Tomorrow is the big day!!!!

I am feeling better, not 100% but better than I was a few days ago. The house is as good as it is going to get for company coming over--the bathroom is clean, thats most important! LOL John is shaving and getting "beautified" as we speak. Maddie is out of control because she knows that Nanna and Pappa are going to be here in the morning. I almost feel like I did as a kid on Christmas Eve!

Johnny has been firing out resumes every day, just keep us in your prayers that he finds something soon! He was told this week that he couldn't stay on at the place he was interning for a week extra or anything like that because of budget costs. They do alot of work for ODOT and with the cuts that have happened they don't have alot of jobs coming in. When I found that out I was crushed, devastated, angry, you name it. They have let others stay for at least a week, why not Johnny? Is it fair to say that I only care about our budget right now? LOL So when my friends were telling me to have faith in God that everything would work out I popped off and said that doesn't get the bills paid. Wise thing to say? No. Did I have to excuse myself to an empty room and apologize to God for saying that because I IMMEDIATELY felt convicted with what I had just said? YES. Do I still feel bad? Of course. Than one of my good friends at work said something that completly made sense, Satan is trying to take away the joy of Graduation day and the feelings of pride that we have for achieving this awesome accomplishment. She said to tell Satan to leave us alone and enjoy the moment and worry about job searching on monday. That really meant alot to me. I just keep saying a little prayer that a job will come soon and that we will be meant to stay in the area. This is a critical time in so many areas, Maddie will be starting school and it isn't like I can put things on pause with the unknown, the house is not anywhere to the point of being ready to sell for several reasons.....money, thought wasn't in our head, etc. I just want to take a deep breath and say, we made it!

Love and Blessings!

Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

John 6:35

Graduation countdown and sickness...

Johnny graduates in 6 days, so of course guess what? I'm sick! Yep, you heard me right, there is some kind of cruel joke being played on me right now. I FORCED myself to work all weekend, Saturday wasn't too bad, the tylenol and ibuprofen rotation really helped but yesterday was awful! I could hardly move, achy, felt like my head was going to combust, no ibuprofen at work so I kept taking Tylenol but my fever was still 100, trying to take breaks as much as I could because I was dizzy, felt "floaty" and freezing to the point I had my labcoat on with a blanket wrapped around me. All I wanted to do was go home, soak in a hot shower and get to sleep. So, when releif arrived I high tailed it out of there, not sure how I managed to drive home but I arrived safely, immediately went to the shower and took some ibuprofen. Maddie was heart broken, so excited to see me come home so she could tell me that she got to go to Children's church and saw her teacher Ms Lewis and all I could do was say, that's nice and close the door in her face. I immediately crashed after the shower, have you ever felt like you were floating in your sleep from pure exhaustion or whatever? That was me, I felt like even though I was asleep in the recliner my body was about 2 feet above the chair. Bizarre. I decided last night that with having a fever and so much important stuff going on at the end of the week I was staying home from work today. I feel soooo guilty but I know that I am contagious with something right now and its bad enough that yesterday I probably infected all of my folks but I just can't do it today. My throat is sore, every time I cough I feel like my chest is being ripped in half and I just don't have the energy. I'm sipping on tea and honey already because I know that will at least help me feel a little better, I've got Zycam ready to take every 3 hours to try to zap this bug out and I'm just hoping and praying that Maddie understands that I don't feel well today and she will behave so I can be a slug.

John's last day is tomorrow! He has mentioned that when he is done with school he wants to do some blog posting so maybe you will start seeing some chatter from someone other than me!

I think that just about every person is pregnant in our sunday school class, yesterday Johnny texted me at work to tell me that another couple just made the announcement and I couldn't help but think, wow, must be some fertile water they are all drinking! Later on in the evening Johnny said, we need to get ahold of some of the water they are drinking so maybe we can be next. I'm so mixed on that, part of me says I'm good with just Maddie because she can be so hyped up and sometimes just obnoxious, and I know that she is going to keep us on our toes for the rest of our days. The other part of me says that I don't want her to be left alone when we are gone. I have insecurities on my parenting most of the time.......do I get to short with her to quick? Do I give in to easy just because I don't want the fit to go on and on? Am I doing a good job with this parenting gig? I know that's normal but it doesnt' make it any easier. Than there is the whole fertility side. We had the hardest time getting pregnant with her, do I want the constant ups and downs of are we or aren't we? Expense of fertility meds? Am I a terrible person for not wanting to go through the emotions that I went through for 2 years of trying for Maddie?

On that note I am off to make some more tea, wrap up and try to relax.

Love and Blessings!

Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

John 6:35

Its Friday, what does everyone have planned for the weekend? I have to work so nothing exciting for us here, I think I heard Johnny mention that he has a take home final to take care of this weekend so he will be concentrating on that, his last class is TUESDAY!!!!!!! Saturday we are going to a chilli cook off at our church for our class fellowship.

Today I need to get busy around the house, I know, I always say that,lol. We will be having company next weekend for the graduation though so I have to get serious.

I've actually done some scrapping:





Have a great weekend everyone!
Love and Blessings

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Why do we blog?

Some people blog to keep in touch with family and friends. Others do it so showcase their artwork, etc. I've heard of people that put somethings on their blog because with others reading it is more of the accountability concept. I think I blog for all of the above, I like to post things so our loved ones can keep up with some of the daily happenings, I like the thought of showing off my scrap projects for those that stop by and enjoy looking at them and I'm thinking I want to start an excercise routine which would be great to track on here so that I will feel like the few people that do stop by once in a while will need to be kept updated. I have heard of some people posting their weights and things on their blog when they are dieting so they could feel more accountable but I don't know if I want to put info like that out there! LOL

Hopefully everyone had a great Valentine's day...Johnny and I got to go out on a date, Maddie got to spend some time with Nanna and Pappa R. We went to Carrabba's for dinner, YUMMO! Good thing that we called ahead for a spot because when we got there we still had to wait 30 minutes but for those that didn't call ahead had almost a 3 hour wait!!! HOLY COW! Maddie got to go to Chuck E Cheese with Nanna and Pappa, she had so much fun! I have a few pics, just have to upload them, Maddie's face is so pink in them from running around and enjoying herself. Johnny and I went to the mall after dinner, brought back some memories from my mall rat days....didn't do anything for me though, I realized that there really isn't anything special about the mall like it used to be.

Hope everyone has a great week, I am off to do some laundry!

Love and Blessings

"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9:13

OBEY NOW COMPLAIN LATER....

Great concept isn't it? Today at work I made the comment that I wish I could be one of the lucky people that always manage to burn out of the building at 3:15 when I am almost always there until 4. Granted, I am there late probably because I sit and talk with my folks, enjoy my stna's and try to do my best at everything but it seems like for the people that do everything fast get out and that is irritating.. when another nurse heard me say this she started talking about how getting out on time does not always mean that you have done what you needed to do during the day and was saying how sometimes work gets shoved off on her because one shift thinks they don't have enough time and other coworkers not getting along so they bounce it back and forth and than it eventually gets caught in the middle doing it. How irritating is that?!? This girl is so easy going, I rarely see her get upset and she made the comment that she just does it and when I told her that I'm not sure I could she said, "I just obey now and complain later so when I start to complain first you know that I am at my limit" In my opinion, that is a great attitude to have! Impressive! Do I think I can do it? Ummmm, not! BUT, I can try!

Hope everyone survived the wind storms, I got bare minimum amount of sleep last night because the wind was blowing so strong that I was afraid at any given moment there would be a tree on our car and to make matters worse my hip was hurting so bad I couldn't do anything to calm it down. I told Excedrin PM, icy hot, heating pad...nothing worked, my hip just wanted to growl and keep me up. So tonight I am hoping that I get some rest.

Love and Blessings!
The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Isaiah 29:13-14

Praise!

Yesterday I got a call from the school that we applied to for Maddie that she "made the cut" as I like to call it and has a spot holding for her for the kindergarten class! YEAH! They will be calling in March to arrange for a screening day but when we toured and I asked the principal what Maddie needed to know she said that mostly she was going to be looking to see if Maddie can sit still, follow directions, etc. I worry that the fact that I have had her in a private sitter will work against her but we have been working with her and she catches on fast. I'm sure they take into account that when a child meets a new person they may or may not act like their self around them. Maddie is so finicky there is no telling if she will just walk up and say hey whats up or crawl into her shell and suck her thumb! LOL. Either way, I feel like this is the path God wants Maddie to travel right now. Thanks for all the prayers!

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Happy Friday! For those of you that have the weekends off hope you have a good one, and for those of you poor suckers that have to work this weekend I feel for ya! Beware.....the moon is looking almost full, there is only a sliver left, which means the crazy bugs will be out!

Today I have a mess on my hands, I started this organizing thing in my scrap area and now the basement looks like a F3 tornado hit! Maddie was suppossed to clean up her mess or she would loose her movie but I explained to Johnny that its hard to tell her she can't have a movie for not cleaning up her mess when my mess is just as bad if not worse, honestly there is no telling where hers ends and mine begins! LOL Guess I should quit doing things on the computer and get some stuff done. Nahhhhh...

Have a great weekend all!

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

Happy Hump Day!

Maddie got a BIG BOO BOO today...the sliding door on the van was closing and she stuck her hand in because she thought it was opening and guess what? If you guessed that the door CLOSED on her fingers your guessed right! We were in a parking lot, I thought I saw her put her hand in but hoped she would realize the door was closing and pull her hand out, nothing I could do, she was on her side and I was on the driver side, all of the sudden I heard mad screaming, I ran around, scooped her up, got her in the van and her fingers at the first knuckle were instant purple/black. Panic mode hit, oh geez oh geez what do I do?!?! I kissed her fingers, wiggled them around a little bit to try to assess them and see if they were broke, of course she is crying she wants daddy and I'm just trying to get her calmed down enough so we can get home. Of course Maddie is telling me to get home fast and no matter how fast I was going it wasn't fast enough, I just wanted to get home so we could look at her fingers better. When we got home Maddie rushed in the house to show daddy her fingers, by than they were just red and swollen so Daddy gave her kisses and some ice for her fingers. They seem to be fine, I think it was just a bad smash but still scary!

The other day Maddie and I noticed how big the icicles were hanging from the house. Of course I pulled one down for Maddie and she was happy as a lark! She wanted to eat it, play with it (she was blowing on it like a horn) and just enjoy being a kid with it. Fun!



This is my "friday" with being off the next 2 days before I go back to work for the weekend.

TTFN!

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Matthew 22:37

Happy Monday! (ha, who am I kidding?)

What does everyone have planned for this week? I had a LONG day at work today, got home after 6 (YIKES!) Now I feel like its time to go to bed only to go back to work tomorrow. GRRRRRRR. Nothing big planned this week, need to get a few things done around the house, get some bills taken care of and enjoy my days off on Thursday and Friday.

We got the van back today! Whoop Whoop! Although the service has been great at Carmax I sure hope that I don't have to go back and see them anytime soon. This is my first experience with a used car, keep thinking, oh no, did I get a lemon? ( I know, I'm so positive right?) So hopefully this will be the last of any problems we have with it, Johnny is the one that took the loaner back and got the van, he said Maddie was THRILLED to have her movie back! LOL --she is hopelessly addicted to watching a movie while we are running around and I have to admit I am too because she is quiet! LOL

One of my co-workers is really struggling right now. She is young (26) recently divorced with a precious 5 year old boy. She is a christian, really trying to get her life on track, wants to be God driven and really grow in her walk with Him but today she broke. She is having a really hard time with the fact that her little boy actually prays for a Daddy (even though he has a Daddy that isn't that active necessarily, every other weekend only) that will be in his family and maybe give him a brother or sister to play with. I think that it is because of this that she really tries to find a relationship to rush into not realizing that in the end it is probably doing more harm than good to both her and her child. My heart broke for her today when she started crying, you could just see the pain that she is feeling for her child and herself. She is really worried about finding a good influence for her son to have in his life, I would love for them to come over, I'm sure Johnny wouldn't have a problem with spending some time with the little boy (on top of work, school and other responsibilities he has time right? LOL) She got some pretty good advice from another divorced single parent that we work with but I just pray that God heals her heart so she can focus on her walk with God and her son. It also made me very grateful for my wonderful husband, I really don't know what I would do without his unconditional love and support.

Ok, on a more positive note, I have done a little scrapping .....




Also, congrats to my good friends Megan and Dean, they are expecting and due Sept 26th (the day after my birthday!) How exciting! You guys are going to be great parents!

Have a great night!
Love and Blessings!

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

Deuteronomy 30:19

I know this may be boring to some but interesting to others, but I enjoy these weekly wisdoms so here we go.......

Have you learned to take a long-term look at your short-term problems?

Whenever something frustrating happens, don't immediately become upset. Instead, ask yourself if this problem is really worth getting aggravated over: is this a five minute problem, a five hour problem, a five month problem, or a five year problem?

For example, if you can't find where around your house you left your car keys, don't let that steal your love, joy, peace, or patience. Being five minutes late to most things is not worth losing your joy. Similarly, if you're stuck in a traffic jam, don't let that ruin your Fruit of the Spirit. It's not worth getting upset and uptight about a ten minute delay on your way to work. Indeed, ten minutes is nothing compared to all of eternity.

Also, remember that God may be using your short-term problem for a long-term purpose. That's why James 1:2-4 says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. God will work through your current trials and difficulties in order to produce lasting benefits such as faith, perseverance, and spiritual maturity. That's why it's important to take a long-term look at your short-term problems.

Stability is the mark of a mature Christian.
God has given us peace so that we can be stable even in the midst of hard times. In John 14:27, Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives."

In this verse, Jesus tells us that He has left us his peace. Jesus' peace, however, isn't like the world's peace, which depends on your circumstances; rather, God's peace is internal. God's peace allows believers to be stable even in the midst of hard circumstances, difficult trials, and uncertain times.

It's no wonder Paul said that he could be content, i.e. stable, in all circumstances: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Philippians 4:11-12). What was Paul's "secret"? "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

The key to contentment and stability is living in, through, and with God in everything. Like Paul, a mature Christian is able to remain content and stable in all circumstances.


Today is the day that I am going to start my praise journal. Have you said a praise lately? No matter how big or small lets try to remember what we have to be thankful for, I know personally I have a tendency to focus on the negative things more than the positive so that is why I am starting the praise journal.

Have a great day!

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:11