Thanks, Gracias, & Salamat

#17 - All day crops. I'm thankful that I found a regular crop that I enjoy. The ladies are sweet and always chatty. I love that it is for the entire Saturday, I can get a lot accomplished. Fun, relaxing, and a creative outlet that I haven't had regularly for a while now.

#18 - Black Friday prices. I just scored a Cricut Expression 2 with a bonus cartridge for a Black Friday price. Plus 4 cartridges that were half price. I walked out of there with all of that for what it would have cost me to buy just the machine at regular price. Oh, did I mention that I got it in this really cute teal color?

#19 - Patience, it's an art I'm telling you. When you're sitting around in the middle of the night with a two year old who won't sleep and you have to get up for work at 6 am, it takes a lot of patience. I lost count of how many times I counted to 10 and took so many deep breaths that I felt faint. I think God gave me my two year old for the sole purpose of teaching me patience... bless her heart, or my heart, or whatever it is that southern women say...

Update on the Gingerbread latte - it was pretty good. A little sweetener wouldn't have hurt, but I drank it as is. I must say that Starbucks usually has outstanding service, however this time was different. Once I finally got to the window to receive and pay for my coffee. The young lady asked if I needed a receipt. To which I replied, "No, just a napkin please." She handed me my coffee and napkin, and I handed her my card. In a few seconds, without even glancing in my direction, she holds my card out of the window so I take it and wait for her to acknowledge that the card was accepted. (Not that I expected it to be declined, I just thought it polite to wait for a response.) After about 30 seconds I leaned out of the window and said, "Excuse me..." to which not one single person that passed by the drive through window responded. So I said it again, a little louder this time. No response. Me again, a lot louder this time. Still nothing, nada, zilch. Practically yelling this time, "HELLO???"

A very surprised, shell-shocked, overwhelmed-looking Starbucks employee turned and looked at me. "Uh, yes ma'am? Do you need something?" 

Me: "Do you need anything else from me?" 

Her: "No, you just had one latte, right? Did I give your card back?" 

Me: "Yes but you didn't even look at me when you gave it back." 

Her: "Oh, sorry I was doing this" as she points to her earpiece.  

Me shaking my head: "Oh right, have a nice day."

What is this world coming to? Chivalry is dead, customer service is dying, and common sense is definitely on the endangered list...

Meandering Moments

#7 - My dog. I loooove my little English Bulldog - Bella. (No, she was not named for the Twilight series and we do not have another dog stashed away named Edward.) She is the most stubborn dog EVER but she makes me laugh. Someone that is always happy to see me no matter what and loves to lay around watching TV, I could't ask for a better pet. Ever since I was little I've always wanted one, so being the super awesome, knight-in-shining-armor man that he is, my oh-so-sweet husband bought this dog for me.

She drives him bonkers, well truth be told, she has at one point or another has pushed each of us to the brink of insanity! I could have died the Christmas she ate an entire PS3 game and left it in tiny pieces all over the floor. I do mean entire - the bow, wrapping paper, cellophane wrap, plastic case, booklet, and CD. My son found the pieces and I was absolutely sure that he knew out the other large box under the tree was a PS3. The good news is that he didn't catch on - or at least he never admitted it! (He's such an amazing son.) The other good news is that she didn't die from BPA-and-who-knows-what-else-poisoning from plastic shreds of CD passing through her system.


#8 - Technology. I'm so thankful for technology, besides the fact that I wouldn't have a job without it, it keeps me entertained for hours. I'm a technology junkie... if it has to do with computers or gaming - I'm interested! Not that I'm a hardcore gamer or anything but from time to time I do enjoy some Sims, Skyrim, SimCity, and Black Ops... by the way, is Black Ops 2 out yet??


#9 - Audible. I LOVE to read but I just don't have the luxury of being able to lay around and read. Between husband, kids, dog, work, and life in general - I'm entirely too busy. But then one of my friends suggested Audible.com - I thought that listening to books would be boring but I was wrong, SO wrong!

The Help was the first book that I listened to. It was so hilarious! This particular book had more than one reader and it was so easy to get lost in the story. When the movie came out and some of the same women were in the film, it just made it that much better!

Love love love! If you haven't tried it yet - go sign up and try it for 30 days and I bet you get hooked. I can listen to books while I'm driving in the car, or taking a break at work, ANYWHERE that I can bring my phone. Absolutely satisfies my craving for reading great books. They. Are. The. Best. Ever. That is all.


Recap for the week?

About the most fun I had all week was going out to see live music and eat great Mexican food. I wasn't diggin' the stuffed avocado, so I ate some sopapillas (yes, more than one - don't judge me) and drank about a gallon of sweet tea. Gotta love that stuff!

Nothing else really happened - just lots of work preparing for a business trip next week, to Pennsylvania of all places. I checked the weather and the forecast is cold to colder, with a high of cold, and a low of freeze your toes off. Please Lord, let me comeback with my nose, fingers, ears, and toes still attached and not black from frostbite. (Ew, gross mental image.)

Tomorrow we are headed to hang out with some really good friends of ours who are FINALLY getting married. I'm so glad to share this weekend with them. Totally low key, just a bunch of close friends, hanging out and enjoying the scenery and the company, and nothing fancy - well, besides the wedding dress, I'm sure! Completely, utterly, 100% them - it couldn't be any more perfect.

Career

# 6 - I'm thankful for having a steady income. I'm also thankful for the career that I do have. It is challenging, interesting, and offers so much room for personal growth. I'm glad that I don't have to wake up and go to a  job that I hate. I know there are many people out there that do. Thank you God for providing everything I have - I can do nothing without you.

Friends

#5 - Friends. I am so thankful for the friends in my life. These people really care about each other as people and not what they do for a living, or what they look like on the outside. Pretty much all of them I inherited through marriage but I just can't imagine what life would be like without them!

They are the people you can see just a few times a year but when you start talking it's like you just had coffee with them yesterday. The ones you can laugh with, argue with, and sometimes you want to throw things at them, but when it's all said and done - being friends is more important than anything we could argue about.

To all my friends - thank you - because I do thank God for each and every one of you. You are all a blessing to me and I'm glad to be a part of your lives too.

P.S. (Remember that last part next time we're arguing and/or you want to throw something at me!)

Fab Fam

#4 - My family. I really lucked out, you know? I have a wonderful family and even though we're spread across the world - we try to stay close at heart. My parents, grandparents, cousins, and don't forget my in-laws - I'm thankful for all of them. Sometimes we act like little children bickering over crazy silly stuff, but we all know that no matter what, we're family and like it or not, we're all stuck with one another.



Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  (1 Cor 13:4-7)

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

November is here... the time of year when every Facebook post and Twitter tweet is about what we are - or should be - thankful for. And it's already the THIRD, which means I'm late - again. Punctuality is obviously not a virtue that I was blessed with at birth. It takes a lot of effort so, sad to say, I reserve being punctual for church, family functions, and work (of course). Ah-hem, enough about my innate flaws and back to being thankful.

#1 - First of all, I'm thankful to God for giving me life (and, uh, my parents who helped a little). Every day I wake up - even though I really, really, dislike early mornings - means that God has a plan for me, my day, and my family.

#2 - My husband. He is my best friend. He is by my side every morning I wake up and every evening when I close my eyes to sleep. Always honest, faithful, and the best father I could dream up for my children.

#3 - My children. Parenthood is a constant challenge and just when you think you have it under control, something happens to make you wonder how on Earth these two small humanoid aliens are even related to you... regardless, I love them with all my heart and all my soul. I'm thankful that God has blessed me with these two precious gifts, I simply cannot imagine life without them.

There you have it - three things that I'm thankful for and now I'm caught up! Ta-da!

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Cor 9:15) 

Oh My Gosh October!

Oh my gosh it's almost Halloween and I've fallen off the face of my blog. I've been a little busy... last minute summer traveling, huge deadlines at work, and you get the idea...

So I guess you could say that my October theme is "OH-MY-GOSH" October. Ha!

I think I need to take a different approach to this blogging thing. Trying to blog everyday was getting to be too much and as you can see, I just don't have the time. So here we go, I'm going to try this again... a little differently (or not really) this time. Since this is a place where I can let the contents of my mind spill out I'll try and post something once a week. I'm hoping it will be some cute and funny moments that have happened to me all week, but might actually turn out to be some not-so-funny and really boring moments. 

Keep your fingers crossed.

Scintillating September

scintillating |ˈsin(t)lˌātiNG|adjectivesparkling or shining brightly: the scintillating sun.• brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful: the audience loved his scintillating wit | the team produced a scintillating second-half performance.

Ambitious August

ambitious |amˈbiSHəs|adjectivehaving or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed: his mother was hard-working and ambitious for her four children.• (of a plan or piece of work) intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to achieve: the scope of the book is very ambitious | an ambitious enterprise.

Joyous July

joyous |ˈjoiəs|adjectivechiefly literaryfull of happiness and joy: scenes of joyous celebration.

Juicy June

juicy |ˈjo͞osē|adjective ( juicier , juiciest )(of food) full of juice; succulent• informal interestingly scandalous• informal temptingly appealing

Magical May

magical |ˈmajikəl|adjective1 relating to, using, or resembling magic2 beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life

Adventurous April

adventurous |adˈvenCHərəs, əd-|adjectivewilling to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences• involving new ideas or methods• full of excitement

Mysterious March

mysterious |məˈsti(ə)rēəs| 
adjective1 difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify• (of a location) having an atmosphere of strangeness or secrecy2 (of a person) deliberately enigmatic

Theme for this month... hmmmm let's get these creative juices flowing! Are you with me?

Faithful February

faithful |ˈfāTHfəl|adjective1 loyal, constant, and steadfast   • (of an object) reliable2 (usu. as plural noun the faithful) having a strong belief in a particular religion3 true to the facts or the original

New month... and you know what that means!! Ok, maybe you don't so let me help you out... NEW THEME! This month I really want to do an Eat, Pray, Love Blog theme for my posts.

I'm going to try three things regularly this month...

1. Read my Bible
2. Take meaningful pictures
3. Write blog posts

Let me know what you think! Your comments (good or bad, but never ugly) are always welcome.

Trying this out...

This is my experiment of sorts... to blog about my life and what is important to me. I can't promise you a thrilling page-turning, seat of your pants grabbing, tear jerking read... but I hope you enjoy reading. As always, constructive criticism is welcome.