I've been wanting to post some of this but I also wanted to participate in the favorite room blog at Kelly's Korner.
Do you ever just have several days in a row that are just crazy--busy, hectic, confusing, tiring, laborsome? Where you feel like you go and go and wonder...Am I ever going to get ahead? Will I be able to rest again? It's just been an odd 3 days for me. Here goes...
Wednesday
I am having family at my house on Friday night and then we are having 25-30 people at our house on Saturday for Katie's 8th Birthday celebration. Katie is my cousin's step daughter. Right now, Eric is stationed in Maryland so we volunteered our house and Bryan's grilling services to help out Whitney and make sure Katie had a party. I worked on my list of to do and to buy items all day.
I decided I wouldn't go to church that night but instead I would stay home and get the house cleaned, the deep cleaning kind of cleaning. I had to do it on Wednesday because I needed to get the yard ready on Thursday. I had told Bryan I would focus on everything because he needed to prepare his Sunday School lesson before this weekend since we were booked up. DO NOT SKIP CHURCH TO CLEAN YOUR HOUSE!!! At about 7:00 Wednesday night I had major stomach/digestive issues and I was in the bathroom at least 4 times in 45 minutes. I was miserable!!!!!! I didn't get finished cleaning until after 11:00 and went to bed around 12:00 Midnight!!!!
Thursday
Such a very tiring day....I left work early (3:45 pm) and did the following
1. Went to bank, deposited check, and got cash.
2. Went to Academy to buy a shirt I had seen but decided I didn't like so I left without anything.
3. Went to jewelry store to buy the present for my cousin who is turning 30 on June 4th.
4. Stopped by a sno cone stand. This was one I hadn't tried before. I ordered a Margarita sno cone with extra sour. The girl was younger than I was, had a yucky piercing, and looked at me like I was from outer space!! I felt very very old.
5. I was talking to my older sister Jennifer when I drove away from the sno cone stand and I barely missed a man in a wheel chair wheeling through the parking lot!! Scared me to death!! I decided to cut the call shorter.
6. Went to Wal-mart to pick up some additional flowers for the deck and two plastic chairs. Paid for everything and realized once I got to the car, one of the chairs was cracked so I had to go back in and get another one. On top of this it felt like it was 110 degrees!! I haven't grown accustomed to the warmer weather.
7. Stopped by a child's clothing store to pick up a present for Katie. I didn't like anything I saw and felt some of the items were slightly inappropriate for an 8 year old.
8. Went to JCPenney's and bought Katie a birthday present.
9. Drove through drive thru at Taco Bell and ordered a bean burrito, no onions with extra red sauce. I asked the clerk if they had sweat tea and he said "Let me make sure we have some made." 7 seconds later. "Yes we do" So I ordered a sweat tea. Do you know what I got. Bean burrito with NO extra red sauce and unsweet tea. I didn't take it back because I had to get home and start on the yard. For future reference...DO NOT MESS WITH MY BEAN BURRITOS AND SWEET TEA!!!! It is not a joking matter! :)
10. Mowed and trimmed the front yard.
11. Put down remaining mulch.
12. Swept entry and sidewalk
13. Washed front windows and front storm door.
14. Watered flowers
15. Began mowing the back yard. I wanted to bag it but it kept getting clogged. I ended up having to leave 1/3 of it undone and Bryan said he would finish it tonight before cooking the steaks. Very frustrating!!! I trimmed the back yard but I had to change the string at least 15 times. I promise I don't think I'm exaggerating. I just could not do the back yard right. I lost it. I was frustrated. I wanted to get everything done and not carry anything over to Friday. Bryan found me on the deck in the dark crying. I was physically and mentally worn out. I just wanted to get things done!!!
16. Took a very long shower and shrubbed my legs and toes. They were nearly stained green!!!
17. Went to bed!!!!!
Friday
1. I woke up, wide awake, at 2:30 am this morning and I've been up every sense then!!! I nearly broke down and bought a Monster energy drink on the way to work this morning but I didn't!!!
2. After I couldn't get back to sleep I went into the office (at home) at 3:00 am and put photos in my album. The good thing about waking up so early is you get a few things done. I even journaled a little in the albums.
3. While driving to work I encountered a rude driver. While I was driving down a city street I put on my blinker (promise I did), looked behind me (promise I did), saw a white mazda behind me, and switched lanes. I am completely truthful in saying there was plenty of room between me and the mazda. The driver honked at me ever so rudely. There was no need to honk so loudly and I mean she was laying on her horn. It hurt my feelings especially in my fragile, tired state! A little further down the road I wanted to get back over. Apparently I didn't get over fast enough and the same white mazda laid on her horn again!!! I just couldn't figure out what she had against me. I politely got over and never looked to my side when she drove by. Funny thing was we each took 2 separate routes to get onto the interstate and guess what......I got on the interstate first!!! So Ha Ha to you white Mazda in Oklahoma!!!
4. I have to go home and make 28 hamburger patties!!!!
It just seemed like in nearly everything I did, I ran up against some snags! Uggghhhh!!!!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Crazy Days
My Favorite Room / My Favorite Things
A very special blogger friend, Kelly, is doing a wonderful post!! We are to post pictures of our favorite room in our house. Check out her Wednesday May 28th blog for tons of wonderful other bloggers and their favorite rooms.
I do not have a favorite room in our house yet because all of our rooms and even our house is a work in progress. Right now, Bryan's focus has been on trying to get the vinyl siding complete (he is doing it himself) so we have not updated anything on the inside. Hopefully this winter. The two rooms that I like most are my bedroom and the living room. I posted pictures of them as well as some of the items in the rooms that make them special. I hope you enjoy
This is our bedroom looking from the master bathroom. It's very tiny but I love our bed. We've only had it for about 2 years and I just bought new bedding and curtains this year. I saved and saved and saved to get just what I wanted instead of settling.
The bear with the "B" came with some cologne I bought Bryan for Christmas one year. He wears Burberry. I kept it since obviously his name starts with a B.
I worked very hard picking out these curtains, and I love the color. I need to get a different curtain rod, but I had already hit my budget with these curtains. The sales associate was very helpful. I kept asking her what she thought...should I go with a valence or should I have something longer. I wanted to make sure they matched the bed skirt. I don't think she really cared. I think she just wanted me to make a purchase and quit taking up her time.
My night stand and a close up of the books I'm reading. I have a HORRIBLE habit of starting several books at one time. No wonder I'm so scatter brained. Everything runs together.
This cross and picture are also in our bedroom. I got them both at Affair of An Affair of the Heart. When my life gets hectic, I get tired, and I just need to think I often lay on my bed and gaze at these. They help me put things in a better perspective.
Our master bathroom (very little) is done in animal print. This is actually a quilt rack I bought but I think it fits well in our (my) bathroom.I bought this plaque (not sure what to call it) with my niece Kayla last Fall when Bryan and I were really focusing on trying to start a family. Kayla helped me pick it out. I told her I wanted to hang it right outside our room so each time we walked out the bedroom door we would see it and be reminded to BELIEVE God will give us a family. Although it did not occur the way we had hoped, I have left this up and we still BELIEVE God will give us a child.
Here are some pictures of our living room. This is still a room in progress (we need to carpet and paint and tile). I had a garage sale and saved up for the new couch and love seat.Looking into the living room from the hallway. The next picture is looking from our eating area.
My father-in-law bought this old dresser for me and re-finished it. They gave it to me as part of my graduation present from college. It sits in our entry way. I'm very proud and honored to have it. He also bought this cedar chest and re-finished it as well. They gave it to me for Christmas the year before Bryan and I married.
The glass jar with cross top is filled with the flowers family and friends sent to us after our last tubal pregnancy. I wanted to somehow keep them as a reminder of our friends and their love and God's goodness. I have another one in our kitchen.
The yellow roses and purple flowers came in a huge bouquet from Bryan's co-workers. This bouquet alone filled up one jar.
This is one of my favorite walls in our living room. It is right above the cedar chest. I need reminders of faith, hope, love, joy, and peace surrounding me.
This next picture is a quilt rack that is in our entry opposite of the antique dresser. These quilts are very special to me. The one on the left was made by my great-great-grandma and my great grandma on my mother's side. The one in the middle was made by my Poppy's mother. I never got to meet her. Granny gave me this quilt after Poppy died. It is very special to me.
I bought these blocks at Affair of the Heart as well. My dear friend Kristine gave me the bear and because she gave it to me and it has the OU sweater on, I cannot put it away out of sight!!!! Actually, everything on this shelf has special meaning but I will not take up space with the details now.
This picture and vase sit on top of our entertainment center. The vase holds the roses Bryan sent to me for our 10 year Wedding Anniversary.
Lastly, I love old white pitchers. I have collected several over the years and due to space limitations I have quit collecting them. Here is my collection. Excuse the border. It was in the house when we bought it. I'm not a huge wallpaper fan (If I had anything I'd rather it be stencil so if I changed my mind I could paint over it). I hope I didn't offend anyone who loves wall paper. It is pretty in homes but it isn't my personal first choice.
I included way more than I intended but I didn't know where/when to stop. I'm sorry if I bored you. My house is not the newest, it isn't the biggest, and it isn't the fanciest. But God has provided a home we can easily afford and we are looking forward to making the upgrades and perhaps selling it in 3-4 years.
Have a great weekend.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Prayer Request for Super Summer
Please pray for Kristine as she leads these girls. Pray she will be full of the spirit and have the boldness for Christ she needs to make a positive impact on these students. Pray for physical and mental strength for both her and Jeron.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Its Official.....I think I have an addiction....
Guess what we did again for the 4th night in a row....................
Don't judge the way I look! It was 9:00 at night. You're lucky I wasn't in my pj's!!! I wanted my picture and Bryan made me pose next to the snow cone sign!! Otherwise, he would not have taken the picture for your viewing pleasure!! In the past 4 nights/evenings/afternoons we have been to 3 snow cone stands. I have them rated!! I've gotten the same flavor at each one. I like the salty and sour flavor. I think I have issues and may need some kind of therapy. Bryan tasted mine and his face wrinkled up. His favorite is banana and coconut. How boring!!! Just kidding, Buddy!! There are so many flavors to choose from.
Do you like snow cones? What is your favorite flavor?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend
What a 3 Day Weekend!! I knew I should have stopped to blog throughout the weekend so I didn't end up with such a long post, but as you know I didn't and for that I'm sorry. Bryan and had a great 3 days together. We started our weekend off with visiting the new theatre in town to watch the new Indiana Jones movie.The new Warren Theatre is very nice and we loved it. Sorry I didn't get any pictures of the theatre but we went to the late show and I didn't even take my purse in. We ate at the Waffle House. Not many people like it and think it is kind of yucky but we had ate there years ago when the new Star Wars movie came out and Bryan thought it was neat to re-create that. The 9:00 pm showing was sold out on Friday so we ended up going at 10:30 pm!!!!!!!!!! I have not gone to a movie that late in a loooooooong time!!! I'm getting to old to do that!!! I liked the movie overall but I thought the ending could have been different. Let me know once you see it and I'll explain!! :)
If you are still reading this, thanks for sticking it out. Sorry it was lengthy!!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Step Class Flunkie
Brooklyn and I met at the YMCA Thursday and did the Step Class. I've discovered I think I am an official Step Class Flunkie!! I just am not coordinated enough. And I can't keep up. I felt like a ding dong!! Everyone seemed hot and out of breath except me. It was because I wasn't moving as fast and I didn't know as many moves!! I have no idea what a hot water heater move looks like. When I watched the instructor it didn't look like a hot water heater. Then there was a reverse step....well I barely got the normal step down!!! I think Brooklyn and I may do kick boxing or a cardio class next week. Wish us luck!! I envied the Jazzercise Queen (Caroline) last night !!!!!!
Bryan met us at Mazzios for pizza afterwards. I know, I know. Working out and then pizza is not a good combination. Bryan is the greatest. He beat us there and ordered for us. The girls were great (stayed in their chairs at the table) and ate very well. We enjoyed our time with Brooklyn, Ava, Stella, and little Boston. Jorge had to work :( Have a great Memorial Day celebration everyone!! I am off work on Monday and I hope to get several of my projects accomplished!! We hope to stay around the house all weekend long, except for church!!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Adoption Seminar Recap
I've been trying to think how I can summarize the adoption workshop Bryan and I went to on Saturday. There's just no way. Perhaps the biggest statement would be it was very enlightening, informative, and convicting. And at the same time it was also a very sweet time to share with Bryan. There were 13 breakout sessions but you could only go to 3 and they were 45 min - 1 hour long. I wanted to have more opportunities for breakout and longer sessions!! The information we received was very valuable.
The workshop was hosted by Hope Ministry. Their theme verse is "Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their distress." James 1:27. I got tears in my eyes when this came on the screen. Poor Bryan was probably thinking.....this is going to be a long day! :) But seriously, think about that verse....Pure and LASTING religion involves caring for the orphans.
Our day started with hearing a story from an adoptive mother's perspective. At lunch, we heard the testimony of a birth mother and her experience of giving her child for adoption. The choice for adoption proved to be a pivotal event in Crystal's life that God used to lead her away from a life of abuse, drugs, and alcohol. Since her daughter was born she has lead an abortion alternative ministry and is an advocate for pro-adoption, pro-life legislation in Oklahoma. To be completely honest, I had not put much thought or prayer into our birth mother. I had viewed it as a means to get what Bryan and I so desperately want. But God used her testimony to show us both we MUST begin praying for the birth mother now. Pray for her well being, guidance, and spirituality. God showed us Saturday we can use this adoption to minister to the birth mother. That was just one of the BIG lessons we learned.
Bryan and I chose to go to these 3 breakout sessions: Domestic Adoption, Creative Ways to Finance Your Adoption, and Home Study 101. There were others on Transracial Adoption, Profile Books, Ages and Stages of Adoption, Mentoring, and Fostering. We chose these 3 because this was the areas we really wanted some clarity and factual information on at this point in our journey. We are interested in the others but we couldn't get past these 3 until we understood it more. Does that make sense? I could have sat for hours in each session but time was very limited... :( Would you believe I cried and kept crying in the Finance session!!! Who would cry over the federal tax credit!! I'm crazy!! I felt like a crazy doedoe. The presenter went over the tax credit in detail and how that plays out over a few years. It just really showed us this is completely possible and we can do it. It isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I was just grateful God has blessed us and provided a way. The numbers do not look as bad as I had thought they would. Bryan was quick to remind me he never doubted we could do it!! :) In short the financial session was very encouraging. We left there uplifted.
All along I had thought there were only about 3 agencies available that facilitated adoptions. Nope!! I learned there are several more in the state of OK!! Thank you God!!! I truly saw the grace of God throughout this day in just giving us information and then in encouragement. It is very hard to explain. Thank you for being patient with my rambling. But Praise God Today!!!
Dinner last night:
Would you believe I cooked last night for the first time in a very long time (I know exactly how long but I'm not going to tell you for fear of shame and judgement..hee hee). I know breathe, everyone take a breath. I was shocked too. I tried something new Bryan and I found at the grocery store.
I love boneless Buffalo Wild Wings and I had been buying the Tyson frozen already season bag. We found this wing sauce and decided to try to make our own. I cut up 3 chicken breast, seasoned them with salt, pepper, and lemon pepper. Coated them with egg and flower and then fried the little pieces. Then I poured this sauce mixed with butter over the cooked chicken. My husband loved them!!! Absolutely loved them!! He was so complimentary! The finished product looks scary in picture but they were pretty crazy good.
I have a goal to eat at home every day this week! Seriously. Tonight is roast, green beans, and scalloped potatoes. Wish me luck!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Our Borrowed Prince
WE WERE BLESSED!!! WE WERE BLESSED!!! On Friday night Bryan and I were set to watch the Gorton girls. We all ate a wonderful meal cooked by Jorge and Brooklyn and the girls went to bed soon after that. We hadn't planned to but we also kept Boston!!! Brooklyn fed him right before leaving and I volunteered to keep him to. Why not....He was fed and the girls were in bed and there was no need for Jorge and Brooklyn to take Boston unless they just absolutely had to and they were only going to be gone 2 1/2 hours or so and they would be getting back in time for his next feeding. Plus, it would give us time to have Boston all to ourselves!!! We loved it!! Thank you Jorge and Brooklyn for sharing your children!!
Bryan was watching the basketball game. It looks like Boston was going to sock Bryan. I love seeing Boston watching Bryan in this picture.
New Bloggers
Please give a hearty welcome to some new bloggers!!!!
You've read about Brooklyn and her family on my blog. Now go welcome her to the blog world!!!! Her and Jorge are very dear friends of ours. I work for her in-laws. I love the Gorton family!!! Get to know her and introduce yourself!!!!
Vicki and Jeff Sears are also friends of ours. In fact, the Gortons, Sears, and Haskins are all in the same Sunday School calss. Go check our her blog as well and welcome her. She has two adorable girls!! Jeff is an engineer and has that in common with Bryan. Vicki is a very sweet person.
I had a very fast and furious weekend and I'll blog about the adoption workshop sometime today. I've got to get to some more pressing things right now.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Weekend Plans
Bryan and I are excited. We are attending our first adoption seminar Celebration of Created Families this Saturday. Check out the link and look at the itinerary. A lot of areas will be covered. We have been registered for sometime now. It looks like it will be very informative and offer some insight into various topics surrounding adoption and the process. We remain on the "interested family" list at my dr's office, but we have not taken any other major steps toward adoption (speaking to other agencies, etc). We have an idea when we may start taking more steps but I'll expand on that at a later time.
Tonight we are eating with Jorge and Brooklyn Gorton at their house. They are going to a graduation party so Bryan and I will be watching the two girls tonight. They usually go to bed around 7:30 - 8:15 so I'm taking laundry over to fold and my photo album and pictures to work on. I'm not sure what Bryan is going to do.......fold clothes maybe!!!
Have a wonderful weekend!!!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Washington DC Bound (Hopefully!!!)
I'm so excited I can hardly think straight!!!! There is a 90% chance Bryan and I will be going to Washington DC July 1 - July 7!!!! I hope I haven't jinks us by already mentioning the possibility!!!! ha ha ha I'm so excited at the possibility of being in our nation's capital during Independence Day!!!! I was in DC in 1995!!! And I know a lot has changed! I cannot wait!!! I'm working on finding our flights now. We are flying to Baltimore since my cousin Eric will be at an army base near Baltimore. We plan on seeing him as much as possible but we also want to really see DC and the sights around there. His wife and step-daughter are also going so we should all have a great time and make lots of wonderful memories.
I want to hear from you. Have you been to DC? Do you have suggestions on what to see or what not to see? Any thoughts on means of transportation?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Camping at the Speed of Light
Bryan asked me to take this picture. This is part of the golf course at Roman Nose. The t box is in the front of the picture and then you hit (I don't know what the correct golf term is) across the canyon to get to the hole!!!! You can see that in the far back of the picture.
We had a fast paced weekend. We went to Sunday School at our church Sunday and then bootscooted quickly down to Ada to spend the day with Granny and my mom for mother's day. Bryan spent the afternoon with his mom too.
My mom and I on Mother's Day at Granny's House.
I'm picking her up tonight and taking her to dinner/shopping as her Mother's Day gift. We should have some quality fun time together.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Trash Cans
Roman Nose State Park. My family is meeting my Aunt and Uncle there tomorrow and Bryan had the idea of going up tonight after work and tent camp. I'm excited. We haven't done that in a long time. I've checked.....and the comfort stations do have electricity so I can use my chi flat iron so I will look halfway decent!!! And, they do have running water. I hope I get to see some gorgeous views. Both of us are looking forward to some seclusion and opportunities to talk and talk and talk. Due to his schedule the past 3 weeks we haven't had a lot of uninterrupted, undistracted time. We may go hiking. I haven't done that in a while but I'm game to do whatever gets me time with my man!!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Fun Filled Weekend
I've been trying to catch up from this weekend. On Friday our nieces and nephew spent the night with us. Bryan and I took them out for pizza and then bowling. Whitney and Katie went with us and then we all went back to the house and watched movies and ate Braum's ice cream (which I did not need!!!). It was a great time!!! But I was worn out!!! Then on Saturday morning, I had a birthday brunch to attend, then we had lunch with our Sunday School teachers, then Bryan and I went to Lowe's and bought an extension ladder so he could get back to working on the siding on our house, then I raked, picked up, and mowed our back yard. Then on Sunday we had a lunch at our Sunday School teacher's house for our entire class. Needless to say we did get a nap in on Sunday. Whew weeee!!!! This week, I'm trying to really clean our house....a little each evening. We have a busy weekend so I need to get it done ahead of time!
My niece, Rachel and I
DO NOT MAKE FUN OF MY BOWLING SCORE!!!! I only bowled an 81 but I beat Bryan!! I never beat Bryan. He excels at everything!!! I just had to have a picture as proof in case we forgot some day.
Our family for the evening and Saturday morning!!