Somewhere...

Is it 5pm yet?

Better yet... I'm leaving a little early to go to a baby shower for a co-worker.

Is it 4:30pm yet?

Picture of the Day 8

Sunday I went grocery shopping. I bought bananas. Green bananas. I thought they would ripen up in a day or two. It's now Thursday and they are still as green as the day I bought them.Can you take bananas back because they haven't ripened? I'd really like to take one a day with me to work. But green bananas are gross.

Day 8: Luke 9:1-27; Genesis 15; Psalms 8

Imagination is more important than knowledge.
— Albert Einstein

Words for thought...

My bible study leader, bless her heart, sends out e-mails often. Generally she forwards devotions from random devotion sender generators thingymabobbers, but sometimes she sends other things. Like this, an excerpt from a devotional book by T.D. Jakes...

"Jesus is the Star that outshines everything this world has to offer. He is the only One who can light your way and lead you safely down the sometimes treacherous path called life. He is the only One who can take your hand and bid you follow Him into the fulfillment of your God-given purpose. He is the only One who knows the grand destination that is your divine destiny--and the steps you need to take in order to get there. He is the only One who can place a dream in your heart and then cause it to come to pass in a way that will leave you grinning and shaking your head in total amazement. He is the only One you can really trust, and the only One worth trusting."

Just take some time to really think about that.

Picture of the Day 7

This stinkin' ball is the bane of my existence. Or Izzie's existence. It's the only thing that keeps her occupied.For hours at a time!

Day 7: Luke 8:26-56; Genesis 13-14; Psalms 7

Whoever is happy will make others happy too.
— Anne Frank

Days of January

January
1	New Year's Dishonor List Day
2	55-mph Speed Limit Day
	Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
3	National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day
	Tolkien Day
	Festival of Sleep
4	Trivia Day
5	Fruitcake Toss Day
	National Bird Day
6	Cuddle Up Day
7	National Joy Germ Day
	Old Rock Day
8	National English Toffee Day
	Show and Tell Day at Work
	Bubble Bath Day
10	National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
	Peculiar People Day
11	International Thank You Day
	Step in a Puddle & Splash Your Friend Day
12	Penguin Awareness Day
13	International Skeptics Day
14	National Clean Off Your Desk Day
	Organize Your Home Day
	Dress Up Your Pet Day
15	National Hat Day
16	Appreciate A Dragon Day
	Nothing Day
17	Get To Know Your Customers Day
	Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day
19	National Popcorn Day
20	Fancy Rat & Mouse Day
21	National Hugging Day
	Squirrel Appreciation Day
22	National Speak Up and Succeed Day
	Rid The World of Fad Diets & Gimmicks Day
	National Blonde Brownie Day
23	National Pie Day
	National Handwriting Day
24	Belly Laugh Day
	National Compliment Day
	Women's Healthy Weight Day
25	Fun at Work Day
	Opposite Day
26	National Seed Swap Day
	Spouse's Day
27	Thomas Crapper Day
	Chocolate Cake Day
28	Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
	National Kazoo Day
29	National Puzzle Day
	Freethinkers Day
30	National Inane Answering Message Day
31	Backward Day
	Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

I have decided!

From now on, or until I'm over it, I have decided to do my hair wavey/curly everyday; and only straightening it for "special occasions", or if I have time.

Why? You ask.

Because I'm lazy.

Here are my options:
-Shower at night. Throw some junk in my hair. And go to bed.
-Shower at night. Give hair time to air dry some. Blow dry it. Go to bed.

And I don't get up early enough to shower in the morning. So at night it is!

And wavey/curly it is!

What is hope?

I have hope. I am hopeful. I have hope that God is bigger then me and that His plan for me is great. I have hope that what I feel is truly from God. If I didn't have hope, I would be a lost soul.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

See that, "plans for hope and a future." Though with this hopefulness the road is not easy. But I know that my God is with me every step of the way protecting and loving me.

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:24-25

As we wait for God's will to unfold, we should place our confidence in God's goodness and wisdom. And God never makes promises he won't keep, it's just that his plan may take more time than we expect. Patience is where I lack, patience is here I seek help.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope...faithful in prayer. WOW! What would be the point of not being joyful in hope? To not be joyful in hope would be to give up, to call defeat and wave the white flag. To not be joyful in hope would be not believing that God's plan is great and perfect. To not be joyful in hope would be to see the glass as half empty and view life with such unbearable negativity.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Therefore, I have hope.

Delete...delete... and delete

Some of you may be wondering what I've been doing lately. Or not. But I'm going to tell you anyways.

By lately I mean the last couple of days to a week. So really not that long, but nonetheless it's something that I've been doing; mainly because I've been feeling convicted.

I, little by little, have been deleting secular music from my computer.

Here's the thing. I listen to Christian music primarily. It's what I play in my car, and what I tend to go to on my iPod. So, why, if I mostly listen to Christian music, do I feel the need to have so many secular songs on my computer? It's like I'm collecting songs or something. And the thing of it is, I hardly listen to probably 75% of them.

So, I started off with about 11.2 GIGABYTES of songs, not including the CD's that I own and have uploaded. Of that 11.2 gigs, only 2.4 is of the Christian, gospel, or worship genres. Here's how I've been going about the deletion process, as I hear a song that I normally skip, delete. If there are random songs that I have by an artist just because I like one of their songs, delete. You get the picture. So far I've deleted almost a gig of music, but there is a lot more to go. I've also been replacing the deleted stuff with more Christian music.

I guess this could kinda fall into one of my resolutions of purging or cleaning. It's just one of the needed steps to clean up my life, and filling my ears with words pleasing to God.

Who I could have been

Kaitlin was a dear and brought over my baby box (much more to come on that later) that has been living in her closet (aka my old closet) for the past 16 years. After she brought it over she started rummaging through it. And this is what she found...

Gals-
Juliet Ann
Courtney Ann

Guys-
Kristian Edlo
James Edlo/Everett
Marshall Edlo

Can you guess which one won?

Picture of the Day 6

This is the bookshelf with all of my cookbooks. You know, the cookbooks that I want to start using to cook out of as one of my new year resolutions? You know, the cookbooks that hold the recipes for the food that I am going to "try" on unknowing dinner guests?
Any takers?

Day 6: Luke 8:1-25; Genesis 12; Psalms 6

All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal, or fattening.
— Alexander Woollcott

Picture of the Day 5

Have you ever had a day where you just felt like everything was fuzzy? Maybe a week or a month? Heck, a year could even fuzz over.

Day 5: Luke 7:18-50; Genesis 11; Psalms 5

NYE Shindig

This lovely couple hosted a NYE Party.
Many people attended. Some even took shots. (Please note, that is about the only alcohol I had all night.)I ate a cookie while reading how to be a "Skinny B*". I know, counterproductive.Stacey and I kept ourselves entertained. 1) With my camera. 2) Hiding things in the stockings that were still hung.Thomas and Katie were there. Katie was the life of the party. I think she even faux flashed me at one point.
Pimp George with his pimp hat.How many more can we squeeze into a self photo?
Cheers to a new year! Ok, so I had a little champagne too. But just a little, I promise.
And that's how I spent my New Year's Eve 2008. Before I know it, it'll be time to ring in 2010.

Oh my. That means I'll be 30. Shoot!!!

Haha Horoscope

I've never really been a believer of horoscopes, but I still find it fun to read them. Anyone can take what they read and twist it to fit their own life and make it seem so "real" and believable.

So here's my 2009 horoscope...

Year 2009 Overview

It's time to celebrate yourself, Taurus! You are pouring yourself into your life's mission and rejuvenating yourself with abundant thinking, which attracts great things to you. You're diligently creating a public arena where opportunities will emerge for you to be a teacher or messenger. Engagements for speaking, writing and sharing your thoughts will open up. Other people will be inspired by your enthusiasm and insight, and will support you in accomplishing your goals.

Taurus's excitement radiates more than ever this year, bringing with it a magnificent energy the world has been lacking. As you embrace the power of your heart and spirit, you are allowing yourself to transform and align with a universal energy source. You discover the space for your creativity to flow and abundantly bring the truth of your being into the world. Your focus on your connection with a higher purpose brings out the best in you and refines your self-expression.

You appreciate all the expansive shifts that are taking place in your life, and you are learning to break up routines and old patterns of rigidity. This allows you a new level of awareness and acceptance of your ultimate purpose. Pay attention to what has heart and meaning. Express your truth and you will advance. You will find avenues to bring your talents and belief systems to philanthropic endeavors. By the end of the year, you will be able to slow down a bit and find more time to enjoy the new you that you have created.

Year 2009 Career

You will discover new ways to regenerate your finances this year, as you let go of blocks and fears that are holding you back. Rethink your belief that you have to work hard for money; as you evolve spiritually, you will find that this thinking no longer serves you. As you step into your creative flow, work and finances become much easier for you. You realize that you're able to manifest a dependable income when you just allow your talents to flow. As you learn to do what excites you, your enthusiasm will overflow and new opportunities will come your way. Trust that your ideas will tap into profitable avenues. When you stop placing restrictions on yourself, you will be able to move ahead and gain amazing benefits.

You enjoy giving outwardly and being in the public eye, and your life-long pursuit of developing your creative talents now has a new venue for manifestation. As you embrace your power, opportunities open up for public speaking, writing, performing and sharing visionary ideas with others. Through your work, you will most likely be helping people to achieve their own creative connection and a higher purpose in life. Your integrity and energy is shifting, and others are inspired by your wholeness and beauty.

The fruits of your work relationships will increase by leaps and bounds this year. Any endeavors you undertake will be very profitable, expansive and satisfying. As you open up to the creative avenues before you, you will earn bountifully, so surrender to the blissful adventure of walking down a satisfying career path!

Year 2009 Romantic

Success in your work life spills over to your romantic life. You are newly inspired as positive friendships develop and your loved ones express how feel about you. Their encouragement helps you feel more comfortable about expressing yourself romantically. Spontaneity can be challenging for you in romantic love, but your gifts are many and it's important for you to appreciate and love yourself so that it rubs off others and attracts the right person.

In recent years, you've been hesitant to trust your instincts when it comes to love, but that mindset doesn't serve you anymore. As you start surrendering to the notion of a one-on-one relationship, the right person will walk into your life. As you let the doors open on your romantic life, your home environment will become sunny and stable, and you'll find your personal relationships improving. By the end of the year, your romantic life will have taken on a whole new dimension. You will be singing with joy as you experience intense intimacy with your partner, leaving you content on an emotional level deeper than you've ever felt before.

Much of the transformation happening to you romantically this year is about discovering how to be comfortable in larger fields of social existence and belief systems. As you expand your personal beliefs, you are also learning to trust others and connect more with the creative energy blossoming between you and everyone you meet -- especially your lover!

Who needs an update?

Well, let's see. Where do I start? Where did I leave off? What do you want to know?

Status on the situation has not changed. Dennis and I are still "friends". Although, we're texting and talking a lot more often. The only difference is that the "I love you's" and pet names have been dropped from conversations, but I still sneak them in when I can. Ha! He doesn't seem to mind.

The Christmas season is over, as is the couple of visits from higher-ups from work for Dennis. Just as I predicted, he was very stressed and overwhelmed with all that going on. Since it's over, he's gotten better. But he's still unsure of where he should be right now. He doesn't know if he's even meant to be married again. He doesn't know who he is anymore. He pointed out a week or so ago that he has been officially divorced for almost a whole year, and things are starting to calm down for him.

We have had conversations about the future. If there will be one or not. He doesn't know. Oh, but I do, I know what's in my heart and that I'm still being lead by God. He did tell me though that part of him wants to be in a relationship with me right now, but he needs to work on himself in order to be in a healthy one. I respect that, how can I not respect that. And I value that he wants to be right with God and happy with himself. So I'll wait, and I'll be there when he's ready. We've talked about many other things also, but I'll keep those to myself for now.

So, where does that leave us? Worse than we were a month ago, but better then we were 2 weeks ago. All we can do is continue the friendship, and continue praying. I pray that God does a mighty thing in his life, and that he does it fairly quickly. But during this time I've grown by leaps and bounds, more then I thought possible.

In my heart I still feel the same leading as I did shortly after we started talking. Everything just starting lining up. It's hard to explain, but things just started falling into place. My feelings for Dennis have not diminished in the least bit, if anything they've grown despite the distance between us. I've had a lot of time to reflect and pray.

If you feel so, please continue to pray also.

Picture of the Day 4

Actually you're gonna get 3 pictures today.

Before raking...
Mid-raking (aka, the pile of leaves)...
After raking (and the small pile of leaves that won't fit in the green bin)...

Day 4: Luke 7:1-17; Genesis 8-10; Psalms 4

Picture of the Day 3

After...
Washing the sheets took longer then moving the actual furniture.

Day 3: Luke 6:27-49; Genesis 6-7; Psalms 3

Sparkly Tree

It's time. It's time to clean up Christmas. But first maybe I'll show you how I decorated my little area I call home.

The tree...
Yes, that's the tree that has technically been up since mid October. It's full of ornaments from throughout my life.

Like this one from Israel. It's made of olive wood.

And this one that my mom made some time ago.
Then there is the hutch...
The dining room table...
I love these little sparkly stars...
Random little desk/storage table...
My grammy gave me the snow globe many, many years ago.
The built-in unit where the nativity lives.
So do other Christmas decorations.My Christmas card wreath display...
And the mistletoe. Which I hung when the plan was still for someone to come down for New Year's. That didn't happen, but the mistletoe ball thing stayed up. (please excuse the picture, blogger decided to rotate it...)

And that's my little house decorated for Christmas.

Now next year I'll be able to refer back to these pictures to redecorate.

2008 Weigh In Results

2008 is OVER! But the journey of weight loss is not.

2008 resulted in a decrease in my weight from the beginning of the year. Although I would have liked it to have been more, I'm happy with what I did lose.

Drum roll please....
By Weight Watcher weigh in's, I lost 10.8 pounds. By my scale, I lost 14.5. Either one, I'll take it!

Here's to 2009 and continuing that downward trend.

Here's to being a loser!

Picture of the Day 2

Remember I said I want to rearrange my bedroom this weekend?

Before... Shot at 2:46 according to the alarm clock. Sorry for the mess, but I'm gonna clean it. Stay tuned for the cleaned, rearranged after picture...
Day 2: Luke 6:1-26; Genesis 3-5; Psalm 2

Picture of the Day 1

Happy New Year!!!

How I rung in the new year at Jenn & Anthony's.

Day 1: Luke 5:27-39; Genesis 1-2; Psalms 1