Announcement: Colleen and Chris are engaged!

Guess what!?!  Ok, so most of you already know.  But my brother is getting married!  To Colleen!  Chris and Colleen are engaged!

Let's take a look at pictures from the last few years...

Catalina Island Vacation
Fancy...

Sharing a monster of a drink.  It later gave Colleen a headache... (in Avalon)

Colleen drinking Buffalo Milk.  Don't worry, it's just the name a drink. (in Two Harbors)

At the Ranch

Katie and Stan's rehearsal dinner...

At the wedding reception...

Colleen with all the Arnold cousins, less Paige.  Really, she was filling in for Paige, while still being Chris' date.

Concerts

Summer of 2008, Merced Co. Fair, Rooney.

And thus concludes the pictures I have for you of Chris and Colleen.  Sure, I have many more.  Like itty bitty thumbname size pictures of them from one of their sr. prom, and many more from Catalina Island.  Don't worry, there will be many more to show in the future.

Congrats to Chris and my future sis-in-law Colleen.  May God bless you and and your life together. 

And may you bless me with many nieces and nephews in years to come.

A hydrangea by any other name

Blue Hydrangea
Have a favorite flower: Tell us about it.
You know, I don't know why the hydrangea is my favorite flower. Maybe because they grow in my favorite color, periwinkle. Or maybe because one "poof" has numerous flowers on it, unlike a rose with a single bud. Maybe it's the vibrant colors, or the fact that you can change the colors by changing the pH level of the soil.

I really don't know why hydrangeas are my favorite flowers. But I do know that they are my favorite.

Picture of the Day 309

November 5th:  2 Timothy 1; Jeremiah 5-6; Psalm 121

I lift my eyes up to the hills-

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

-Psalm 121:1-2

Thank Goodness it's Thursday

• I'm ready for flannels sheets. Now I just need to do the work and out them on the bed.
• New photography system to test out: shoot in raw, basic edit raw, further edit Photoshop.
• I no longer need to take my camera to photography class. Mainly 'cause photog is over and now we're working in Photoshop.
• Epic fail at WW lately. Someone kick my butt, not literally. But if you see me putting candy on my mouth, then yes literally.
• Mom and dad are joining WW through work. Yea for WW friendly food when I eat dinner over there. 5 nights a week.
• I heart babies. And I think babies heart me. Or maybe it's my bust. No, it's me.
• I have a lot of DVRed shows to catch up on. Praise Jesus for the DVR system and not having to schedule life around tv shows.
• I memorized a bible verse in a day. Need to do that more often. Ask and I'll recite it to you.
• I'm excited for Saturday. Getting away for the day to taste some fermented grape juice with friends.
• I think I may just like this new blogger app, seems user friendly and gives the send picture option. See...

            Yep, that's my dog.  In bed.

• Funny enough I started this last night (or this morning however you want to look at it) and I thought of a few more random things but thought for sure I'd remember them when I got up. I don't remember them. Oops.

 

- Posted from my iPhone

You know you're living in 2009 when...

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

And now you are laughing.  At yourself...

Picture of the Day 308

November 4th:  1 Timothy 5:23-6:21; Jeremiah 3-4; Psalm 120

"It's all in the attitude - housework is exercise.  Slim your way to a clean home."

-Linda Solegato

Picture of the Day 307

November 3rd:  1 Timothy 5:1-22; Jeremiah 1-2; Psalm 119:145-176

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."

-Ambrose Redmoon

Motivation Monday - Defeat

San Francisco, CA to Maine

Traveling west to east...

The starting or ending point is easy for me being as I live on the west coast. And I haven't been to Maine or most of the smaller states in that direction. So that was easy. And I've love to see New England in the fall. But I can't start there in the fall or else I'd be driving back to CA during the winter snowy months. Therefore I'll start in California and work my way east, hitting the states I haven't been to along the way.

Picture of the Day 306

November 2nd:  1 Timothy 4; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 119:121-144

"A healthy body and soul come from an unencumbered mind and body."

-Ymber Delecto

Picture of the Day 305

November 1st:  1 Timothy 5:1-22; Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 119:97-120

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

-Psalm 119:105

The Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down finally, the guys' side of the story.  (I must admit, it's pretty good.)

We always hear "the rules" from the female side.  Now here are the rules from the male side.  These are our rules!  Please note... These are all numbered "1" on purpose!

1.  Men are NOT mind readers.
1.  Learn to work the toilet seat.  You're a big girl.  If it's up, put it down.  We need it up, you need it down.  You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1.  Crying is blackmail.
1.  Sunday sports it's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.  Let it be.
1.  Ask for what you want.  Let us be clear on this one:  Subtle hints do not work!  Strong hints do not work!  Obvious hints do not work!  Just say it!
1.  Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1.  Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it.  That's what we do.  Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1.  Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.  In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.
1.  If you think you're fat, you probably are.  Don't ask us.
1.  If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1.  You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.  Not both.  If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1.  Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1.  Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.
1.  ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.  Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color.  Pumpkin is also a fruit.  We have no idea what mauve is.
1.  If it itches, it will be scratched.  We do that.
1.  If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong.  We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1.  If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1.  When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.
1.  Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as sports or racing.
1.  You have enough clothes.
1.  You have too many shoes.
1.  I am in shape.  Round IS a shape!
1.  Thank you for reading this.  Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that?  It's like camping.

7th Annual Oktoberfest

This year was our 7th Annual Oktoberfest.  Seven.  7.  Can you believe that for 7 years we've been making beer and sausage and throwing a party in the back yard?  Remember last year?

The Pre-Oktoberfest Party (Friday prior) consisted of strudel making, sausage stuff, and me making appetizers (these and these) for the birthday party.

Line up the beer steins...

People...

The sausage selection with Art campaigning serving.

Howdy neighbor!  Dale bar tending. 

More people.  My aunt is back in there.  And my pregnant bff too.

Me getting ready to open a bottle of "dry blueberry wine" from Florida.  Don't do it.  Ever.  Stick to the places that know how to make wine.  Like California or Chile or Australia.

Kaitlin enjoying a cream stout.  Check out the new covering over the deck!

Kaitlin, Jenn and me.

What can I say?  I was thirsty!

And the boys played pool.

Standard Stacey/Courtney self photo.

And more pool.  Rack 'em Mitch!

Dad hanging with the boys.

Mom, Jenn, Krista, Laurie, Kaitlin, Whitney, Katie, and me.  Gotta love that long built-in bench!

Me, Stacey, Jenn and Katie.  It's become our new annual picture tradition.

Mom, Bob, and Dad.  Good friends.  Too much beer consumed between the 3 of them.  Where was Annette during this picture...?

 

 And so concludes the very quick brief snap shot of the Oktoberfest.

News flash for 2010... due to the Montague's and the Diliberto's each having a child they're getting rid of marrying off during September/October, Oktoberfest will either be postponed until 2011 or earlier in the summer.

To see the whole Oktoberfest album go here.

Picture of the Day 304

October 31st:  1 Timothy 2; Isaiah 34-35; Psalm 119:65-96

"Age does not protect you from love.  But love, to some extent, protects you from age."

-Jeanne Moreau

Days of November

November
1	All Saint's Day
	National Author's Day
	Sadie Hawkins Day
2	Zero Tasking Day
3	Cliché Day
	Digital Scrapbooking Day
	Sandwich Day
4	National Chicken Lady Day
	Use Your Common Sense Day
6	National Men Make Dinner Day
7	National Bittersweet Chocolate w/Almonds Day
8	Cook Something Bold & Pungent Day
	National Tongue Twister Day
9	Guinness World Record Day
10	Area Code Day
	Gingerbread House Day
11	Death/Duty Day
	National Young Readers Day
13	World Kindness Day
14	National American Teddy Bear Day
15	America Recycles Day
	I Love to Write Day
	National Bundt (pan) Day
16	International Day for Tolerance
	National Adoption Day
	World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
17	Homemade Bread Day
18	Married To A Scorpio Support Day
	Micky Mouse Day
	Push-Button Phone Day
19	Have a Bad Day Day
20	Great American Smokeout
	Name Your PC Day
	Universal Children's Day
21	World Hello Day
	World Television Day
22	International Aura Awareness Day
	National Family Volunteer Day
23	You're Welcomegiving Day
24	Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day
25	Shopping Reminder Day
26	Tie One On Day
28	Flossing Day
29	Electronic Greeting Day
30	Computer Security Day
	Stay Home Because You're Well Day

Finding Mr. Right

It's time for some useful advice for all you single ladies out there...or me.  Really it's for me, but I'm going to share it with you.  So here goes...

Evaluate Your Past
It's time to assess your past romantic relationships.  Ask yourself what worked and what didn't and the reasons for each of your past relationships.

You Can't Find Mr. Right Until You Love Yourself
Much of your worth will be derived externally, from the person you are dating; but true self-worth is internal.  Focus on what activities they like to do and develop that realm of your life. When you feel good about what you do you will feel good about who you are.

Decide What You Want in Mr. Right
Take the time to make a wish list of all the values and characteristics you would want in a partner, this list should include items you will not budge on.  When dating, continually ask yourself if your goals, interests and personal beliefs are in synch with the other persons. You shouldn’t have to compromise these items in an ideal mate.

When You Find Mr. Right, Don't Let Him Go
You can’t find Mr. Right if you are not looking.  Step outside your comfort zone, whether that be asking someone out on a blind date, asking friends to set you up or updating your online profile. When it comes to finding the person of your dreams sometimes you have to be the one to make the first move. If you begin to look for a good relationship with someone of character, you will find one.


From an eharmony email that landed in my inbox.  For more information, go here... Finding Mr. Right.

Picture of the Day 303

October 30th:  1 Timothy 1; Isaiah 31-33; Psalm 119:33-64

"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people:  religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin."

-Linus Van Pelt in "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

Picture of the Day 302

October 29th:  2 Thessalonians 3; Isaiah 29-30; Psalm 119:1-32

"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm."

-Bruce Barton

Quick Thinking

A man boarded a plane with 6 kids.

After they got settled in their seats a woman sitting across the aisle from him leaned over to him and asked, "Are all of those kids yours?"

He replied, "No.  I work for a condom company.  These are customer complaints."

Ok, I can laugh about this because I deal sometimes with customer complaints.  HAHA, funny...

Birthday Combo

Guess what?  Yep, that's right.  It's time to reconnect you with what's been going on in my life.  Which means that I'm all caught up with my daily bible reading!  

Is it bad that I have to go back through my pictures to see what I've done, or that I've documented?  Let's see, I told you about Florida, more or less.  Oh!  I think next was George and Anthony's joint birthday shindig!  Such fun!

Pictures?  You wanna see pictures?  You think I took pictures?  Oh, you know me too well.

Birthday Boy #1 George with his lovely girlfriend Devon.  (Can I just point out right now that I did a fine job setting these 2 up.)

Me...taking a shot...with the guys...  I was pretty much trying to prove that I'm tough.  And I am.  I just shouldn't be trying to be tough when it comes to 151.

Birthday Boys opening their foil wrapped gifts.  Anthony thought the foil was great fun!

At one point some of us went outside to sit by the toasty fire.  It was sometime around now that I broke the wine glass I was using and cut my finger.  I just didn't realize until about an hour later that I was injured.  Don't worry, it was just a minor flesh wound that healed nicely.

 Me and 2 studs!  Birthday Boy Anthony and Birthday Boy George.  2 of my very dear friends.

 

 Katie and me.  It's a good pictures, I think.

 

 Darren, Katie, and Jenn (Mrs. Anthony).  They're so goofy!

 

 And I will close this post with the obligatory self-photo.  Cause everyone loves them.  And well, I don't go an outing, party, or trip without taking one.

 

To see more pictures from the birthday bash go here.