Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Finally Home for Christmas!
We are at my mom and dad's celebrating Christmas. We came in last night and had our immediate family Christmas. We had such a good time. I'll post some pics later. Then today we are gathering with some of my mom's extended family.
My mom is the middle of five girls, two of which have already gone to be with Jesus along with their mom and dad. So, it's just my mom and two of her sisters left.
Growing up, we always had Christmas all together...all the families. Mind you, it might not have always been exactly on Christmas Day, but sometime, somewhere, somehow, we always got together. I remember one year my granddad was in the hospital over the holidays, and here come the whole gang, ready to celebrate Christmas.
So, here we are some years later, and we still try to get together. Not everyone always comes because we are all spread out, but an effort is made nonetheless.
The neices and nephews have always given our moms a hard time about their "sister talk". (The husbands know better than to say anything about it!) ;) Sometime during the day, Grandma and our moms would sneak out of the commotion and go lock themselves in a room somewhere where they would relax and have their time of talking without the interruption of husbands and kids. Oh, we would try to go in, but we were promptly kicked out if no emergency was involved. That was their time. And they still continue this tradition, although they've graciously allowed others to join them if attendence is lower than normal!
We'll be coming home sometime tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pics then.
My mom is the middle of five girls, two of which have already gone to be with Jesus along with their mom and dad. So, it's just my mom and two of her sisters left.
Growing up, we always had Christmas all together...all the families. Mind you, it might not have always been exactly on Christmas Day, but sometime, somewhere, somehow, we always got together. I remember one year my granddad was in the hospital over the holidays, and here come the whole gang, ready to celebrate Christmas.
So, here we are some years later, and we still try to get together. Not everyone always comes because we are all spread out, but an effort is made nonetheless.
The neices and nephews have always given our moms a hard time about their "sister talk". (The husbands know better than to say anything about it!) ;) Sometime during the day, Grandma and our moms would sneak out of the commotion and go lock themselves in a room somewhere where they would relax and have their time of talking without the interruption of husbands and kids. Oh, we would try to go in, but we were promptly kicked out if no emergency was involved. That was their time. And they still continue this tradition, although they've graciously allowed others to join them if attendence is lower than normal!
We'll be coming home sometime tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pics then.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Clash of the Choirs
OH.MY.GOODNESS.
There is a show on NBC...Clash of the Choirs.
Yes, it's a reality show, but different. They compete as a team, not as individuals; and the money they win goes to a charity in their hometown.
There are five different choirs from different cities. The choir director of each choir is a musical celebrity from that city. The choirs are:
Cincinati, directed by Nich Lachey
Houston, directed by Kelly Rowland
New Haven, directed by Michael Bolton
Oklahoma City, directed by Blake Shelton
Philidelphia, directed by Patti LaBelle
After their first performance, of course, I have my favorites, but the clear winner was Patti LaBelle's choir.
WOW.
They sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands".
Absolutely incredible, is all I can say. It almost turned into a revival service. I think one the choir members almost fell out. I'm exaggerating, but it was good. :)
America is supposed to vote tonight then one choir is voted off tomorrow night. I think it's just a week long show, so if you have a chance to catch it this week, I think you'd like it.
Of course, it's the week before Christmas, so I know that you all have clear schedules and nothing else better to do than watch a freakin' reality show.
Yes, I left the "g" off "freaking".
Hehe.
Later, girls.
There is a show on NBC...Clash of the Choirs.
Yes, it's a reality show, but different. They compete as a team, not as individuals; and the money they win goes to a charity in their hometown.
There are five different choirs from different cities. The choir director of each choir is a musical celebrity from that city. The choirs are:
Cincinati, directed by Nich Lachey
Houston, directed by Kelly Rowland
New Haven, directed by Michael Bolton
Oklahoma City, directed by Blake Shelton
Philidelphia, directed by Patti LaBelle
After their first performance, of course, I have my favorites, but the clear winner was Patti LaBelle's choir.
WOW.
They sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands".
Absolutely incredible, is all I can say. It almost turned into a revival service. I think one the choir members almost fell out. I'm exaggerating, but it was good. :)
America is supposed to vote tonight then one choir is voted off tomorrow night. I think it's just a week long show, so if you have a chance to catch it this week, I think you'd like it.
Of course, it's the week before Christmas, so I know that you all have clear schedules and nothing else better to do than watch a freakin' reality show.
Yes, I left the "g" off "freaking".
Hehe.
Later, girls.
Friday, December 14, 2007
By the Way...
The gifts are back.
I don't know what happened.
It must have been a glich somewhere.
Or the Grinch felt bad and brought them back.
Anyways, it's all good!
I don't know what happened.
It must have been a glich somewhere.
Or the Grinch felt bad and brought them back.
Anyways, it's all good!
Hair Drama
I wanted to get my hair done--the whole works...color, highlights, cut, etc--before Christmas, but I knew my days off were limited. So, Saturday I made an appointment for Sunday at the JC Penney Salon.
My first mistake was scheduling with a new person, but when I made the appointment I specifically said I wanted the stylist to be cost efficient but good. At the JCPS the price of the service is dependant on the level of stylist you have. They set me up with "Brooke".
My second mistake was not making them keep me with Brooke when I arrived for my appointment. As they were checking me in they asked if I specifically asked for Brooke, and I told them no, that's just who they scheduled me with.
Shut up, Stupid.
So they put me with "Daisy".
Don't get me wrong. Daisy is a super sweet girl who ended up doing a good job. I just don't think anyone else should have to go through the inner turmoil for the end result.
Did I tell you my appointment was at 3 pm? I arrived for my appointment and was in the chair at 2:50. At 3:30, I was still sitting in the chair with dry hair and the cape while two other stylists were telling Daisy two different ways of processing my color. I think they totally confused her, so she went and got the salon manager who walked her through what she needed to do and affirmed her in front of me. Had that not happened, I wouldn't have stayed. The other stylists just didn't make me feel comfortable with who I had as a stylist. Everytime one of them walked by, they would ask Daisy if she was doing okay, or did she need any help, or if she needs anything at all they'll be right over there. At times they would ask if she was going to do such and such, and Daisy would say, no we're doing this. They would say "Oh, you are?" in a derogatory way. Daisy didn't back down, then they would walk off like, well, we'll see how that goes, but out loud they would say, "Oh, I can't wait to see how it turns out!"
So finally, the process starts and I become the reception source for every radio antenna in San Angelo with all the foil on my head. The Cowboys are playing, so there are very few clients and three times as many stylists who have nothing to do. So, they began to congregate in the middle of the salon and begin having very inappropriate conversation. I mean, really inappropriate. Like, things I don't want to know about them, or their mate. Much less, things about them with their mate, as compared to their last mate.
And the thing that kills me is that the manager was the ring leader of the conversation!
Are you freaking kidding me????
Inappropriate and unprofessional.
I think they got the hint somehow because all of a sudden they quickly all headed off the styling floor to continue their conversation elsewhere. Poor Daisy was just as uncomfortable as I was. The whole time she's just silently working away on my hair...foil, paint, foil, paint, foil, paint.
One by one, they would all come over to take a peak and see how it was going. Then two stylists decided they needed to camp out beside us and have conversation about the latest diet she was on and how much weight she needed to lose...yada, yada, yada. Daisy's still silently foiling and painting. I'm just sitting there trying to tune them out. Eventually they leave, and I am left to process.
Not just my hair. I am literally trying to process everything that has gone on in the HOURS I am there.
So my color finally gets done (which I love by the way). The other stylists really liked it too, which made me happy for Daisy. Then she begins on the cut. Not exactly what I asked for, but honestly, I think Daisy was so freaked out about the color-thing she was fried. Who can blame her? She did undercharge me for the cut, so I left her a big tip and told her she was doing a good job.
It was 7 pm when I left, which is why we didn't make it to church Sunday night.
So...yeah....HAIR DRAMA!!!!!!
My first mistake was scheduling with a new person, but when I made the appointment I specifically said I wanted the stylist to be cost efficient but good. At the JCPS the price of the service is dependant on the level of stylist you have. They set me up with "Brooke".
My second mistake was not making them keep me with Brooke when I arrived for my appointment. As they were checking me in they asked if I specifically asked for Brooke, and I told them no, that's just who they scheduled me with.
Shut up, Stupid.
So they put me with "Daisy".
Don't get me wrong. Daisy is a super sweet girl who ended up doing a good job. I just don't think anyone else should have to go through the inner turmoil for the end result.
Did I tell you my appointment was at 3 pm? I arrived for my appointment and was in the chair at 2:50. At 3:30, I was still sitting in the chair with dry hair and the cape while two other stylists were telling Daisy two different ways of processing my color. I think they totally confused her, so she went and got the salon manager who walked her through what she needed to do and affirmed her in front of me. Had that not happened, I wouldn't have stayed. The other stylists just didn't make me feel comfortable with who I had as a stylist. Everytime one of them walked by, they would ask Daisy if she was doing okay, or did she need any help, or if she needs anything at all they'll be right over there. At times they would ask if she was going to do such and such, and Daisy would say, no we're doing this. They would say "Oh, you are?" in a derogatory way. Daisy didn't back down, then they would walk off like, well, we'll see how that goes, but out loud they would say, "Oh, I can't wait to see how it turns out!"
So finally, the process starts and I become the reception source for every radio antenna in San Angelo with all the foil on my head. The Cowboys are playing, so there are very few clients and three times as many stylists who have nothing to do. So, they began to congregate in the middle of the salon and begin having very inappropriate conversation. I mean, really inappropriate. Like, things I don't want to know about them, or their mate. Much less, things about them with their mate, as compared to their last mate.
And the thing that kills me is that the manager was the ring leader of the conversation!
Are you freaking kidding me????
Inappropriate and unprofessional.
I think they got the hint somehow because all of a sudden they quickly all headed off the styling floor to continue their conversation elsewhere. Poor Daisy was just as uncomfortable as I was. The whole time she's just silently working away on my hair...foil, paint, foil, paint, foil, paint.
One by one, they would all come over to take a peak and see how it was going. Then two stylists decided they needed to camp out beside us and have conversation about the latest diet she was on and how much weight she needed to lose...yada, yada, yada. Daisy's still silently foiling and painting. I'm just sitting there trying to tune them out. Eventually they leave, and I am left to process.
Not just my hair. I am literally trying to process everything that has gone on in the HOURS I am there.
So my color finally gets done (which I love by the way). The other stylists really liked it too, which made me happy for Daisy. Then she begins on the cut. Not exactly what I asked for, but honestly, I think Daisy was so freaked out about the color-thing she was fried. Who can blame her? She did undercharge me for the cut, so I left her a big tip and told her she was doing a good job.
It was 7 pm when I left, which is why we didn't make it to church Sunday night.
So...yeah....HAIR DRAMA!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
HOW SAD!!!!
The Grinch stole all of my presents!!!!
My little Christmas tree below is bare of all gifts given to me by my wonderful friends.
Makes me kinda sad.
That is all.
My little Christmas tree below is bare of all gifts given to me by my wonderful friends.
Makes me kinda sad.
That is all.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Who Done It?
Okay, y'all...
I know one of y'all said this was good, but I can't remember who!
Today, I came home from work and was hungry for a snack. I wanted some peanut butter, but we're out of bread. I grabbed the peanut butter from the pantry, looked up and spotted the Frito's.
Ooooohhhh, yyyyyeeeaaahhhhh.....
(I think it was kj, but I'm not sure!)
I know one of y'all said this was good, but I can't remember who!
Today, I came home from work and was hungry for a snack. I wanted some peanut butter, but we're out of bread. I grabbed the peanut butter from the pantry, looked up and spotted the Frito's.
Ooooohhhh, yyyyyeeeaaahhhhh.....
(I think it was kj, but I'm not sure!)
Monday, December 3, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Update on Things
Sorry it took so long to post an update...
Dan is doing a lot better! It was not fluid around his heart, just extra fluid in general. The doctor changed up his medicine a bit more, and it has made a world of difference. His blood pressure has been normal the past few days, and his headaches have subsided.
Thank you for your prayers!
With all of this going on, it has really made me think about the near future. Leaving Kirkland's means losing our health insurance, and if you have seen prices on prescription medicine, you know what a new set of problems that creates.
So, my prayer since the whole beginning of the development of our ministry has been for the Lord to open doors that needed to be opened and close the ones that needed to be closed.
I hadn't planned on giving my notice until the end of December, so my district manager hasn't known anything of our plans. Long story short, he was in my store this week and asked me if I would consider moving to one of the stores in Arlington. Evidently, the manager there gave her notice and yesterday was her last day. He asked if my assistant was ready for my store, so I told him she would be after the holidays. He said that was fine because he wouldn't make any changes until January. I told him that this would be something I would consider.
I called Dan as soon as he left to ask him what he thought. He didn't say no, you're leaving at the end of January. He'd been praying, too.
I don't know anything concrete yet. I'm sure that I'll know more after Christmas. By the way, this doesn't change anything about our ministry. It is still in the works. It will just be a little different than what we first thought.
So...I'm asking for prayer once again. We want to be in the will of the Lord.
Thanks, friends.
Dan is doing a lot better! It was not fluid around his heart, just extra fluid in general. The doctor changed up his medicine a bit more, and it has made a world of difference. His blood pressure has been normal the past few days, and his headaches have subsided.
Thank you for your prayers!
With all of this going on, it has really made me think about the near future. Leaving Kirkland's means losing our health insurance, and if you have seen prices on prescription medicine, you know what a new set of problems that creates.
So, my prayer since the whole beginning of the development of our ministry has been for the Lord to open doors that needed to be opened and close the ones that needed to be closed.
I hadn't planned on giving my notice until the end of December, so my district manager hasn't known anything of our plans. Long story short, he was in my store this week and asked me if I would consider moving to one of the stores in Arlington. Evidently, the manager there gave her notice and yesterday was her last day. He asked if my assistant was ready for my store, so I told him she would be after the holidays. He said that was fine because he wouldn't make any changes until January. I told him that this would be something I would consider.
I called Dan as soon as he left to ask him what he thought. He didn't say no, you're leaving at the end of January. He'd been praying, too.
I don't know anything concrete yet. I'm sure that I'll know more after Christmas. By the way, this doesn't change anything about our ministry. It is still in the works. It will just be a little different than what we first thought.
So...I'm asking for prayer once again. We want to be in the will of the Lord.
Thanks, friends.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Y'all Just Go Ahead and be Jealous...
I GOT SNOW ON THANKSGIVING!!!!!
Dan and I got to Mom and Dad's Wednesday night, and when we got up T-Day, it was snowing! It continued all day...big flakes that stuck to the ground! You know, sometimes it snows and the ground is too warm, it just melts and doesn't accumulate. Not today...we got about 3-4 inches!
We had a really wonderful day. We got to bring my Pa home from the nursing home for lunch. To say he enjoyed it is an understatement. He was going to town on the home cooking! He had pumpkin AND pecan pie for dessert, and when someone asked him if it was good, he said, "Yeah, boooyyyy!!!!" It was so cute!
My dad's sister, brother, and his wife were there, and as we sat around the table we began talking about old stories from when they were kids. Pa just sat there and listened with a big smile on his face. I wish he could have told us what he was thinking...I'm sure he had some stories of his own about us all!
It was a great day!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well! I am so thankful for each one of you. You all play such different yet vital roles in my life. I am blessed beyond measure. My cup runs over.
Thank you, Jesus, for all the blessings in my life. You are so good to me.
Dan and I got to Mom and Dad's Wednesday night, and when we got up T-Day, it was snowing! It continued all day...big flakes that stuck to the ground! You know, sometimes it snows and the ground is too warm, it just melts and doesn't accumulate. Not today...we got about 3-4 inches!
We had a really wonderful day. We got to bring my Pa home from the nursing home for lunch. To say he enjoyed it is an understatement. He was going to town on the home cooking! He had pumpkin AND pecan pie for dessert, and when someone asked him if it was good, he said, "Yeah, boooyyyy!!!!" It was so cute!
My dad's sister, brother, and his wife were there, and as we sat around the table we began talking about old stories from when they were kids. Pa just sat there and listened with a big smile on his face. I wish he could have told us what he was thinking...I'm sure he had some stories of his own about us all!
It was a great day!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well! I am so thankful for each one of you. You all play such different yet vital roles in my life. I am blessed beyond measure. My cup runs over.
Thank you, Jesus, for all the blessings in my life. You are so good to me.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Random Thoughts
* I didn't get everything done that I wanted to on this, my last Saturday off. My wonderful nap won out!
* Nap or not, I'm posting this while doing laundry.
* I love wireless internet.
* I'm not holding my breath, but Tech is ahead of OU right now. Go Red Raiders!
* Not that I'm a wing connesseur (?) or anything, but I think Wing Stop is better than Buffalo Wild Wings.
* We have such talented, creative women in our church. Did you know that? Crys's shower today was so nice with such cute things and great food...even a craft project! Great job ladies!!!
* I got some baby-love at the shower today...thanks Ellie and Grant! Thanks, s and j for letting me love on your cuties! And that Jacob was a little ham today. He was cheesing it up for those pictures...so adorable!
* Pictures don't do a's house justice. It looks great! You did an amazing job! I need more of your patience and attention to the details! Loved your kitchen stuff, by the way! ;)
* On a more serious note, say a prayer for Dan. He hadn't been feeling well this week and went to the doctor on Thursday. It looks like he has fluid around his heart, so they changed his blood pressure medication to one that has a water pill mixed in with it. They are going to see if that helps. He started taking it on Thursday evening, and he goes back to the doctor Monday to see if there's been any progress. Pray the medication is doing what it needs to do.
* This week kicks off the first of many 6-day work weeks I will have through the holidays. We are required to work six days the week of Thanksgiving (T-Day being our day off), then six days every other week until Christmas. That's the requirement, but if the workload is such that we have to work six days the other weeks, as well, then we are encouraged to do so. The point is this: keep posting because it's likely that seeing you all will be sparatic until after Christmas!
* That's about it for now. The laundry is calling my name....
* Nap or not, I'm posting this while doing laundry.
* I love wireless internet.
* I'm not holding my breath, but Tech is ahead of OU right now. Go Red Raiders!
* Not that I'm a wing connesseur (?) or anything, but I think Wing Stop is better than Buffalo Wild Wings.
* We have such talented, creative women in our church. Did you know that? Crys's shower today was so nice with such cute things and great food...even a craft project! Great job ladies!!!
* I got some baby-love at the shower today...thanks Ellie and Grant! Thanks, s and j for letting me love on your cuties! And that Jacob was a little ham today. He was cheesing it up for those pictures...so adorable!
* Pictures don't do a's house justice. It looks great! You did an amazing job! I need more of your patience and attention to the details! Loved your kitchen stuff, by the way! ;)
* On a more serious note, say a prayer for Dan. He hadn't been feeling well this week and went to the doctor on Thursday. It looks like he has fluid around his heart, so they changed his blood pressure medication to one that has a water pill mixed in with it. They are going to see if that helps. He started taking it on Thursday evening, and he goes back to the doctor Monday to see if there's been any progress. Pray the medication is doing what it needs to do.
* This week kicks off the first of many 6-day work weeks I will have through the holidays. We are required to work six days the week of Thanksgiving (T-Day being our day off), then six days every other week until Christmas. That's the requirement, but if the workload is such that we have to work six days the other weeks, as well, then we are encouraged to do so. The point is this: keep posting because it's likely that seeing you all will be sparatic until after Christmas!
* That's about it for now. The laundry is calling my name....
Thursday, November 15, 2007
It's Not Because I'm Hot or Anything...
I'm running around in short sleeves with no jacket because all my long sleeves and jackets are in storage!
Grrrrrr....
Oh, wait!
Brrrrrr.....
Grrrrrr....
Oh, wait!
Brrrrrr.....
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Finally!
Well, Dad finally had the infamous heart cath today, and everything is fine!
Thank you, Jesus!
There was no blockage, so they did not have to do any other kind of procedure. He can go home tomorrow.
I'm so thankful. Ever since his knee replacement, he had been sounding so weak. While I was at home with them, and everytime I spoke with him on the phone, he always sounded as if he was half-asleep, almost. No energy at all.
It's kind of funny because since he's been in the hospital, he has sounded like a totally different person. Upbeat, energetic...how my dad is supposed to be! I know a lot of people were praying for him. I really believe the Lord touched him!
Thank you for your prayers!
Thank you, Jesus!
There was no blockage, so they did not have to do any other kind of procedure. He can go home tomorrow.
I'm so thankful. Ever since his knee replacement, he had been sounding so weak. While I was at home with them, and everytime I spoke with him on the phone, he always sounded as if he was half-asleep, almost. No energy at all.
It's kind of funny because since he's been in the hospital, he has sounded like a totally different person. Upbeat, energetic...how my dad is supposed to be! I know a lot of people were praying for him. I really believe the Lord touched him!
Thank you for your prayers!
Monday, November 12, 2007
All in a Day's Work
My little guard dog...
This sun sure does feel good...
Wanna kiss?
All tuckered out!
This sun sure does feel good...
Wanna kiss?
All tuckered out!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Christmas Traditions
OK, so I'm a little late on this one...
I love Christmas, too! I love the lights, the music, the smells, the cold weather...all of it! As far as traditions go...
*We really don't have any.
*Seriously.
*Since my schedule is so crazy this time of year at work, we are grateful for any time we get to carve out with our families.
*Hopefully, next year will be different!
I love Christmas, too! I love the lights, the music, the smells, the cold weather...all of it! As far as traditions go...
*We really don't have any.
*Seriously.
*Since my schedule is so crazy this time of year at work, we are grateful for any time we get to carve out with our families.
*Hopefully, next year will be different!
Friday, November 9, 2007
Absolute Craziness!
Tell me if you don't think this is the craziest thing you've ever heard of...
Dad was put in a private room on Wednesday. Evidently, the VA hospital in Amarillo is not equipped to perform a heart cath, so they were going to medi-vac him to the Albequerque VA hospital to have that procedure done, then send him home. All they were waiting for was a bed to open up for him to go.
Keep in mind that if this were an emergency situation, they would take him three blocks down the road to the Baptist hospital, have the procedure done, then take him back to the VA.
But because this is not an emergency situation, they are going to medi-vac him to Albequerque for the duration of the test, then buy him a BUS TICKET home.
Oh, wait! Did I tell you that as of today, they still had no beds available in Albequerque? Yeah, so they are sending him to Tucson.
TUCSON, ARIZONA!!!!!
pDPFUJ4RLKTNMP["l;C,VLKFDGNAO;IP;/SLDAFDP'[DSL,MZCVO;WEAROGK;FLVJNZFDOG;A
Are you freaking kidding me?
At least he gets a plane ticket home instead of the bus.
And we wonder why we have a national debt of nine trillion dollars.
Dad was put in a private room on Wednesday. Evidently, the VA hospital in Amarillo is not equipped to perform a heart cath, so they were going to medi-vac him to the Albequerque VA hospital to have that procedure done, then send him home. All they were waiting for was a bed to open up for him to go.
Keep in mind that if this were an emergency situation, they would take him three blocks down the road to the Baptist hospital, have the procedure done, then take him back to the VA.
But because this is not an emergency situation, they are going to medi-vac him to Albequerque for the duration of the test, then buy him a BUS TICKET home.
Oh, wait! Did I tell you that as of today, they still had no beds available in Albequerque? Yeah, so they are sending him to Tucson.
TUCSON, ARIZONA!!!!!
pDPFUJ4RLKTNMP["l;C,VLKFDGNAO;IP;/SLDAFDP'[DSL,MZCVO;WEAROGK;FLVJNZFDOG;A
Are you freaking kidding me?
At least he gets a plane ticket home instead of the bus.
And we wonder why we have a national debt of nine trillion dollars.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Update on Dad
Thank you for your prayers.
Dad is doing pretty well. His cardiac enzymes have decreased. The doctor thinks that he had the attack on Sunday. Right now he is still in ICU. They are going to do an ultrasound on his galbladder tomorrow to follow up on some backpain he was having, but other than that it is unclear what they are going to do next. There was talk about them doing a heart cath, but that's all I know right now. Dad is in good spirits, though. My sister said he is being his ornery (onery?) self, so that's good. He's just bored to tears.
This is a funny story for you...
When mom and dad went to the clinic in Lubbock Monday, they had no idea they would be going to Amarillo for an undetermined amount of time, so they had nothing...no overnight bag, change of clothes, or anything. So, Monday night my sister drove to my parents' house to pick some things up to take to them today. While my sister was there, she was talking with my aunt, who is staying at my parents' house.
A little background info: My dad, his sister Colene, and brother Roscoe, were all raised in a Christian home and went in the military when they were young adults. While I'm sure they all sowed some wild oats, my dad is the only one who came back to a full relationship with the Lord. He was in law enforcement for 16 years before surrendering to full time ministry, already married with two girls.
Now, back to the story, already in progress...
Colene was telling Stacy about how she had called Roscoe about Dad being in the hospital, the incident on Sunday, and all the details.
Roscoe: That happened on Sunday?
Colene: Yes.
Roscoe: While he was preaching?
Colene: Yes.
Roscoe: Did Judy (my mom) tell you about what happened?
Colene: No, I saw it.
Roscoe: You were there?
Colene: Yes.
Roscoe: At church?
Colene: Yes.
Pause
Roscoe: Well, Colene, that's why he had the heart attack!
I know, I know...I got it honest.
I come from smarty-pants-people.
Dad is doing pretty well. His cardiac enzymes have decreased. The doctor thinks that he had the attack on Sunday. Right now he is still in ICU. They are going to do an ultrasound on his galbladder tomorrow to follow up on some backpain he was having, but other than that it is unclear what they are going to do next. There was talk about them doing a heart cath, but that's all I know right now. Dad is in good spirits, though. My sister said he is being his ornery (onery?) self, so that's good. He's just bored to tears.
This is a funny story for you...
When mom and dad went to the clinic in Lubbock Monday, they had no idea they would be going to Amarillo for an undetermined amount of time, so they had nothing...no overnight bag, change of clothes, or anything. So, Monday night my sister drove to my parents' house to pick some things up to take to them today. While my sister was there, she was talking with my aunt, who is staying at my parents' house.
A little background info: My dad, his sister Colene, and brother Roscoe, were all raised in a Christian home and went in the military when they were young adults. While I'm sure they all sowed some wild oats, my dad is the only one who came back to a full relationship with the Lord. He was in law enforcement for 16 years before surrendering to full time ministry, already married with two girls.
Now, back to the story, already in progress...
Colene was telling Stacy about how she had called Roscoe about Dad being in the hospital, the incident on Sunday, and all the details.
Roscoe: That happened on Sunday?
Colene: Yes.
Roscoe: While he was preaching?
Colene: Yes.
Roscoe: Did Judy (my mom) tell you about what happened?
Colene: No, I saw it.
Roscoe: You were there?
Colene: Yes.
Roscoe: At church?
Colene: Yes.
Pause
Roscoe: Well, Colene, that's why he had the heart attack!
I know, I know...I got it honest.
I come from smarty-pants-people.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Please Say a Prayer...
My dad hasn't been feeling well the past few days. He has gotten really weak when he stands up. Yesterday, he got up to preach and started feeling so bad he had to sit down to preach. I've never seen him do that. Mom said she knew something was wrong when his words started slurring.
They went to the VA clinic in Lubbock this morning, and through a series of tests, they found that his cardiac enzymes were "elevated" and strongly suggested he go to the emergency room. They went ahead and went to the VA hospital in Amarillo, where they continued some testing and put him in ICU. The doctor said his cardiac enzymes were extremely high and that if he hadn't already had a heart attack, he was well on his way to having one.
I think that they have him in ICU, not because, necessarily, that he is so critical, but so that they can monitor him and analyze what is the problem and how they will take care of it. I debated on whether I should go up there or what, but I think I'm going to wait and find out more information over the next day or two and see what happens.
Thank you for your prayers...I'll keep you "posted".
They went to the VA clinic in Lubbock this morning, and through a series of tests, they found that his cardiac enzymes were "elevated" and strongly suggested he go to the emergency room. They went ahead and went to the VA hospital in Amarillo, where they continued some testing and put him in ICU. The doctor said his cardiac enzymes were extremely high and that if he hadn't already had a heart attack, he was well on his way to having one.
I think that they have him in ICU, not because, necessarily, that he is so critical, but so that they can monitor him and analyze what is the problem and how they will take care of it. I debated on whether I should go up there or what, but I think I'm going to wait and find out more information over the next day or two and see what happens.
Thank you for your prayers...I'll keep you "posted".
Sunday, November 4, 2007
It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!!!
...or it's about to, anyway!
Tonight is holiday set-up night at the store! We will do our display windows, put up signs, string snowflakes from the ceiling...all that good stuff! Then the rest of this week we will be moving stuff around to bring all the holiday merchandise to the front of the store. It's going to look great, but it's a lot of work, too. I hope we can get it all done in the alotted time.
We did some of the prep work yesterday. From past years' experience, we've learned that if they say it takes one person 30 minutes to put something together, it usually means that it will take 2-3 people 45 minutes to get it together correctly! =)
Poor Dan came up to help me...he's sick of snowflakes. Thanks, babe!!!! You're the bestest!!!!
Tonight is holiday set-up night at the store! We will do our display windows, put up signs, string snowflakes from the ceiling...all that good stuff! Then the rest of this week we will be moving stuff around to bring all the holiday merchandise to the front of the store. It's going to look great, but it's a lot of work, too. I hope we can get it all done in the alotted time.
We did some of the prep work yesterday. From past years' experience, we've learned that if they say it takes one person 30 minutes to put something together, it usually means that it will take 2-3 people 45 minutes to get it together correctly! =)
Poor Dan came up to help me...he's sick of snowflakes. Thanks, babe!!!! You're the bestest!!!!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Attention CoffeeMate Fans
If you like flavored creamer for your coffee, HEB has some holiday inspired creamers!
A few that I saw were:
Pumpkin Spice
Chocolate Mint Truffle
Peppermint Mocha
I was a sucker and got the Almond Toffee....YUM. E.
I can't believe today is the first of November!!!! Yikes!
Hopefully, I'll see many of you at the get together tonight at 7PM...don't forget!!!
A few that I saw were:
Pumpkin Spice
Chocolate Mint Truffle
Peppermint Mocha
I was a sucker and got the Almond Toffee....YUM. E.
I can't believe today is the first of November!!!! Yikes!
Hopefully, I'll see many of you at the get together tonight at 7PM...don't forget!!!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
I'm a Mean Mama
Pocahantus-Rosie
Do you see the why-are-you-doing-this-to-me-look she's giving me?
Poor baby....
Do you see the why-are-you-doing-this-to-me-look she's giving me?
Poor baby....
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Answer to Trivia Question
That picture was taken the end of my sixth grade year.
I was an early bloomer.
Nuff said.
I was an early bloomer.
Nuff said.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Proof is in the Pudding
First of all, let me say this...
ANGELA, THIS IS YOUR WARNING!!!
Okay, now...
A few posts ago, rw was talking about big 80's hair. She said, and I quote,
"I bow down to ree as the queen of big, permed hair."
Well, when I was home, I dug out some pictures of the big, permed hair. These aren't even the worst, but take a look, anyway.
Some of you (ahem, April) have actually seen these in person and/or had it worse than me.
Go ahead and laugh...I won't be offended...I know it's bad.
Senior picture...
Sophomore picture...gotta love that hair...it's called "blow-dry it straight up while spraying with Stiff Stuff, then curl the tips and tease the snot out of it."
This was taken when I was 19 or 20...
One of our engagement pictures...this one is for the pure enjoyment of the one-sided wing. It's coming back, I know it will...and I'll be ready when it does, with my Stiff Stuff, pick, and blow dryer...a technique every woman should master.
Here's a trivia question for you...
At the end of what grade was I in when this picture was taken...6th, 7th, or 8th? (I'm the one on the end, by the way.)
ANGELA, THIS IS YOUR WARNING!!!
Okay, now...
A few posts ago, rw was talking about big 80's hair. She said, and I quote,
"I bow down to ree as the queen of big, permed hair."
Well, when I was home, I dug out some pictures of the big, permed hair. These aren't even the worst, but take a look, anyway.
Some of you (ahem, April) have actually seen these in person and/or had it worse than me.
Go ahead and laugh...I won't be offended...I know it's bad.
Senior picture...
Sophomore picture...gotta love that hair...it's called "blow-dry it straight up while spraying with Stiff Stuff, then curl the tips and tease the snot out of it."
This was taken when I was 19 or 20...
One of our engagement pictures...this one is for the pure enjoyment of the one-sided wing. It's coming back, I know it will...and I'll be ready when it does, with my Stiff Stuff, pick, and blow dryer...a technique every woman should master.
Here's a trivia question for you...
At the end of what grade was I in when this picture was taken...6th, 7th, or 8th? (I'm the one on the end, by the way.)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Addendum to the 'Realization' Post
They switched it up on me today...
We watched "The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross"...
Do you remember that PBS painting show??? It's like 25 years old and they still play it.
If you ever see "I Love the 80's" on VH-1, they have a throw-back to Bob Ross. Pretty funny stuff.
We watched "The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross"...
Do you remember that PBS painting show??? It's like 25 years old and they still play it.
If you ever see "I Love the 80's" on VH-1, they have a throw-back to Bob Ross. Pretty funny stuff.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Happy Birthday, Mama!
Today is my mama's birthday, and I got to be here for it!
We had a great day. My sister got to come from Lubbock and brought a cake, so we had leftover chicken and dumplins (my favorite) and stew and cornbread for lunch with cake and ice cream for dessert.
A great day, yes, but it was pretty uneventful...I took Dad to the bank and post office. Later this afternoon, we went to Seminole to go to the nursing home to see Pa. You know, I've told you how he pretty much lives in his own world, and the conversations he has with us aren't really with "us" personally. It's just a generic conversation. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you say or ask, his answer is "yeah."
Mom: Ernest, what would you like for dinner?
Pa: Yeah.
Well, tonight we were sitting in his room, and he got this glazed over, far away look in his eyes. He lifted one of his shaking hands in front of him and began making motions. We were trying to figure out what he was doing because the motions were pretty random...long strokes or circles or short lines. Mom asked at one point, "Whatcha doing?"
He said, "Painting."
One of his favorite pasttimes was painting landscapes. He loved wildlife, lakes, and mountains.
He had a Time Life book of the United States on his bedside table, so I began looking through it to see if there were any landscape pictures in it. I found one that had mountains in the background with a lake in the forefront. I showed it to him and he loved it.
"Oh, yeah! Look at that!"
He grabbed onto the book and just looked at it for a minute. Then with his shaky hand he began "adding" to the picture. It about broke my heart, but I didn't say what I was thinking.
On our way home, Dad put to words what I had kept in my heart at the nursing home.
"We can't see what he was painting here, but the Lord has that masterpiece waiting for him in heaven."
Maybe it was heaven he was seeing...only God knows.
We got home, and my aunt had spaghetti, garlic bread, and caesar salad waiting for us with homemade apple pie for dessert...yyyyuuuummmmmm.....
A great day indeed.
Happy birthday, mama!
We had a great day. My sister got to come from Lubbock and brought a cake, so we had leftover chicken and dumplins (my favorite) and stew and cornbread for lunch with cake and ice cream for dessert.
A great day, yes, but it was pretty uneventful...I took Dad to the bank and post office. Later this afternoon, we went to Seminole to go to the nursing home to see Pa. You know, I've told you how he pretty much lives in his own world, and the conversations he has with us aren't really with "us" personally. It's just a generic conversation. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you say or ask, his answer is "yeah."
Mom: Ernest, what would you like for dinner?
Pa: Yeah.
Well, tonight we were sitting in his room, and he got this glazed over, far away look in his eyes. He lifted one of his shaking hands in front of him and began making motions. We were trying to figure out what he was doing because the motions were pretty random...long strokes or circles or short lines. Mom asked at one point, "Whatcha doing?"
He said, "Painting."
One of his favorite pasttimes was painting landscapes. He loved wildlife, lakes, and mountains.
He had a Time Life book of the United States on his bedside table, so I began looking through it to see if there were any landscape pictures in it. I found one that had mountains in the background with a lake in the forefront. I showed it to him and he loved it.
"Oh, yeah! Look at that!"
He grabbed onto the book and just looked at it for a minute. Then with his shaky hand he began "adding" to the picture. It about broke my heart, but I didn't say what I was thinking.
On our way home, Dad put to words what I had kept in my heart at the nursing home.
"We can't see what he was painting here, but the Lord has that masterpiece waiting for him in heaven."
Maybe it was heaven he was seeing...only God knows.
We got home, and my aunt had spaghetti, garlic bread, and caesar salad waiting for us with homemade apple pie for dessert...yyyyuuuummmmmm.....
A great day indeed.
Happy birthday, mama!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
It's Fall!!!!
The first cold front of the year has arrived!
I am at my mom and dad's near Lubbock, and it's not supposed to get out of the 50's tomorrow!!! I am so excited!
I love the fall.
I think it's because I have so many fond memories during this time of year.
I love the chilly nights at a football game...the way a cold trumpet mouthpiece warms as it begins to be played. "Dear ol' Plains High, Grand ol' Plains High..."
I love homecoming and marching band festivals.
I love bundling up for a hayride where every part of your body is warm and cozy except for your nose.
I love blowing into a cup of spiced tea or hot chocolate so that the steam rises up to defrost that cold nose.
Some of my favorite things from my favorite time of year....
I am at my mom and dad's near Lubbock, and it's not supposed to get out of the 50's tomorrow!!! I am so excited!
I love the fall.
I think it's because I have so many fond memories during this time of year.
I love the chilly nights at a football game...the way a cold trumpet mouthpiece warms as it begins to be played. "Dear ol' Plains High, Grand ol' Plains High..."
I love homecoming and marching band festivals.
I love bundling up for a hayride where every part of your body is warm and cozy except for your nose.
I love blowing into a cup of spiced tea or hot chocolate so that the steam rises up to defrost that cold nose.
Some of my favorite things from my favorite time of year....
Friday, October 19, 2007
I've Been Tagged!
Okay, kablot spot, this is for you!!!
Seven things you never knew about me and now wish you didn't. Or as you put it...Seven strange/weird/crazy things about me:
1. I have one green eye and one blue eye. This is more or less noticeable with things I wear or the type of light I'm in...or how intently you are staring into my eyes! =) I can't tell you how many conversations I've been in where all of a sudden the person whose talking stops mid-sentence and says, "Did you know your eyes are different colors?" As if I've never looked in a mirror for the last thirty-something years!
2. One of my childhood fears was that the rapture would take place and I would be left behind. This was because, of course, I had convinced myself I had committed the impardonable sin. I would wake up in the middle of the night, and if I could not hear my parents snoring, I would tiptoe through the house to make sure they were still there. It was bad. One time I came home and all the cars were in the driveway, but the house was empty. I was so scared. I laid down on the couch and bawled and prayed. My mom and sister walked in about five minutes later. They had walked around the corner to the little store. Mom said, "Did you think we left you?" I said yes, but I couldn't bear to tell her what I really thought. This was back before cell phones, you know, so if no one was home and I was really scared that I had been left, I would call people to talk to them, because you know if Sister Johnnie answered the phone, you were okay. I was probably about 16 before I got over that fear.
3. I wanted to be Sandi Patty when I was a teenager. Or Whitney Houston.
4. Random songs go through my head at inappropriate times. A conversation or a situation or just a word can trigger songs in the jukebox in my head. Random. Sometimes I have to physically restrain myself from busting out in song.
5. I love gum. I love popping bubbles inside my mouth behind my teeth (weird, I know). It sounds like I'm chomping ice. It gets on Dan's last nerve, especially when we are in church.
6. One of the great things about living beside the church as a preacher's kid was all access to the sound system. I can't tell you how many hours I spent practicing my sound tracks and listening to songs I wished were on sound track over and over and over again until I got it "just right". As right as it can be when your 14. Even still, when I go to Mom and Dad's, I just walk over to the church to practice my song for the service (because everyone expects a song when you come home, don't you know).
7. I put Ex-Lax in my French teacher's brownies my senior year of high school.
Okay...I tag rw and crys!!!!!
Seven things you never knew about me and now wish you didn't. Or as you put it...Seven strange/weird/crazy things about me:
1. I have one green eye and one blue eye. This is more or less noticeable with things I wear or the type of light I'm in...or how intently you are staring into my eyes! =) I can't tell you how many conversations I've been in where all of a sudden the person whose talking stops mid-sentence and says, "Did you know your eyes are different colors?" As if I've never looked in a mirror for the last thirty-something years!
2. One of my childhood fears was that the rapture would take place and I would be left behind. This was because, of course, I had convinced myself I had committed the impardonable sin. I would wake up in the middle of the night, and if I could not hear my parents snoring, I would tiptoe through the house to make sure they were still there. It was bad. One time I came home and all the cars were in the driveway, but the house was empty. I was so scared. I laid down on the couch and bawled and prayed. My mom and sister walked in about five minutes later. They had walked around the corner to the little store. Mom said, "Did you think we left you?" I said yes, but I couldn't bear to tell her what I really thought. This was back before cell phones, you know, so if no one was home and I was really scared that I had been left, I would call people to talk to them, because you know if Sister Johnnie answered the phone, you were okay. I was probably about 16 before I got over that fear.
3. I wanted to be Sandi Patty when I was a teenager. Or Whitney Houston.
4. Random songs go through my head at inappropriate times. A conversation or a situation or just a word can trigger songs in the jukebox in my head. Random. Sometimes I have to physically restrain myself from busting out in song.
5. I love gum. I love popping bubbles inside my mouth behind my teeth (weird, I know). It sounds like I'm chomping ice. It gets on Dan's last nerve, especially when we are in church.
6. One of the great things about living beside the church as a preacher's kid was all access to the sound system. I can't tell you how many hours I spent practicing my sound tracks and listening to songs I wished were on sound track over and over and over again until I got it "just right". As right as it can be when your 14. Even still, when I go to Mom and Dad's, I just walk over to the church to practice my song for the service (because everyone expects a song when you come home, don't you know).
7. I put Ex-Lax in my French teacher's brownies my senior year of high school.
Okay...I tag rw and crys!!!!!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Relief
Well, they finally got the hole patched up from the spinal they did on Dad. He is able to sit up. His headache is gone. Now he can concentrate on the recovery process of his new knee!
Thank you for your prayers.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you for your prayers.
Thank you, Jesus.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Update II
My sister called this morning to say that Dad's been running fever since last night. It got up to 102. When he sits up, he gets a horrible headache.
They think he may have a hole where they did the spinal for the surgery, so they may have to inject something to patch it up tomorrow. In the meantime, he has to lay flat on his back for today...which doesn't sound very comfortable.
Father, please take care of my dad. You know what's going on and how to fix it. Give wisdom to the doctors to take care of the problem. Give dad comfort and rest to his body. Give him relief. Thank you.
They think he may have a hole where they did the spinal for the surgery, so they may have to inject something to patch it up tomorrow. In the meantime, he has to lay flat on his back for today...which doesn't sound very comfortable.
Father, please take care of my dad. You know what's going on and how to fix it. Give wisdom to the doctors to take care of the problem. Give dad comfort and rest to his body. Give him relief. Thank you.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Surgery Update
Thank you for your prayers!
Dad's surgery went well. The doctor said it was very much needed, which is the understatement of the century because he's been put off by the VA for this surgery for the last three years. Oh, well, it's done now, and he's doing great!
I'm a lot like my dad...I can take a lot and be pretty patient, but when I've had enough, I've had enough. After the surgery, they gave him a pain pump to operate and use as needed. He had hit the button a few times, but felt no effects of the medicine. He called the nurse to look at the pain pump because he really felt that it wasn't working. He'd waited a while, so by this time, he's hurting pretty badly. The nurse came in and looked at the machine and said it was fine, that Dad just needed to "breathe through" the pain, "like this..." because breathing right would release the medicine to work better in the body. "Come on, hon, take a deep breath, and release it slowly."
Mom said she was trying not to giggle because she knew Dad was about to let her have it. She said she just wanted to tell the lady she better get out while she was ahead cuz she was gonna need those breathing techniques if she didn't stop!
Turns out the pump was working, but they did not have it connected to the right tube! Poor Dad!!!! But I talked to him tonight, and he is doing much better today. They got him up walking on it earlier, so he was tired but sounded in much better spirits!
Thanks for all the prayers!
Dad's surgery went well. The doctor said it was very much needed, which is the understatement of the century because he's been put off by the VA for this surgery for the last three years. Oh, well, it's done now, and he's doing great!
I'm a lot like my dad...I can take a lot and be pretty patient, but when I've had enough, I've had enough. After the surgery, they gave him a pain pump to operate and use as needed. He had hit the button a few times, but felt no effects of the medicine. He called the nurse to look at the pain pump because he really felt that it wasn't working. He'd waited a while, so by this time, he's hurting pretty badly. The nurse came in and looked at the machine and said it was fine, that Dad just needed to "breathe through" the pain, "like this..." because breathing right would release the medicine to work better in the body. "Come on, hon, take a deep breath, and release it slowly."
Mom said she was trying not to giggle because she knew Dad was about to let her have it. She said she just wanted to tell the lady she better get out while she was ahead cuz she was gonna need those breathing techniques if she didn't stop!
Turns out the pump was working, but they did not have it connected to the right tube! Poor Dad!!!! But I talked to him tonight, and he is doing much better today. They got him up walking on it earlier, so he was tired but sounded in much better spirits!
Thanks for all the prayers!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Thinkin' About my Dad
Yes, I'm a Daddy's girl.
I'm a little blue because he's having surgery tomorrow in Amarillo, and I will not be there. It's "only" a knee replacement surgery, but surgery nonetheless.
We talked about it last week, and he and I came to the conclusion that it would be better if I came to their house and stay for a few days after he was out of the hospital. My mom has only been out of the sling from when she broke her arm for a couple of weeks, so her arm is still pretty weak. If I went to the hospital for the surgery, I wouldn't have any time left to take off when he gets home and there's no nursing staff to help out.
I know this is the best way, but it still makes me sad, though.
I'm a little blue because he's having surgery tomorrow in Amarillo, and I will not be there. It's "only" a knee replacement surgery, but surgery nonetheless.
We talked about it last week, and he and I came to the conclusion that it would be better if I came to their house and stay for a few days after he was out of the hospital. My mom has only been out of the sling from when she broke her arm for a couple of weeks, so her arm is still pretty weak. If I went to the hospital for the surgery, I wouldn't have any time left to take off when he gets home and there's no nursing staff to help out.
I know this is the best way, but it still makes me sad, though.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
I Am...
I am simple and complex.
I wonder if I am all that I can be.
I hear the ticking of life's clock.
I see a light at the end of the tunnel.
I want to be a mommy.
I am simple and complex.
I pretend to have it all together.
I feel loved.
I touch the heart of God.
I worry about everything.
I cry when I've held it in as long as I possibly could.
I am simple and complex.
I understand that life is not fair.
I say all things are possible.
I dream of my complete family.
I try to do everything myself.
I hope to be all God intends for me to be.
I am simple and complex.
I wonder if I am all that I can be.
I hear the ticking of life's clock.
I see a light at the end of the tunnel.
I want to be a mommy.
I am simple and complex.
I pretend to have it all together.
I feel loved.
I touch the heart of God.
I worry about everything.
I cry when I've held it in as long as I possibly could.
I am simple and complex.
I understand that life is not fair.
I say all things are possible.
I dream of my complete family.
I try to do everything myself.
I hope to be all God intends for me to be.
I am simple and complex.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
What a Day...or Week...or...Yeah...
Welcome to the wonderful, wild world of ree!
After my great meeting last week, I came back to work bright and early...dark and early (5:30 AM)...Monday morning to unload our freight truck. My district team leader called not too long after that and said that there has been a re-alignment in my district and region. Not really a big deal, but some people I know well are having to settle into different roles. I'm not exactly sure if I like it all, but no one asked me....SO!
Normally, we only get one freight truck a week, but this week we had the joy of getting two. So that meant today I had to be back at the store at 5:30 AM. We got the truck unloaded in record time (30 minutes), and got most of it put out the same day. While I was having lunch, my closing person called in sick.
Great.
We only have 4 keyholders. Me, L, M, and K, who is still in training. L came in with me at 5:30. K can't close by herself because, as previously stated, she is still in training. L was supposed to get off at 2, and I was supposed to get off at 4. L stayed until 2, I stayed until 6, then L came back in to close.
I couldn't finish this, so now it's actually Thursday...
I was so tired last night! I could barely keep my eyes open! Poor Dan was trying to carry on a conversation with me, and I was so tired I was talking out of my head! I think he was doing it on purpose!
At any rate, it's been a crazy week, but it's still been a good week. rw and I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago about how the week after the retreat was so hard, for whatever reason. I had such a bad attitude and I couldn't figure out why. I think it was a myriad of things all combined together since we had so much going on that week, but still, I thought, Lord, how can my attitude suck so bad when I had such an awesome time in your presence?
I'm still not sure about it all, but then Sunday at church we had such a sweet, sweet service, and even though it was great, I was scared. I didn't want to have another bad week! Kelly was telling us at lunch Sunday about a now-comical situation that at the time wasn't so comical. She said she kept saying, "I'm not gonna let this steal my joy!" So, I adopted that phrase this week. Even though it's been crazy, my attitude didn't suck! YEA!!!!
I know I've pretty much rambled through this whole thing, but maybe you can make sense out of it. All in all, it's just another day in the wonderful, wild world of ree!
After my great meeting last week, I came back to work bright and early...dark and early (5:30 AM)...Monday morning to unload our freight truck. My district team leader called not too long after that and said that there has been a re-alignment in my district and region. Not really a big deal, but some people I know well are having to settle into different roles. I'm not exactly sure if I like it all, but no one asked me....SO!
Normally, we only get one freight truck a week, but this week we had the joy of getting two. So that meant today I had to be back at the store at 5:30 AM. We got the truck unloaded in record time (30 minutes), and got most of it put out the same day. While I was having lunch, my closing person called in sick.
Great.
We only have 4 keyholders. Me, L, M, and K, who is still in training. L came in with me at 5:30. K can't close by herself because, as previously stated, she is still in training. L was supposed to get off at 2, and I was supposed to get off at 4. L stayed until 2, I stayed until 6, then L came back in to close.
I couldn't finish this, so now it's actually Thursday...
I was so tired last night! I could barely keep my eyes open! Poor Dan was trying to carry on a conversation with me, and I was so tired I was talking out of my head! I think he was doing it on purpose!
At any rate, it's been a crazy week, but it's still been a good week. rw and I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago about how the week after the retreat was so hard, for whatever reason. I had such a bad attitude and I couldn't figure out why. I think it was a myriad of things all combined together since we had so much going on that week, but still, I thought, Lord, how can my attitude suck so bad when I had such an awesome time in your presence?
I'm still not sure about it all, but then Sunday at church we had such a sweet, sweet service, and even though it was great, I was scared. I didn't want to have another bad week! Kelly was telling us at lunch Sunday about a now-comical situation that at the time wasn't so comical. She said she kept saying, "I'm not gonna let this steal my joy!" So, I adopted that phrase this week. Even though it's been crazy, my attitude didn't suck! YEA!!!!
I know I've pretty much rambled through this whole thing, but maybe you can make sense out of it. All in all, it's just another day in the wonderful, wild world of ree!
Finally!
Well, don't ask me how, but after walking away for awhile, going back later, doing exactly the same thing, I finally got my new template!
Gee, I hope it's worth all the fuss...
Gee, I hope it's worth all the fuss...
Really Irritated
GGGGRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Okay, y'all...how did you get your cute little layouts from PYZAM to work?
None, I repeat, NONE of them have worked for me. After I copy and paste the code and hit save, it tells me that there was an error. After every single one??? I know I'm not a computer genius, but I'm not an idiot! Surely I am doing something wrong for this not to work.
Help?!?!? Please?!?!?
Is there anyone out there who could help a girl out with a fresh, cute layout???
Okay, y'all...how did you get your cute little layouts from PYZAM to work?
None, I repeat, NONE of them have worked for me. After I copy and paste the code and hit save, it tells me that there was an error. After every single one??? I know I'm not a computer genius, but I'm not an idiot! Surely I am doing something wrong for this not to work.
Help?!?!? Please?!?!?
Is there anyone out there who could help a girl out with a fresh, cute layout???
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Home!
We are home!
I had a good meeting in Oklahoma, then Thursday, we went to The Lift, a leaders conference in the Dallas area.
It was incredible.
Jeff Deyo lead worship on Friday night, and words cannot even begin to tell how the Lord met us there. They did not just lead in worship; they lead into battle with every note sung, every beat struck, every chord played, and every string strummed. That is all I can say.
We were able to reconnect with old friends, and meet new ones, too! We got to share our vision with a lot of people who were curious as to what we are about to embark on!
It was a great time, but I'm glad to be back home! It's been a good, but long, week.
I had a good meeting in Oklahoma, then Thursday, we went to The Lift, a leaders conference in the Dallas area.
It was incredible.
Jeff Deyo lead worship on Friday night, and words cannot even begin to tell how the Lord met us there. They did not just lead in worship; they lead into battle with every note sung, every beat struck, every chord played, and every string strummed. That is all I can say.
We were able to reconnect with old friends, and meet new ones, too! We got to share our vision with a lot of people who were curious as to what we are about to embark on!
It was a great time, but I'm glad to be back home! It's been a good, but long, week.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Think of Me....
Think of me fondly....
AS I'M GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWALS!!!!!!
I have to go to stinkin' Norman, Oklahoma, tomorrow for a business meeting, and I'm praying the hotel has a business center with free internet so I can check blogs!
Priorities, people, come on!
On another note, I have a question for you moms out there (hypothetical, of course)...
If you bought some throw pillows, had them out in your house that your mulitple children spilled things on, snotted all over, and who knows what else, which left spots on said pillows, would you return them because of the spots?
AS I'M GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWALS!!!!!!
I have to go to stinkin' Norman, Oklahoma, tomorrow for a business meeting, and I'm praying the hotel has a business center with free internet so I can check blogs!
Priorities, people, come on!
On another note, I have a question for you moms out there (hypothetical, of course)...
If you bought some throw pillows, had them out in your house that your mulitple children spilled things on, snotted all over, and who knows what else, which left spots on said pillows, would you return them because of the spots?
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Company
We had our first guests tonight in the trailer!
Pastor and marme came bearing gifts of chocolate shakes...but she really just wanted to make sure that we were living in livable conditions!
What was the advice you gave us? Something along the lines of "if the trailer's a-rocking, don't come a-knocking"....something like that.
Thanks, marme, for the tasty shake and for looking out for us!
Pastor and marme came bearing gifts of chocolate shakes...but she really just wanted to make sure that we were living in livable conditions!
What was the advice you gave us? Something along the lines of "if the trailer's a-rocking, don't come a-knocking"....something like that.
Thanks, marme, for the tasty shake and for looking out for us!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
A Sacrifice of Thanks
Yes, I meant to say thanks instead of praise.
I was spending quiet time with the Lord this morning (btw, la, thanks for introducing us to the fragrant offering song, seriously!), and I was looking for a particular scripture. In the process, I read this one:
Psalm 50:14-15
Sacrifice thank offerings to God to fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.
The second scripture I read was this one:
Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
I wrote these scriptures down in my journal, and the Lord told me to write down my needs as well, and begin thanking him for them. So I did. I wrote down all the pressing needs that we have and began to thank him because in this there is a two-fold outcome:
He will deliver us.
He will be honored.
I pour my vial of worship over you...
I was spending quiet time with the Lord this morning (btw, la, thanks for introducing us to the fragrant offering song, seriously!), and I was looking for a particular scripture. In the process, I read this one:
Psalm 50:14-15
Sacrifice thank offerings to God to fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.
The second scripture I read was this one:
Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
I wrote these scriptures down in my journal, and the Lord told me to write down my needs as well, and begin thanking him for them. So I did. I wrote down all the pressing needs that we have and began to thank him because in this there is a two-fold outcome:
He will deliver us.
He will be honored.
I pour my vial of worship over you...
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Well, It's Official...
We are completely out of our house and are residents at the KOA in our trailer!
We got the last out of the house last night, but we've been staying at the trailer since Sunday night. It was easier that way, so that we wouldn't have to try to live in the same place we're trying to pack up, you know?
Things are going well, but we've found that we don't really have the space for all the things we thought we needed! =)
We've also learned that we have WAY too many pieces of clothing! =)
I finally have tomorrow off, so I can try to get things organized...
We got the last out of the house last night, but we've been staying at the trailer since Sunday night. It was easier that way, so that we wouldn't have to try to live in the same place we're trying to pack up, you know?
Things are going well, but we've found that we don't really have the space for all the things we thought we needed! =)
We've also learned that we have WAY too many pieces of clothing! =)
I finally have tomorrow off, so I can try to get things organized...
Monday, September 24, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Nothing
I don't know anything...
Just wanted to post something....anything....
It's 9:30, and I must go to HEB. It seems the dog-child is out of food. Such bad parents are we!
Ha! I made a rhyme (unintentionally, of course)!
I want ice cream....and one point fudge pops just won't do it tonight!
Big sigh...
Just wanted to post something....anything....
It's 9:30, and I must go to HEB. It seems the dog-child is out of food. Such bad parents are we!
Ha! I made a rhyme (unintentionally, of course)!
I want ice cream....and one point fudge pops just won't do it tonight!
Big sigh...
Monday, September 17, 2007
Thank You! No, Thank You!
No, REALLY, thank YOU!!!!
Thank you to all who helped make our garage sale a success! Whether you brought stuff, bought stuff, or lifted us up in prayer (power lifters, no doubt!) you made it happen for us!!!!
Thank you, my peeps!
This is kinda funny....
Dan had figured about how much it was going to be to drive to Illinois to pick up the camper. He based his figures on diesel being $3 a gallon and the truck getting 13 miles to the gallon. So, he had this certain amount in his head he was shooting for. He said the longer he sat there at the garage sale, the more his mind started churning, so he started making hash marks for every $3 he made, representing a gallon of gas. When people would come up and ask what he'd take for this or that, he'd ssy "$3!" then make another hash mark.
Babe, you crack me up!
Thank you to all who helped make our garage sale a success! Whether you brought stuff, bought stuff, or lifted us up in prayer (power lifters, no doubt!) you made it happen for us!!!!
Thank you, my peeps!
This is kinda funny....
Dan had figured about how much it was going to be to drive to Illinois to pick up the camper. He based his figures on diesel being $3 a gallon and the truck getting 13 miles to the gallon. So, he had this certain amount in his head he was shooting for. He said the longer he sat there at the garage sale, the more his mind started churning, so he started making hash marks for every $3 he made, representing a gallon of gas. When people would come up and ask what he'd take for this or that, he'd ssy "$3!" then make another hash mark.
Babe, you crack me up!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Between the Garage Sale and the Blogging...
Somehow, my dog feels I am neglecting her and needs to be close to me...
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Okay, Y'all...
Garage sale preview at my house Friday, 7 PM.
Our address is in the church directory, but we are unlisted in the phonebook. If you need our address, you can call me at the store Friday until I leave at 5 PM.
I hope you all can come! If not, the garage sale will begin at 7 AM Saturday morning.
Oh! There will be an ad in the paper both Friday and Saturday, even though the garage sale is only on Saturday. It will also have our address there.
Our address is in the church directory, but we are unlisted in the phonebook. If you need our address, you can call me at the store Friday until I leave at 5 PM.
I hope you all can come! If not, the garage sale will begin at 7 AM Saturday morning.
Oh! There will be an ad in the paper both Friday and Saturday, even though the garage sale is only on Saturday. It will also have our address there.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
...parting is such sweet sorrow.....
Going through our things and separating between trash, garage sale, storage, and trailer has really made the reality sink in.
I'm completely fine with it all, but packing up some of my treasures has made me a little sad.
I had a quilt rack in my guest room that had special quilts on it, like mine and Dan's baby quilts, and quilts our family members had made. I put them away in my trunk, ready to go into storage.
Among them was the quilt I made about six years ago for our baby. I had mixed feelings about packing it away, but (silly, I know) with a sandwich hug from Dan and me, I tucked it away between our own baby quilts, assured that it will not be long before I go and retrieve it to await the arrival of our little one.....one day.
I'm really excited about this new chapter in our lives, but with some things.....parting is such sweet sorrow...
The second baby quilt I ever made. The first was for my best friend's first baby 10 years ago.
Tucked away between my baby blanket (left) and Dan's baby blanket (right).
I'm completely fine with it all, but packing up some of my treasures has made me a little sad.
I had a quilt rack in my guest room that had special quilts on it, like mine and Dan's baby quilts, and quilts our family members had made. I put them away in my trunk, ready to go into storage.
Among them was the quilt I made about six years ago for our baby. I had mixed feelings about packing it away, but (silly, I know) with a sandwich hug from Dan and me, I tucked it away between our own baby quilts, assured that it will not be long before I go and retrieve it to await the arrival of our little one.....one day.
I'm really excited about this new chapter in our lives, but with some things.....parting is such sweet sorrow...
The second baby quilt I ever made. The first was for my best friend's first baby 10 years ago.
Tucked away between my baby blanket (left) and Dan's baby blanket (right).
Monday, September 10, 2007
Thanks, Babe...
Today Dan came by work to pick up some boxes and bubble wrap I had set aside from our freight truck. He walked into my office and handed me the cutest card and a box of chocolates...
Just because.
Thanks, babe. I'm glad God gave me you. I love you.
Just because.
Thanks, babe. I'm glad God gave me you. I love you.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
My Song
Disappointment overwhelms me
One more day I've been let down
I struggle needlessly cuz I forget
You are God and I am not
So I straighten up and put my eyes on You
I give You thanks no matter what You do
And still
You are my Rock
Still
You are my world
My all in all, my Prince of Peace
And still
You are my God
Still
You are my song
My all in all my Prince of Peace
My King
Indecisiveness confronts me
Should I stay or should I go
So many choices here and I confess
You are God and I am not
But I know You know the plans You have for me
You see things I sometimes cannot see
And still
You are my Rock
Still
You are my world
My all in all, my Prince of Peace
And still
You are my God
Still
You are my song
My all in all, my Prince of Peace
My King
One more day I've been let down
I struggle needlessly cuz I forget
You are God and I am not
So I straighten up and put my eyes on You
I give You thanks no matter what You do
And still
You are my Rock
Still
You are my world
My all in all, my Prince of Peace
And still
You are my God
Still
You are my song
My all in all my Prince of Peace
My King
Indecisiveness confronts me
Should I stay or should I go
So many choices here and I confess
You are God and I am not
But I know You know the plans You have for me
You see things I sometimes cannot see
And still
You are my Rock
Still
You are my world
My all in all, my Prince of Peace
And still
You are my God
Still
You are my song
My all in all, my Prince of Peace
My King
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Changes
I mean, serious changes!
I've started to blog about this several times, but here it goes!
For the last year or more we have been struggling with what we really felt like we were called to do. Both of us were called to the ministry as teenagers, and have been in the ministry for part of our married life, but for one reason or another, long story, we've opted out.
Slowly but surely, God has been drawing us back and giving us glimpses of what our ministry should be. The area we have struggled with the most is just the overwhelming realization of the mistakes we've made in the past and the shortcomings we see in ourselves. I'll be honest, I have trust issues. Some of you know that already from past conversations. The Lord has brought me a long way, but I'm not complete yet.
Regardless, we are taking the plunge.
The first step is cutting our expenses and saving some money. So, we are having a huge garage sale on the 15th, selling most of what we have. Some things will go in storage, but everything else must go. We gave notice to our landlord this month. We are moving out of our house and into a 34 foot bumper-pull trailer.
You can get up off the floor now. Sorry, I should have given you some warning.
Step two is a little higher up on the trust scale. I will be giving my notice to my job somewhere around December to leave at the end of that quarter, the end of our fiscal year, the end of January.
Step three is basing out of the Dallas area, probably still living in the trailer, since it will keep our expenses down. Hopefully, we can work during the week, then we will travel on the weekends to different churches. Our ministry is called Ready Now Ministries, and that pretty much sums it all up. Hopefully when you hear the song on my blog, or anywhere else, for that matter, you will think of us and pray. It really is our heart.
I wanted to let my blogging family know what was going on because I really covet your prayers. We are so excited about this! There really is so much more than I can write at this time. God has already provided and orchestrated so much it is unreal, like the camper, so I know that He can provide the rest, like a truck to pull it with! =)
One thing I ask, though, is that you are careful about talking about this in public settings. There are a couple of people from church that I work with, and at this time, they do not know about our plans. As I said earlier, I'm not planning on giving my notice until December, so I would like to keep it on the down low as best I can.
Thank you! Love you all!!!!
I've started to blog about this several times, but here it goes!
For the last year or more we have been struggling with what we really felt like we were called to do. Both of us were called to the ministry as teenagers, and have been in the ministry for part of our married life, but for one reason or another, long story, we've opted out.
Slowly but surely, God has been drawing us back and giving us glimpses of what our ministry should be. The area we have struggled with the most is just the overwhelming realization of the mistakes we've made in the past and the shortcomings we see in ourselves. I'll be honest, I have trust issues. Some of you know that already from past conversations. The Lord has brought me a long way, but I'm not complete yet.
Regardless, we are taking the plunge.
The first step is cutting our expenses and saving some money. So, we are having a huge garage sale on the 15th, selling most of what we have. Some things will go in storage, but everything else must go. We gave notice to our landlord this month. We are moving out of our house and into a 34 foot bumper-pull trailer.
You can get up off the floor now. Sorry, I should have given you some warning.
Step two is a little higher up on the trust scale. I will be giving my notice to my job somewhere around December to leave at the end of that quarter, the end of our fiscal year, the end of January.
Step three is basing out of the Dallas area, probably still living in the trailer, since it will keep our expenses down. Hopefully, we can work during the week, then we will travel on the weekends to different churches. Our ministry is called Ready Now Ministries, and that pretty much sums it all up. Hopefully when you hear the song on my blog, or anywhere else, for that matter, you will think of us and pray. It really is our heart.
I wanted to let my blogging family know what was going on because I really covet your prayers. We are so excited about this! There really is so much more than I can write at this time. God has already provided and orchestrated so much it is unreal, like the camper, so I know that He can provide the rest, like a truck to pull it with! =)
One thing I ask, though, is that you are careful about talking about this in public settings. There are a couple of people from church that I work with, and at this time, they do not know about our plans. As I said earlier, I'm not planning on giving my notice until December, so I would like to keep it on the down low as best I can.
Thank you! Love you all!!!!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Shut Up, Stupid
I was so excited today because we were going to a friend's for dinner tonight, and she had asked us to bring a dessert. Well, after much consideration, I decided to make fresh apple fried pies. Even though it's a lot of work, I love making fried pies because the dough is my great grandmother's recipe, and it is ssssooooo good! This was going to be my first attempt, however, making the filling from scratch, but I was confident.
I got out my little sliding slicer, cored my apples, and began slicing. At one point, it began getting difficult to slice. It would just stop as I ran the hand held over the cutting device. I pushed a little to hard, and the next thing I knew, my thumb was bleeding profusely. I ran over to the sink and began running cold water over my thumb. I kept it under there forever, it seemed, but it would not stop bleeding. I finally got a couple of paper towels and began to hold pressure on it. After ten minutes, it was still bleeding. Of course, my medical man wasn't at home at the time, and if you know my husband well, you know he never leaves the house without his phone. I somehow managed to call his phone (have you ever tried to dial the phone while one hand is trying to hold pressure on the other hand?) and his phone starts ringing in the living room! Great....
So, I'm just sitting there holding my own hand. Finally, the car pulls up. He comes in immediately knows something's up because there are half-sliced apples in the slicer and I'm nowhere to be seen. I briefly fill him in, and he goes to work. I knew it wasn't bad enough to go get stitches or anything, but I just couldn't get it to stop bleeding. Finally, after he gets me all fixed up and everything, we go into the kitchen to clean up. I walk him through how it happened, and I figured out why the slicer kept getting stuck. I told him I felt really stupid for trying to force it.
Joking, he said, "Your not stupid.....stupid."
I said, "Oh, hush!"
Then at the same time we said, "Shut up, stupid!"
Thanks, Pastor!!!!
(It was a funny from Sunday's sermon.)
By the way, I took a picture of my thumb, but I didn't post it because I didn't want to gross anyone out. It's really not that bad, but it just seems that way when it's your thumb! :)
I got out my little sliding slicer, cored my apples, and began slicing. At one point, it began getting difficult to slice. It would just stop as I ran the hand held over the cutting device. I pushed a little to hard, and the next thing I knew, my thumb was bleeding profusely. I ran over to the sink and began running cold water over my thumb. I kept it under there forever, it seemed, but it would not stop bleeding. I finally got a couple of paper towels and began to hold pressure on it. After ten minutes, it was still bleeding. Of course, my medical man wasn't at home at the time, and if you know my husband well, you know he never leaves the house without his phone. I somehow managed to call his phone (have you ever tried to dial the phone while one hand is trying to hold pressure on the other hand?) and his phone starts ringing in the living room! Great....
So, I'm just sitting there holding my own hand. Finally, the car pulls up. He comes in immediately knows something's up because there are half-sliced apples in the slicer and I'm nowhere to be seen. I briefly fill him in, and he goes to work. I knew it wasn't bad enough to go get stitches or anything, but I just couldn't get it to stop bleeding. Finally, after he gets me all fixed up and everything, we go into the kitchen to clean up. I walk him through how it happened, and I figured out why the slicer kept getting stuck. I told him I felt really stupid for trying to force it.
Joking, he said, "Your not stupid.....stupid."
I said, "Oh, hush!"
Then at the same time we said, "Shut up, stupid!"
Thanks, Pastor!!!!
(It was a funny from Sunday's sermon.)
By the way, I took a picture of my thumb, but I didn't post it because I didn't want to gross anyone out. It's really not that bad, but it just seems that way when it's your thumb! :)
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Garage Sale
Just in case any of you still have some things that didn't sell at the last garage sale or you did not participate in the last garage sale, we are having one on the 15th. Let me know if you would like to join!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Relief
It's back up...
I feel better now.
I know you were worried...I could visualize you all on your knees travailing for me. Well, it was a nice halucination, anyway.
Glad I got my fix.
I feel better now.
I know you were worried...I could visualize you all on your knees travailing for me. Well, it was a nice halucination, anyway.
Glad I got my fix.
TISNF
I'm trying to check blogs before I go to bed. I'm right in the middle of them, and all of a sudden I can't get onto anyone's blogs!!! It lets me go to my dashboard and create a new post, but I can't get my fix!!!
What's an addict to do?
This is so not fair.
What's an addict to do?
This is so not fair.
Dinner and a Movie
It was actually a movie and then dinner...but, oh well.
We had a couple of gift cards that we had been saving, so this afternoon we went to a matinee (The Nanny Diaries), then to Chili's for dinner. It was nice! I love gift cards!!!
At the movie
Dan and his Diet Coke with Lime
Me...at an angle (thanks, Dan!)
We had a couple of gift cards that we had been saving, so this afternoon we went to a matinee (The Nanny Diaries), then to Chili's for dinner. It was nice! I love gift cards!!!
At the movie
Dan and his Diet Coke with Lime
Me...at an angle (thanks, Dan!)
Monday, August 27, 2007
Prayer Request Update
Thank you all for praying for my co-worker's sister, Daisy, in China. I got an update from her today. Daisy is doing well. Evidently, it just appears to be a random theft, not an act of the government against her or her organization. My co-worker said that if it had been the government, there would have been red flags when she went to apply for a replacement passport; and everything there went fine.
She lives on the second or third story of her building, and the intruder got in through the window, so she had bars put on the outside of her apartment windows. She said that the murder rate is extremely low, but the thefts are very high, so it really isn't that unusual to have a break-in, even where she is in her building. It's just very unnerving to be in a foreign country doing something for the Lord in a country that is so against Him.
Thank you for your prayers!!!
She lives on the second or third story of her building, and the intruder got in through the window, so she had bars put on the outside of her apartment windows. She said that the murder rate is extremely low, but the thefts are very high, so it really isn't that unusual to have a break-in, even where she is in her building. It's just very unnerving to be in a foreign country doing something for the Lord in a country that is so against Him.
Thank you for your prayers!!!
A Little Not-So-Secret Secret
One of my favorite times of the day is checking blogs.
You all make me smile.
You all make me cry.
You all make me think.
You all make me think I'm not so crazy after all.
Well, three out of four ain't bad! :)
Love you, my blogging family!!!
You all make me smile.
You all make me cry.
You all make me think.
You all make me think I'm not so crazy after all.
Well, three out of four ain't bad! :)
Love you, my blogging family!!!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Strangely Peaceful
What a week this has been!
Monday-Funeral...nuf said.
Tuesday-Went with my dad to the nursing home to see my Pa. I ended up crying when we left because I didn't expect it to be that hard! I told my dad after we left that I just kept wanting to hear him talk...his mannerisms, his phrasing, his raspy voice...it didn't matter to me that nothing he said made sense or applied to us. He was still there, talking to me even if he didn't know me.
Something is wrong with Rosie...she didn't seem like herself.
Came home and had coffee with some really great people.
Wednesday-Dan lost his job. After initially talking with his boss Saturday after we found out Granny had passed away, Dan had called Sunday and left a message of when the funeral was going to be and when he'd be back. They said they never got the message. He was fired for job abandonment. There are no words...
Rosie is still not well. She has to be in my lap and just lays there. She keeps yelping sparadically. I think she may be having seizures.
Thursday-I am awakened to the continuous, painful yelping of Rosie at 5:17 AM. She finally calmed down a few minutes later. We prayed for her (seriously). This happened a couple more times. Dan took her to the vet later on this morning. Evidently, her shoulder is broken and arthritis has set in. They gave her pain medicine that should help. We have to take her back next week.
I went back to work today. It went well.
To sum it all up: Not the greatest week I've ever had, but I know the Lord is in control, and somehow I feel.....
Strangely Peaceful.
Monday-Funeral...nuf said.
Tuesday-Went with my dad to the nursing home to see my Pa. I ended up crying when we left because I didn't expect it to be that hard! I told my dad after we left that I just kept wanting to hear him talk...his mannerisms, his phrasing, his raspy voice...it didn't matter to me that nothing he said made sense or applied to us. He was still there, talking to me even if he didn't know me.
Something is wrong with Rosie...she didn't seem like herself.
Came home and had coffee with some really great people.
Wednesday-Dan lost his job. After initially talking with his boss Saturday after we found out Granny had passed away, Dan had called Sunday and left a message of when the funeral was going to be and when he'd be back. They said they never got the message. He was fired for job abandonment. There are no words...
Rosie is still not well. She has to be in my lap and just lays there. She keeps yelping sparadically. I think she may be having seizures.
Thursday-I am awakened to the continuous, painful yelping of Rosie at 5:17 AM. She finally calmed down a few minutes later. We prayed for her (seriously). This happened a couple more times. Dan took her to the vet later on this morning. Evidently, her shoulder is broken and arthritis has set in. They gave her pain medicine that should help. We have to take her back next week.
I went back to work today. It went well.
To sum it all up: Not the greatest week I've ever had, but I know the Lord is in control, and somehow I feel.....
Strangely Peaceful.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Family Pictures
While my time at home wasn't fun, by any means, we were able to catch up with my dad's side of the family. Here are some pictures. To give you a quick rundown: Colene is my dad's sister, Roscoe is my dad's brother, and Stacy is my sister.
We made it home last night. The funeral was Monday. It went pretty smoothly, although my Pa wasn't able to be there. It was going to be such a long day, the siblings decided to bring him to the family visitation and not bring him to the funeral. That was for the best, really. He did not ever say anything to let us know he understood what was going on. He did not recongnize us as his family. That was hard.
Harder still was trying to honor my Granny by singing at her funeral....don't know what I was thinking.
Tomorrow it's back to work...
We made it home last night. The funeral was Monday. It went pretty smoothly, although my Pa wasn't able to be there. It was going to be such a long day, the siblings decided to bring him to the family visitation and not bring him to the funeral. That was for the best, really. He did not ever say anything to let us know he understood what was going on. He did not recongnize us as his family. That was hard.
Harder still was trying to honor my Granny by singing at her funeral....don't know what I was thinking.
Tomorrow it's back to work...
Saturday, August 18, 2007
I'm Sad
My Granny passed away this morning.
She's happier now. She is not in pain. She is meeting Jesus face to face. She is seeing her mom, dad, and brother once again, as well as a host of other family members and friends.
Happy for her...sad for me. Sad for us. Sad for my dad and his brother and sister. Sad for my Pa, though I'm not sure if he realizes what's going on.
I'm not sure about the details. I have a feeling the funeral will be Tuesday, but I'll probably know for sure later today or tomorrow.
That's all for now.
She's happier now. She is not in pain. She is meeting Jesus face to face. She is seeing her mom, dad, and brother once again, as well as a host of other family members and friends.
Happy for her...sad for me. Sad for us. Sad for my dad and his brother and sister. Sad for my Pa, though I'm not sure if he realizes what's going on.
I'm not sure about the details. I have a feeling the funeral will be Tuesday, but I'll probably know for sure later today or tomorrow.
That's all for now.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Prayer Request
Okay, prayer warriors, here's one for you...
One of the girls I work with asked me today to keep her sister in my prayers. She is in China working with a ministry called Voice of the Martyrs. She is taking Chinese classes as well as teaching English classes, but her ultimate goal is winning souls for the Lord. She works at a little coffee shop across the street from where she lives and takes her laptop to work with her everyday. Everything for her work and personal business was on her laptop. Well, her apartment was broken into and her laptop as well as her passport were stolen. Her laptop is about 10 years old, so it's not going to have a very good street value. Her concern is that they are onto her and what she's doing, and now they have her passport, which could cause major trouble.
So, if you would, join with me in prayer for her. Her name is Daisy.
Thanks.
One of the girls I work with asked me today to keep her sister in my prayers. She is in China working with a ministry called Voice of the Martyrs. She is taking Chinese classes as well as teaching English classes, but her ultimate goal is winning souls for the Lord. She works at a little coffee shop across the street from where she lives and takes her laptop to work with her everyday. Everything for her work and personal business was on her laptop. Well, her apartment was broken into and her laptop as well as her passport were stolen. Her laptop is about 10 years old, so it's not going to have a very good street value. Her concern is that they are onto her and what she's doing, and now they have her passport, which could cause major trouble.
So, if you would, join with me in prayer for her. Her name is Daisy.
Thanks.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
I Have to Share this Story....
Okay, I just read kdp's last blog about "They're never too old to be rocked" and it reminded me of something that happened this week. Here goes...
I met up with my friend, Angela, at General Council. I saw her on Thursday, then she was going to sit with us at the service that evening. Angela and her husband have three children, the youngest being about six weeks old. Their older two did not make the trip with them, but she did have the baby, who is precious, by the way. Her name is Kaeli. They also have a hearbeat for missions, so Todd went to the adult service, and Angela went to the youth service. Her brother is the DYD in West Texas, and all the DYD's were carrying various flags. She wanted to get a picture of Chris with his flag, so I offered to hold Kaeli for her while she went. Everything was fine, no problems, then Angela came back and the preaching began.
She thought she should probably go ahead and go feed her so that she would be done by the time the commissioning began, so she'd be able to take more pictures. She left, then came back in plenty of time. Kaeli was in her stroller, happy as a clam, no problems, so Angela went to take pictures as the commissioning began.
We were sitting on the aisle with the stoller at the end by the stairs. When they began asking kids to come down to the front if they wanted to be campus missionaries, the response was unbelievable. Kids just streamed down from everywhere, which was great and all, but as they came down, the stroller kept getting bumped and shaken, and all that. So, I proceded to get Kaeli out of the stoller to hold her, since I could not move the stoller without blocking the aisle.
She was okay for about a minute, then she started crying.
Then it got louder.
And louder.
By this time, most of the kids were already past, so I put her back in the stroller. She was okay for about five minutes, then she started getting fussy again. So I started rolling the stroller back and forth. She calmed down for another five minutes, then began getting fussy again. During this time, my phone went dead, so I couldn't call Angela. I thought, okay, maybe if I walk around with her it will get better.
I got her out of the stoller again and began walking around. Patting, bouncing, patting, bouncing, talking in an extremely calm, low voice, although I was anything but calm inside, patting, bouncing. She's crying louder. People are staring. I start walking a little faster, patting, bouncing, pleading the poor child to calm down. Okay, now she's screaming, and of course, it's when they start praying. Now people are really staring.
Talking, patting, bouncing. "We're gonna find your mama, Kaeli, we are. Everything's fine as soon as we find your mama."
And fast, because now she's starting to suck on her hand, and there's nothing I can do about THAT!
And screaming.
I just bend my head down and put my mouth close to her head, holding her snug, and say,"Kaeli, I'm gonna find your mama, it's okay, baby."
Five seconds later she is fast asleep. Whew!
So, I'm walking back to our seats and all the people that were staring at me with scowls on their faces are now smiling at me with tilted heads saying, "Awww...."
Jerks.
Angela came back, and it turns out Kaeli had a dirty diaper...oops! Missed that one!
So, that was my baby experience for the week. Just thought I'd share.
I met up with my friend, Angela, at General Council. I saw her on Thursday, then she was going to sit with us at the service that evening. Angela and her husband have three children, the youngest being about six weeks old. Their older two did not make the trip with them, but she did have the baby, who is precious, by the way. Her name is Kaeli. They also have a hearbeat for missions, so Todd went to the adult service, and Angela went to the youth service. Her brother is the DYD in West Texas, and all the DYD's were carrying various flags. She wanted to get a picture of Chris with his flag, so I offered to hold Kaeli for her while she went. Everything was fine, no problems, then Angela came back and the preaching began.
She thought she should probably go ahead and go feed her so that she would be done by the time the commissioning began, so she'd be able to take more pictures. She left, then came back in plenty of time. Kaeli was in her stroller, happy as a clam, no problems, so Angela went to take pictures as the commissioning began.
We were sitting on the aisle with the stoller at the end by the stairs. When they began asking kids to come down to the front if they wanted to be campus missionaries, the response was unbelievable. Kids just streamed down from everywhere, which was great and all, but as they came down, the stroller kept getting bumped and shaken, and all that. So, I proceded to get Kaeli out of the stoller to hold her, since I could not move the stoller without blocking the aisle.
She was okay for about a minute, then she started crying.
Then it got louder.
And louder.
By this time, most of the kids were already past, so I put her back in the stroller. She was okay for about five minutes, then she started getting fussy again. So I started rolling the stroller back and forth. She calmed down for another five minutes, then began getting fussy again. During this time, my phone went dead, so I couldn't call Angela. I thought, okay, maybe if I walk around with her it will get better.
I got her out of the stoller again and began walking around. Patting, bouncing, patting, bouncing, talking in an extremely calm, low voice, although I was anything but calm inside, patting, bouncing. She's crying louder. People are staring. I start walking a little faster, patting, bouncing, pleading the poor child to calm down. Okay, now she's screaming, and of course, it's when they start praying. Now people are really staring.
Talking, patting, bouncing. "We're gonna find your mama, Kaeli, we are. Everything's fine as soon as we find your mama."
And fast, because now she's starting to suck on her hand, and there's nothing I can do about THAT!
And screaming.
I just bend my head down and put my mouth close to her head, holding her snug, and say,"Kaeli, I'm gonna find your mama, it's okay, baby."
Five seconds later she is fast asleep. Whew!
So, I'm walking back to our seats and all the people that were staring at me with scowls on their faces are now smiling at me with tilted heads saying, "Awww...."
Jerks.
Angela came back, and it turns out Kaeli had a dirty diaper...oops! Missed that one!
So, that was my baby experience for the week. Just thought I'd share.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Wow
It is sad to think that this is our last night in Indianapolis. We have had an absolute blast this week and have gotten to visit with several friends that we look forward to seeing every year with Fine Arts. In some ways, I will be sad to go home, but I am excited about getting back into the blogging groove!
The Lord is doing some incredible things in our lives...(no baby yet, but I know it's on the way soon!)...there are some things that will be happening that I will probably blog about soon, but until then I can't say much about it except for the fact that I'm expecting great things to happen!
Once again this year, North Texas had a great showing at National Fine Arts Festival. I think we came home with seven awards of merit. I think that's right; I'll have to go back and look to be sure. This is my favorite time of the year. I love it.
Well, I better go. It is late, and there are people waiting in line here in the business center to use the computers. Our hotel is the same as DeLana's in that it is $10 a day to have internet access in the rooms. That stinks...
Love Yáll...we'll see you soon!
The Lord is doing some incredible things in our lives...(no baby yet, but I know it's on the way soon!)...there are some things that will be happening that I will probably blog about soon, but until then I can't say much about it except for the fact that I'm expecting great things to happen!
Once again this year, North Texas had a great showing at National Fine Arts Festival. I think we came home with seven awards of merit. I think that's right; I'll have to go back and look to be sure. This is my favorite time of the year. I love it.
Well, I better go. It is late, and there are people waiting in line here in the business center to use the computers. Our hotel is the same as DeLana's in that it is $10 a day to have internet access in the rooms. That stinks...
Love Yáll...we'll see you soon!
Monday, August 6, 2007
Vacation...Second Time Around
I am posting from our hotel in Indianapolis!
We got here this afternoon around 2:30 PM. It was a great trip, despite the fact we had to be at the airport by 5:00 AM....yuck!
But, we are here, and having fun so far. Right now is the relaxing time. We have our evaluators' meeting tomorrow night, then Wednesday, bright and early, we begin evaluating. It's a blast. We look forward to this every year!
Well, I better go. I'll try to post again sometime this week, but I'm not sure how much free time we will have after Wednesday...
We got here this afternoon around 2:30 PM. It was a great trip, despite the fact we had to be at the airport by 5:00 AM....yuck!
But, we are here, and having fun so far. Right now is the relaxing time. We have our evaluators' meeting tomorrow night, then Wednesday, bright and early, we begin evaluating. It's a blast. We look forward to this every year!
Well, I better go. I'll try to post again sometime this week, but I'm not sure how much free time we will have after Wednesday...
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Control
And, no, I'm not talking about the old Janet Jackson song.
I'm talking about this thing I've been holding on so tightly to for so long.
Control over how things "look" or "seem" or "appear to be."
Control over what people would "think" if I did this or that.
Control over what "they" would say if I actually did what I felt the Lord leading me to do.
Control over my life, my family, my job.
Why do I hold on so tightly when none of it is mine to begin with?
I feel my grip loosening, but when will I let go completely? I catch glimpses of what the Lord can do when I fully trust in Him. I feel Him ever so gently drawing me out of this place I've become so comfortable in, but when I feel the gentle nudging to do something, when will I be able to immediately stand up and say, "Yes, I'll go!" without first wondering how it will all take place, or what will so-and-so think, or where will the funds come from, or how will we live, or any of the other million questions that make me hesitate?
HHHEEEELLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!
I'm talking about this thing I've been holding on so tightly to for so long.
Control over how things "look" or "seem" or "appear to be."
Control over what people would "think" if I did this or that.
Control over what "they" would say if I actually did what I felt the Lord leading me to do.
Control over my life, my family, my job.
Why do I hold on so tightly when none of it is mine to begin with?
I feel my grip loosening, but when will I let go completely? I catch glimpses of what the Lord can do when I fully trust in Him. I feel Him ever so gently drawing me out of this place I've become so comfortable in, but when I feel the gentle nudging to do something, when will I be able to immediately stand up and say, "Yes, I'll go!" without first wondering how it will all take place, or what will so-and-so think, or where will the funds come from, or how will we live, or any of the other million questions that make me hesitate?
HHHEEEELLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!
Random Question
Have you ever tried to type a blog with a dog-child lying in between you and the laptop because she won't let you out of her sight for fear you'll pack your bags, take her to the "hotel" (aka vet), and be gone for 10 days?
All I can say is that there's not much room anyway between me and the laptop, and my arms will only stretch so far. Either the dog-child has to move or I'll blog another time.
Sorry, Rosie...
All I can say is that there's not much room anyway between me and the laptop, and my arms will only stretch so far. Either the dog-child has to move or I'll blog another time.
Sorry, Rosie...
Monday, July 30, 2007
What a Sight!
This is what I pulled up to last night when I got home...
I don't know if there was a storm or what, but one of the large limbs on 
one of the pecan trees gave out.
Then I was oh-so-rudely awakened this morning by the cold water in the shower. Evidently, the pilot light on the hot water heater went out, so a cold shower this morning it was! Luckily, I have some pretty cool friends that take care of me when Dan's out of town, and one of them loaned me her handy man to light the pilot...or she loaned me the pilot to light...anyway, thanks kdp!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Be Prepared...This One's Gonna be Lengthy!
Okay, so Wednesday, right smack dab in the middle of camp, I had gone to my room for just a minute and saw that I had a voicemail on my cell phone. It was my sister telling me that there was no emergency, but she had something to tell me, call her when I could. I decided I'd call her later. Keep this in mind...I'll come back to it later.
Usually, I wasn't able to get ready for service until it had already started. Once we made sure the girls were out of their rooms and the cabins were locked, we were able to go get dressed. As I was getting ready, I saw a picture in my mind of me being prayed for to have children. Immediately, my defenses went up because past experiences have shown me that if I psych myself up to be prayed for, and it doesn't happen, it's hard to deal with afterward. Also, I had been told it was going to be "Holy Spirit night", so I didn't really think that he would be calling anyone up for healing. But the picture in my mind was still there, and I felt peace in my heart, so I told the Lord I would do whatever He wanted that night.
It turns out that it was not specifically "Holy Spirit night". Jason spoke on trusting the Lord with all your heart, leaning not on your own understanding...I needed everything he spoke about. At the end, he asked everyone that needed healing in their bodies to stand up. I stood. He had the band come up and lead us back into a time of worship.
Everyone just began worshipping. Some kids just began going up to front. Because of me coming in late and the limited seating, Dan and I were not sitting together. As I was worshipping, I felt him grab my hand and leading me up to the front. Normally, I would have resisted, but I told the Lord I'd do whatever He wanted me to do, so I went. Together, we just lifted our hands and worshipped, then the Holy Spirit came over Dan, and he laid his hand on my tummy and prayed powerfully. It was a very special time.
The speaker then began calling people to the front with certain ailings, like migrains. I thought about going back to my seat, but I just felt like I needed to stay. After he prayed for the migrains, he began telling about how in his ministry, the Lord has lead he and his wife to pray for women with ovarian cysts. He told of the miracles that had taken place, then asked if there was anyone there with ovarian cysts. He had the four or five of us come to the front and join hands. He laid hands on each of us, and the presence of the Lord was very real. After he prayed for everyone, he came back to me and began to speak into and over my life. He told me how that not only was there the physical pain, but also the emotional pain of it all. He said he saw me sitting on the couch in complete darkness just asking, "When, Lord? When? When will it be my time? When?" He said that I've been in darkness, but everything will become clear when the Light comes on. At that moment, I felt the gentle wave of the Spirit take over, and I went to the ground. There were other things that he prayed that my spirit bore witness to. It was amazing.
The service went on, and toward the end, I went to find Dan because he had gone to pray with others. I spotted him at the front and headed up there. As I was walking down the aisle, one of the men's deans, Ricky Fatheree, stopped me. Pastor Ricky is a 50 year old youth pastor in Gilmer, TX, and is a complete joy to be around. He works a full time job and takes his vacation every year to take his kids to camp. He stops me in the aisle with tears in his eyes and tells me that he just got through apologizing to Dan. Confused, I asked him what for. He tells me that before I ever went down to the front, the Lord told him that if Dan laid hands on my belly that I would be healed. He felt bad that he didn't tell Dan that. But the Lord is good, and it happened anyway!
There were other things that were prayed over Dan and me as well, but for time and space sake, I will save it for another post. Just know that it was a completely awesome week.
So, Friday, I finally called my sister back. She said that the reason she called Wednesday is because she wanted to tell me that Tuesday night my 13 year old niece had a dream that I had twins, and their names were Stephen and Gabriel. My jaw hit the floor. The timing of it all just amazes me.
You know, I don't know how it's all going to play out. I don't know anything except for the fact that this week has proven to me that God is in control over all the little details of our lives. I absolutely trust Him and lean on Him, not my own understanding.
I know that I know that I know one of these days I will be a mom, and clomid will not get the glory for that one.
Usually, I wasn't able to get ready for service until it had already started. Once we made sure the girls were out of their rooms and the cabins were locked, we were able to go get dressed. As I was getting ready, I saw a picture in my mind of me being prayed for to have children. Immediately, my defenses went up because past experiences have shown me that if I psych myself up to be prayed for, and it doesn't happen, it's hard to deal with afterward. Also, I had been told it was going to be "Holy Spirit night", so I didn't really think that he would be calling anyone up for healing. But the picture in my mind was still there, and I felt peace in my heart, so I told the Lord I would do whatever He wanted that night.
It turns out that it was not specifically "Holy Spirit night". Jason spoke on trusting the Lord with all your heart, leaning not on your own understanding...I needed everything he spoke about. At the end, he asked everyone that needed healing in their bodies to stand up. I stood. He had the band come up and lead us back into a time of worship.
Everyone just began worshipping. Some kids just began going up to front. Because of me coming in late and the limited seating, Dan and I were not sitting together. As I was worshipping, I felt him grab my hand and leading me up to the front. Normally, I would have resisted, but I told the Lord I'd do whatever He wanted me to do, so I went. Together, we just lifted our hands and worshipped, then the Holy Spirit came over Dan, and he laid his hand on my tummy and prayed powerfully. It was a very special time.
The speaker then began calling people to the front with certain ailings, like migrains. I thought about going back to my seat, but I just felt like I needed to stay. After he prayed for the migrains, he began telling about how in his ministry, the Lord has lead he and his wife to pray for women with ovarian cysts. He told of the miracles that had taken place, then asked if there was anyone there with ovarian cysts. He had the four or five of us come to the front and join hands. He laid hands on each of us, and the presence of the Lord was very real. After he prayed for everyone, he came back to me and began to speak into and over my life. He told me how that not only was there the physical pain, but also the emotional pain of it all. He said he saw me sitting on the couch in complete darkness just asking, "When, Lord? When? When will it be my time? When?" He said that I've been in darkness, but everything will become clear when the Light comes on. At that moment, I felt the gentle wave of the Spirit take over, and I went to the ground. There were other things that he prayed that my spirit bore witness to. It was amazing.
The service went on, and toward the end, I went to find Dan because he had gone to pray with others. I spotted him at the front and headed up there. As I was walking down the aisle, one of the men's deans, Ricky Fatheree, stopped me. Pastor Ricky is a 50 year old youth pastor in Gilmer, TX, and is a complete joy to be around. He works a full time job and takes his vacation every year to take his kids to camp. He stops me in the aisle with tears in his eyes and tells me that he just got through apologizing to Dan. Confused, I asked him what for. He tells me that before I ever went down to the front, the Lord told him that if Dan laid hands on my belly that I would be healed. He felt bad that he didn't tell Dan that. But the Lord is good, and it happened anyway!
There were other things that were prayed over Dan and me as well, but for time and space sake, I will save it for another post. Just know that it was a completely awesome week.
So, Friday, I finally called my sister back. She said that the reason she called Wednesday is because she wanted to tell me that Tuesday night my 13 year old niece had a dream that I had twins, and their names were Stephen and Gabriel. My jaw hit the floor. The timing of it all just amazes me.
You know, I don't know how it's all going to play out. I don't know anything except for the fact that this week has proven to me that God is in control over all the little details of our lives. I absolutely trust Him and lean on Him, not my own understanding.
I know that I know that I know one of these days I will be a mom, and clomid will not get the glory for that one.
Friday, July 27, 2007
I'm Back...Sort of
Okay, so it's been so long since I've posted, you've probably all forgotten about me!!
My official position at camp this week was being one of two of the women's deans. It was really fun, but it's really hard work, too! I had a ball. Three A.M. was the usual bed time, and 7 AM was the usual wake up time for us...oh, my, it's been awhile since those days.
The speaker was Jason Spears, and he was really good. Well, what I heard was really good. I didn't always get to be in there, for getting other things done. But I do have some really awesome stuff to share with you in a later post.
I'll be going home sometime Sunday, so I'll be here for a couple more days. The intenet service is pretty sketchy here in the lodge. I've actually been logged on here for about 30 minutes catching up with all of you, and that's about the longest I've been on in a week!
I've missed you all and have prayed for you. Love you!!!
My official position at camp this week was being one of two of the women's deans. It was really fun, but it's really hard work, too! I had a ball. Three A.M. was the usual bed time, and 7 AM was the usual wake up time for us...oh, my, it's been awhile since those days.
The speaker was Jason Spears, and he was really good. Well, what I heard was really good. I didn't always get to be in there, for getting other things done. But I do have some really awesome stuff to share with you in a later post.
I'll be going home sometime Sunday, so I'll be here for a couple more days. The intenet service is pretty sketchy here in the lodge. I've actually been logged on here for about 30 minutes catching up with all of you, and that's about the longest I've been on in a week!
I've missed you all and have prayed for you. Love you!!!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
A New Song
As I was on my way out to the camp Wednesday night, I had a great time alone with God. I sang and prayed and cried and sang some more. One of the songs that I played over and over again was this song from CFNI:
You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me, my love
Under my mercy come and wait
Til we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you, my child
You're beautiful to me
So beautiful to me
I sing over you my song of peace
Cast all your cares down at my feet
Come and find your rest in me
I'll breathe my life inside of you
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of my strength
I'll take you to my quiet waters
I'll restore your soul
Come rest in me and be made whole
You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me, my love
You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me, my love
Under my mercy come and wait
Til we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you, my child
You're beautiful to me
So beautiful to me
I sing over you my song of peace
Cast all your cares down at my feet
Come and find your rest in me
I'll breathe my life inside of you
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of my strength
I'll take you to my quiet waters
I'll restore your soul
Come rest in me and be made whole
You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me, my love
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
It's Almost Time!!!
Tomorrow after work, I get to leave to go see my honey!!!
I am so excited and these are the reasons why:
I get to be with Dan for 12 days.
I don't have to go to work for 12 days.
My hair is no longer grey.
I just got a pedicure.
I'm going to get my nails done.
I lost 12 pounds!!!! (Officially...at the doctor's office...on the same dreaded scale I stepped on before)
YAY!!!!!
One point fudge pops, people, I'm telling you... :)
I am so excited and these are the reasons why:
I get to be with Dan for 12 days.
I don't have to go to work for 12 days.
My hair is no longer grey.
I just got a pedicure.
I'm going to get my nails done.
I lost 12 pounds!!!! (Officially...at the doctor's office...on the same dreaded scale I stepped on before)
YAY!!!!!
One point fudge pops, people, I'm telling you... :)
Monday, July 16, 2007
Before and After
No, girls, it isn't the reflection of the flash in my hair...it is my own abundant stash of silver. I thought I could live with it, but I can't. So, here are my before and after shots with my fresh "coat of paint."Isn't it odd, though, that in the "before" picture, my eyes are distinctly blue and green, but in the "after" picture, you can't really tell. Yeah...I'm odd like that.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Hey, Friends!
Well, I will be at work today, so I wanted to give a shout out to all my peeps at church! I'll miss seeing you all and actually having a face-to-face conversation! So, since I can't see or talk with you, I'll expect updates when I get home!!! lol
Three more days until I see Dan!!! ;)
Three more days until I see Dan!!! ;)
Friday, July 13, 2007
My New Obsession
Before Dan left for camp, I had gone to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. I wanted to get something sweet, too, but we are really trying to be careful about that. Well, I found myself in the freezer section looking...longingly staring, actually...at the Blue Bell. Believe it or not I looked away, and as if a ray of light pointed the way, my eyes fell upon it...
The Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Fudge popsicles.
Only 1 point on the weight watcher plan, and they are ssssoooooo good.
Even Dan liked them.
When we took him to camp, we picked up some groceries for his room. He got "upset" at me because we only got one box of the fudgsicles. Our conversation went something like this:
Dan: What? Only one box?
Teresa: Babe, these will last you the week.
Dan: No, these will last me a day.
Teresa: Babe, they are only one point for a snack.
Dan: Exactly, they are only one point. That's six points a day for the whole box.
It's chocolate...how can a girl argue with that? Well, I have been able to keep it down to just one fudgsicle a day, but it is so tempting to eat more! You do not even understand...they are a dieter's dream...
The Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Fudge popsicles.
Only 1 point on the weight watcher plan, and they are ssssoooooo good.
Even Dan liked them.
When we took him to camp, we picked up some groceries for his room. He got "upset" at me because we only got one box of the fudgsicles. Our conversation went something like this:
Dan: What? Only one box?
Teresa: Babe, these will last you the week.
Dan: No, these will last me a day.
Teresa: Babe, they are only one point for a snack.
Dan: Exactly, they are only one point. That's six points a day for the whole box.
It's chocolate...how can a girl argue with that? Well, I have been able to keep it down to just one fudgsicle a day, but it is so tempting to eat more! You do not even understand...they are a dieter's dream...
Thursday, July 12, 2007
This is Dedicated to the One I Love
Dear Dan~
I miss you!!! I can't wait until next week when I get to see you and talk with you and laugh with you.
Even though you aren't here physically, you still take care of me. Thank you for taking care of calling those people today and for always letting me know that we are going to be okay, one way or the other.
It's not the same without you here. For one thing, the feather bed is starting to hang off my side of the bed because you're not on the other side of the bed holding it in place! Even Rosie's not the same without you here. She hardly gives me kisses anymore because she's so sad. :(
But on the bright side...I get to see you in six days!!!! Yea!!! I can't wait. I'm so excited! And I really am looking forward to going to Indi next month! We are going to have a ball! Hopefully this year will start out better than last year...ha ha.
Well, I will close for now. It is getting late.
I love you, baby.
I miss you!!! I can't wait until next week when I get to see you and talk with you and laugh with you.
Even though you aren't here physically, you still take care of me. Thank you for taking care of calling those people today and for always letting me know that we are going to be okay, one way or the other.
It's not the same without you here. For one thing, the feather bed is starting to hang off my side of the bed because you're not on the other side of the bed holding it in place! Even Rosie's not the same without you here. She hardly gives me kisses anymore because she's so sad. :(
But on the bright side...I get to see you in six days!!!! Yea!!! I can't wait. I'm so excited! And I really am looking forward to going to Indi next month! We are going to have a ball! Hopefully this year will start out better than last year...ha ha.
Well, I will close for now. It is getting late.
I love you, baby.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Time to Fess Up
Yeah...so...I have to set the record straight.
Last Friday night I had plans with my friends, but it was possible that I might have to "go see" Dan if I had a hormone surge. Well, Friday came with no surge, and I did not go out with my friends Friday night because I holed myself up in my house. I was feeling sorry for myself and did not want to see anyone or talk to anyone about anything. That's bad enough, but what's worse is that I just let everyone think that I went to Dallas so I wouldn't have to tell them the truth.
Or maybe I didn't want to face the truth.
Anyway.
Well, that's it in a nutshell. I do feel bad about it, but I can't change it. There were three or four things that hit me all at once, the main one being the whole baby-thing. I just shut down. I really thought that it would happen this month, but it didn't, and I'm moving on. We'll keep trying, and I'm sure we'll go another round next month. I think I'm just making too big of a deal of it all. I want to say it doesn't matter, but it does.
And that's about it.
I'm sorry, my friends, for hiding and not celebrating.
Last Friday night I had plans with my friends, but it was possible that I might have to "go see" Dan if I had a hormone surge. Well, Friday came with no surge, and I did not go out with my friends Friday night because I holed myself up in my house. I was feeling sorry for myself and did not want to see anyone or talk to anyone about anything. That's bad enough, but what's worse is that I just let everyone think that I went to Dallas so I wouldn't have to tell them the truth.
Or maybe I didn't want to face the truth.
Anyway.
Well, that's it in a nutshell. I do feel bad about it, but I can't change it. There were three or four things that hit me all at once, the main one being the whole baby-thing. I just shut down. I really thought that it would happen this month, but it didn't, and I'm moving on. We'll keep trying, and I'm sure we'll go another round next month. I think I'm just making too big of a deal of it all. I want to say it doesn't matter, but it does.
And that's about it.
I'm sorry, my friends, for hiding and not celebrating.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The Picture
I was looking at the myspace of some friends of ours who have struggled with infertility throughout their marriage. They are about to have twin girls. There was a picture of them taken on Father's Day, standing on the porch, arm in arm, her eight months pregnant. They look amazing, completely glowing and at peace. There was a comment on the picture that said,
"I wish I could go back in time and show you this picture."
Wouldn't that be amazing? If in the middle of our circumstance we could see a picture of how it's all going to turn out okay, somehow, someway. To know that one day we will stand with the sun on our faces, completely at peace, knowing that a miracle was performed by the Almighty on our behalf.
What an incredible thought.
But would it taint the outcome? Would we be the stronger people that we become in going through our trials? Would we get lazy and not do the work that is required to have our miracle? Would we still cling to the Promises that are on repeat in our head day in and day out if we know the outcome?
Or if we saw that picture, would we even recognize the peaceful faces as being our own? Would we deny the outcome that is ours because of the overwhelming feeling of unworthiness, or would we begin to put our faith in the outcome instead of the Provider?
Jesus,
Help me to trust You and You alone. Keep my focus pure. Be my strength. Hold my hand. I depend on You and lean on Your everlasting promises. I need You...I can't make it on my own. I know I'll see my picture in Your timing, but until then, hold me close....
"I wish I could go back in time and show you this picture."
Wouldn't that be amazing? If in the middle of our circumstance we could see a picture of how it's all going to turn out okay, somehow, someway. To know that one day we will stand with the sun on our faces, completely at peace, knowing that a miracle was performed by the Almighty on our behalf.
What an incredible thought.
But would it taint the outcome? Would we be the stronger people that we become in going through our trials? Would we get lazy and not do the work that is required to have our miracle? Would we still cling to the Promises that are on repeat in our head day in and day out if we know the outcome?
Or if we saw that picture, would we even recognize the peaceful faces as being our own? Would we deny the outcome that is ours because of the overwhelming feeling of unworthiness, or would we begin to put our faith in the outcome instead of the Provider?
Jesus,
Help me to trust You and You alone. Keep my focus pure. Be my strength. Hold my hand. I depend on You and lean on Your everlasting promises. I need You...I can't make it on my own. I know I'll see my picture in Your timing, but until then, hold me close....
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Happy 4th!!!
Hope everyone had a great celebration of independence on this special day. I had a good day at work and then got to spend some time with my special friends that came into town for a visit. I am truly a blessed woman to be able to have the freedoms I have in such a great country.
God bless America, land that I love...
God bless America, land that I love...
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Company's Coming!
I'm gonna have a visitor!!!
My best friend Kristi and her family are coming for 4th of July! Yea!!! They are driving in this afternoon and have to go back home Thursday morning. The bad thing is that I have to work everyday. :( It's okay, though, at least we get to have some time.
We have known each other since I guess we were about 12 or 13. Our parents are both pastors and liked to play cards together, so it started out to where we kinda "had" to hang out together. Then over the years, we grew a lot closer and by the time we graduated from high school we were pretty much inseperable. And we lived in different towns! Oh, the stories we could tell on each other...
We got married within three months of each other, the same year...1994. We've both been through a lot, and we haven't always gotten to see each other very much, but we always stay in contact and keep up with each other. She has two beautiful kids, Camden and Kenzee.
I'm so excited!!!!
My best friend Kristi and her family are coming for 4th of July! Yea!!! They are driving in this afternoon and have to go back home Thursday morning. The bad thing is that I have to work everyday. :( It's okay, though, at least we get to have some time.
We have known each other since I guess we were about 12 or 13. Our parents are both pastors and liked to play cards together, so it started out to where we kinda "had" to hang out together. Then over the years, we grew a lot closer and by the time we graduated from high school we were pretty much inseperable. And we lived in different towns! Oh, the stories we could tell on each other...
We got married within three months of each other, the same year...1994. We've both been through a lot, and we haven't always gotten to see each other very much, but we always stay in contact and keep up with each other. She has two beautiful kids, Camden and Kenzee.
I'm so excited!!!!
Home Alone
Well, it's just me and the dog-child. Dan is at camp.
We left Sunday morning about 8:15 and got into Arlington around noon to do a little shopping. We had our heart set on eating at our favorite place...PF Chang's. Well, I should say one of our favorite places; Cheesecake Factory ranks way on up there as well. By the time we got our shopping done, it was about 2:30, so we figured the rush would have already been over by then. Not so. We also thought that if there was a wait, we could just sit at the bar. Again, not so. The bar was completely full, and there was, like, an hour wait. We did not stay. :( Which kinda ended up being a good thing because as soon as we left Chang's, a huge storm started rolling in. We beat the storm out to Waxahachie, picked up Chicken Express and headed on out to the camp. There for a while there was actually a tornado warning for around Waxahachie. Later on when we went back in to town to go to HEB, we saw a lot of wind damage and some of the roads were flooded. I'm glad my car was faster than that storm!!!
We got Dan settled in his room, then we had dinner with a lot of the crew that was already out there. I left the camp about 7:00 the next morning and headed back to San Angelo to go to work. I didn't want to come home without Dan.
This time is always so bittersweet. We love camp. We have always loved camp. It's where we spent our summers growing up and where we met. It' s where I learned how to get over the fear of singing in front of other people, and where Dan and I were both called into ministry. Some of our strongest friendships were established and developed at camp. So it just makes sense that one of the things that Dan loves to do is be the medic out at the youth camp for the month of July. It makes sense, but I miss him. My world is not the same without him here. I will probably go up there the end of this week or next week, then I will spend the last week of July there during my vacation. So it's not like I won't see him for a whole month, but you know, a half-empty bed every night until then is lonely. :(
Editor's Note: We actually grew up going to Roaring Springs Youth Camp in Roaring Springs, TX, where, by the way, are no roaring springs, just a dried up river bed, after, of course, you've driven 10 miles on a dirt road, over six cattle guards and a rickety weak bridge (affectionately known as "the seven day bridge" because the sign said "Week Bridge"). It is the camp for the West Texas district, which is a far cry from the resort that the North Texas district has, which is where Dan is right now. And if you think I'm exaggerating, ask DeLana. She doesn't lie. Not that I lie, either, I'm just saying...
We left Sunday morning about 8:15 and got into Arlington around noon to do a little shopping. We had our heart set on eating at our favorite place...PF Chang's. Well, I should say one of our favorite places; Cheesecake Factory ranks way on up there as well. By the time we got our shopping done, it was about 2:30, so we figured the rush would have already been over by then. Not so. We also thought that if there was a wait, we could just sit at the bar. Again, not so. The bar was completely full, and there was, like, an hour wait. We did not stay. :( Which kinda ended up being a good thing because as soon as we left Chang's, a huge storm started rolling in. We beat the storm out to Waxahachie, picked up Chicken Express and headed on out to the camp. There for a while there was actually a tornado warning for around Waxahachie. Later on when we went back in to town to go to HEB, we saw a lot of wind damage and some of the roads were flooded. I'm glad my car was faster than that storm!!!
We got Dan settled in his room, then we had dinner with a lot of the crew that was already out there. I left the camp about 7:00 the next morning and headed back to San Angelo to go to work. I didn't want to come home without Dan.
This time is always so bittersweet. We love camp. We have always loved camp. It's where we spent our summers growing up and where we met. It' s where I learned how to get over the fear of singing in front of other people, and where Dan and I were both called into ministry. Some of our strongest friendships were established and developed at camp. So it just makes sense that one of the things that Dan loves to do is be the medic out at the youth camp for the month of July. It makes sense, but I miss him. My world is not the same without him here. I will probably go up there the end of this week or next week, then I will spend the last week of July there during my vacation. So it's not like I won't see him for a whole month, but you know, a half-empty bed every night until then is lonely. :(
Editor's Note: We actually grew up going to Roaring Springs Youth Camp in Roaring Springs, TX, where, by the way, are no roaring springs, just a dried up river bed, after, of course, you've driven 10 miles on a dirt road, over six cattle guards and a rickety weak bridge (affectionately known as "the seven day bridge" because the sign said "Week Bridge"). It is the camp for the West Texas district, which is a far cry from the resort that the North Texas district has, which is where Dan is right now. And if you think I'm exaggerating, ask DeLana. She doesn't lie. Not that I lie, either, I'm just saying...
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thank You
Thanks to all of my peeps who gave me encouragment through my own personal freak out.
These are some scriptures that have been on repeat in my head...
2 Tim 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Isaiah 45:3 "I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel."
This one is a bit lengthy, but a passage I've been clinging to for about seven years now...
Isaiah 54
"Sing, o barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman," says the Lord. "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Isreal; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused," says your God, "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you," says the Lord, your Redeemer. "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has mercy on you. "O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises up against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me," says the Lord.
These are some scriptures that have been on repeat in my head...
2 Tim 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Isaiah 45:3 "I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel."
This one is a bit lengthy, but a passage I've been clinging to for about seven years now...
Isaiah 54
"Sing, o barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman," says the Lord. "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Isreal; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused," says your God, "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you," says the Lord, your Redeemer. "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has mercy on you. "O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises up against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me," says the Lord.
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