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Lately, I've been having bursts of creative energy. Nothing consistent. Just bursts.
Something else I've been having are vivid dreams. It's really starting to get creepy how well I can remember my dreams each morning when I wake up. I wonder if that's why I feel as though I haven't been sleeping well.
I've had a lot of thoughts racing through my head. Many amazing things happening this year. Once in a lifetime trips.
In less than a week I will be beach-bound. I can hardly stand it I'm so excited! I can almost feel the sand beneath my feet and smell the salty ocean breeze. I think what I am most looking forward to is the heat and getting a little bit of color on my pale vampire-esque skin. I can't really complain about the temperature, because we had the most mild winter that I can ever remember, but this last month has been filled with a lot of rain and gloom. Plus, since I've been working I haven't been able to enjoy every sun-filled day we've had lately. The countdown is on, and I'm getting giddy just thinking about it!!
In 4 months I will be packing for another trip. China here we come!! My sisters and I are going with Show Hope to their medical center Maria's Big House of Hope that helps orphans that have medical needs that can not be attended to in the local orphanages. I'm so excited to go and show those sweet little ones God's love!
I've recently been trying to be better about doing a daily bible study. If I'm being honest it's been hard being consistent. That's always seemed to be my problem. I've definitely been doing better. It's just a conscious effort that I have to make every day. It takes longer to reap a good habit than it does a bad it would seem.
In fact, since I'm thinking about it, I'm going to go make myself a grilled cheese and settle on the couch with my Bible and book. No sense in wasting the next 5 hours before work since I'm up early.

Until....

Thankful...

I was thinking last night about some of the things I'm thankful for. I know November has come and gone, which I'm sure is the month rated highest for posts listing what a person is thankful for, but I say you can be thankful all year round. So here is a brief list of what I'm thankful for these days in no particular order...

sleep
chocolate
the Bible
my Sisters
DVR
skinny jeans with comfy boots
internet
books
my Parents
phone conversations with my mom
spending Sundays in Church
my co-workers
laughter
coffee
ability to travel
water
sunshine
good movies
music
cotton tshirts
the ocean
cameras
comfy blankets
hair ties and bobby pins
my dad's banana bread
good friends

This just scratches the surface. I'm sure I could go on and on if I thought long enough. Oh, I just thought of one...pain reliever...for my headache. Yea... that's s definite one to be thankful for. I think I'll go get some now.

Until......

First Snow...

Well the first snow of the year fell yesterday. It was kind of exciting. I love the look of fresh fallen snow. :) This cold weather that accompanies it is not my favorite, however. Makes me miss this...

My Christmas tree is up. My first Christmas tree in my first home. :) It's so pretty. One thing I know is that Christmas decorations are expensive when you have to start from scratch. I am very thankful for my $8 tree from last years Black Friday sales.

Speaking of Christmas.... I LOVE Christmas music! Thanksgiving night as I drove to work I popped in a Christmas cd and listened to my Christmas song of the year and it automatically put me in a better mood. I spent Thanksgiving night with the babies and played Christmas music all night long. The babies really enjoyed it. :)

Speaking of Christmas music... Have you heard the new song by Matthew West? It's called 'One Last Christmas'. It's a song written about and for Dax Locke and his family. Talk about bringing out the ugly cry. I had to turn the radio down tonight when it came on. Not because I don't like it, but because I don't think it's socially acceptable to be sobbing in the Starbucks drive thru. Take a listen... at your own risk. Oh, and the video makes it 10x worse!


There is a Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family. I so enjoy these movies. The books are better (as are most books that are made into movies), but I still enjoy the movies. I still haven't seen Part 1 of the last movie. I don't know what I'm waiting for. I think part of me knows that if I see the first one now it will drive me nuts to not see the rest. I also want to see the Disney movie Tangled. I've heard its really cute, so I might have to go see that soon.

I'm off for six days from work and my goal is to finish my Christmas shopping so I can stop spending money. I think my next credit card bill is going to give me an aneurysm! I'm trying to keep my focus on what this season is really about. It's a little difficult because I'm reminded that I could be potentially be working both Christmas Eve and Christmas. :( I'm on call Christmas Eve and work Christmas Day. I'm so sad that I won't get to spend that time with my family, but I see this time of year as a time for serving, and if by serving that means taking care of the babies both nights then that is what I will do.

Keep Warm!

Until....

Indian Summer (alternately 10-10-10)

I was feeling like I was the only one that hadn't done a post titled "10-10-10" today, so I thought I'd get it out of the way....

I have not been able to stop humming Brooks and Dunn's song 'Indian Summer'. I can just hear Ronnie Dunn singing that chorus in my head. I love Fall and this Indian Summer is kind of cramping my style here. How am I supposed to be cuddled underneath a blanket with my fuzzy socks on if it's 80+ degrees outside??? However, as much as I love Fall weather I am trying to enjoy this weather because I know it will be fleeting and in a months time I will be craving warmer weather when it's only 40 degrees out. Although, you know what, it'll probably be longer than a month because in a months time I will be sailing the ocean blue on my cruise. :) Hopefully the weather will be like it is right now. Eighty plus degrees and sunny.
I should probably start making my list of things to take now. As long as I have my complete list I can put off packing until the day before I leave. :) Nothing like being a well thought out procrastinator.

I've picked up a new hobby recently. Crocheting. I kept seeing all of these cute hats and thought that I should just try it. I've tried knitting in the past and it just did not go well. There were too many things my hand had to control and I wasn't any good at it. Crocheting however is much easier to me. I watched an online video tutorial and just started doing it. I'm halfway done and it's looking quite funny right now. According to the video it looks wavy for a little bit, so I'm hoping that it straightens out soon otherwise I'm going to have a pretty interesting looking hat on my hands. :)

Today at church the sermon was on Esther and how obedient and courageous she was to stand up for her people and her faith. She is truly someone from the Bible I admire. I've always loved her story and haven't been able to stop thinking about it all day.

Well that is all for now I guess...

Until...

KFC Double Down

"Double Meat.

Double Cheese.

Double Bacon."

Double Bypass???

These Are the Times I'm Glad I'm Not a Parent...

Every year the "toy gurus" publish a long list of must have toys that parents are pretty much supposed to break their necks to purchase at Christmas time. It never ceases to amaze me the utterly creepy toys that are "must haves".
Take for example:

Sing-A-M-Jigs-- "There’s more to these tiny, plush critters than meets the eye. Press their bellies and you’ll reveal a tiny singing mouth, press their hands and you’ll hear a range of singing options. Sing-A-Ma-Jigs can sing tunes, chatter away or even sing in harmony with each other." They seem cute, but something is just "off" about them, and I'm not sure what.

Bigfoot the Monster-- "Okay, this might be a little much to pay for what basically amounts to a plastic toddler, but with the ability to talk, walk, chew, burp and throw a ball, this remote control beast could be an instant hit with your kid." This is $109! Why would anyone pay that much for a toy that is modeled after something people fear? I think not. Plus, he's two days short of a unibrow and someone should really get him some giant plastic tweezers.

Monster High Cleo DeNile and Deuce Gorgon-- "C’mon, what’s not cool about high school monsters with freaky pets? Cleo DeNile is the daughter of the Mummy and Deuce is the son of Medusa. A rat and a snake keep them company at Monster High." Absolutely NOT! No kid of mine would ever be playing with a toy named "Deuce".

Lalaloopsy Doll-- "While they look like regular rag dolls, every Lalaloopsy character comes with its own special history, including the day it was sewn, what it was sewn from (painter’s smock, clown costume, baker’s apron), and how that history has infused the doll with a special personality—artist, goofball, sugar-lover, you get the idea." This one seems cute, but it raises too many questions. For instance, did they wash the clothes they got from said painter, clown, and baker? Can the history really be "infused" into the doll? Is the doll all of a sudden going to come to life and start painting like Jackson Pollack or chopping onions like Rachel Ray? And because you have the chance of getting one with clothes made from a clown that is creepy enough in itself. Clowns are creepy people.

And amazingly parents read these articles and buy these scary toys for their kids and their kids love them! Zhu Zhu pets anyone?! *shudder*

I'm so glad I don't have kids to make me feel obligated to buy these toys. Hopefully my kids will want to play with regular old tonka trucks or baby dolls...

Until....

Rained out...Boo!

Well the weather was looking pretty ominous this morning and after about 20 minutes the P-fest parade was canceled because of thunder and lightening. On the way back to the car a steady rain turned into a down pour! What a bummer! It rained for about 25 minutes and then it stopped and hasn't done more than sprinkle a little since. Too bad they couldn't have just delayed the parade or started an hour early. :/

I went with Robin's family to Qdoba for lunch (because apparently I am the "aunt" now according to Ava) and then I came home. I had some plans to maybe run to Target and Barnes and Noble, but as I sit here I am getting more and more tired. Maybe a power nap is in order first.

Until....