Today…

Well let’s see here, today I got up around 8:30 am since I didn’t have our women’s group this morning.  So I left the house around 9:30 am, went to the cemetery down the street and took some shots of the snow.  It was fun. 

Then this evening, I finally got my new stove.  It is a Kenmore, 30″, flattop range, and made sure it was self cleaning.  That is an absolute must. 

Oh yea, I got a call from my step dad Charlie, and he is going to be here in the morning.  He wants to go to church with us.  He is from Shreveport, Louisiana.  Mom didn’t come up.  He was mainly here to visit his dad in the hospital in Emporia Kansas.  So anyway, he is going to church with us in the morning, then going to my step sister Dee Dee’s house to see the kids and Monday, he will be heading back to Louisiana. 

So I think that was pretty much it that happened today.  Nothing-else to exciting to talk about.  I will write later.   

Much love!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

John 14:1-3

[Jesus said,] “‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’”

The snow is here again…

We got between 2-4 inches of snow last night.  Needless to say, I didn’t go out and shoot any pictures.  I should be able to go out and shoot pictures of the snow today.  The roads were hideous this morning trying to get into work.  I have a 4 x 4 but I know that I am not invincible.  People in other 4 x 4’s were driving like they owned the road.  It was just crazy.

Well the sun is coming out.  YEAH!!!  The temp is only supposed to get to 29.  Still hoping that the sun will melt the snow at least off the roads.  I worry more about my husband in our little car then I do about myself in the truck.  The little car isn’t front wheel drive or 4 wheel drive.  But it has done pretty good.  I am so ready to go home.  It is 10:00 am and I was just told by one of the guys here that he has a printing job for me.  It is about 2000 pages.  I’m going to see if I can do it double sided.  That will at least cut down on the killing of the trees.  Oh, that is irritating.

Well Amanda is sick again.  She keeps bringing the crap over to our house.  Not that I have been feeling great at all this month, but quit bringing the crud over to the house and infecting everyone again.  I don’t want to spend the next month hacking all over again.  I’m still hacking, but I don’t want to keep doing it.  It is getting so old.  I know I am sounding like a whiner, but come on.

Anyway, January, at least the first weekend, will be exciting.  Michelle is coming back into town and will be singing at the Church on the first Sunday and it will be great to see her again.  We miss her.  She moved to Indiana for some other schooling.  Brian is going to get involved in the media up there and I’m sure he will like that. 

Well, I’m going to go and see what all Jeff wants me to print.  Happy happy joy joy!!!  Much love to all!!!

Today’s Bible verse is:

Matthew 11:28

[Jesus said,] “‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’”

Flickr Groups

OK, today I was reading on one of my flickr groups about the different cameras that people use.  One gal was wanting some advice on the Canon Rebel XTi, (my personal favorite) and the Nikon D40.  I felt like I was in a room with fighting children who were, pardon my french, in a pissing match with each other.  I wanted to send both of them to a corner for a time out.  It was absolutely ridiculous.  Why couldn’t it have just been a conversation about what they prefer in a camera instead of what they Hate about the other camera.  Basically wouldn’t it have been best to just tell this gal to go to the store, hold on to each one, of course separately, and figure out which is the best fit for her?  Both cameras are very good and everyone has their differences.  If everyone had the same taste, wouldn’t this world be completely boring?  Yes it would.

Well, hopefully the snow will hold off for a while tonight.  I would really like to get out and take pictures of the Christmas lights still up.  I haven’t had a chance to do that.  Then I can get back and play around with my Photoshop Elements 6.  This book, The Missing Manuel by Barbara Brundage, is a huge book, but it has lots of details in it, and it also gives web addresses that you can go to and get some other lessons.  I’m really wanting to get into the lessons so I know what all to do.  It is exciting.  OK, it is for me. 

Then you have my husband and son at home playing Guitar Hero III and battling each other.  It is funny hearing them both.  One yelling, quit throwing the whammy at me.  And the other one yelling, ha ha, got you again.  They both are totally hysterical.  One day I will take a picture of the two of them playing each other so you can see their faces.  It is so funny.  Although, the picture of the kids playing against each other on Christmas Day is at the beginning of the post.

 Have a great day and try to keep warm.  Love you all!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Psalms 103:1-2

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Back to work…

It was an awesome 4 days off work.  We had a wonderful holiday with our family.  The kids were happy to get everything they got for Christmas and it was good to have them around for the several hours they were at the house.  We also had one of Brian’s friends and his daughter over.  They didn’t have anything to do, so we told him that they were more than welcome to come over.  So what did everyone get for Christmas this year?  I got Photoshop Elements 6 from my husband, my son got me a blanket, my daughter got us a gift together and it was a massager, my dad and step mom got me bath and body works and some underwear, and my aunt got me a sweater.  I told my aunt and brother not to get us anything.  My brother wasn’t there, so I don’t know if he did abide by my wishes or not.  We are supposed to go to his house on the 29th.

Well for the Imagine Christmas at Shoal Creek, the drum-line turned out to be really cool.  Hopefully they will have it up on the website so you can see it.  It should be at http://www.meaningfulchurch.com, and you can also see other services if you would like to see what Shoal Creek is all about. 

Brian and I are going to be starting our leadership groups just after the first of the year.  I will be going Tuesday mornings at 5:30 am, and Brian will be going Thursday evenings at 8:00 pm.  I’m pretty excited about starting but it is the time that will kill me.  That means that I have to get up around 4:30 am to leave the house by 5:00 am.  So that will knock my days down driving to work with Brian to 3 days a week.

Well, even though there isn’t much to do, we do have a spreadsheet that Patty wants for all the municipalities in the metropolitan area.  Woohoo, what fun that will be.  I’m jumping up and down with joy.  Can’t you tell?  LOL. 

Today’s Bible verse is:

Luke 2:28-32

“Simeon took [Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’”

Have a great day and much love to all!!!  XOXOXO

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

Good morning everyone and I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas Holiday.  I took off work today to be with my family and I need to clean up my house, now that my in laws want to have Christmas here instead of their house.  I’m glad it will be here though.  It has been our tradition to have it here since we moved to this house in December of 2003.  I have a few things left to get for presents.  I am so a last minute shopper.  I don’t know why I do that each year, but I do.  I guess I’m nuts.  LOL.

We aren’t going to have the traditional Christmas dinner.  I am actually going to make Spaghetti with sausage, garlic bread, snacks and desserts.  This is the first year that everything is non-traditional.  We’ll see how we like it.  I’m sure next year will be different also.  You just never know with us.

Anyway, Have a very Merry Christmas!!!  Much love to all…XOXOXO

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!

It is a great morning…

Although it is foggy outside, it is a great morning here at work.  We all made breakfast stuff and brought it in and OMG I am so stuffed.  Everything was so good.  We had 3 different breakfast casseroles, buscuits and gravy, fruit, bagels with cream cheese, coffee cake, and I think that is about it.  The part I really didn’t like was I was so excited about what I got last night, that I didn’t go to bed till midnight.  Then I woke up at 1:00 am cause my son wasn’t home yet, so I didn’t fall back to sleep till after 1:30 am.  I woke up at 5:00 am to finish making my gravy.  I am so dead dog tired.  Oh well, I will survive.

We are getting ready to do our “White Elephant Gift Exchange.”  This is going to be fun.  I can’t wait to see what everyone is giving/getting. 

OK, well that was a lot of fun.  I wound up getting 2 candles and some room spray.  One of the funniest gifts was a book called “The book of Bunny Suicides”  it is so funny.

Anyway, I’m going to leave work here shortly, maybe go take some pictures and go home and play on my Photoshop Elements 6.  Woohoo, that is what I got for my Christmas present from my hubby.  I got him a really nice Philips 8 mg mp3/video/picture holder.  I got a great deal on it.

Today’s Bible verse is:

Luke 2:6-7

“While [Joseph and Mary] were [in Bethlehem], the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

I think I have totally lost my mind…

Not that there was much there anyway, but I just can’t seem to function today.  I slept pretty good last night.  I don’t think I moved at all.  Anyway, I walk into work today and Russ brings in a cheese ball.  Just like my mom (Carolyn, my adoptive mom) used to make.  It makes me sad cause I loved my mom’s cheese ball and since she died, 19 years ago, no one has made one.  I could have eaten that whole thing.  But I shared.  LOL.  Then Bryon’s mom (another young man at work) made 2 big huge plates of goodies for him to bring in.  God love them both.  Everything was just yummy.  By December 31, I will be weighing in at 1000 lbs.  LOL.  At least that is how I feel.  I’m almost sick at my stomach eating all this stuff.  I knew I shouldn’t, but it is sooooooo good!!!

I am so needin to take some pictures.  I told my husband that either tonight or tomorrow night I am going to take pictures of the Christmas lights.  We have one neighbor that literally has, if I counted correctly, 15 of those blow up decorations in their front yard alone.  I doubt if they decorated, if that’s what you want to call it, their back yard.  It is absolutely hideous.  But anyway, I want to get pictures of lights and how pretty they are and be able to share them with the church for either the gallery or for background shots that they may need.

Well, I better go, I need to try to get some work done.  Not that there is really anything to do, but I guess I should atleast look busy.  Much love!!!! XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Luke 2:1,4-5

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

I can’t believe…

I missed the Biggest Loser last night.  I never miss a week of it.  Instead, I was watching Saving Grace.  They had the finale on last night and I blew off my regular program.  I am so bummed.  I wanted to see what everyone looked like.  Waaaahhh!!!  OK, whew, I’m over it.  The good thing is that the new Biggest Loser starts January 1st.  They are having it as pairs.  It could be husband & wife, friends, siblings, etc.  I think it will be very interesting.

Well, I found out the other day that Friday evening, my husband is going to spent the evening with his mom.  They are going to go out to eat and just hang out together.  They need to do that, so me and my son and maybe my daughter will go out shopping.  I haven’t spent the money that mom sent me for them yet.  So I’m going to let them choose what they would like to have.  Oh yeah, and I finally got all my Christmas cards done.  It’s about time.

Hope everyone has a great day.  Much love!!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Luke 1:76-78

“‘You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God.’”

This morning…

It was so funny this morning.  As my husband and I are driving to work, he looked at me and asked, “When is Christmas?”  I laughed and said, “Are you serious?”  He was like, “Yes I am, why?”  At that point I was laughing almost hysterically and said, “It’s Tuesday, one week from today.”  He didn’t believe me, and kept asking me if I was serious.  I feel bad for him, I know it’s because he has been sick and just isn’t functioning well.  Poor guy!!!  I’m going to see if I can get him into the Dr. on Thursday.  OK, I did get him in on Thursday cause I just talked to him, and he sounds worse.  Jeez, will we ever get over this stuff?  We also have dental appointment today.  Woo Hoo!!!  Sounds like a complete blast, doesn’t it?  Everything went well at the dentist.  I had a good check up.  YEAH!!!!

So anyway, my husband is going to go out with his mom on Friday and I think I’m going to see if my son and daughter want to go out with me and go Christmas shopping.  I need to do that with my kids.  We just don’t go out that much anymore.  I miss those times.  Especially now that Brian is a senior in High School and Amanda is out of school.  Oh, Brian was asked to apply for a manager in training job at McDonald’s.  Did I already tell you all that?  Probably.  Oh well, I said it again.

But I better go.  I have to go get bird food and a few things from the grocery store.  Much love!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Luke 1:68-70

[Zechariah said,] “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he said through his holy prophets of long ago.”

Sorry I skipped this weekend…

Brian and I just laid around all weekend long.  We both have just been feeling like crap and were feverish.  If I ever get over this stuff, I will be so gosh darn happy.  I did make my cheddar potato chowder and chili over the weekend.  We didn’t even go to church yesterday.  I felt really bad about it, but I didn’t want to be around the kids and infect them with what ever I have.

OK, so I have already come up with my new years resolutions.  Well, of course weight-loss is the number 1 on the list.  I have already set up my chart for my weigh in.  Then the cool part about that is every 30 lbs. I lose, I get $300.00 from work from the wellness program.  How flippin awesome is that.  Not only do we get money, we can get prizes also.  WooHoo SCORE!!!  I will be holding the money back to get new lenses for my camera.  My next resolution goes along with the weight-loss, I want to exercise more.

Holy Cow!!!  I just got called into my bosses office.  Of course I’m thinking, what did I do?  But it is bonus time.  I am so shocked at what I got.  Glad we got it today.  It is awesome.  We didn’t think we were getting them until Thursday.  What a nice surprise.

I better go, I’m going to finish my lunch.  Have a good day.  Much love!!! XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Matthew 1:20-21

“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’”