Just a Girl in Colorado...

Movin on up!

2008-05-05T21:14:00.002-06:00

I now have my very own website!!! It is still under construction, but my blog is up and running, so this blog is now retired. Thank you to all who visited me here, and please visit me at my new cyber-home at suezqueathome.com/blog. (*** Bribe to come visit- there's a giveaway going on!***)

Thirteen Things on my weekend to-do list...

2008-05-01T09:18:00.004-06:00

Thursday Thirteen Edition #5

I have tomorrow off, so I have a three-day weekend. And I am looking to take full advantage of it!!! :-) Here's what I'm planning to do with myself for the next three days!

1. Sleep In!!!

2. Give myself a pedicure using my foot spa and my Arbonne Pampermint Foot Set.

3. Going to my friend/co-worker's purse party.

4. Finish the two books I'm reading

5. Start a new book (after I finish the other two :-)

6.Hopefully, depending on delivery, program my new phone!

7. Having dinner and going to a movie with our friends (who are moving at the end of the month :-(

8. Laundry

9. Conquer the piles of mail that have built up- divide into things that need to be dealt with, trash or shred.

10. Organize my magazines, get out all the recipes I've marked to try- trash or file magazines

11. Get May menu plan and grocery shopping list finished

12. Take a nap

13. Last, but not least, I'm going to get at least the blog page (and hopefully the homepage too) of my new website up & running!!! So be sure to keep checking back here for details- I think I'm gonna have some kind of contest/ giveaway to celebrate!!!

Check out other Thirteeners here.

Have a great weekend!!! :-)

Gratituesday- Things to come...

2008-04-29T08:27:00.002-06:00

My little desk calendar at work has its own Gratituesday for today! It's a "Life's Little Instructions from the Bible" page-a-day calendar. On today's page it says:

"Show gratitude, if not for what you have now, then for all the goods things still ahead."

Wow! Sometimes I pray for things I want to happen in the future- like paying off bills, or hopefully, someday having children and getting to stay home with them. But I don't think I have ever said to GOD, "Thank you for my future blessings, whatever they might be..." But you know what? If I were fully trusting GOD to provide for me, now and in the future, I should be able to to say that- and mean it!!! I know I am going to have to work on this.

But today, I can also give thanks for those things which He has already provided- the most exciting for me today being that I am about to have my own website!!! YEA! Woo-Hoo! :-)

I am ironing out details, even as I am writing this. So please pray for me and this new adventure GOD has put into my life. Pray that it will be a blessing, not only for me, but for all who find their way to its pages. (And keep checking back here- I'll let you know when it's up & running- cause then all my blogging will be over there too!)

And I am also grateful to Laura and Char for all your encouragement ans advice and help with the details so far! I can't wait to get this going!!! :-)

But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." I Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)

Be sure to visit Laura at HeavenlyHomemakers to see what others are Gratituesday-ing about! :-)

Tagged by Jayme...

2008-04-28T17:43:00.004-06:00

Jayme tagged me with this MEME, so- here it goes...

*** Update I forgot the 5 snacks or treats!- Now they are there... :-)

What was I doing ten years ago?
My second semester of college, babysitting the neighbor's little boy, and starting to help with taking care of my dad's parents.

5 places I have travelled:
Las vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NM
Mt Rushmore, SD
Carlsbad, NM
Lubbock, TX

5 snacks or treats I enjoy:
Diet Cherry Pepsi
Most any kind of cake or cookie
Potato chips
Trolli Sour Cherry Bombers
Fruits & Veggies more & more! :-)

What would I do if I were a billionaire?
Support the Lord's work in this country and abroad
Pay off debt
Have plastic surgery (to remove the excess skin from my gastric bypass weight loss)
Find a big place where we can build houses for all our family to be close by each other
Have lots of kids (natural and adopted)

Places I have lived:
Pueblo, CO
La Junta, CO
Rocky Ford, CO
Next???

Jobs I have had:
Cook/waitress at Pizza Hut
Telemarketer
Appointment Scheduler for Ft. Carson, Air Force Academy & Petersen AFB medical offices
Social Worker
(and take a guess what my degree is in- none of these!:-)

People I am tagging:
Mia
Laura
Char
Laughing Laura

Anyone else feel free to play along- leave a comment to your post if you do. :-)

Bloggy Giveaway Winners

2008-04-27T09:39:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Suzy and Drala who won my bloggy giveaway! I have contacted both of you with a request for your mailing addresses- as soon as I hear from you I can get you gift off to you!
Thanks to all who entered. I can't wait for the next one! (Maybe next time I'll even have time to actually enter some giveaways too! :-)

13 things I can give to Christ...

2008-04-23T21:27:00.003-06:00

1. My praise
2. My adoration
3. My time
4. Prayer
5. My attitude
6. My obedience
7. My trust
8. My attention
9. My effort
10. My tears
11. My burdens
12. My love
13. My life

I would appreciate your prayers this week, as I struggle with some of these- my attitude most of all. I've had a "poor me" attitude as of late, and have forgotten to be content in my present situtation. Please pray that that is something I can work to change in the following weeks.

Check out other Thursday Thirteens here.

Bloggy Giveaway!!!

2008-04-22T12:36:00.007-06:00

I am excited to participate in this for the first time! I've had these little creations lying around for a couple of months and have been wondering if there would be some interest in them, I though they would make great secret sister or office gifts. So I'm testing the waters by giving one of each away! (U.S. only, please). Leave me a comment with your choice of the tea mug or the water bottle, and I will randomly draw two names Sunday April 27th at 8am, mountain time. Please only sign up once, duplicate entries will be deleted. And please be sure to leave a valid email address if you don't have a blog.

Here's whats in the Tea Mug:

And here's what's in the water Bottle:

Gratituesday...Spiritual Mentors

2008-04-22T12:13:00.007-06:00

I have had to think about what to write about today- it’s not that I’m not grateful for everything in my life (even though sometimes things in our lives are not pleasant…). But because I have been struggling so much these past three weeks after my grandma’s death and all the stuff that happened with that- it’s been hard to see past the what if's and bitter memories that Satan keeps throwing back up at me. (And can it only have been three weeks ago- it seems like a lot longer…) But today I am thankful for God putting people in our lives to care for us as friends, and as spiritual mentors. I have one of those who I love dearly- I call her my second mom. And I hope she doesn’t mind me sharing part of an email she sent me the other day, because it meant soooo very much to me! (I took out all the identifying info…) This is what she had to say:

“You are so right about Satan. He always makes us second guess ourselves. We can so easily get caught in the "if only" cycle. I have been caught there too lately. .. You know Satan catches us in a place where we really can't go back and fix anything, but the thoughts, doubts, and self recriminations keep coming back to haunt us. I know that the serenity prayer is very simple, but it is a good one to keep in mind when one is caught in a cycle like this. You are probably familiar with it, but I am going to send it to you anyway. It is a great; yet simple thought that sometimes helps keep the dogs of self loathing at bay. It goes like this: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I have to get ready for work now, but I wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you.”

It also got me to thinking about people in the Bible. Didn’t God give us His written word to be a support and blessing to us- to give us examples to live by??? And then my mind wandered on to Paul. He killed Christians!!! He thought he had the right intentions for God – but then Christ told him differently- he repented and was blessed, but what a horrible burden to carry! He had to have times where he could not breath with the weight of what he had done bearing on him- even after all the good he had done for the church. Is that part of the ”thorn in his side” he talked about in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 (NASB) (“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”)? But he did give me an example of going on too- in Phillipians 3:12-17 (NASB) he says ” Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”

The thing that keeps popping out to me is the FORGETTING, not forgotten, but forgetting- which to me means it’s a continual act- not a once for all. He had to keep forgetting what he had done in order to keep on towards the goal. Which to me says that Satan kept using it to try and hold him back from accomplishing the things that God had planned for him. And Satan has been doing that in me too.

So today I am thankful for those who went before me and have suffered similar trials in order that I might be strengthened by their examples, and continue to serve Christ because of them.

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday? Join us over at HeavenlyHomemakers and share!

Menu Plan Monday

2008-04-21T12:44:00.008-06:00

I am slacking on my menu, so I figured it could only help to post it, which will hopefully keep me more accountable to sticking to it! Let's see if it works! Here's our plan this week.

Monday- Grilled Hamburgers

Tuesday- Tamales & Green Chili, Spanish Rice, Salad

Wednesday- Burritos & Green Chili, Salad

Thursday- Green Chili Enchilada Casserole, Corn, Salad

Friday- Chicken Cordon Bleu, Potatoes, Broccoli

Saturday- Lunch: Eat out in Pueblo

Dinner: Leftovers

Sunday- Lunch: Potluck at Church (taking Blondie Brownies)

Dinner: Paninis

I am going to be out of town for training on Wednesday and Thursday, so our meals look very similar for Tuesday through Thursday. I plan to make a big batch of green chili and pre-make the meals for Wed & Thurs, so all G has to do is heat them up so they'll be ready when I get home each night, since it will be close to or after 7 before I get home.

Visit OrgJunkie to see what other's are planning to eat this week!

If I die before you wake...

2008-04-20T20:39:00.002-06:00

A powerful video by an American Soldier. We are so blessed to have so many men and women who are sacrificing like they are to help preserve our way of life. If you are one of those who have served or are serving- THANK YOU!!!

Click here to see the video.

This is scary...

2008-04-19T12:12:00.002-06:00

See what Oprah has to say about Christianity...

Christ says, "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life- no comes to the Father but by me." (emphasis mine) John 14:6

I pray that we all remember that the Bible is our guide, not our feelings- and that doing what Christ told us (through His written Word) is the ONLY way to be with Him in heaven in the next life.

When the hubby's away...

2008-04-17T18:38:00.002-06:00

...the wife stays home! And eats yummy Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip and watches Sweeny Todd!!!
He's not really away, just working late- but I am enjoying my night (even though I miss him). He doesn't like musicals, or vegetables- so I can eat and watch what I like tonight!

Thirteen things I miss about living in the city...

2008-04-16T20:39:00.003-06:00

Even thought I have now lived in this small farming community for eighteen months, these are some of the things I am still trying to get used to going without...

1. Taco Bell

2. Target

3. My Family

4. My Friends (especially Mia & Hil)

5. Monday night Bible study

6. The mall

7. Restaurants open late (sometimes you just need a snack at midnight, but down here- you better know before 10p so you can make it to Sonic before it closes!)

8. Good Mexican food, even with more ethnicity in the area we live, I have not found any great food.

9. Stores to shop at (Ross, Barnes & Noble, Office Max)- Down here you pretty much have to take what you can get at Wal-Mart...

10. Being able to run to the store if you forgot something- not having to plan to get it in two weeks when we go back to town...

11. Cheaper gas prices (our town is typically 10-15 cents higher, even though it's the same chain)

12. This View...

13. Did I mention my family and friends???... (sometimes the loneliness can be hard to cope with...)

Check out some other Thursday Thirteens today! :-)

Happy First Anniversary- Surprise Style!

2008-04-14T19:34:00.011-06:00

My husband surprised me with a wonderful anniversary weekend!

We ended up at a hotel in Cripple Creek, CO! I loved it! The hotel had just been remodeled, all new amenities, even a flat screen TV on the wall (I especially liked this, since we can't watch TV in bed at home!)

The other nice thing is that the casinos are all smoke free- what a difference! The last time we went, we could hardly wait to leave- even sitting in any of the restaurants was pure torture to our allergy-prone eyes & sinuses! But this time was way better, and no hurting eyes at the end of the night!

But that was just the beginning of the surprise! Next, he tells me we have tickets to a show (and I'm thinking, when did Cripple Creek get a movie theatre?) No way- he took me to see a PLAY! And I might add- it was great!!! We saw Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream", and for small town theatre- I was totally impressed! (And I think G even enjoyed himself a bit too :-)

Then on Sunday, we drove down to Colorado Springs to go to church, and then ate lunch at our favorite pizza place- Fargo's. It's a really cool place- an old Victorian house (huge house) and all the women staff wear floor length skirts and Victorian high-neck laced blouses. And they have these huge mirrors that have light-up numbers on them- that's how they call out orders. It is a one-of-a kind place! I even got in my veggies for the day! :-)

Then, we went for a ride in the mountains on the way back to our hotel. Check out these beautiful still-snow-covered mountains! We are so blessed to have an awesome God who created these amazing sights just for us!

This one is overlooking Cripple Creek. The picture does not do the view justice- the sheer vastness of the mountain range is breathtaking!

And now, as I sit here writing this, we shared some of our Wedding Cupcakes that we saved from last year! (My mom has a Seal-A-Meal, and they seemed to be pretty well protected from the freezer, and while they were edible, they were SWEET!!) But oh the cream cheese mint toppers were still delish!!! :-)

But, alas, the real world has now come crashing back... tomorrow is back to work but I have a wonderful weekend full of wonderful memories to take with me.

So, that is what I am grateful for this Gratituesday!

What are you grateful for today? Hop on over to HeavenlyHomemakers and share!

Surprise Weekend...

2008-04-12T12:38:00.003-06:00

My wonderful hubby told me around 9:30 this morning that I had to be packed and ready to leave our house by 2p today, and that we won't be back until Monday! Hmmm. I have no idea what he's got planned- he's good at keeping secrets! :-) ( I do know where ever we are going has wireless- so I might have time to update later! :-)
What a wonderful Anniversary weekend this is going to be!

I may never eat out again...

2008-04-11T15:57:00.003-06:00

Well- maybe never is too harsh- but I WILL be more mindful of what I order out...

See what I'm talking about here...

Scary...Very Scary...

But here's something to help you choose wisely when eating out!

Tonight we are eating "out" but not at a restaurant- G and I organized a Potluck Cook-off at our church. FUN & YUM!!! (More later... :-)

Thirteen things on or around my desk at work...

2008-04-10T12:14:00.016-06:00

1. My Tea Mug

2. My "stash" of Stash Chai Tea

3. 3 live plants

4. Four calendars (my desk pad one, my one on the wall with cool pictures (Ansel Adams), my page-a-day, and a perpetual one with scripture cards)

P.S Was not intentional to number correlate these last two either, I guess that's just how my mind works! :-)

5. Phone

6. Computer
7. My very interesting, topic of conversation anytime someone

enters my office, chair :-)

(Right now I'm just using the ball itself- not on it's base.)

8. Year old pictures of 5 nieces (from our wedding- I need some updated pictures!)

9. Way more than 13 files that need to be worked on today (yesterday was more like it...)

10. Picture of my one-and-only :-)

11. Arbonne Hand Cream- can't live without it!!!

12. Bible (I keep one in my drawer- it comes in handy to read when I'm upset or the network is down, and also for finding passwords- which I have to change every 30 days!)

13. Holiday decoration box under my desk with my office decorations (why haul them home to put up when the box will fit, nicely out of the way, under my desk? :-)

Check out the Thursday Thirteen hub!

Gratituesday... The Ultimate Connection

2008-04-07T21:53:00.005-06:00

Tonight it was my turn to meet Chelf. We had a grand time, me, Mia & Chelf (and our husbands and Mia's two girls). It amazed me how a few total strangers could sit down and visit like we were old friends, and then I remembered- hey we're not just friends- we're related! By the greatest bond two people, two complete strangers could ever be related by- we're brothers and sisters in Christ! Christ paid the ultimate price so that we could call these strangers family! WOW! So now that I've met another brother and sister- I am so glad we did! We had a nice long visit (and some laughs over Mackenzie's antics :-), and a yummy dinner at Black Eyed Pea. And even if I never see them again, (which we have already discussed trying to get together in July, hopefully (Sally & Jayme hope you'll be in on it too!) I know that there is something that we will share forever, besides the few pictures and laughs we had tonight, we share a Savior and a Heavenly Father who loved us so much that he gave His life/His Son so that we could go anywhere in this world and have family waiting for us there! What an awesome gift (and responsibility!)

Here's a couple of pics of our visit.

Three Bloggy buddies!

Mackenzie's favorite person! (She barely said hello to me tonight before she was asking "Where's G??" :-)

So this Gratituesday, I am grateful for all the family members God has brought into my life!

What are you thankful for? Join us over at HeavenlyHomemakers to share your Gratituesday!

For SALLY (and all you other Moms too...)

2008-04-07T13:19:00.002-06:00

A newborn's conversation with God

A baby asked God, 'They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless ?'
God said, 'Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.'
The child further inquired, 'But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.'
God said, 'Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy.'
Again the child asked, 'And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?'
God said, 'Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.'
'And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?'
God said, 'Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.'
'Who will protect me?'
God said, 'Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.'
'But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.'
God said, 'Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.'
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, 'God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name.'
God said, 'You will simply call her, 'Mom.'

Workin' Weekend!

2008-04-07T12:27:00.011-06:00

This is gonna be long- but mostly pictures of what we (well mostly my hubby) accomplished this weekend! :-)
Last year we kinda let our grass die- all of it... So a couple of weekends ago G decided to burn it, so we could start fresh... just about the time it got going really well, a volunteer fire-figther was driving by, and stopped to tell us it was illegal to burn in the city. Go- figure- burning going on all around us on the farms, but we can't burn our little patch...Oh well! So next G decided to look around for a tiller we could borrow to get it done. Well his looking around ended up being for buying not borrowing- and he got one off e-bay (Happy Anniversary, Dear!:-)

So Saturday morning G got busy (it actually started Friday night with a good soaking so the ground would not be so hard for tilling).
Here's G with his new toy!

Well, the puppies had to get involved- Oreo went around picking up sticks! :-)

My coworkers bought me a plant (in memory of Grammy) that I needed to re-pot, so that's what I did.

A little play time...

And then it's Lunch Time!! Laura's broccoli baked potato looked so good, we decided to have our own (with the addition of chicken - and I always have to have sour cream om my spuds!)

We even have our puppies eating healthier! :-)

So then I decided to veg out inside for a while after lunch- getting shopping lists and menus ready (which I haven't quite got finished and we're going shopping tonight! Yikes) But here's what G finished while I was inside. He planted some shrubs, and a lilac bush, a climbing rose bush and a regular rose bush, and started a lot of Sunflowers to plant later on. Then on Sunday he planted the grass seed.

So we'll keep you posted to how it looks as we get farther on our little project.

Whew! What a weekend.
Now I think we deserve a night off! And guess what- tonight we get it!! We are having dinner out tonight, in Pueblo, with MammaMia and her family, and we get to meet Chelf!!! Yea! I am looking forward to it- will let you know how it goes tomorrow!

Weary...

2008-04-06T14:08:00.002-06:00

He's here!!

2008-04-05T21:33:00.002-06:00

G and I are uncle & aunt for the 8th time! Lil' Major showed up tonight, and is doing well! Check out the details here!

More prayers please...

2008-04-04T21:13:00.001-06:00

My SIL, SALLY had a MAJOR surprise today. Please pray that all goes well with her labor & delivery.

Thirteen Promises GOD has given me

2008-04-03T12:26:00.003-06:00

1. Everlasting Love
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. Unconditional Love
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3. Mercy
Ephesians 2:4-7
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Luke 6:36-38
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

4. Peace
John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

5. Vindication
Romans 12:19-20
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."

6. Freedom
Galatians 5:1
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

7. No Worries
Matthew 6:34
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

8. Rest
Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

9. Intercession
Romans 8:26-27
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

10. Justification
Romans 5:18
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

11. A Home with Christ
John 14:1-4
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. "And you know the way where I am going."

12. Salvation through Christ
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life

13. Eternity with HIM
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luke 10:25-28
And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE."

John 17:1-3
Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

WHEN YOUR HUT'S ON FIRE...

2008-04-03T10:09:00.006-06:00

How is it that just when you seem to think that you're all alone and no one understands, you get an email like this???

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here," asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives... even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

Nightmare...

2008-04-02T08:33:00.001-06:00

The Memorial Service for my grandmother was last night. It turned out to be a nightmare. All I can say is that I am glad it is all over and I don't ever have to see any of that family again, they are hateful and rude and selfish. Now if I could just quit thinking about it, I might be able to keep my sanity.

Tribute

2008-03-30T03:19:00.004-06:00

Nannie Louise (Masey) Hollingsworth went home to be with the Lord on March 30, 2008. She passed peacefully into the next life with her family by her side. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Roy Edwin Hollingsworth, and a son, Roy Charles Hollingsworth. She leaves behind a daughter, Diane Laboucane, of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, and a son Nathan (Glenda) Hollingsworth of Pueblo, CO; eight grand children and twelve great-grand children; and numerous family and friends. She will be sorely missed.

Update...

2008-03-29T00:06:00.002-06:00

My mom called me around 12:30pm today to tell me they were going to move Grammy. We went up to be with the family for the evening, and get her settled. Grammy has been moved from the hospital to a Hospice center. It is a very nice place, with room for all of us to be with her. It is quiet and peaceful, and the staff are such wonderful, caring people. The Lord has blessed them with a special gift. (I'll write about that more when it's not midnight and we have to be back in Pueblo in the morning. We drove home to sleep and shower basically.)
She's been taken off everything except the oxygen, and they are giving her pain medicine to keep her pretty sedated so that she is not having all the involuntary movement. They have told us it will not be long, her blood pressure is very low, and she is not getting any nourishment, no IV's or anything. She looks like she is in a peaceful sleep, and has been unresponsive since Tuesday. She is basically in a coma now, it's up to the Lord how long before He calls her home. We are kind of expecting it to be sometime Tuesday, since it will be exactly three years since my Granddad passed away on that day. My dad is taking this really hard. Please pray for us all...

So many things to blog about...

2008-03-27T10:43:00.004-06:00

I am struggling to find any gumption to actually work at work today. In the last four days, I have closed eight of my own and one of a coworker’s cases because the clients have passed away. I know most of my clients are older and sickly, and in nursing homes, but still eight + in one week is kinda depressing. (Most were flu-related)

I finally finished another book. I finished my study book, “If I really believe why do I have these doubts?” It was a really encouraging book, and gave me few ideas for bolstering my own faith. I am going to look for some other books by this author, I really liked him!

I am looking for another study book to start- anyone have any suggestions?

I am almost finished with my fiction book (I might even get it finished today). It’s the fifth in a very good series by Karen Kingsbury and I am enjoying them.

My grandmother is still not doing well. She keeps having ups & downs. Monday she was awake enough to drink lots of fluids and even to sit in a chair, but she didn’t recognize anyone. And Tuesday was her worst day yet- she was completely unconscious the whole day- and had very agitated, uncontrolled movement all day. The gave her some medicine to try and still her movement, it worked for a little bit, but then they ended up having to move her back to the heart floor because her heart kept going into A-FIB & not beating correctly because of the medicine. I haven’t heard an update since Tuesday. I’ll have to call my mom after a bit.

And even with all the stress of this last weekend (especially Sunday and Monday), I have been soda-free for 15 days!!! :-) (Monday, I even had to give my stashed can to my coworker to hide in her desk, but I made it!)

Only a little over two weeks until we celebrate our First Anniversary! I can’t believe how time flies, it seems like just yesterday was Friday the thirteenth, blizzard before the wedding day! :-) Here's Sally's post from last year...

Our Easter weekend.

2008-03-26T17:47:00.006-06:00

Since we had a long weekend, for Easter weekend (I had Good Friday off...) We decided to to relax at home (for the most part). We got a few things done at home (like dishes- our dishwasher went out last week, and we couldn't get it fixed until Monday) and spent some time with our puppies. We took them to Bent's Old Fort, which is just a few miles out of town. They had a blast! Unfortunately, I only got one picture of them before my camera died... :-(

We slept in on Saturday and just vegged out most of the day. And then we fixed Fondue for dinner! It was fun & yummy!

Sunday, we ended up going to Pueblo so I could see my grandma, but we went to eat Easter lunch with my brother's inlaws (as far as family goes on my side of the family, we are closer to his inlaws than a lot of our own family...)
Here's all the kids hunting eggs (not that they really had to hunt... but they had fun). It was kinda cold outside so we hid them in the basement.

And my blog is not the only one getting a new look...

What do ya' think??? :-)

A little late...

2008-03-26T14:08:00.006-06:00

When I posted the Easter egg hunt pics, I said I'd post some of our family pics too, sorry it's taken me so long- but so much has been happening...

So here are our family pictures (with my brother and his family and my parents).

Here's all of us together.

And one of my brother goofing off...

And can you tell who he gets it from?!? :-)

Here's my parents and my brother's family.

My parents and our "family" :-)

Here's our family picture.

My brother's family.(Mr.Cool Dude with the shades :-)

No shades...

And last but not least... The bugs! :-)

Popular Marketing Logos

2008-03-25T10:29:00.002-06:00

I got this in an e-mail today, thought it was different...

How well do you know today's popular marketing trademarks?

Take the quiz!

I got 18 out of 20.

Update...

2008-03-24T03:12:00.002-06:00

G took me to see my grandmother yesterday. She is in critical condition, is not good at all. She is not lucid, she moans and tries to talk, but much of it is not understandable. She did open her eyed for about 30 seconds the whole time we were there, which was about three hours. The doctors still don't know for sure what's wrong with her, they only have conjectures. They think that one of the blood clots may have broken up and a part of it made it to her head, too small for them to detect with the CT-Scan or MRI. She is not presenting with "classic" stroke symptoms though, all her motor skills are fine, it's just her cognisance that has been affected. And while she's "awake" she is in like a dream-like state, and has seizure-like movements constantly. It wears her out and then she'll still for a while, that's how we know she's sleeping. It is very emotionally draining to watch it. She would respond to my brother more than anyone this afternoon, but even that was minimal. My prayers are somewhat split at this juncture. One, that God would make her well, but two, that he would just end her suffering.
And now, I need to ask for your prayers for myself as well. It seems that satan has found another chink at this emotional time. Self-doubt seems to be an attack he is using on me from every possible angle. I have been up since 1:45 this morning, my mind reeling with memories from the past. Mostly of three years ago when my grandmother told some pretty terrific stories to other family members about my care of her. It was basically her word against mine, even though I had been telling them the same thing over and over for months, the chose to believe her lies about it, instead of the truth. Satan was working in their hearts then, I believe, and seems to be lurking around to see what kind of aftermath he can stir up. My cousin, who took over my grandmother's care came to the hospital while we were there, and her husband was with her. I haven't seen him in almost three years, and was very discouraged by the way he acted today. He is a very self- righteous fellow, and holds a grudge with the best of them. I've seen it before, with the ways he treats his sister-in-law, my cousin's sister. But today I felt that slight myself, and it stung. I used to look up to him a great deal, but now find that satan has hardened his heart much more than the last time we interacted. He wouldn't even acknowledge that my mom and I were in the room, and wouldn't even introduce himself to G. My cousin, her mom, my grandmother, everyone else seems to have put the past behind them- but not him, and in his subtle way, he let us know that today. That is what satan is now using against me to keep me awake, and second-guessing my past. I know I did the best I could in the circumstances back then, and that anything I did do wrong was not intentional, and the I have been forgiven by God- but I am sitting here wondering, what if... And if I have anymore nights like this one, I am going to be miserable... not only emotionally but physically as well. If only our brains had an off switch at times...

Prayer Request...

2008-03-22T20:39:00.002-06:00

My grandmother (the only one still living) has been in the hospital since Thursday. The doctors don't know what's wrong with her. Most of the time she is very incoherent, not knowing where she is, or what day it is, and when she talks it's quite nonsensical. They have done a slew of tests, but they can not find anything wrong. They did find blood clots in her lungs, which are due to her inactivity (basically she gets out of bed and sits in her chair all day, only getting up to go to the bathroom or go back to bed), but that would not cause her current mental state, and there are no signs of any nerve or brain damage in any of the tests they have done. They are even saying she will not be able to live on her own anymore, that she will have to go, at the very least, to an assisted living facility.
G and I are going to go see here tomorrow. I don't want to look back someday and say, "I should have gone..." Even thought there are bad feelings and memories from a few years ago, she is my grandmother: the one I grew up down the street from; the one I ran away from home to (one afternoon my dad was mad at me and I ran down there to avoid getting a spanking :-) the one who I was close to; told my secrets to; and the one who taught me how to make pecan pies and apple crisp; and I love her still. And now that we live farther away I don't get to visit often. I pray the Lord will bless us with at least one more visit, if not many more for years to come. Please pray for her...

Gratituesday: Spring is blooming

2008-03-18T20:28:00.005-06:00

Yea- I know it's technically a weed, but my mom always thought they were the most beautiful bunch of weeds when we'd pick them for her... :-) But it is yet another sign of Spring on it's way! I know I've been writing a lot about being thankful that spring is coming, but it is always a favorite of mine- the new birth of everything- plants, animals (and the warmth that comes with it:-). What a wonderful reminder of Christ's love for us that these things renew, just as He renews us.

Join Laura at HeavenlyHomemakers for more Gratituesday and tell us what you're thankful for today!

Wacky Weather Weekend...

2008-03-17T12:18:00.005-06:00

This was one of those typical Colorado weather weekends. The saying "If you don't like the weather in Colorado, wait five minutes" was absolutely true the past four days. Friday we woke up to thunderstorms and hail (pea size and only lasted about 2 minutes). Saturday was crisp, bright and sunny. Yesterday was cloudy and windy, with a little afternoon sprinkle. Today- it's snowing! :-) You gotta love Colorado in Spring! :-)

See the fun we had on our sunny Saturday! It was Bugaboo's 8th birthday. We went to the park to take family pictures (more on that later), and to attend my mom's company sponsored Easter-egg hunt. There weren't many kids who showed up- so the ones that did made a haul! Even Doodlebug got in on the fun!

No more Soda :-(

2008-03-14T14:10:00.002-06:00

At my doctor appointment yesterday I received a very stern talking to. She was none too happy to hear that I don't drink enough water (and she said ice doesn't count... still can't figure that out- doesn't ice melt into water???). She said I can drink crystal light if I don't like the taste of water, so that's what I've been drinking today (along with plain ol' H2O). I just have a hard time wrapping my head around what the difference is between sugar free crystal light and sugar free soda (other than the carbonated water...) But a second round of antibiotics for a second UTI is enough to convince me I have got to do something different... Now just to get over the withdrawl and headache...

No fun trip to Pueblo...well- not all fun...

2008-03-13T11:06:00.003-06:00

I guess it will be fun to go eat somewhere different (and nicer) for a change- but the reason we have to go to Pueblo is a little bit of an inconvenience. Especially on a Thursday... I have pretty convincing signs/symptoms of another UTI (I had one over Christmas too...) they are not fun, and I haven't had these in many, many years... So frustrating...
Anyway, I have an appointment with my regular doctor this afternoon. After being seen at the rural clinic after Christmas, I will NEVER go there again- it was very scary... I'll take the extra sick time off work to drive to Pueblo to see my doctor- who has been my doctor since I was little, probably since I was 10 years old or so. I love my doctor, and dread the day I have to find a new one...
Hmm- now where to eat a yummy dinner? Too many choices- I hate having to choose only one! :-)

Taking walks...

2008-03-11T19:35:00.003-06:00

I think I got overly excited about being able to go walking today. My second walk did me in for a while... :-(

Sunshine & Spring..

2008-03-11T12:39:00.003-06:00

I am soooo very thankful that Spring is on the way!! The last two days I have been able to get out and take a walk, which I can't do in the winter (it is tooo cold for me :-) Even though is takes me time to adjust to Daylight savings time (and losing an hour of sleep) I am glad that I will be able to be outside in the sunshine more and drive with my sunroof open and be more active (and maybe lose a little weight :-)

See what others are grateful for on this Gratituesday!

Time for a change...

2008-03-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

How do you like it??? :-)

For Ellie...

2008-03-06T15:33:00.002-07:00

I realized it's been two months since I've done this- needed a new one (or two) for all the neices :-)

Enjoy!
Love you all!
Auntie Suez :-)

Home Computers in 1954...

2008-03-03T11:05:00.003-07:00

The caption reads:
"Scientists from the RAND Corporation have created this model to illustrate how a “home computer” could look like in the year 2004. However the needed technology will not be economically feasible for the average home. Also the scientists readily admit that the computer will require not yet invented technology to actually work, but 50 years from now scientific progress is expected to solve these problems. With teletype interface and the Fortran language, the computer will be easy to use."

I am so thankful computers have evolved the way they have, and NOT like they predicted in this article! I don't know how I'd survive without the almost instant contact with my family and buddies that email and blogging affords me!!!

Below the belt...

2008-03-02T19:19:00.005-07:00

That's where satan likes to throw those sucker punches...As if doubting myself wasn't enough- now he makes me doubt my role in the church. I was alredy doubting that, ever since I've moved, I don't quite feel like I fit in at the church down here, and my home church in Pueblo (the one I grew up in, since I was two weeks old) has changed so much since we moved down here that I feel more and more like a visitor everytime we go there.
So today, there was a men's meeting with our newly installed elders at 2p. Then, at 5p was supposed to be a ladies meeting (why they couldn't coordinate better is beyond me) to discuss the planning of a Ladies Day to be hosted at our church. Two of the women even made sure to ask me this morning if I was coming to it. Well, I was the ONLY one who showed up for the meeting. Everyone else got a phone call that it had been cancelled.
And my head says I know that it was an honest mistake, but my heart says "Why bother? Why try? I'm never gonna feel like I belong here..." But I want my heart to not feel that way, but I guess the baggage I carry will make this a fight I'll have with myself over and over, satan knows where to hit the hardest...

Crazy times...

2008-03-02T12:46:00.003-07:00

It was 70+ degrees here yestrday- it was beautiful & WARM!!! It's snowing outside now... this time of year is soooo crazy when it comes to weather. Add to that the crazy amount of flu cases this year and it makes for quite a bit of craziness. The nursing homes and hospital in our county all have restrictions on who can come and go- and everyone coming has to put on masks and gloves or sanitizer. There were 7 gone from my office with this crud on Monday. Thankfully, G and I seem to be over the worst of it (the head nurse where G works said it sounded like he had two different viruses working on him- that's G for you- has to be difficult! :-)
The bugs were all sick Friday night at my parents' though, so hopefully we didn't expose ourselves to another round. Taterbug coughed to hard that she urped all over Bug-a-boo! :-0 I was very proud of G, too, he didn't urp when he heard/saw/smelt it (he was sitting right behind them).

I need to ask for your prayers right now. I have had a rough week, emotionally. I have felt like I have been a failure at everything I have attempted this week. My house was in total disarry (G- my wonderful husband, helped a lot yesterday in getting it back in order), my itty bitty paycheck makes me feel like I need to find another job to help get some of my old medical bills paid off, overall it's just been a discouraging week for me. Please pray that I can get a better grip on things, and be more organized so that I don't feel so overwhelmed all the time.

Getting paid for Blogging!

2008-02-29T13:41:00.006-07:00

I am so glad Laura showed us all this PayPerPost thing! I am joining the ranks along with Laura, and Marie by signing up to get paid for blogging! I am excited to be able to make a little extra money just by writing on my blog, which I do already- a lot! That extra money sure will come in handy for all out little adventures this year. We have a trip coming up to go visit all the Kansas family for Easter. Then a couple weeks after that will be our first anniversary, which we are planning a little getaway for ;-) And then there is the Hamm Bash, and who knows how many more adventures we can fit in this year?!?!? Well, at least Thanksgiving, but there are always other fun things that extra cash comes in handy for! (Possibly a surgery later this year for me as well.) But I am so excited just to be able to do a little (which I’m really not doing anything more- I’m on the computer already- so what’s a few more minutes writing an extra blog post?) to have a little extra cash on hand for those trips and extras and such.
So what are you waiting for all you bloggers? Make your blog work for you with PayPerPost!

Colorado Crud

2008-02-27T10:55:00.005-07:00

Well, we had hoped we wouldn't catch it this year- we have been extra careful to take more vitamins, and got our flu shots, and have been trying to eat healthier; all in an attempt to avoid that little three letter word-FLU. It didn't work. G woke up yesterday morning around 1am with the yuckiness, and felt horrible all day yesterday. I had felt pretty bad on Sunday, but mostly just the achiness and tired- no urping or anything like G. (But I did fall off the "No Sugar" wagon- fell off with a THUD! Now I'm trying to get back on...) Thankfully G seemed to be over it in about 12 hours' time, but this morning he says his ribs hurt when he coughs or laughs. In the past he has urped so hard that he cracked ribs. I am praying that it's just muscle soreness, since it's not constant or affecting his breathing. We'll see how the day progresses. And I am praying like crazy that I don't have another bout with it- I have felt crudy enough the last couple of months, don't need to add urping too it...
On a lighter note- it was light around here until almost 6p last night! I am so excited for springtime and warm weather to get here!!! It's supposed to be in the 60's tomorrow and the 70's on Friday. Woo-Hoo!! :-)

Give me a freakin' break!!!

2008-02-23T18:12:00.003-07:00

I guess my last post elicited some attention. UNWANTED attention! There was a comment posted on my last post about our FAMILY fun at a FAMILY establishment from a website that was soooo NOT FAMILY oriented. I can't believe how people can lurk and prey on others using children themes for things absolutely NOT suitable for children... Ugh! Needless to say, I deleted the comment. And sorry for the ranting, because I know that no one who this is aimed at will ever read it, just my family and friends who would be just as horrified if they got the same kind of comment on their sites... this is satan's world, isn't it?... Unfortunately.

Chuck E. Cheese Fun

2008-02-23T14:44:00.005-07:00

I know this is a week old, but thought I'd share some of the fun we had last weekend at Chuck E. Cheese with the bugs :-)

Hi!
Doodlebug is eating real food now! MMM Pizza!
Bug-a-Boo, Taterbug & Doodlebug all riding in the jeep!
Bug-a-Boo is holding on for dear life!
Doodlebug says I can do it too!!!
Even Uncle G got in on the fun!

Overheard at work...

2008-02-22T20:02:00.003-07:00

I overheard one side of a phone conversation at work today. This is what I heard...
" It's Friday, we can't eat meat- get out the chicken for dinner."
(other person talking)
"Well, some people say chicken is just like meat, but Grandma always said it was different..."

Oh my goodness!
I don't celebrate lent, and don't claim to know what it's all about. In my very simplistic understanding of it, it is supposed to represent the 40 days of Christ's time in the wilderness when He fasted and was then tempted by Satan. And those who celebrate lent are remembering that time, and out of Reverence to Christ and His suffering, give up something dear to them for that 40 day period before Easter known as lent. Many give up "red meat" or all meat ( which is why you can get some kind of fish special at almost every chain food place during this time of year as well- but isn't fish meat too???), soda and/or other confections. Others give up pastimes and such. But I guess the thing that stuck out the most (and has stuck out for years growing up when classmates would talk about what they couldn't have during lent) is that most people I've had contact with around lent don't even know why they are celebrating it at all. All they know is they can't have meat on Fridays...
WOW! Talk about traditions of men!!!
I hope I can always remember to hold to what is most important to Christ... and not traditions...
"You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." Mark 7:8 NASB

Small town fashion...

2008-02-21T21:53:00.006-07:00

Last July, as I was getting ready to leave town for the Hamm Bash (G's mom's family reunion that is held 4th of July weekend every year ) I was walking to the courthouse from my work and found this going on in the streets. The firefighters (and I think there were some paramedics and police involved too) were raising money to have a community fireworks display. Check out the last picture though... I should sue...kidding... :-) just not the way I'd have chosen to be seen advertising the city, especially when I can't WAIT to get out of said city/county/area :-/... (btw- G found these pics only today while perusing the city website for concealed carry permit info-we had no clue they were on the web!!!)

Look what I found!!!

2008-02-20T13:49:00.002-07:00

There are all kinds of old shows on the websites for NBC, & CBS! (NBC & CBS you can just watch in your open internet window- FOX & ABC make you download a "player" -which I can't do on my work computer- so just NBC & CBS for me). I found Alfred Hitchcock on NBC - they also have the A-Team, Battlestar Galactica, Emergency and others (all these shows are older than me by the way :-)
CBS has Hawaii Five-O, the original Star-Treck, Twilight Zone, MacGyver and Melrose Place!
Now I have lots of stuff to listen to while I work (I am a strange bird- I have always been able to stay more focused on my task at hand when there is something else going on in the background to tune out, even in highschool and college, I couldn't study without the tv or radio playing) I should get lots of work done now! :-)

Sigh of relief

2008-02-19T19:01:00.003-07:00

I had a big one of those sighs at 3pm today! It took them that long to dismiss me from Jury Duty. I was one of the first thirteen seated in the jury box, went through all the questioning, got to the point where the prosecution said they were satisfied with the make-up of the jury, then finally the defense got to their exclusions and asked me to leave (I am assuming because of where I work, since that is all he asked me about in detail when he questioned me). WHEW! I am so thankful to not have been stuck there for the next four days, but am also thankful for the experience. I was also amazed at how many people can not follow simple directions, and how disrespectful, in general, the community is for people in positions which deserve our respect and attention.
Now I am home, watching the season finale of Prison Break on our DVR and waiting for my Peanut Butter Honey Bars to cool enough to cut out of the pan! :-)

Jury Duty...

2008-02-18T19:06:00.004-07:00

I am not looking forward to tomorrow- I have jury duty. I don't want to go- mainly because the time off work, even if it's just one day is going to put me behind, and I don't like that. Not to mention, if I actually get selected for the jury, I will have to go in and work early in the mornings, and on whatever lunch break I get from jury service, just to keep myself from getting way too far behind. (But I don't think I will get picked for the jury because I think this jury is for a trial that includes social services... since I work for social services... at least that's the way my prayers are leaning...)
Anyway- I also have to go clear up the fact that I got two summons in two weeks time. One in my maiden name, and one in my married name. Now it's always been said that jury selection goes of DMV records, but I know that that can't be true. Because I got the first summons in my maiden name, which I had never registerd in this county with because I never went to the DMV to change anything until after we got our marraige license and my new social security card back. So then the question remains- what record do the courts use to track you down??? And if they tracked me down, why couldn't they figure out I was the same person when they sent the second summons out a week later??? The first trial I was supposed to show up for got cancelled last week, but I didn't luck out twice- and have to show up tomorrow morning. Sigh... I really want a cookie so badly right now...

5-Day Pouch Test - Day 2

2008-02-17T22:31:00.002-07:00

Well, Day 2 did not go as well as day one. We were not at home today (we were getting up and around for the day when my mom called and said that my brother really wanted us to come up and go to Chuck E. Cheese's with them- so we went). Apparently, being away from home lets you (or at least me) forget how much fluid you are consuming. I did not drink nearly enough water today. Then we got to Chuck E. Cheese's, which is two hours from our house, and there was not really anything there for me eat. But G and I talked, and decided it would be okay if I just had the salad bar, and be very concious of what I put on my plate. So I ate salad and cottage cheese. But after seeing some of the soup recipes allowed for the first two days- this really did seem like an acceptable alternantive- the cottage cheese was just as "soupy" as somes soups, and lettuce is mostly water anyway... and I was very careful to have lots of protien (like eggs and diced ham) not add toppings, except sunflower seeds- so no croutons or crackers.

We got back to Pueblo and I was wanting something to eat, so we stopped at Quizno's and I got cheddar broccoli soup. It was GOOD! Then we went to church in Pueblo this evening, and then went out to eat with friends, I had a bowl of green chili. So other than the lack of forethought at lunch time, and the slacking on drinking, I tried hard to stick to it. And I resisted the 16 boxes of girl scout cookies in the car trunk all day as well!!! ( yes I know... 16, but I freeze them, and they do last quite a few months...)

Tomorrow the rules change- I can eat, but it has to be all protein, and I can't drink for 30 minutes before or after I eat. Thankfully I am off work tomorrow, and we are staying home, so hopefully I will be able to have a beter handle on things.

5-Day Pouch Test... Day One

2008-02-16T11:18:00.005-07:00

I am doing this 5-day pouch test. You can read all the gritty details here, or just let me give you the basics. (This may get long, as I think some background info is needed.) After weight loss surgery (in my case a Rouen-Y gastric bypass on October 12, 2004) patients are to follow a STRICT diet that is mainly protein in its make-up. Right after my surgery, I was only able to consume about 2 tablespoons of food at a time (and only three times a day) so it was very important that those 2 tablespoons were the best sources of protein I could get. I ate lots of eggs, lots of pinto beans (mostly from Taco Bell- and this was encouraged from the Dr.'s) and lots of cheese. But as time went one, under the guidance of the doctors and nutritionist, I was able to add a little volume to my diet, and a year out from Surgery, I was able to eat about 1 cup of food at a meal (still only 3 times a day). This additional volume, while still needing to be high in protein, can also allow for adding in some startches and vegetables as tolerated (some patients can never eat this stuff again, their new stomachs just can't tolerate it). Or there are those, like me, who have no problem eating most anything. But this can also make it easier to slip back to old eating habbits, as it has been for me. While I still can't eat more than a cup at a time, I have found myself consuming more and more meals that have very little or no protein in them at all, as well as snacking inbetween meals, which is a big NO-NO!

That is where this 5-Day Pouch Test comes in. It's kind of like hitting the reset button. It is supposed to help me tighten my pouch and to get back to eating more protein based meals again. The first two days are liquids only and I must drink at least 64 oz of water/no calorie liquids (like crystal light) each day (I can have protein shakes and soups as much as I want- as long as they have no carbs in them - no pasta or potatoes ). I decided to do this over the weekend, where I have more distractions to keep me from wanting to "cheat" and eat something. If I get to feeling snacky- I can get on the computer, I can get up and do laundry, I can watch tv- you see what I'm getting at. The Third day I can start adding soft proteins like eggs, canned tuna or chicken, and beans back to my diet. The fourth day I can add some firmer proteins like hamburger and other ground meats. And the last day is basically any protiens I can tolerate. And by this time I should not be craving carbs anymore. (Hopefully)

So I am about halfway thorugh the first day, however I didn't plan very well (well- I wasn't very sure until this morning that I was even gonna go through with it). So I am waiting for my soup to cook in the crockpot, and have had a Slim-Fast and am looking at my Girl Scout Cookies I got yesterday, thinking to myself that I REALLY WANT ONE!!! So that is why this post is getting so long, I am trying to forget about the cookies.

I am struggling with the water part. So we'll see how it goes. I'm lucky to get 48 oz of fluid a day, and that's mostly diet soda- but after waking up this morning feeling like I might be getting another UTI- I figured I might as well go for it- it will only lead to me getting in more fluids, and since I'll be drinking more anyway- I'd be halfway through the thing anyway. I am trying not to be very negative about this (which is hard when all you want to do is eat something!), it is something I am choosing to do. I need to do something to get myself back on track with my weight loss tool that I fought so hard for four years ago. I have back-slid quite a bit, especially this last few months. And it scares me at times. I am also dealing with hypoglycemia issues, which I think I could control better if I were following closer to the program again. So here it goes!

Thanks to Laura for making me think about getting myself on track again- and check out the folks who are taking the NO SUGAR PLUNGE with her!

Frugal Friday... Sorta

2008-02-15T09:48:00.003-07:00

I thought I'd share my Frugal Valentines' gifts now that hubby has received them all... and it is Friday now, so it works! (I spread them out over the whole day, he got some in the morning, and some at dinner, and some at bedtime.)

In the morning, I put some candies in the pockets of his coat. I found these printable wrappers to put around the candy. I also put one on the dash in his car.

Here's how I set the table for our dinner. ( I ran home on my lunch break to get it set up- it was a surprise.)One more candy, and a set of checks (twelve in) all with cute little things he can "redeem" like a massage, movie night, his choice of dinner out...etc.

We had shrimp alfredo with fresh spinach, multi-grain garlic cheese toast and sprakling grape juice for dinner. It was very delicious!

Here's what the red hots I couldn't find were for... I'm glad I finally found them, and they were heart shaped too!(I made this myself, got the pill bottle from my mom, and since the website did such a good job with the label, I just printed it right off their website! I can't believe someone would spend that much on something soooo simple to make!) I put the bottle in his drawer with the rest of his meds, and he found it at bedtime when he took his regular meds. G probably won't eat the red hots, so I'll probably make applesauce with them (which I know he will eat...)

Check out BiblicalWomanhood for more great Frugal ideas!

I can't wait!!!

2008-02-14T11:33:00.003-07:00

Check this out! :-)

I can't wait to see it!!!

The Greatest Example...

2008-02-14T08:21:00.002-07:00

For God so loVed the world,
that He gAve
his onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life." John 3:16

My week...

2008-02-13T10:56:00.002-07:00

Jayme says I must blog. So here's what I've had on my mind this past week.

- I can not find Red Hot candies ANYWHERE in southeastern Colorado (nice job Kim, pick a homemade Valentine that you can't possibly finish...)

- I made G's Valentine (tried at least- couldn't find red hots :-) Am not sure about the outcome now...

- I've been struggling greatly with the feelings of isolation this week. I am about to go stir crazy! I just don't know what to do to get myself out of the slump.

- I am enjoying reading for the 888 challenge- it's funny though, because I can't read just one book at a time- I get too distracted. I'll read a chapter or two here, and then put that book down and pick up another. So even though it looks like I'm finishing nothing, I'll finish a whole bunch at once! (However, I am really getting into my study book right now-"If I really believe, why do I have these doubts?" and have been going back to that one more than the others.)

- I am looking forward to having Monday off next week- one plus of a government job- you get all the government holidays off! (Not looking forward to Tuesday though- possible jury duty (and a whole other post about the fun of jury summons to come later...sneak-peek: I got TWO different summons in two weeks' time!!!)

- I am considering my own version of Laura's No sugar plunge. I have more issues to consider than just sugar, because of having gastric bypass surgery 3 1/2 years ago. I have gotten way off track and have been considering doing this 5-day pouch test. Not sure I'm brave enough to give up my comfort foods right now- but know I MUST do something differently, and soon.

-I am not looking forward to going shopping for jeans. The ones I have are from JC Penny, and are ripping at the pockets, and I've only had them two months.

- I cut about four inches off my hair last night, and think I may go back to get a little more cut off the back.

- I am missing family right now...

You gotta love Colorado!!!

2008-02-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

This is what a 10% chance of snow looks like... (the snow on the ground was courtesy of yesterday's storm)

You just gotta love Colorado... :-)

What is wrong with this picture??

2008-02-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

Prison vs. Work
Prison: You spend the majority of your time in a 10X10 cell
Work: You spend the majority of your time in an 8X8 cubicle
Prison: You get three meals a day fully paid for
Work: You get a break for one meal and you have to pay for it
Prison:You get time off for good behavior
Work: You get more work for good behavior
Prison: The guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you
Work: You must often carry a security card and open all the doors for yourself
Prison: You can watch TV and play games
Work: You could get fired for watching TV and playing games
Prison: You get your own toilet
Work: You have to share the toilet with some people who pee on the seat
Prison: They allow your family and friends to visit
Work: You aren't even supposed to speak to your family
Prison: All expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required
Work: You get to pay all your expenses to go to work, and they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners, and welfare
Prison: You spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out
Work: You spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars
Prison: You must deal with sadistic wardens
Work: They are called managers
THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!
Now get back to work. You're not getting paid to check emails (or blogs). :-)

All Hail Super Tuesday...

2008-02-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

It is snowing here- has been since about 7p last night. There was about eight inches already accumulated this morning, and we are supposed to get up to five more before noon. All the surrounding school districts have closed, even Pueblo, who got a lot less snow than us, closed their schools. But not La Junta... no way, can't do it! It's Super Tuesday! So instead of making sure everyone stays home inside and safe, the county decides to leave everything open, schools (but not all of the busses are operating- too icy...), county offices, especially the courts!
A friend of mine got run off the road this morning trying to get to the babysitter to drop off her three-year-old daughter, so she could come to work. Some stupid person was driving way too fast for the conditions and then swerved right beside her causing her to hit her brakes and spin out. She ended up in the ditch. She's okay, just very shaken up. I would be too, especially with my child in the car. Here's what it looked like on the drive- don't know if you can make out the car that was about 75 feet ahead of us. Yuck! I wish I were at home...

Jonah

2008-02-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

I finished reading "Jonah". It was a fictional account of Jonah's life and the lives of the two kings he prophesied to; Asshur-Dan of Ninevah, and Jeroboam of Israel. While it is fictional, it does give a lot of historical background and other "filler" information that is not contained in the few shorts chapters in the Bible. It also gives a more human look at the characters themselves, and more understanding of the timeline. Where the Bible says that Jonah got on a boat to Tarshish and there was a storm and he told the ship's master to throw him off and the storm would stop; this book gives more perspective to show that maybe Jonah was on that boat a lot more than one day (like maybe halfway to Tarshish- which was an 8-week journey) and how he struggled and coped with the fact that he was disobeying GOD, and how he struggled with the fact that he felt like he was betraying his upbringing by feeling compassion for the Ninevites, and how he fought within himself not wanting to feel compassion for them.
It made me think quite a bit. Especially about how our upbringings (at home and in the church) can cloud the way we see the world around us, and how sometimes that interferes with God's plans, and how very wrong we can be for holding to that ideal- life and death wrong!

Audio Adrenaline

2008-02-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite songs, and right now I am feeling down, hopefully this will help me get out of my slump...

Calvary Love

2008-02-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

If the ultimate, the hardest, cannot be asked of me; if my fellows hesitate to ask it and turn to someone else, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the Cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
-Amy Carmichael, "Calvary Love," from “If”

Dear Lord, it is my prayer that I come to know Calvary love. I know I am far from a perfect Christian, and I need your help and guidance to show me how to be more like my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please use me, mold me- make me the servant you want me to be.

Finally married again!!!

2008-02-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

:-) I finally got my wedding ring back today! I was without it for two whole weeks! I felt so naked without it, I am so glad to have it back! :-)
They were able to sauder it together more completely (without losing my inscription) and fix both rings so that they were the same size.
I am just thankful to have it back... and its so sparkly and clean... :-)

New Arbonne Promotion!

2008-02-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Check out our new "Guestbook Giveaway" on our Arbonne website! Click here to see see what it's all about!

Where did January go???

2008-01-31T16:37:00.000-07:00

I can not believe that January 2008 is already over! Where does the time go? It just seems like yesterday that we were opening Christmas presents, and now we are just 14 days from Valentine's Day! (Yea- happy valentines day to me I got a JURY SUMMONS!!! :-(
But I just feel like time is slipping by, and I haven't accomplished much this month. Hopefully with some medication tweaking by my doctor, and some much needed sleep that I am about to be all caught up on (I have slept soundly the last four nights, the past three unaided (no benadryl:), maybe my energy will return and I'll be able to get more things accomplished in February. (Maybe I need to try an organizational chart for my time/activities...)
*** Resolution update, I am still reading (not much, but it hasn't died all together yet) and the menu thing worked pretty good for January, now I just need to get February's completed... :-)
And I finally get to go get my wedding ring back the day after tomorrow! Yea!! I have felt so lost without it!

Tagged Again! :-)

2008-01-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

I’ve been tagged by Laura!
So now I’ll tell you four things about me in the following categories:

Four jobs that I’ve had:
1. CNA (for two weeks)
2. Telemarketer
3. Caretaker for my Grandparents
4. Social Worker

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Summer Stock
2. Phantom of the Opera
3. Guys & Dolls
4. Steel Magnolias

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Mexican food
2. Italian Food
3. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
4. Diet Cherry Pepsi (I know it’s a drink, but still one of my favorite things :-)

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Apprentice
2. House Hunters
3. Most anything on Food network (the only thing I can’t stand is the barefoot
contessa)
4. Jon & Kate plus Eight

Four Places I’ve lived:
1. Pueblo, CO
2. La Junta, CO
3. Rocky Ford, CO
4. (that’s all I have so far):-)

Four places I’ve been on vacation:
1. Palm Springs, CA
2. Las Vegas, NV (I can’t wait to go back- we used to go every summer to visit my
aunt)
3. Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota
4. Los Angeles, CA (honeymoon)

Four websites I visit daily:
1. Arbonne
2. Heavenly Homemakers
3. MammaMia
4. Jayme

Four places I’d rather be right now:
1. anywhere except Rocky Ford, CO
2. reading a book in bed
3. sleeping in bed
4. anywhere except Rocky Ford, CO

Four people I’m tagging:
1. Marie
2. Laughing Laura
3. Chelf
4. Sally

What the freak is wrong with me?!?!?!?!?

2008-01-27T00:12:00.000-07:00

I still can't sleep!!! It's 12:15 in the morning, and I can't get to sleep...and if I do manage to drift off, I move, or get jostled, and I'm wide awake- for hours, not minutes. I had four such episodes last night... I am so beyond exhausted, I don't know how I am managing to function at all... I just don't know what to do, I've tried everything I know, and nothing works... My mind just won't shut off... and there are not many things that are sutible for watching on tv at this time of day either... you think that would bore me to sleep, but hasn't helped so far... sigh...sniffle...(yes, I have been brought to tears more than once over this...)

Why men shouldn't take messages

2008-01-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

This is too funny ! :-)

Feed hungry people while testing your vocabulary...

2008-01-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Click on this link only if you don't have an addictive personality. It's hard to stop once you start! :-)

I'm a Survivor...

2008-01-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well- I did it! I survived my first multi-day, multi-state sepearation from my husband! And other than a little sleep deprived, I'm none the worse for wear- I even got banana bread baked! :-) G got home around 11p last night. He was able to catch a flight an hour earlier than scheduled, which was nice & he brought me some yummy looking chocolates from the fancy dinner they had Tuesday night (there was a box at each place setting at the dinner tables, four spots were empty on his table, so he picked up the extra boxes since nobody else wanted them)... I haven't tried them yet, but they look really good!
Now if I could just have my wedding ring back, I'd be whole again. (Have to wait til at least Saturday for that though... it's still in Denver being worked on...)

Toothpick Eyes

2008-01-23T09:18:00.001-07:00

This is how I feel... I've been up since 4:00am, thanks to my lovely dogs- who I had to clean up after because instead of just using their puppy pad and then going back to bed... they used their puppy pad, and managed to get their bed on top of the puppy pad... mess-o-rama! All over the bed, the floor, their toys. It took me 45 minutes to get it cleaned up. I laid back down, but was too awake to do more than dose off- right as the alarm went off at 6.... Diet Cherry Pepsi will be my best freind today, of that I am sure... Good thing dad comes home tonight, or the puppies may have been banished to the garage...(not really, I feel too sorry for them in the cold- but I did threaten it anyway!)

National Weather Service... Experts???

2008-01-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

I think the National Weather Service got it a little wrong today... here's what their website says our forecast is today...(I tried to copy and past the today's forcast from the website, but it's not working...)

"Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm."

Newsflash- it's SNOWING outside! No sun in sight!!! Has been snowing since before 7:00 this morning.

We'll see if it gets more accurate as the day progresses...

Update... It's 12:20p now and the sun is now shining, finally... but it's odd because it still looks like it's snowing too! :-) There is a slight breeze blowing all the loose powder off the rooftops now.

First night over...

2008-01-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

It was not so bad... not that I like being alone, but I did fininsh reading "Tuesdays with Morrie", flipped through a couple of magazines looking for new recipes and organizing tips, and did some dishes, so I did make some progress. I even heard Oreo get up at three this morning, and got up and let her out. My only problem is that I can't fall back to sleep as fast as G can, it took me about 45 minuetes to get back to sleep. But today I feel okay... not too tired... and am starting my next book today- "Jonah", a fictional account of the beloved Bible Character. It's a book I've had since middle school, my Bible school teacher gave it to me because she knew how much I loved to read, but I have still never managed to make it through the book. I will now! (Note to self- I have another one from her I need to find and read too... )
So only one more lonely night to get through- I think I'm making Banana Bread tonight... :-)

All alone in this big ol' house...

2008-01-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is the first time G and I will be apart for more than one night, and also in different states part of the time. He has to catch an early flight to L.A. tomorrow morning, so he is going to stay in Denver tonight. He has only been gone for two and a half hours, he's probably not even to his hotel in Denver yet, and I MISS HIM already! I think caffeine is the only thing that's gonna me through the next two days, 'cause I don't think I'll be sleeping very well the next two nights, and he won't get home until late Wednesday night. Hopefully I'll sleep soundly that night... Now I just need to find something to keep me busy- I think I may clean my kitchen and get it organized... I need to make banana bread too... and a couple of cards... and read some... now I just have to actually get up and do these things! :-)

Next book please...

2008-01-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Am really enjoying "America's Cheapest Family"- it is inspiring me to see how I can save money from our grocery bills, and how to start a workable budget.
Also finished the first chapter in "If I Really Believe, Why Do I Have These Doubts?" I think it is going to be a great study book for me, I found myself identifying with some of his statements/comments, and really hope it will help me to strengthen my faith.
I have started a new book, "Tuesdays with Morrie". I didn't finish "The Red Tent" -didn't like what I was reading...I guess that's a good thing about this 888 challenge, you can rewrite your lists as you go.
Will porbably start "Frugal Living for Dummies" sometime this week too.
I will have a lot of time to read Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, since I'll be home alone... :-( (My husband will be in Los Angeles for a corporate meeting...:-(

Pupcicles...

2008-01-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

When we left for work this morning, it was -2 degrees, it's only 5 degrees outside now (at 9:40a) and the high today is only supposed to get to freezing. I felt so bad having to put the puppies outside, even though the garage is all fixed up for them with their dog house and lots of straw, I still feel bad that they have to be outside. I told G that today is the first day I wished we lived closer to work, I would have left them inside, and went home at break and lunch to let them out, but we live just a little to far away to do that. So hopefully we don't have pupcicles waiting for us when we get home tonight... :-)

Mad About You

2008-01-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

We have been watching "Mad About You" from my NetFlix Queue. We are currently watching season two. I loved this show when it originally aired, but now that I'm older, and married :-) I LOVE this show!!! I completely get it now, instead of just laughing along, I'm in on the joke! HA! :-)

Snow, no sleep, and stupid work computers...

2008-01-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

That about sums up my day- and it isn't even 11am yet! Work issues are compounding the headache I've had since I got up, feeling more tired than I went to bed last night (which was at 8:30p!- don't know which is worse no sleep at all, or to sleep that long and feel so tired when I get up- but actually didn't sleep that whole time, was up every two hours again...) Our computer system at work recently underwent some detailed upgrades. What they fixed was nice, but what what they "unfixed" has been causing more problems than the original ones they set out to fix! So what should be taking me 5-10 minutes to finsih on a case is now, in some instances taking me up to 2 hours or more! It is so frustrating! And I am so far behind, I feel like I'm never gonna get caught up... Too bad there isn't gonna be enough snow for them to send us home- that would be so nice right now... (And if you know me at all you know how much I hate the snow, so to be asking for it...) Sigh...

I need a drinking buddy!

2008-01-15T15:40:00.001-07:00

For water that is :-)
Good ol' H2O!
Anyone want to drink with me??? ;-)
I do not drink enough water, and today my body is letting me know about it- big time. I went to the chiropractor at lunch today, and even though my back feels well-adjusted, the muscles are screaming again. I know that's because I don't drink enough. And so when I got back to the office, I filled my water bottle and started drinking- and I've had to pee four times in a little over an hour! Again- bacuase I'm not drinking enough! There are some stretches where I do fairly well, but most days I drink two sodas (diet -over ice at least) and call it good. I KNOW this is not enough, but I don't know how to get myself to drink more water. So maybe, since I've posted about it, I'll do better. (Ususally this helps because I won't want to look like a failure when I have to say "No- I haven't fixed that problem"...we'll see...) Suggestions are welcomed as well :-)

888 Challenge

2008-01-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

I finished my first two books this weekend. (That's one advantage to staying home on the weekends stuff actually gets done like reading, laundry, dishes :-) I finished Reunion, the 5th book in a long series of Karen Kingsbury books, it was in line with the rest of them, but sad at the end. When I talked to Sally about it in December, I was only about halfway through it, and had figured out the next twist in the story, but am eager to read on to see where the story goes next.
And I also finished "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." My friend from the church here in La Junta, Misty, and I decided a while back to choose a study book to read "together". We read the chapters and then discuss them when we see each other at church. It was a good book, it talked about how to balance worship time and service time for Christ in our ever increasingly busy world. It talked about how we have to have a balance of worship time and service time in order for our lives to have a sense of purpose, because if we get too overworked with no worship we forget who we are working for; and vice versa- if we don't get enough work we feel like we don't have a purpose in God's family. It has given me a lot to think about and to re-evaluate in my life. Which is good, because sometimes you have to look at where your life is headed to make sure you are not drifting too far off one way or the other.
The next book Misty and I are starting is " If I really Believe, Why Do I Have These Doubts?" I am looking forward to it, will fill you in on it as I get into it. And I am also going to start "The Red Tent" this week. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish that one by next weekend, we'll see how the week goes.

Exploring

2008-01-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

Today was so nice outside we decided to do a little exploring of our hometown. We have lived here for nine months, and didn't even know where the library was. Turns out it was only six blocks from our house!!! So, we got a "family" library card and I checked out some books. I got a couple I wanted to read, including "The Red Tent". Jayme just finished reading it and made it sound like a good book, so I decided to read it next.
Check out my bookshelf on the side of my blog to see what I'm currently reading (I thought this would be a neat way to show what books I am reading for the 888 Challenge) I found the Shelfari website from one of Sally's blogmates, and thought it was pretty cool! You can set up your own by visiting Shefari.com.

Happy Birthday Ellie!!!

2008-01-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

Hope you have a great day! We love you!
PS (your gift got mailed yesterday :-( sorry Aunt K is so slow- but hope you enjoy it anyway! :-)

Random Thought...

2008-01-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't is strange how we can convince ourselves that we don't want something, and then, when the possibilty of getting that very something comes along, we are sad when we don't get it?

A calling???

2008-01-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

I have one of those page-a-day desk calendars for my desk at work. It's called "Life's Little Instructions from the BIBLE". It has a quote from one of the "Life's Little Instructions" books, and a Bible verse for everyday.
Yesterday's was this:

Wednesday January 9, 2008
"Never let the odds keep you from pursing what you know in your heart you were meant to do."
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)

But how do you know what it is you are meant to do??? I mean, I'll see something, and think I'd like to do that, and then take off with it for a while, or start planning (like writing out on paper) how I would do this thing or another. But it seems the interest dies before I can really even get started. It makes me feel wishy-washy a lot of the time. (And I don't want to work in Social Services the rest of my life- it's too depressing to see how screwed up the system is, and that your clients get better benefits that you, the one who is working, get.)
Or what if what your heart says you really want to do something, but you feel that it is not attainable, like a dream that you will never be able to reach???

And I know the Bible verse is talking about being a Christian, which I try to live everyday, but you have to make an earthly living as well...

Living in 2008...

2008-01-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

I got this email this morning- was good for a laugh! :-)
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2008 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile.
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.

Have a good day! :-)

And the Number One Reason to NOT Wear Yor Contacts to Bed...

2008-01-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

YOU CAN SEE THE CLOCK EVERY HOUR WHEN YOU WAKE UP!!!

That's what I did last night. G had to be to work early yesterday morning, so we were both up earlier than normal, so by 8:00 last night, I was ready for bed! Got up and got ready for bed, then I was wide awake. Worked in my Sudoku Puzzle book for a while, talked for a while, finally tired enough to go to sleep. Wake up- wide awake- its still dark, I figure early morning, tell myself to lay still & I'll fall back asleep. Give up, look at clock- IT"S ONLY 11:00pm!!! Well then that made me mad- I was sooooo tired, and all I could sleep was a stinkin two hours!!! It was all down hill from there- I was up at least every two hours, if not every hour. First I'd be cold, so I turn my electric blanket back on- then I'd wake up sweating. Then back to cold. I am soooo tired today its not even funny. At least I only have to make it eight hours at work instead of nine- I get to leave early to go have my massage! Hope I can stay awake enough to enjoy it...

Small progress

2008-01-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

Even feeling poorly, I did accomplish a couple of small tasks today...G has been working in the office trying to get his stuff organized, now that he's pretty much done, I get to start. We started by moving my new desk that we brought home from Kansas into my side of the office. Now tomorrow, hopefully, I can start getting my scrapbooking stuff organized- I have to make a birthday card tomorrow too!

I also got my new light-switch plate put in the kitchen. My friend from work, who drew my name in the Christmas gift exchange our office had, gave me a Wizard of Oz plate to put in the kitchen, since she knew I was trying to decorate my kitchen in that theme. Thank you RC! :-)

I tried taking a bath to alleviate the back pain- that didn't help. (But did get some reading done while I soaked. I am reading more than one book all the time, so I hope to actually be done with two books off my list this week. I hope.) If nothing else, I'll call the chiropractor in Monday, but looks to be another long night tonight. (Sigh)

Not a good start to my weekend...

2008-01-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

Since Wednesday I have been having trouble getting comfortable in bed at night, my body just aches, escpecially my back and hips. Yesterday it even carried over to riding in the car. My back just screams at me no matter what I do, or how I re-adjust. I've been on the couch since 6a this morning when I just couldn't stay in bed any longer. Don't know what I did, but I sure hope it works itself out soon- I am really missing my sleep already... And I don't do well on little sleep... I'm glad we had planned to stay home today though, but don't think I'll get much done on my "To-do" list like I had wanted. Yuck!

Apprentice

2008-01-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

This season (which very well may be the last season) the Apprentice has gone celebrity! I wasn't sure about it, but after seeing the first episode last night, I'm hooked! Being a business major in college, I was drawn to the show right from the beginning, I've watched every season. But the celebrity version has added a new twist to it, the celbrities- some of them have good business sense, some have no clue! We'll have to see how the season unfolds, but so far, I'm impressed with Stephen Baldwin.

Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

2008 Resolutions

My biggest goal this year is to figure out how to use my time better. I want more one-on-one time with my Savior, more time for my husband, my friends and family (even if it’s just email or writing a letter) and more time for me (I kinda forgot how to be me this year- not that the new roles I’ve learned are bad- but if I don’t stay in touch with me- all those new roles will suffer too)

My second biggest goal this year is to save money. I have come up with several ideas/ solutions to help achieve this goal.

-Each month I will plan out our dinners, which is the only meal we eat at home, in advance and prepare a master shopping list so that at the first of each month we can go shopping at Sam’s Club to get the bulk of our groceries at once and for less money since bulk prices are always cheaper. The only things that will have to be supplemented are fresh things like milk, eggs, fresh veggies. (G's lunches only cost $2 a day, and I almost always take left-overs so lunch is covered. Breakfast is up-in-the air (I don't know if G even eats breakfast most days , but I usually grab something from home then too or raid my stash of oatmeal or soup in my work drawer)

-I intend to try very hard to NOT pay full price for ANYTHING we buy this year- eBay, sales and coupons are my new best friends! Gifts, groceries, clothes, accessories, anything we look at we will shop around for (as much as possible). I know this will not be a 100% thing, but the more we try, the more it will help!

-All cards sent from our home will either be from the large stack of already bought cards or homemade. I don’t think we’ll have a problem with this one- we have lots of cards and card making materials in stock at home already!

-I want to try very hard to make all gifts we give too- but I know that there are some things that have to have store-bought elements- but intend to have a homemade element as well.

I am going to try my darndest to make my Arbonne business successful. I want so very badly to be a stay-at-home mom, and want to make that a reality BEFORE the family starts coming.

I am going to get through the Bible at least once this year. I would love it if I could get through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice.

I am going to take the 888 reading challenge click here to read about it. (Will post my book list when I get it completed. Waiting on Jayme to finish hers too :-)