will this be a momentary "flash forward" about 20 years? Pretty strange to think about, huh? Anyway, I don't anticipate it being bad at all. The kids are great and very well behaved.

In other news, Nick and I are prepping for Quote "The social event of the year" according to our middle-schoolers. I didn't know it had so much clout! The middle school lock-in is this weekend as well. Boy oh boy. The kids love it, but it takes the adults the entire year to recover from it! I made it until 3 am last year, but then I hit the door.

Well, I finished my first two 8 week classes for school. An A and a B. I'm satisfied. I know I'm no prodigy or super genius, so as long as I make it through the program with above a 3.4, I will be satisfied. So far, I have done that. My next two professors will be interesting. I've heard mixed reviews, so I am ready to find out how they will be.

Nick made it back from the HS district youth gathering, and had a great time in Jacksonville. He said the kids really enjoyed it, and were able to have plenty of fellowship and service opportunities. They had the largest food distribution in Jacksonville's history, so that's pretty awesome.

I guess that's about all that has been going on with me. I'm another year older - 24 - woo hoo. That's another thing that pretty much stinks about getting older. Birthdays just aren't what they used to be. Anyway, I better be getting back to work. My lunch break is over. Until next time......

Inspiration via Julianna

My good blogging buddy and friend, Julianna, posted some questions on her blog. They are kind of random, but very fun. I hope you learned something about me you never knew........

Four jobs you have had in your lifetime:
1)Lubke Chevrolet filer/ car deliverer/ misc.
2)Bank Teller
3)Bank Customer Service
4)Financial Services for Ritz-Carlton Club (all the prestige with non of the cash!)

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1)The Wedding Singer (I can't explain why this movie never gets old - you would think it would after a while)
2)My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Although I may be giving this impression, I'm not a wedding movie enthusiast)
3)Forrest Gump
4)The Sound of Music
(If that's not a weird combo, I don't know what is!)

Four places you have lived:
1)Eden Texas, (I do miss the homeland)
2)San Angelo, Texas
3)Seward, Nebraska (don't miss the cold!)
4)Lakeland, Florida (a place where beaches are close by, but that I never have time to visit. Oh the irony!)

Here's a fun one that Julianna didn't have:
Four Colleges/ Universities I've attended (Yeah I know)
1)Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
2)Howard Junior College, San Angelo, TX
3)Concordia University, Seward Nebraska (I did graduate from this one!)
4)University of South Florida, Tampa

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1)Desperate Housewives
2)Gray's Anatomy
3)Surface (I hope it comes back next season!)
4)Everybody Loves Raymond & King of Queens reruns

Four places you have been on vacation:
1)Winter Park Colorado - twice snow skiing. It's so beautiful!
2)Disney World (before I moved to Florida - I actually haven't been since I've moved here almost 2 years ago!)
3)Nashville Tennessee and Memphis to visit the home of the King (Yeah, I'll just come out and say it - I like Elvis! He was my first "crush". While other's were swooning over New Kids on the Block, I had my sights set on a dead guy. Another embarrassing tid bit- I've seen most of his movies.)
4)Washington DC - loved it, want to go back and take Nick with me

Four websites I visit daily:
I don't have time these days. The ones I visit are all work related unless I can grab a break. In which case they would be:
1)My Concordia email - a few people still email me there
2)Julianna's Blog - it's how we maintain our friendship! :)
3)Bank's website to check on my account and pay bills
4)USF website to check my grades

Four of my favorite foods:
1)Tex mex Fajitas w/ all the trimmings
2)Shrimp w/ pasta (any sauce will do)
3)Ice cream - I'm a sucker for it
4)My grandmother's home-made bread - I haven't had it in so long - I've GOT to get the recipe and go for it

Four places I would rather be right now:
1)Not at work
2)On the beach relaxing
3)Home with my mom and dad for a visit
4)Heaven! :)

So, there you go....stuff you never knew and aren't really sure if you wanted to know after all!

It's been a while

I haven't died, although I've prayed for death a couple times in the last few weeks. :) I haven't know busy until recently. But, anyway, here's a little recap of what's been going on the past week.
Last weekend Nick and I finally got our landscaping put in (Just in time for our first and only hard freeze of the year.) We covered all our new plants with sheets, and I think they are all going to make it. One got a little burned, but hopefully it will perk back up. The banana trees didn't fair so well. They look pretty sad. I hope they won't die on me.
Valentine's day came and went with me spending a romantic evening in class, and Nick enjoying a romantic dinner with my grandparents. You know we like to spend all the romantic holidays with family. It's been our tradition so far!
Tonight is Pastor Goff's big surprise party for his Doctorate. I made a big salad last night, and a batch of my family's world famous salsa.
This weekend, we will hopefully get our baseboards put in and our screen fixed on the porch. Charles is driving us crazy with his constant and perpetual meowing to go outside. There were a couple of holes in the screen, and he figured out his escape path. So until we get that fixed, he is banned from going on the porch. It's like giving a kid a toy, and then taking it away from them. All they want is the toy. And so it has been with Charles.
So see, you really haven't missed to much. I'm too busy to have anything exciting actually happen! Love to you all..........

Ode to My Mom

I can say with confidence that I have a wonderful mother. Everyone should be as blessed as me. She means so much to me and I love her for so many reasons. She has always been my number one supporter through everything I have done. Whether it be changing my job to changing bedroom furniture around. She constantly builds me up and tells me that she is proud of me and loves me. Though I think she has always been my best friend, it has become more fully solidified the past couple of years. I know I can call her with anything, even if all I have are complaints and gripes over something. She listens to me and is always there to tell me everything will be o.k. She is the epitome of what it means to have faith and keep plugging along. Many trials have come and gone with new ones presenting themselves as we speak, but she has faced all of them with stregnth that I know can only come from God, and over come them all with pure Grace. She teaches me all sorts of useful bits of wisdom. One recent favorite of mine, "You may not be able to control everything your husband does, but know that he can't control everything you do either!" I love my mom. Only she could make me laugh with something like that. Though she often times thinks she's "a failure" (what ever that means) she is anything but. I don't know where she gets these crazy thoughts from. No one can be perfect, that's for sure, but just by making one mistake or not living up to what society views as success in no way makes one a failure. She has constantly reminded me that I "married my dad". She loves Nick and since he is a lot like my dad she has fun getting a rise out of him! :) This I just watch with amusement. Although she is very independent in her own right, she also portrays what it is to be a submissive wife. I have learned a lot from this. I have watched her faithfully support my father for the last 26 years, while at the same time doing her own thing. I think this is key to any successful marriage. If I am half as good a mother and wife as she has been, I will consider myself successful.

I love you MOM! Hope the rest of your week is better.

What's in a dream?

So, lately I've been having all these dreams that I am pregnant. Just to clarify - I AM NOT PREGNANT. It's been freaking me out, though. What does it mean? The other night, I could feel the baby kicking in my dream. What is making me have these dreams? I've thought about it and it could be for any of the following reasons:
1) Everyone around me is pregnant and/ or just had a baby and I've been surrounded by it 24/7, work, school, church....
2)I have this overwhelming fear of becoming extremely fat, and being pregnant heightens this fear. Hince, my subconscious is telling me to exercise more? Yeah...what ever that means...
3)God wants me to have children soon. To which I beg- "please let me finish grad school first"! :)
4)I am realizing that school will be finished in a short 2 years, and that's the time we've decided to have children. That's not very far off people!!!

It's probably for the first reason, but I don't usually have dreams that are recurring.....Except there was a phase I went through in school where I kept dreaming I was going to school naked and not realizing it until I was already in class. Talk about a nightmare! I have written that one off to the highly critical girls I went to junior high school with who could squash your spirit like a bug in a split second. Ah, I don't really miss those days too much.
So am I the only psycho who has recurring dreams, or do you have some, too?