Reading

I am all about the written word. I love words. I love reading. I love talking. I am a social person (when in my comfort zone). When asked what I would do with an hour of free, uninterrupted time, my answer would be give me a book, a comfortable chair, and my mocha.

I am kind of a genre snob. I will say right now, I am not interested in, nor will I be reading anything with Vampires. I don't care much for Sci-Fi or Fantasy. Murder is borderline-give me a mystery with murder written by Dick Francis or John Grisham, I'm perfectly happy, but none of this graphic gore. I am also not into the smutty romances. I have a steamin' hot love life and don't care to read about anyone else's.

I happen to be one of those people that believe we need to be true to ethics and ideals, even in choosing what to read. I haven't read very many books that I don't like (I can probably count on both hands in my lifetime the books I've been angry once I finished reading it because of the waste of my time). I think I've only started to read 3 books in the last year (2010) that I couldn't finish because they were too weird, stupid, or just NOT my thing. However, most books, I will finish, even if I don't like it. I feel like I owe my husband an apology,  and I need to give a book he recommended to me 4 years ago, another try. It was sci-fi so I'd already decided I didn't like it before I even opened the first page.

However, I just started a book club and our first official book is Eat Pray Love. I really liked the first section where she was in Italy. Now, I'm in the middle where she is in India and I'm having a hard time with the Eastern Religion and meditating etc. These are my personal opinions so don't get your panties in a wad...I believe in meditating on God, on the Word (in Scripture-which for me, would be the Holy Bible). I am also a bit offended at the grouping of all religions as if Jesus and Buddah are equals because to me, they are not. SO, I'm really struggling with it. Being the leader of the group, I feel bad that I let someone else suggest the book to other poor, unsuspecting souls. I will finish the book because of the book club, but I find I may skip the rest of the trip in India.

Whatsoever things are pure, holy and just, think on these things....Phillipians 4:8

Weight Loss

Ok, I've updated my weight loss blog too. It was kind of freeing in a way.

Anyways, if you want to read it: gettingtherechair.blogspot.com

I got signed up for something called BlogFrog. I'm still not sure how that happened. I have come across a few new blogs I enjoy reading, but I'm just not ready for all the world to know my failings...which are many. So anyways, I might have changed the privacy settings on that one. If you want to read it, let me know and I'll send you an invite.

Feeling blue today-besides the fact that it is really stinking cold (30 degrees), Jeremey is sitting in the Salt Lake City airport waiting to board a plane for Austin (at least I think that is the final destination). I think this is the first night we've spent apart since December 2009! Well, of course, when I stayed at my brothers house we weren't together, but at least we were in the same town. He gets there late tonight, works tomorrow and then his plane gets to Boise at 11:47pm...add an hour drive to that with getting luggage etc.,

I decided to do a few returns tonight since the little ones will be at the house the rest of the week. This will give me some alone time as well...even though it's just not the same. To me, great alone time would be getting a pedicure or a massage...but, I'll choose to enjoy it, run my errands quickly so I can get home and curl up on the couch to watch The Biggest Loser. And without him there to laugh at me, I can cry if I want to. haha

kids!?!?!

It's been a busy year...all 9 days of it seem to have been non-stop. We took last Sunday off from church (not good, I know) and spent the day together alone, then spent the week working at the store.

Amber has joined a women's soccer league and her games were scheduled for Friday and Saturday (apparently they change the schedule at will and its your responsibility to look). She played Friday night and then Saturday, we all went to the store and Jeremey and I and the 2 oldest, got haircuts. I told Amber to just get a trim and not a new hairstyle since her senior pictures were scheduled for today. When she came out, she had a new style.

This morning, while getting ready for church, she came in the bathroom and said "Mom, what do I do? I hate it!" I am not taking the blame for that one...and I told her so. The next time I saw her was at church and she looked like the lead singer for Def Lepard...it was awful. My cousin Taylor came over to try to make it look nice for the pictures (which it did) and did her makeup, after she had a hysterical crying fit about how she doesn't understand or know what senior pictures are about. WHAT?!?! I told her over a week ago to plan on a couple different outfits as well as what to NOT do with her hair...we'll get the pictures in a couple weeks.

Lexi got asked out by the boy she likes. He took her on a date today (with his mom as chaperone) to see the latest Narnia movie in 3D. She said they had a good time and I really like the kid. haha :)

My brother showed up a church with a girl I've never even heard him talk about before. Guess we'll see how long this lasts. She seemed nice and fixed the little girls' hair with curls and had them in dresses. If she is the right one, I hope it works out.

Well time for a new week to start.

Joy

Watching my little nieces asleep, peaceful, quiet...I am so in love with them as if they were my own little girls. I thought that I got cheated when my thyroid issues made it impossible to get pregnant again, but God knew what I needed and when. 

Tonight...this is pure joy. 

A new year...

I can sit here and think of individual things that have happened over the year and I think to myself, "Really, that was in 2010 too?". When November and December roll around, people start to say, "Where did the year go?", and "I don't know how it's only 'X' weeks before Christmas, seems like we just got done starting school".

I like new year's, new beginnings, Lamentations 3: 23 says God's faithfulness begins fresh each day...we get 365 new beginnings every year that we live! It's a big concept to grasp sometimes that we don't have to wait for January 1st to decide to be a better person, lose weight, make new friends, take up a new hobby or whatever...I can decide to do it today.

I've been horrible at keeping up with my online blog, but I have been keeping a paper journal (sometimes). Some of the things that stand out the most to me about 2010 are:

Meeting my birth sister

My dad's death

having a senior in high school

Starting 2 new brokerages and ending up inactive by the end of the year

Meeting new friends (online and in person)

Winning a Kindle from a local Christian fiction author (Robin Lee Hatcher)

Winning 3 of my favorite books in a series by another favorite Christian author (Bodie Thoene)

Making new business connections

Cutting my hair

2 cabin trips in the forest with my beloved

getting a new car

making amends with my ex-sis-in-law

becoming a certified caregiver to take care of my nieces and nephew

opening a retail store (from receptionist to business owner!!)

networking events I wouldn't normally attend

buying cell phones for the girls at Christmas

Amber & Landi winning FBLA at the state level to go to Nashville, TN this summer

gaining weight! haha...didn't see that coming right?

Gave up Dr. Pepper

Quit eating candy (except for homemade or a quality chocolate for a special treat)

celebrating my only living Grandma's 80th b-day

celebrating my only living Grandpas' 83rd b-day

Grandpa's heart attack and close call with death this summer

Death of a high school friends only sibling (and last living relative)

Being with my little sister by phone just before she gave birth to my niece Kamya (before we'd even met in person!)

supporting our church in the midst of persecution and rebirth

celebrating 3 years of bliss with Jeremey

Appointed the Nyssa Library Board (starting a book club and youth council)

well...I'm sure there are many more things, but these are the biggest things that I am remembering right now. For the most part, a happy year. I thought my dad's death would release me from a lot of pain, but it's still there...just under the surface. I don't have time to cry right now, so I'll 'do it later'. Then a lady that was married to my youth pastor died the next weekend, and my friend Donna's brother Brian died the next. 3 in a row...just before Brian's passing, Grandpa ended up in the hospital and they were talking of bringing in hospice! Not my favorite summer for sure...

I think I have learned some things about myself though...while I know it's important, I have a hard time saying "No, I need this time for myself". I'm going to work on that this year. And while Bible study and spending time with Jesus should first and foremost on my list...it keeps getting bumped so this year, I am making it a priority (and even calendaring) my time in the Word-because He does come first in my heart...I need to give Him more than I do.

And I want to blog more than I ended up doing at the end of 2010, because I know it's theraputic for me to. I find that I listen to my written words better than my mental ones...who knew?

Here's to better fellowship with God, healthy habits to be put in place, and all the love I have to be poured out to my family and friends.

"Never tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon" Unknown