Killing Time

Well, they pushed our flight back and we now have 2 1/2 hours to kill. We started walking around the airport and discovered that Milwaukee has a good sense of humor... Check it out:

Ha ha ha!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Uh Ooooohhhhh

Trying to get to the airport to catch our flight and we hit traffic... I didn't know this was considered "traffic", though. (Notice the lack of brake lights...)

Ha!
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Rainy Day

Well, its a rainy day in Minnesota. We're on our way to see Grandma S, so hopefully it'll slow down a bit for our visit.

I'm trying to take lots of pictures for you guys so you can meet the family when we get home...

I guess we'll see you guys again soon!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Are you KIDDING me?!

I cannot believe this! Check out the list for yourself but here's some of the cancelled shows I cannot believe are being shut down!


Cancelled/Not returning:
Eli Stone - I thought this was an awesome show - I can honestly say that I saw the cancellation coming, but that doesn't mean I like it!
Privileged - SO loves this show! I mean... even McStudly got into it with me. It was so what I needed and I love Joanna Garcia.
Pushing Daisies - What?! There never has been and unfortunately probably never will be another show quite like it. You could TRY to re-work the plot and make another, but it'll never be like the story-telling and addicting show that it is. ...and I HAVE to know what happens with them!!!
Samantha Who? - Totally funny. Christina Applegate is a hoot and the characters are so good together. Not to mention I just laugh throughout the majority of it!
Kings - Seriously?! For real?! Come ON people! It was only beginning. They hadn't even gotten to the GOOD stuff, yet. I bet this show would do WONDERS if they'd just give it one more season.
Worst Week - I'm SO MAD! They JUST had the baby in the last episode. So much more could go wrong for these people... why can't you just let us enjoy their realistically clumsy lives in a world where everything isn't peachy and predictable? I like the break from drama drama see-it-coming-from-a-mile-away-drama.


SO Glad they're Safe:
Bones - I. Have. to. Know. What. Happens. NEXT!! That season finale KILLED me!!
Big Bang Theory - Just a good light laugh, and you don't have to worry if you miss an episode...
Castle - I really like this new show. Even though it's way unrealistic, the characters have good chemistry and it'll be interesting to see how the story develops even more.
Chuck - One word: Addicted. I am TOTALLY addicted... especially now the Chuck knows kung-fu. ha ha... Thank you Scott Bakula! And what's going to happen... Morgan can't leave for Hawaii!!
Criminal Minds - Just love this show. The stories. The characters. Everything... just so well made. Not to MENTION that Hodge might have just gotten shot in the HEAD in this seasons' finale! WHAAA?!
How I Met Your Mother - Umm... hello? We still don't know who their mother is? Of COURSE they couldn't end it, yet... but my prediction was that somehow it would lead into the "Surviving Suburbia" show. I don't know - it was just a thought.
NCIS - Now that Ziva is gone (hopefully for good) this show can get back to being awesome! DiNozzo has to be my fave... next to Gibbs, of course. ;-)
The Office - Need I say more?
Rules of Engagement - David Spade is a hoot... most of the time... and these characters are just a lot of fun.
So You Think You can Dance - I'm so jealous of how good these people are and the choreography is amazing. EVERY season it makes me want to take dance lesson. EVERY season! Maybe one day I will...



So anywho, that's where we are. It's bittersweet, really. Hopefully they can change their minds about some of the cancelling they've done. And looking at the shows they kept instead? It looks like it's going to be a LONG while until they come up with some good stuff again. 30 Rock? Really?

Good Lord help us...




So, go take a look at this list and come let us know - what shows were you shocked to find out were being cancelled? Resigned? Any of the above?

MHR Friday

have I ever mentioned that McStudly rocks? Yeah. I'm pretty sure I have, but in case you were wondering why...

It's because he know show to have fun and make me laugh. The longer we've known each other and the longer we've been married, the more he's opened up and been vulnerable around me. And he's gotten so goofy at times (shh! it's a secret) and I LOVE it!

Baby - thanks for making me smile and see more of you every day. I love you!!

143.

A Sermon in a Serious Pill

Really - who even needs a Sunday Sermon when we've got quotes like these that'll still be kicking our butts 3 Sundays from now? ...I'mjustsayin'...


"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion."
~ Mark Batterson




...I know, right?!

Thoughts? Comments? Perspectives? Bruises from being knocked upside your head?

Pay It Forward

Saw this on Kelly's blog and thought I'd give it a whirl!

Here are the rules:
The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a small gift from me within one month!
You must be willing to host a pay it forward too! As well as send the gifts out to your recipients within a month.
Post this same thing on your blog and then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in! Please remember to leave me your e-mail!

PS: If you haven't seen the movie "Pay It Forward" you're SO missing out. Netflix it or something. Totally worth it!!

Lou... Lou... Skip To My Lou

No really... Skip is in the bathroom right now... as I type.


Who's Skip?


He's the head of that painting company that we had issues with. He come to the house today and saw everything. Apoligized profusely for the mary-j "cologne" and vowed he doesn't put up with that stuff. In fact, while speaking to McStudly on the phone earlier this week, his reaction was somewhere around "So I wanted to talk to you about what happened before I terminated someone." Whoooaaa there Bessie! They really DID take it seriously! And that's a good thing, too.

Anyways, he took a look around. Talked to us frankly. Said he was personally going to get the paint up and off of anything and everything he could.

THEN, in a typical Extreme-Home-Makeover-"this-is-what-we-wanted-to-do-for-you" kind of tone, he said "And" ...waitforit... "I'm gonna paint your bathroom for you."


McStudly: "That's really not necessary"

Oh, but I want to do that for you guys, because I'm so sorry for all of this."

McS: "No, we appreciate it, but we actually just painted it ourselves, so it really doesn't need to be painted."

Oh... [awkward silence] well, let's go take a look at it.


Poor guy. He was trying to be so nice. ha ha... anyways, he went up and looked around and decided that he would paint our ceiling for us, which worked out perfectly. We needed to paint it anyways, so... wah-lah!

Anywho, he said he was going to touch up other things, too, and even once the carpet and everything was installed, he wanted us to give him a call and he would come touch up anything else that they may have messed up, or whatever.


Fantastic.


He said he could get the paint off the furniture, since it was latex (good to know!), and then he'd even "run some pledge over it for ya." Uh... thanks?!

It is all VERY dusty, don't get me wrong. We have a sub-floor that's called "gyp-crete". It's a mix of this stuff called gypsum, which is similar to drywall, and concrete... and it SUCKS!! I mean - it muffles sound really well and it does it's sub-floorey job, but it kicks up this AWFUL dust!


I tried sweeping it, and the dust is SO fine that I could hardly sweep it all up and it just kicked up everywhere. When I finished sweeping, there was even MORE dust on every single flat surface... AND the sweeping itself had created more dust from the floor.


Who MAKES this stuff?!


Anywho, our allergies have been SHOT lately (like we need help with that in this area... HA!) and no matter how often I wipe down countertops and shelves and tvs and bookcases, etc., the dust returns in... waitforit... about 10 minutes.

No lie.



Have I mentioned that I'm SOOOO ready for all of this to be done? Yeah. I thought I might've.




Well, that's where we are now. And the best part? The tilers and carpetters are going to come while we're on vacation next week. SCORE!! So we'll get to come home to our "complete" house!! I mean, we'll need to clean up more dust, I'm sure, but that'll be the LAST TIME we have to deal with all that cruddiness! HOORAY!!!



We are SOOO excited! :-D Eeek!!!




Oh yeah... and that's when you get PICTURES!!! :-) Now I know you guys are excited! :-P

Naa-Nee Naa-Nee Boo Boo

So I tattled on the painters today.

They were subcontracted out by the main contractors we were working with so I called them - the main contractors, that is. And he was NONE too pleased with what he heard.


I kind've felt bad at first because it sounded like I was a little 7-year-old tattling. But I got over that in a hot second and spilled the beans, man. Oh - and he really liked the part about someone smelling like Marijuana. That's for sure!

Anywho, they said they'd take care of everything. So there you have it. I'm not paying for it, but if I was, I'm sure they'd be doing even more. We've had SUCH a great experience with this company, I didn't doubt that they'd take care of everything right away. And I was right - they're being awesome about it.


As for the subcontractors... I'm not so sure that they'll be called again, but... I guess I have to say that's not my problem.



I'll be honest. I was FURIOUS! Still am pretty ticked at the shoddy job they did in our home. I mean- I wouldn't come to THEIR homes and do a craptastic job. Right?! We LIVE here! This is our HOME, for crying out loud... it's not like it's some ego-run company (not that even that would excuse it). But I did have a split-second of hesitation when I considered that someone could lost their job because of this.

I don't know - call me a push-over, but that does worry me. With the economy the way that it is, I'd hate to be the cause that yet another person is out of work. But at the same time, does no one take pride in their work? I mean... I didn't tell you to become a painter. Heck - if I'd have ever seen you paint like this, I probably would've suggested that you NOT become a painter. But... get another job if you don't like it. Ya know?


Anywho - hopefully no one loses their job, but learns a good lesson. These are people's homes. You don't screw around with people's homes!



...I guess I'm done. I just wanted to let you know that I did talk to the company. And once they've fixed everything, we'll let you know how it goes.


Toodles!

Drunk as a Monkey

Check out this post - there's a video that totally made me laugh. It's all in french, but she explains what happening if you read the text before it, and then watch all the drunk jungle animals. ha ha ha


http://fottsp.blogspot.com/2009/05/jungle-juice-in-excess-is-good-for.html



Enjoy!

Uh Oh Bunny!

I'm glad I didn't write this post yesterday. Why? Because yesterday, I was INFURIATED!!





... and that's putting it mildly...





You know how there are times when you get upset and it almost seems like you're yelling at someone that's not even the problem? Like, you're talking to your husband about what happened practically knocking him over because you're SO worked up over it, but it's not even his fault?



Poor McStudly.



That's how I was on the phone with him yesterday as he was filling me in...







As many of you know, we've been having a teeny (ha!) bit of work done around the house, lately, due to "The Incident". Well, said work around the house, though stressful at times (meaning like 95% of the time, but who's counting?!) has been slowly progressing.



Yesterday morning, the painters arrived. It was finally starting to feel like things were getting done! We picked out this grey-beige color for the Master Bedroom, a color called "biscuit" for the hallway/stairway, and a color for the living room that they aren't actually painting... bu we got a little carried away. *bats eyelashes*



It was FINALLY happening! That BLUE (not "blue"... "BLUE!") color on our bedroom walls was finally going to be g-o-n-e, and those awful, sorry-excuse-for-a-patch-job spots weer going to disappear under our fresh coat. Gone forever!





Alas, things are never so simple.





I talk to McStudly around Noon-ish, and he informs me that me much anticipated bedroom color looks like a lavender purple color instead. *sigh* But maybe it'll go away aw it dries... our bathroom color looked pink while we were painting, but now hasn't the tiniest hint of pink in it. So I remained hopeful.



On my way to Physical Therapy, I talk to him again. He was now returning how where the painters were gone for the day.





Lord help us all... I wish I had pictures.







DISCLAIMER: I am well aware of the fact that some of this may sound petty. It's stuff that's very easy for me to get over, and, in fact, and not nearly as tiffed about today as I was yesterday. But the fact of the matter is that these people are professionals. They do this stuff for a living. They were subcontracted out to paint, and so you'd think they would do a good, professional job of that, right? So this is where the majority of my frustration comes in, and some things may seem a bit forgivable. But for someone who's lived in a pathetic mess of a house for almost a month... I am ready for this to be over, and I anticipate those involved to do a thorough job!







McStudly arrives home to find trash left on our floor. No... not typical "we just painted your house" trash - I mean they left their candy bar wrappers and lunch trash ON OUR FLOOR! Yeah... that's just super professional, now, isn't it?



It gets better. And I'll even say it slowly for you, so you can really get the full effect.





There. Is. Paint. On. Our. Hardwood. Kitchen. Floor!!





There were spots of paint in at LEAST 10 places on the floor. I stopped counting then, because that's when I found paint on our STAINLESS STEEL trashcan. You know - one of those $130 ones that you buy at Bed Bath & Beyond so that your insanely curious dog can't get it open?



Yeah. That one.



FYI - the ONLY thing they even PAINTED downstairs was the ceiling. It's not like they had to maneuver around all of this furniture or anything...



Oh yeah. All of our furniture was left in a pile on TOP of each other in the middle of the living room floor. No, that's okay. We don't LIVE here, or anything. We can just sit right on TOP of our PAINTING!





So let's take a walk upstairs, shall we?



*this one is my fault*



My bedroom color is purple. There's no getting around it. It looks like it's about to be turned into a friggin' baby girl's nursery!! Oy that sucks. So McStudly and I will be painting our Cathedral bedroom ourselves, this time...





... this is where we continue even more...



There's no clean line. I mean, you know that clean line you expect from professional painters? Where there's a clean distinction between wall and ceiling? Or, heck, wall and baseboard? Yeah. Not there. It's on the ceiling, the baseboards... it's very... umm... purple in there.





But don't worry, they painted the top half of our LIGHT SWITCH to match it!



That pretty nice little touch-pad that can turn the fan up and down, as well as dimming the light? Yeah... they got friggin' paint on that too... and the electrical sockets. So don't worry - it may be purple, but at LEAST it's coordinated?!?!





And it's a freaking good thing we're getting new carpet, cause there's paint on the floor up there, too... in several places.





My favorite part? You ready for it?



You remember that brand new bedroom furniture that we bought just a few months back? Yeah. You guessed it - paint on the edge of the headboard and along the mirror on the dresser (at least it appears they were nice enough to at least attempt to wipe it off for us).





How thoughtful. *blank stare*





And... there's paint splattered on the glass of one of the bedroom windows.







I'm just so irritated!!!





So this morning, one of the guys returned to finish the job - you know, paint the hallway, etc. We didn't say anything to him - because he was kind've strange. OH... I TOTALLY forgot to mention what happened with him the first day. But let's just say that my dog apparently could moonlight as a drug dog, cause this dude WAY smelled he just smoked a doobie, and Austin did NOT appreciate that (nor did I!). But what can you say to someone like that? I'm not all that intimidating in person. Over the phone I can hash it out with the best of them, but when they look at me, I lose all momentum.



Anywho - he returned this morning to finish the job (minus the mary-j cologne, this time). But we discovered why my bedroom may look purple -





He started painting the hallway... MINUS PRIMER! He never primed it! Remember how dark my blue walls were? No WONDER it looks purple. youfrigginidiots





Needless to say, the minute he walks out of my house today (McStudly's supposed to call me) I will be calling the company that subcontracted to them.







UNACCEPTABLE!!





So go ahead. Let me have it. I know some of that was completely ridiculous, but the camel can only hold so much straw - eventually... even the lightest littlest feather can break it.





And I'm pretty sure I had a LOT of feather weighing that puppy down!





*******



So I need advice - what would you do? what would you have done during the painting? What should I have done differently, or what should I say when I call the main contractors?

Just... Wow

Read this blog, today. It's amazing. You won't regret it.

Click here: http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/05/the-beard/



BUT don't forget to come back here and comment on it, because I'd LOVE to hear what you guys thought about it.

I'll be waiting!

Oh Joy

I had to post this because it made me laugh. For those of you who know me, you know I'm not our biggest Jessica Simpson fan. In fact, I bite my tongue to avoid the few choice words I have for the blonde who's stolen my beloved quarterback's heart! *clenching teeth*


deep breath.


Knowing this, my Husband thought it would be funny to put "Private Valentine" on our Netflix list. I got this e-mail from him today:

"Sarah: I am happy to tell you that we will be receiving the much anticipated Private Valentine movie from Netflix, tomorrow! I think its going to be a great date night. Sit back, eat some popped corn...play sucky face, you know the drill.
-- McStudly"





Ha ha... He's lucky I love him!! :-P

My Hosband Rocks

But he does. McStudly and I are on the same page, but not... at the same time. Does that make ANY sense? That's why God brought us together. He knows how to challenge me and make me want to be a better person without pushing the limit (though I'm sure he could do that too, at times) and getting me to just whine and cry about him stepping on my toes.

*sigh*


He's the best.
He's my favorite.
He's my Husband.


You know that wedding song "When God Made You" by Natalie Grant and Newsong? Well it's true. He must've had me in mind because it's amazing how we ying and yang.





I love you, baby!

Not Enough Tissues in the World

Seriously. Read this post and you'll see why:

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/05/time-please-dont-have-your-way-with-me.html



I officially miss my Nester, and I haven't even met him. I want to. I'm not sure when or how, but I will, someday.

Habits

There's been a lot of stuff going on around me, lately. And this time, I'm talking of things OTHER than my home, etc. I mean... within good friends, within family ... it's been quite a few months.

I've learned a few things that I'd like to share with you. Some of it has been told to me and some of it has been realized. It's in no particular order, but all of it is important and relevant.


You can't see the shadow of your own light, for it hides behind the very obstacles you cannot see around. For some of us, these obstacles are obvious... for some of us, they aren't. They can be our pride. They can be our material items. They can be our attitudes and stubbornness. And they can even be our decisions or mistakes. But we all have a tendency to believe we have the best view there is. And from where you're standing, that may be true. The important thing to remember is there's someone else with a view that you don't have - and they may see that dead end around the corner that you can't see from where you are.

Instinct is to think you're fine. You can see perfectly well, from here, and what do they know? Well, often times they know more than you think. You think that your perspective is better because you're been driving down this road of life longer, or because you've been down that turn before. But things change. And the people you think you're "better" than often have some bits of information that you don't have.

1 Timothy 4:12 says "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Often times, we don't even acknowledge the latter of the verse, because we've already written people due to their age or inexperience... or for simply not being "you".


We often judge others by their words or actions, while judging ourselves by our own intentions. Be honest. You totally do it. We ALL do. Because we know our intentions in certain situations where we can't possibly know someone else's. It's just easier to judge by their actions, isn't it? But that doesn't make it right. It's a really hard habit to break - I'm still catching myself on this one. But it's very important to remember.

Luke 6:41-42 says "41"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

It's so easy to judge others more harshly than ourselves - this person has an entire PLANK in his eye while he's worried about the little bitty speck in someone else's. Now that's messed up. But it's reality. Again - we all do it. It's just easier than having to pull out a mirror and deal with the pain of "de-planking" ourselves. Because it does hurt. It sucks. It's like throwing soap on a wound. You just avoid it, because no matter how much the wound itself hurts, you KNOW it'll hurt like 50x worse with the soap on it. Sure the soap will make it better and clean it out so it can heal, but it HURTS! Right?!

So we defend ourselves when people do it to us because "I was just trying to help" or "I didn't want it to get worse". But when we're doing it to someone else, it doesn't matter. It's black and white. The gray area that existed when we were the ones being pointed at no longer exists. It doesn't matter because they are wrong, end of story.



Ultimately, I guess I'm learning more and more about how easy it is to look down on people or judge people. But when we do that, we're putting ourselves above them. And then we have a false sense of humility to say that we're just "trying to help".

If you have a place of trust in someone's life, then you can speak into them and encourage them to better themselves. But if you don't, sticking your foot on their head and just starting to yank away will just make them angry, and you'll lose your chance to speak into them at all.



I encourage you guys to, within the coming weeks, evaluate yourself and see where you are. I know I'm gonna have to put a pillow on my rear with all the self-kicking I've done while writing this post, so you're not alone. And it's nobody's business but your own. That's the thing about self-evaluation... it's a private thing. Nobody needs to know your junk, but you will find that there are times when sharing your own junk may help someone with theirs.




Well, I know I'm guilty of it, so I need to go make some changes. If I'm the only one and this all seemed like rambling to you guys, well I apologize. But I think it helps me sometimes to put things in writing, before I see what it all means. Am I the only one that's like that??

Obsession

I know this post title may sound like the name of a perfume (is it? cause it totally should be...) but it's not about perfume at all.


I. Am. Obsessed.


McStudly and I have several TV shows that we follow. I wouldn't say religiously, but we are into them. If we miss an episode... it's not the end of the world. But there is one show that we are absolutely religious about watching EVERY episode.

And last night was the Season finale.


I don't know if any of the rest of you watch BONES but OH. MY. GOSH. I was tempted to need a spoiler alert for this post, but I won't do that to you. Because if you are like me, you'll read the post anyways, and then go watch it... and I can't do that to you.

If you missed it or you have it DVR'd to watch later, it can't wait. Got to hulu[dot]com and watch Bones, Season 4, Episode 26 "The End in the Beginning"


You won't regret it.


And if you don't watch it - SHAME on you! But it's never too late. Go to hulu's website and you can watch the full episodes of any TV show. Seriously. Youtube Shmootube. Who needs it? At least not for things like this, anymore.


Anywho - you NEED to go watch it. And then you need to comment. Because OH. MY. GOSH! I just don't know if I can wait until next season. AAHHH!!!

Blah

It's been one of those weeks where everything just runs together. Seriously it's all a blur, it seems! So I'm sorry being a blog slacker.

Monday: Work, Physical therapy, then Meeting with a new Youth Pastor Candidate
Tuesday: Work, then Creative Arts Team Meeting at Church
Wednesday: Work, then selling the couch, then checking on the new furniture progress, then Church
Today: Work, working out (had to cancel Physical Therapy for today), then run up to Lowes to pick out/decide on our new bathroom vanity before they come to tile any day now
Tomorrow: So far nothing after work.


Unfortunately, I had to cancel what I was MOST looking forward to all week! My BFF (ha... love saying that)'s from growing up were going to have a girls' weekend. And now I can't go. I have hardly been home at ALL this week. And this next week will be sent finalizing the house fix-up (HOPEfully) and then we leave next Sunday morning to fly to see McStudly's family.

So I couldn't go this weekend. I'm SO bummed! I have wanted to see Ash-a-Bash and hang out with her for WEEKS and Treasie and I were finally going to get to do that. But now I'm the party pooper. Boo on me.


Anywho - I don't have time to keep blogging. No really, though... I have to hurry up and lock up shop, here at work, and then race home to finish the busy day ahead of us.


Wish me luck. I am stressed, stretched for time, living in a chaotic mess of a home, moody (for some reason, lately), and just very low on energy these days. I could use any and ALL prayers and well wishes for now.



Did I mention McStudly got another contingent job offer? FABulous, but it's not set in stone, yet... story of our lives. So keep praying for us that there won't be a gap in coverage and paychecks and that God will lead us in the right direction, one we're both peaceful and happy with. (PS: And hopefully it'll be that opportunity in Naples, ITALY!!! ... I'mjustsayin'...)




Toodles!

Happy Belated Mothers' Day

Momma Bear sent this to me today, and it made me laugh. I've seen it before, but she was right - it never gets old! So I just thought I'd post and share this with you guys.

Well, that's that. I hope you got a good laugh out of it. I know I did - and hopefully you guys had a wonderful Mothers' Day!

Friday... FINALLY!

So it's about TIME that Friday got here. And it's GORGEOUS outside! Seriously! I did NOT want to walk into this drabby building I work in, this morning. I wanted to stay home, get some work done in and outside of our house. And just BASK in the awesome-ness of the weather.


*Sigh


Maybe I'll leave early. I already have cabin fever and it's ONLY 11 o'clock!!

This is nuts. Am I the ONLY one stuck at work while the weather is amazing? We've had rain for like... as long as I can remember (I am no elephant, folks) and now we have this amazingly gorgeous day and I can't enjoy it! Ugh.


We also have Game Night with Oasis tonight - that's where our Young Adult group at church gets together with the Senior Adults group and we have a game night. They cook, we provide the fun.

Now, don't get me wrong... I love old people... but have you SEEN how gorgeous it is outside?! I mean seriously folks. I'm trying to find an excuse to get out of it.


McStudly and I had plans, last night, to go up to Target and Lowes and get some stuff done. The plan was:

Lowes': Check out and decide on the new vanity for our bathroom. Peruse vanity-top options and begin the decision process on those as well. Pick out color ideas for the bedroom, since the fixer-uppers are painting that for us, as well. Buy new vent covers for the floor-vents in the bedroom.

Target: Stock up on all things organizational. We need cubbies. baskets. storage bins. shoe racks. DVD holders (like the ones we fell in love with at Bed Bath & Beyond). Pick out and buy new curtains, and curtain rods, if they have some nice ones (maybe at Lowes'?). Check out the bathing suits.

And if we had time, we were going to go by Bed, Bath & Beyond.


None of that happened.


Long story short, I'm irritated with someone in particular (just to be clear, it's not McStudly... it's someone else), and our entire night was shot. Not ONE thing we planned was executed like it was supposed to be. All because there's this one person that....

Nevermind. I'll leave it alone.


BUT it took forever to get that done, so then we didn't have the time OR the energy to be able to get ANYthing done that we NEEDed to get done. We're pretty busy a lot of the time, so when we finally get a night to ourselves and can get "stuff" done, it's SO nice to be able to do that! But nooo... not last night!! Noo... of course not!


Sorry. I'm done now. ...I think... But seriously, does that ever happen to you? You have this perfectly awesome night of relaxing while getting some things done that need to be done around the house, and then because of insufficient planning on someone else's part it gets totally shot? Am I the ONLY one that gets all irritated and worked up over that?

I know it seems silly, but I was SOOO glad we finally had a night to do this stuff. Ugh!!




ANYwho - My cabin fever is kicking into overdrive. I'm going to go see if I can get someone to go get lunch with me. If I go alone, I'll take forever, and then find a reason not to come back. And we don't want that to happen, now do we?!



OH YEAH

I almost forgot - McStudly and I finally bought tickets to go see his family. We got a STEAL of a deal on plane tickets. Long story short, we're flying from where we live, ALLLL the way to where they live for a GRAN total of $320. Umm, that's how much it was per PERSON last time we flew. And FYI, it's about an 18+ hour drive to get there from here. So you can imagine it's a good flight.

I'm SO looking forward to seeing them again. I'm going to have a sit down with McStudly and explain to him the importance of taking LOTS of pictures this time that we're there. I hardly have ANY good pictures with and of his family. I need to correct that. I need them on my walls, too, right?!

Anywho - we're both pretty excited!




Still to come on the blog: An update on the house. What's been done, what's going to be done soon, and all the extra stuff that we had NO idea they were going to do for us!!


Stay tuned!

Preach it!

Congressional Testimony of Darrell Scott, father of one of the Columbine Shooting Victims
Copied from "TruthorFiction.com"


Summary of Rumor (Complete version is below): Darrell Scott, father of Columbine High School shooting victim Rachel Scott, gave stirring testimony before a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.

The Truth: Mr. Scott's testimony was so powerful that a lot of folks who receive an email about it doubt its authenticity. It is true, however. His remarks were before the subcommittee on crime of the House Judiciary Committee on May 27, 1999 at the Rayburn House office building in Washington, D.C. TruthOrFiction.com has a transcript of it.


A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?

On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.

"I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:

Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs - politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. "Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes-He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"



How awesome is that? So glad someone said it where it needed to be heard. I didn't know this happened almost 10 years ago, today. Maybe that's because they didn't want to encourage such remarks and behavior. But wasn't this country founded on free speech and freedom of religion?

People like to forget that last part when it doesn't suit them. How far we've come from our true foundations.


*sigh

FREE STUFF!!

The Mrs. (over at Trying our Best) is giving away a copy of this AWESOME book:



It's recipes AND stories. You KNOW you want it. Then again... you probably don't. It's just a silly old book, right? I mean... what use would you have for it?! And who needs another ol' cookbook just junking up their kitchen?

Uh... ME!! So don't sign-up. I want it!!!




Just kidding. Go sign up at: http://tryingourbest.blogspot.com/2009/05/giveaway-and-great-read.html, but you should know... I'll be winning this one! I never win like ANYthing in my life, but this one will be mine! Muuahahahaaaa!!!

Happy 5 May!!

Today is Cinco de Mayo. Woohoo!! I'm not even REMOTELY hispanic, by any means, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the grub, eh?



I had asked McStudly is Baked Ziti would be alright for dinner tonight and got the half-asleep grunt equivalent of an "I don't care." but... then I realized it's CINCO DE MAYO!!! And you can't have Italian on 5 May. It's just not right.

So here's my revised idea:


Baked Steak Burritos and Turkey & Bean Tostadas. :-)


The recipes for those of you in need of inspiration for tonight's meal:


Baked Steak Burritos

Prep time: 30 min.
Cook time: 30 min.
Makes: 12 burritos; 6 servings

Ingredients:
1/2 cup - butter or margarine
1 pkg (1 oz) - taco seasoning mix
1/2 lb - beef, boneless sirloin tip steak, cut into thin bite-size strips
1 can (16 oz) - refried Beans
12 - flour tortillas (6 inch)
2 cups (8 oz) - shredded Cheddar cheese
3 (3 tbsp) - medium green onions, thinly sliced
1 can (10 oz) - enchilada sauce
1 cup (4 oz) - shredded Mexican cheese blend

To cook:
1. Heat over to 400 degrees. In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in taco seasoning mix. Add beef strips; cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until desired doneness; drain.
2. Meanwhile, place refried beans in microwaveable dish. Microwave uncovered on high 2 minutes, stirring once or twice.
3. Spread each tortilla with refried beans to within 1/4 inch of edge. Top each with beef, cheddar cheese and onions. Roll up, folding in sides. In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, place burritos with seam sides down. Pour enchilada sauce over burritos. Sprinkle with Mexican cheese blend.
4. Bake, uncovered, 7-12 minutes or until burritos are thoroughly heated and cheese is melted.



Turkey and Bean Tostadas

Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Makes: 5 servings (2 tostadas each)

Ingredients:
1 box (14.5 oz) - soft taco dinner kit
1 lb - lean (at least 93%) ground turkey or beef
2/3 cup - water
1 can (15 oz) - spicy chili beans in sauce, undrained
3 cups - shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup (4 oz) - shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup - fresh cilantro, chopped (if desired)
1/2 cup - sour cream (if desired)

To cook:
1. Heat over to 350 degrees. On ungreased cookie sheet, place tortillas (from dinner kit). Bake about 7 minutes, or until crisp. Place on individual plates.
2. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook turkey/beef, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink; drain. Stir in seasoning mix (from dinner kit), water and beans; heat until hot.
3. Divide turkey/beef mixture evenly among tortillas. Top with taco sauce (from dinner kit) and remaining ingredients.



Yum yum YUM!! I can't wait for dinner. Hopefully it'll even be "Might Good" worthy. A girl can dream, right?!


What are YOUR "Cinco" plans?

MHR Friday RETURNS!

I've been SUCH a blog slacker, as of late... heck, I've been a slacker PERIOD as of late. But what's a girl to do with as much going on in her life as I've had lately?

That's where McStudly comes in...

You see, McStudly is preparing to separate from the military, so he's been home on terminal leave for a while, now. Why does that make him awesome? Because he's been taking care of like EVERYthing around the house for me!!

Seriously, though - he's been doing dishes, taking out trash, cleaning up dog dookie (my neighbor is very grateful). He even cooked dinner last night! How amazing is he? I love him to pieces. And he's been SO great with everything.

It makes things SO much less stressful for me when I can come home to an empty sink and having the house as neat as it can be, right now. Have you seen the pictures? My house STILL looks a royal mess. And there's not quite an end in sight, at the moment. But he's doing what he can to help keep it as put together as possible while I'm working and he's at home.

*sigh*. He's so dreamy. I love you, baby!! And thank you soo soo much!!

XOXO

30-Day DREAD

I bought it. There was a lot of hype and a lot of people raving about it, so I gave in and bought Jillian Michaels' "30-Day Shred" workout video last night.

That junk OWNED me!! ...and I now have a love-hate relationship with this video!!


My first mistake was trying it on a Physical Therapy day. And within about an hour of completing physical therapy, at that! What was I THINKING?!

I finished 10 minutes of it… that’s it. Then dinner was ready (thanks to my AWESOME husband cooking last night – thanks baby!!) and I was already pooped. This video kicked my BUTT!!

Good gracious. What was I thinking?! I had just finished an hour and a half of physical therapy, which consists of strength training exercises. And then I was so eager to try my video that I did it as soon as I got home?

I was just asking for it.


And I definitely got it. I am one sore Monkey today, man. For realz! But I have to do something tonight – so far I’ve done something almost every day this week to start with the whole kicking my butt into gear thing. And I’m pretty dang proud of it, too!


Progress so far:

Monday – Running (Austin was also very grateful for this one!).
Tuesday – Brisk walk after dinner, with Austin and McStudly
Wednesday – nada… but does running around after teenagers all night count? Cause it should!
Thursday – Physical Therapy, & 30-Day Shred (day 1, ½ of level 1). PLUS, another brisk walk with Austin and McStudly after dinner.
Friday – I’m thinking another visit with Jillian Michaels is in order. J


Anywho, I think I’ve done well, so far this week. And I’ve been wanting to get back into the swing of things lately, anyways. I’m not 100% happy with how I’ve been doing and since the weather is nicer (I always seem to get an extra hitch in my giddy-up come spring-time), I don’t really have any more excuses for being lazy.

My legs are SCREAMING today, man. And if I try to stretch my arms back, it HURTS!!


Am I the only one that is THIS ridiculously out of shape? Ay ay ay!!

"I will Daaance like David Daaannnced"

I was writing, kind've like I do fairly regularly, and discovered that it's looking a bit like David's writing style in Psalms, today. Oh well. What can ya do, right?!

So here it is... my thoughts, as jumbled and mixed up as they were at the time of writing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I'm crying in the night
Afraid of what's surrounding me
not knowing when the pain is going to end

When the sin in this world
Becomes thick and almost suffocating
And I hardly feel like I can breathe another breath

I know that even in these times of fear and doubt

You reign.
You’re still seated on the throne.
You reign with power to calm even the raging seas.

There’s none on earth, or above, or below
That could even begin to compare to Your strength and majesty

When I’m not sure that this world is worth it anymore
And I don’t want to deal through the pain
You’re the one who dries my tears and You hold me in Your arms.
You don’t let go.

There’s a peace You give that I can’t explain
And I know I’ll make it through the night, to the next day
The comfort You give is overwhelming
And joy, it overflows within me.

God, my Father, only You can calm my storms.

Nothing, in life or in death, could ever replace Your love.
My desire to know You more and more astounds me every day.

Even when I fail, You never change.
You never move, but to follow me – even into the depths of my sin.
And when I cry out, You’re already there.
Holding and comforting me before the cry even leaves my lips.

You know my heart.
I can keep nothing from You.
You see the good and the shameful,
But You love me still.

How can there be a love so great?
So that even my sin can’t turn You away?

I’ll never understand such a love, but I’ll be forever grateful to You for it.

I love you God, my forgiving, loving Father.
And even if I worked forever, even past this life,
I’ll never be able to comprehend Your love.

But I’ll try, because a love so great is worth everything.
And maybe that’s why You gave Your son – You gave everything, just to prove that to me.

A sinner like me?
Worth Your everything?

I should forever be in your debt, but you’d never allow it.

Your gift of love was just that – a gift.
And now I could never repay you.

But God – I’d love to try.

So I’ll give You my everything.
I’ll try and try to live for You, and none other.

I’m not perfect, by any means, but You see me as spotless, still.

How great a love is that?