I am sure some of you are wondering what has become of me. Well, don't worry anymore, i have been sick. VERY sick. Sicker then i have been for probably three years!
I had the flu, but i am beginning to think it may be more then that. Because now, five days later, i am still battling debilitating exhaustion. So pray for me. Pray i don't over do it, pray that i get over this that way i don't have to spend money going to the doctor and pray that i don't have mono or West Nile or something even worse.
So those are my thoughts for today. And only to echo my last blog. When it rains it pours. God better be doing something pretty amazing in our lives pretty soon, cause man are we under attack by the devil. I am going to stop saying "what else can go wrong?" because so far something has gone wrong to answer that question. So pray for me, i need all the strength and encouragement i can get.
To end on a bright note, my best friend had her baby! Congratulations! She is absolutely adorable and looks just like her papa, complete with just a touch of curly blonde hair. Born September 26th, 7lbs 2ounces and i can't wait to hold her so she can meet her Aunt Mandy. It is even better then having my own cause i get to share in all the fun without all the work.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
I can do ALL things
Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
This is one of my favorite verses, definitely one that i cling to. I can do all things through Christ. That is pretty amazing! He doesn't say I can do all things through Christ but... There is no limitations. The only thing that can hold us back is our faith, or lack of it.
I may cling to this verse, and draw encouragement from it when life gets to rough and it seems like i can't keep going. But do i really fully realize its implications?
Just think about being able to do all things. All things. Everything. Nothing you can't do. (With Christ of course, that is the essential component, the key if you will). What does that mean? Daily? In a week? In a month? Does that mean that only my own lack of belief is holding me back from sharing Christ with others? From being bold in my faith? From furthering my business, my marriage relationship, etc? Or does it just mean God will help me through the tough stuff?
God gives me strength. I have access to the maker of the universe and his holy brand of body building! Christ reaches down to earth and touches poor little me and gives me his STRENGTH! That is amazing and humbling to think that not only do we need Christ, but we also need strength from him.
Do you ever feel like that? Like you can't go on, like you are tired of the life God put you in and all the work it requires? I am right there with you. But so is Christ, if we ask him to be. I can tell you he is right beside me, carrying me over every step of the way. And infusing me daily with his awesome, ever-reaching strength. Amen!
This is one of my favorite verses, definitely one that i cling to. I can do all things through Christ. That is pretty amazing! He doesn't say I can do all things through Christ but... There is no limitations. The only thing that can hold us back is our faith, or lack of it.
I may cling to this verse, and draw encouragement from it when life gets to rough and it seems like i can't keep going. But do i really fully realize its implications?
Just think about being able to do all things. All things. Everything. Nothing you can't do. (With Christ of course, that is the essential component, the key if you will). What does that mean? Daily? In a week? In a month? Does that mean that only my own lack of belief is holding me back from sharing Christ with others? From being bold in my faith? From furthering my business, my marriage relationship, etc? Or does it just mean God will help me through the tough stuff?
God gives me strength. I have access to the maker of the universe and his holy brand of body building! Christ reaches down to earth and touches poor little me and gives me his STRENGTH! That is amazing and humbling to think that not only do we need Christ, but we also need strength from him.
Do you ever feel like that? Like you can't go on, like you are tired of the life God put you in and all the work it requires? I am right there with you. But so is Christ, if we ask him to be. I can tell you he is right beside me, carrying me over every step of the way. And infusing me daily with his awesome, ever-reaching strength. Amen!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sand and Pearls
"What irritant is creating a potential pearl in my life right now?"
I got this quote off of my Premier Designs Jewelry website, from the founder of our company. I thought that it is quite an interesting thought! I know as a Christian I have learned, and am always trying to remind myself, that out of trials comes good things. A stronger faith, deeper walk with Christ, better understanding, etc. But saying that what is irritating us could become a pearl? That is a whole new thought.
To me it is a thought that stretches us. Am i looking at this trial as just that? Or am I looking at it as a potential pearl? Something that can change me for the better if I will let it?
If we can learn this, life is so much better! But what amazing feate to learn such a concept! It is only through God, because i could not make a pearl out of a grain of sand by myself.
I got this quote off of my Premier Designs Jewelry website, from the founder of our company. I thought that it is quite an interesting thought! I know as a Christian I have learned, and am always trying to remind myself, that out of trials comes good things. A stronger faith, deeper walk with Christ, better understanding, etc. But saying that what is irritating us could become a pearl? That is a whole new thought.
To me it is a thought that stretches us. Am i looking at this trial as just that? Or am I looking at it as a potential pearl? Something that can change me for the better if I will let it?
If we can learn this, life is so much better! But what amazing feate to learn such a concept! It is only through God, because i could not make a pearl out of a grain of sand by myself.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Who am I?
Sometimes i think, even as an adult, i am not completely sure of my own identity. I am sure we have all supressed our memories of junior high. But if we really try we can remember. But we really don't want to, because when you are in junior high, more than any other time in your life, we all suffer from noism. In other words, we don't know who we are, we don't know how to act, we are in that dorky, mystic realm between child hood and adult hood.
So you would think by the time you are 22, you would have figured it out. Well i think i have figured out some things. I am comfortable in my skin, at least most of the time. I feel like i can meet new people and not act like an amoeba! But at other times it is like two people live inside me, or maybe three.
I think fashion is the easiest way to explain this. When i am at my massage studio, i want to be all boho chic. I want to wear floaty silk sarong shirts and burn soy candles and listen to Enya. When i am on the farm i want to wear my Phat Baby cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat and eat ribs! When i am working at one of my jewelry parties i want to wear black pointy-toed stilettos with skinny jeans and a fabulous silk top and drive a mini cooper.
So who am i really? Is it possible to have all of these personas or looks all in one person? I have this same issue with decorating. I thought i had finally figured out how to decorate my kitchen. I was going with the bistro/coffee shop theme. Then i went shopping and found this FABULOUS french country side painting and now i want to go Olive Garden. But here's the thing, i PAINTED stripes on my wall, with the help of my sister and it took forever. And now i want to paint over it.
How do you meld all of these desires and images into one whole you? Or do you just go through life liking a lot of things and owning a lot of "looks?"
At least i do know one thing for certain, well, maybe more then one thing: I love God, I love my husband, I love living where i live, I love being a massage therapist, I love singing and cooking and swimming and oil painting and scrapbooking pictures. I love eating healthy, and i mean REALLY healthy. Like whole grain pasta and edamame and fish as much as possible and lots and lots of veggies and fruit. And of course, chocolate icecream! :)
So you would think by the time you are 22, you would have figured it out. Well i think i have figured out some things. I am comfortable in my skin, at least most of the time. I feel like i can meet new people and not act like an amoeba! But at other times it is like two people live inside me, or maybe three.
I think fashion is the easiest way to explain this. When i am at my massage studio, i want to be all boho chic. I want to wear floaty silk sarong shirts and burn soy candles and listen to Enya. When i am on the farm i want to wear my Phat Baby cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat and eat ribs! When i am working at one of my jewelry parties i want to wear black pointy-toed stilettos with skinny jeans and a fabulous silk top and drive a mini cooper.
So who am i really? Is it possible to have all of these personas or looks all in one person? I have this same issue with decorating. I thought i had finally figured out how to decorate my kitchen. I was going with the bistro/coffee shop theme. Then i went shopping and found this FABULOUS french country side painting and now i want to go Olive Garden. But here's the thing, i PAINTED stripes on my wall, with the help of my sister and it took forever. And now i want to paint over it.
How do you meld all of these desires and images into one whole you? Or do you just go through life liking a lot of things and owning a lot of "looks?"
At least i do know one thing for certain, well, maybe more then one thing: I love God, I love my husband, I love living where i live, I love being a massage therapist, I love singing and cooking and swimming and oil painting and scrapbooking pictures. I love eating healthy, and i mean REALLY healthy. Like whole grain pasta and edamame and fish as much as possible and lots and lots of veggies and fruit. And of course, chocolate icecream! :)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
May we Never Forget
okay, here is the thing. I forgot today was 9-11. I forgot the significance, it was just september the 11th. Until i read someone else's blog. And that is why i chose this topic.
May we never forget. But the problem is that we do. And unfortunately some people forget more then just the day like i did. But they forget the feeling that they had when it happened. They forget how terrible it was, and what made us decide to go to war in the first place. They forget the brave men and women who risked their lives to save a few and who now are risking their lives to save many, and instead dishonor what they have sacrificed by whining and complaining.
This is a huge issue with me, so bear with me as i get on my soap box.
No one was upset that we went to war with Iraq, with Sadamm Hussein, with Osama Bin Laden. Everyone in September of 2001 knew why we were going to war and everyone supported it. The nation worked together as never before and moral was high. Yet now, 7 years later they say we have not accomplished anything. That we shouldn't be in Iraq anymore, or that we went to war illegally and the president pushed us into it without any other approval.
What are they thinking? Do they not remember how glad we were that our nation was going out to protect us so that 9-11 wouldn't happen again? So that we could sleep in peace and safety and the bad guys involved would get caught and given the justice they deserve? Now, i am not a political person. I stay away from politics when at all possible because they are politics. It has become a job, a career, rather then serving your country and it's best interest. (But that is a whole other soap box in itself!) So i do not know if the President got the right backing or actually legally declared war on Iraq, i don't know. And frankly i don't care. Yes, it should have been done correctly and legally. But to pull out of Iraq now would be disastrous. We would loose all the ground we have gained, democracy would cease to exist for the Iraqi people. They are not strong enough to do it on their own. And other then bringing our troops home what would it accomplish? I see only bad things that would happen.
It just breaks my heart that i have family members overseas. Don't get me wrong, i don't like them being there anymore then the nation likes being at war. But the men and women of our military have CHOSEN to serve their country in that capacity. They are willing to go and fight and give their very lives to keep us safe. And the families of those in the military know this and are proud of their accomplishments and what they stand for. So it breaks my heart when my dad is overseas, fighting for our safety and freedom, so that someone in Washington, or in Oregon or anywhere else in our nation, can complain and whine about being at war. They can say how stupid it is we are there and that we aren't making any progress. They can say the military isn't doing any good and that our top commanders and even the President don't know what they are doing. They are destroying the very people who are keeping them safe.
I believe the majority of americans don't know how to think for themselves. They believe whatever the news tells them. Unfortunately it is all negative, because that is what sells. The media no longer talks about the horrible tradgedy that was 9-11, at least not about the positive things that happened in our nation and in our government because of it. So people forget, they go on about their lives, shredding those defending their right to freedom of speech. So that is why i say and i pray, that we may not forget. May we not forget what happened on that day.
May we never forget. But the problem is that we do. And unfortunately some people forget more then just the day like i did. But they forget the feeling that they had when it happened. They forget how terrible it was, and what made us decide to go to war in the first place. They forget the brave men and women who risked their lives to save a few and who now are risking their lives to save many, and instead dishonor what they have sacrificed by whining and complaining.
This is a huge issue with me, so bear with me as i get on my soap box.
No one was upset that we went to war with Iraq, with Sadamm Hussein, with Osama Bin Laden. Everyone in September of 2001 knew why we were going to war and everyone supported it. The nation worked together as never before and moral was high. Yet now, 7 years later they say we have not accomplished anything. That we shouldn't be in Iraq anymore, or that we went to war illegally and the president pushed us into it without any other approval.
What are they thinking? Do they not remember how glad we were that our nation was going out to protect us so that 9-11 wouldn't happen again? So that we could sleep in peace and safety and the bad guys involved would get caught and given the justice they deserve? Now, i am not a political person. I stay away from politics when at all possible because they are politics. It has become a job, a career, rather then serving your country and it's best interest. (But that is a whole other soap box in itself!) So i do not know if the President got the right backing or actually legally declared war on Iraq, i don't know. And frankly i don't care. Yes, it should have been done correctly and legally. But to pull out of Iraq now would be disastrous. We would loose all the ground we have gained, democracy would cease to exist for the Iraqi people. They are not strong enough to do it on their own. And other then bringing our troops home what would it accomplish? I see only bad things that would happen.
It just breaks my heart that i have family members overseas. Don't get me wrong, i don't like them being there anymore then the nation likes being at war. But the men and women of our military have CHOSEN to serve their country in that capacity. They are willing to go and fight and give their very lives to keep us safe. And the families of those in the military know this and are proud of their accomplishments and what they stand for. So it breaks my heart when my dad is overseas, fighting for our safety and freedom, so that someone in Washington, or in Oregon or anywhere else in our nation, can complain and whine about being at war. They can say how stupid it is we are there and that we aren't making any progress. They can say the military isn't doing any good and that our top commanders and even the President don't know what they are doing. They are destroying the very people who are keeping them safe.
I believe the majority of americans don't know how to think for themselves. They believe whatever the news tells them. Unfortunately it is all negative, because that is what sells. The media no longer talks about the horrible tradgedy that was 9-11, at least not about the positive things that happened in our nation and in our government because of it. So people forget, they go on about their lives, shredding those defending their right to freedom of speech. So that is why i say and i pray, that we may not forget. May we not forget what happened on that day.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Mr. Sun
I don't know how many of you have ever seen Barney. The kids show. My little brother was obsessed with it when he was younger, i think I might have liked it just a little bit too, but i would never admit it. Well anyway, it is a dispicable show in my opinion, but for my post today, a song came in mind from that show. It is called Mr. Sun.
"Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun. Please shine down on me. Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, hiding behind a tree. These little children are asking you, to please come out so we can play with you, oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me."
A little side note first, i am so ashamed i could remember all of that! :) But anyway, this describes exactly how i am feeling right now. Because while the rest of you are all rejoicing that you can sleep and eat again and you are not sweating 24-7, i am trying to hold back tears because summer is over and resisting the urge to move someplace sunny and warm year-round.
I hate the cold and i hate the dark long winter and i wish summer could last forever. I think a lot of this stems from the fact that i am a cold blooded person. I think most people would rather be cold because all they have to do is put on more clothing to get warm. That does not work with me. Once i am cold, i need a super hot shower, something hot to drink and then i better wrap myself up in sweats and a blanket if i want to stay warm.
You see i have tried the whole putting more clothes on to get warm. Needless to say it didn't work and pretty soon i has so many clothes and blankets on me i couldn't move. So i would much rather be hot. Because i can always take clothes off and if that doesn't work i can get wet.
So as i look at winter and why i hate it, i see it as a constant struggle to stay warm. I wouldn't say i panic when i start feeling cool, but it is definetly cause for concern. Cause once i get cold, it is hard to get warm again. So all winter long i feel like i am constantly fighting to stay warm and dreading that sudden chill, signaling that i am about to get cold if i don't do something fast!
Not to mention the curse of constantly cold feet and hands. I think the only time my hands and feet are warm during the winter are after i shower or when i am starting my second massage. That is another thing: massage therapists should ALWAYS have warm hands. I have found no matter what i do in the winter, my first client has to suffer for the first couple of minutes until my hands get warm, i just can not get them warmed up before that.
If there weren't so many people in california i think i would live there. I heard one time that Santa Barbara is usually 75 degrees year round. That sounds perfect to me! Of course this would never suit my husband so i guess i wouldn't be living in california even if there was less people, but you get my point.
Unfortunately there is nothing i can do to remedy this situation. My best friend tells me she is always hot now that she is pregnant, maybe all just make sure i am pregnant in the winter. At least that would be one year i may not cry so much when summer is over. :)
"Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun. Please shine down on me. Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, hiding behind a tree. These little children are asking you, to please come out so we can play with you, oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me."
A little side note first, i am so ashamed i could remember all of that! :) But anyway, this describes exactly how i am feeling right now. Because while the rest of you are all rejoicing that you can sleep and eat again and you are not sweating 24-7, i am trying to hold back tears because summer is over and resisting the urge to move someplace sunny and warm year-round.
I hate the cold and i hate the dark long winter and i wish summer could last forever. I think a lot of this stems from the fact that i am a cold blooded person. I think most people would rather be cold because all they have to do is put on more clothing to get warm. That does not work with me. Once i am cold, i need a super hot shower, something hot to drink and then i better wrap myself up in sweats and a blanket if i want to stay warm.
You see i have tried the whole putting more clothes on to get warm. Needless to say it didn't work and pretty soon i has so many clothes and blankets on me i couldn't move. So i would much rather be hot. Because i can always take clothes off and if that doesn't work i can get wet.
So as i look at winter and why i hate it, i see it as a constant struggle to stay warm. I wouldn't say i panic when i start feeling cool, but it is definetly cause for concern. Cause once i get cold, it is hard to get warm again. So all winter long i feel like i am constantly fighting to stay warm and dreading that sudden chill, signaling that i am about to get cold if i don't do something fast!
Not to mention the curse of constantly cold feet and hands. I think the only time my hands and feet are warm during the winter are after i shower or when i am starting my second massage. That is another thing: massage therapists should ALWAYS have warm hands. I have found no matter what i do in the winter, my first client has to suffer for the first couple of minutes until my hands get warm, i just can not get them warmed up before that.
If there weren't so many people in california i think i would live there. I heard one time that Santa Barbara is usually 75 degrees year round. That sounds perfect to me! Of course this would never suit my husband so i guess i wouldn't be living in california even if there was less people, but you get my point.
Unfortunately there is nothing i can do to remedy this situation. My best friend tells me she is always hot now that she is pregnant, maybe all just make sure i am pregnant in the winter. At least that would be one year i may not cry so much when summer is over. :)
Monday, September 8, 2008
Running Like a Cheetah
....faster then a speeding bullet, its MASSAGE GIRL!
Cheetahs (i think) are the fastest land animals on the planet. And today i feel like my life is running at least that fast if not faster.
Does any one else ever feel this way? i am sure you have, but here is the kicker i just realized: I think i might always feel this way! AAAHHHH! Up until now i had hope, that my life was just crazy right now, at this time of the year. Fall is crazy for everyone! School starts and then just as you are getting the swing of things, holiday's descend and pretty soon you are in the dark, freezing cold depths of depressing january.
So up till now, like i said, i was just thinking "this too shall pass." But i don't think it will. Cause as i started thinking back, into summer and then spring i started to realize, my life is just crazy. Or i am. Or both.
Summer was crazy just cause it always is. There were fairs to go to, swimming to do, fishing as often as possible, trying to catch up on all the yard work i should be doing all winter long (:), etc. Then on top of that i was gone for a week long mission trip in june, and then counseling at church camp for a week in July. August was chair massage at the fair and rodeo, and on top of all that my jewelry business was crazy and i did 7 parties in July and my massage business exploded. Talk about busy!
That lead me to spring. Spring was busy cause of graduations and massage State Convention, Women's retreat with our church and then i was gone most of january on a mission trip to Argentina. That was nice, got away from the dark and the cold and the depressing and i was stuck in the middle of sunny summer. I don't know how i will make it through january this year without that.
So now i was back to December which is probably crazy for everyone cause of Christmas but it is doubly crazy for me cause my husband and I's anniversary and my brothers birthday is in December not to mention that like October through December is prime months for selling jewelry cause people always need gifts. November is thanksgiving and my husband and I's birthdays as well as my moms. This year we have elections and this october my best friend is having a baby, haloween, massage at a women's retreat, and hopefully traveling to kansas.
So i have made it back to current time and as i am looking ahead and back, all hope is dying and i now know for certain.
Life will not slow down until i die. And that is sad.
Cheetahs (i think) are the fastest land animals on the planet. And today i feel like my life is running at least that fast if not faster.
Does any one else ever feel this way? i am sure you have, but here is the kicker i just realized: I think i might always feel this way! AAAHHHH! Up until now i had hope, that my life was just crazy right now, at this time of the year. Fall is crazy for everyone! School starts and then just as you are getting the swing of things, holiday's descend and pretty soon you are in the dark, freezing cold depths of depressing january.
So up till now, like i said, i was just thinking "this too shall pass." But i don't think it will. Cause as i started thinking back, into summer and then spring i started to realize, my life is just crazy. Or i am. Or both.
Summer was crazy just cause it always is. There were fairs to go to, swimming to do, fishing as often as possible, trying to catch up on all the yard work i should be doing all winter long (:), etc. Then on top of that i was gone for a week long mission trip in june, and then counseling at church camp for a week in July. August was chair massage at the fair and rodeo, and on top of all that my jewelry business was crazy and i did 7 parties in July and my massage business exploded. Talk about busy!
That lead me to spring. Spring was busy cause of graduations and massage State Convention, Women's retreat with our church and then i was gone most of january on a mission trip to Argentina. That was nice, got away from the dark and the cold and the depressing and i was stuck in the middle of sunny summer. I don't know how i will make it through january this year without that.
So now i was back to December which is probably crazy for everyone cause of Christmas but it is doubly crazy for me cause my husband and I's anniversary and my brothers birthday is in December not to mention that like October through December is prime months for selling jewelry cause people always need gifts. November is thanksgiving and my husband and I's birthdays as well as my moms. This year we have elections and this october my best friend is having a baby, haloween, massage at a women's retreat, and hopefully traveling to kansas.
So i have made it back to current time and as i am looking ahead and back, all hope is dying and i now know for certain.
Life will not slow down until i die. And that is sad.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
A Chicken with No head
The title for my post today may seem gruesome, but that is about how i feel today and it is not even my own fault!
I am a take charge sort of person. I think i am good at leadership because i often find myself in leadership positions. I like to have things organized and done ahead of time and all the kinks worked out. It saves me stress and worry and it should save everyone else stress and worry.
You know how without consciously thinking about it you think that everyone thinks the same as you? Like for example: I like to have things planned, i like to know what we are doing today, tomorrow and the next day. If we are going somewhere, what time we are going and if i need to bring anything and when we will get back. So as a leader, i assume that people would rather know all this information in advance so they can plan ahead and not stress about it.
I was dead wrong. You see, i am in charge of the Western Unit for AMTA Idaho. AMTA stands for American Massage Therapy Association. Being a part of this group gives me credibility as a Massage Therapist, great insurance benefits and a easy and cost effective way to get my required continuing education in. In return, i have to plan one unit meeting a year complete with an educator offering some course of study in a massage modality, dinner and a meeting with our members. Now because i am an organized person i have had this planned since June and have been emailing and calling people frequently to remind them of the meeting dates, times, what they need to bring, cost, overview of the education they will receive, etc.
But for some reason this all went in one ear and out the other! The meeting is today and guess what kind of phone calls i received yesterday? My educator called needing a power point projector. And one other person called wondering if they needed to register for the class or if they could just show up with their money! Another person called wanting to know what they needed for the class!
I am a take charge sort of person. I think i am good at leadership because i often find myself in leadership positions. I like to have things organized and done ahead of time and all the kinks worked out. It saves me stress and worry and it should save everyone else stress and worry.
You know how without consciously thinking about it you think that everyone thinks the same as you? Like for example: I like to have things planned, i like to know what we are doing today, tomorrow and the next day. If we are going somewhere, what time we are going and if i need to bring anything and when we will get back. So as a leader, i assume that people would rather know all this information in advance so they can plan ahead and not stress about it.
I was dead wrong. You see, i am in charge of the Western Unit for AMTA Idaho. AMTA stands for American Massage Therapy Association. Being a part of this group gives me credibility as a Massage Therapist, great insurance benefits and a easy and cost effective way to get my required continuing education in. In return, i have to plan one unit meeting a year complete with an educator offering some course of study in a massage modality, dinner and a meeting with our members. Now because i am an organized person i have had this planned since June and have been emailing and calling people frequently to remind them of the meeting dates, times, what they need to bring, cost, overview of the education they will receive, etc.
But for some reason this all went in one ear and out the other! The meeting is today and guess what kind of phone calls i received yesterday? My educator called needing a power point projector. And one other person called wondering if they needed to register for the class or if they could just show up with their money! Another person called wanting to know what they needed for the class!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Charming Old Houses
My husband and I have always wanted a house. We got married young though, while my husband was still in college, so a house was out of the question. For almost three years we lived in apartments. Now apartments aren't bad. I think both of our apartments had pools, one had a hot tub and our very first apartment had beautiful landscaping. Very lush and tropical feeling. But we could never escape the irritating fact that we were just paying to live there. We were not building equity, we could not sell it when we moved to help buy our next apartment. It was almost like throwing money away, a LOT of money.
Now, i know in different parts of the country this would never be an issue. Many people live in apartments all their lives, and a lot are lucky they have an apartment at all. But in my home state, most people live in houses and it is not out of reach for young, newly marrieds to afford a house. So we wanted one really bad. You just can not put a price on having your own space.
So to make a long story short, almost a year ago God saw fit to give us a house. And it was totally a God thing! My husbands father had been in a very severe motorcycle accident and we were living with them to help out. I was in charge of giving him his shots and running the family restaurant, which is NOT a small task. We were still paying for our apartment, even though we weren't living there. We were paying for our cat and all our stuff to live there i guess, cause our apartment was a good half hour away from my in-laws and the restaurant, which opened at 5am.
So it was totally a God thing in that sense, because we needed to live in the same town so we could have our own space and still help. But it was totally a God thing for other reasons. We had tried to qualify for a house loan earlier in the year and we didn't qualify. We had too much debt. And the house was much bigger then i knew we could afford. I had been looking at houses for awhile and i knew the mortgage we could afford would mean buying a house not much bigger then our apartment, 600 square feet. But we qualified and the guy that was selling the house was willing to work with us, Big Time!
So now we have a house, but i tell you what it is a love/hate relationship! Our house is more then twice the space our apartment was and we also have a garage and a lovely yard. But it is so much work! I don't know how people with kids and full time jobs do it. Because as a massage therapist i MAYBE work 20 hours a week. so i am home a lot more then most people. And i don't have kids to take care of or to dirty my house. But i can't hardly keep it clean! And then the outside! If the yard is looking good it is because the house is a disaster and vice versa! How do you people do it?
Our house is also an older house, and i have always loved older houses because of their charm and character. Ours has beautiful archway's and we found beautiful hardwood under our carpet. But their is also a downside, a big one. Our charming old house also has HUGE stairs leading down to the basement. And a charming kitchen sink the drains only when it wants to, but there is no clog. And a emergency tub drain that wasn't plumbed into the rest of the piping and floods the downstairs bathroom through the ceiling. You get the picture. I am having a hard time just loving it all. This house just needs so much work and it costs a lot!
But i guess in the end, it will be really cool to see how much we get done on it and how much we can sell it for eventually. So i do love my house, i just hate it at the same time, and especially when i am doing dishes! Oh, and a side note from yesterday, my husbands eyes did peel. Sort of. Apparently they don't really peel like dead skin would peel, he said it was just like he would blink and more goop and stuff just kept coming out of his eyes. I was bummed that i missed it. And that it wasn't really like skin peeling. I thought it would be really cool to see someone's eye "peel". As long as it wasn't my own! :)
Now, i know in different parts of the country this would never be an issue. Many people live in apartments all their lives, and a lot are lucky they have an apartment at all. But in my home state, most people live in houses and it is not out of reach for young, newly marrieds to afford a house. So we wanted one really bad. You just can not put a price on having your own space.
So to make a long story short, almost a year ago God saw fit to give us a house. And it was totally a God thing! My husbands father had been in a very severe motorcycle accident and we were living with them to help out. I was in charge of giving him his shots and running the family restaurant, which is NOT a small task. We were still paying for our apartment, even though we weren't living there. We were paying for our cat and all our stuff to live there i guess, cause our apartment was a good half hour away from my in-laws and the restaurant, which opened at 5am.
So it was totally a God thing in that sense, because we needed to live in the same town so we could have our own space and still help. But it was totally a God thing for other reasons. We had tried to qualify for a house loan earlier in the year and we didn't qualify. We had too much debt. And the house was much bigger then i knew we could afford. I had been looking at houses for awhile and i knew the mortgage we could afford would mean buying a house not much bigger then our apartment, 600 square feet. But we qualified and the guy that was selling the house was willing to work with us, Big Time!
So now we have a house, but i tell you what it is a love/hate relationship! Our house is more then twice the space our apartment was and we also have a garage and a lovely yard. But it is so much work! I don't know how people with kids and full time jobs do it. Because as a massage therapist i MAYBE work 20 hours a week. so i am home a lot more then most people. And i don't have kids to take care of or to dirty my house. But i can't hardly keep it clean! And then the outside! If the yard is looking good it is because the house is a disaster and vice versa! How do you people do it?
Our house is also an older house, and i have always loved older houses because of their charm and character. Ours has beautiful archway's and we found beautiful hardwood under our carpet. But their is also a downside, a big one. Our charming old house also has HUGE stairs leading down to the basement. And a charming kitchen sink the drains only when it wants to, but there is no clog. And a emergency tub drain that wasn't plumbed into the rest of the piping and floods the downstairs bathroom through the ceiling. You get the picture. I am having a hard time just loving it all. This house just needs so much work and it costs a lot!
But i guess in the end, it will be really cool to see how much we get done on it and how much we can sell it for eventually. So i do love my house, i just hate it at the same time, and especially when i am doing dishes! Oh, and a side note from yesterday, my husbands eyes did peel. Sort of. Apparently they don't really peel like dead skin would peel, he said it was just like he would blink and more goop and stuff just kept coming out of his eyes. I was bummed that i missed it. And that it wasn't really like skin peeling. I thought it would be really cool to see someone's eye "peel". As long as it wasn't my own! :)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
AAAHHHH! My eyes are peeling!
You should never weld without a welding visor, or welding glasses, or welding goggles. Ever. I am saying this now because my wonderful husband did just that and is even now suffering the consequences.
If you grew up on a farm like i did, i am sure your dad had to weld something, or someone else came to weld something. Things just break on farms and it is just cheaper to weld the broken piece back on. Welding is pretty fascinating to a little kid: it makes noise, it is bright and shiny, and your dad always looks like some kind of martian with the welding visor on, at least mine did. But i still remember him saying, "Mandy, don't look at the welding, it will burn your eyes and then they will peel and it will hurt a lot." Come to find out later, my dad was speaking from experience. Now i don't know if your eyes actually peel, but i have heard that they can. And that was motivation enough for me to look the other way. The thought of my eyes PEELING, well that just gives a whole new meaning to a sunburn and gives me the heebie jeebies even now.
Now, i know my husband knows all of this. His uncle has a farm and he learned to weld in school, so i am sure they told them about this whole peeling business. Nevertheless, my husband welded yesterday, without a visor, or goggles, or glasses. So last night i got no sleep. Because my poor husband was walking around the house trying not to cry and scream cause his eyes hurt. He said it felt like someone poured a bucket of sand in his eyes. And he couldn't open them, and i could not, under ANY circumstances turn on a light. He couldn't close his eyes cause they hurt, but he couldn't open them either cause they hurt.
So we called my dad. I had remembered this happened to my brother and if any one would know what to do, dad would. And he was the only one that wouldn't scream at me for calling him at 1 o'clock in the morning. I love my dad. He didn't even get grumpy with me. I told him how michael's eyes felt and he said yep, that is about how it feels. And then he told me there was nothing we could do except wait for them to heal. I had told michael this but i don't blame him for wanting a second opinion. My dad then added we could try eye drops but he didn't remember them helping when it happened to him. So we hung up.
That wasn't enough for my poor husband, and i don't really blame him. I have never seen him in that much pain, it was pretty brutal. So we called his mom to get the number for Ask a Nurse.
Now a side note: i have never called ask a nurse before and, silly me, i thought i would just call, tell a nurse what was going on and they would tell me what we could do. Well it wasn't like that. It was like going to the doctor! I think the only information they didn't take from me was the color of my eyes and the name of my firstborn! I mean, it took 15 minutes just to get through all of it. And then in the end, the nurse said the computer was telling her that at the level he was rating his pain, we should take him to the emergency room and have a doctor check him out. So much for that! The emergency room was out of the question: too much money, too far away, too many bright lights.
So at this point, i got michael to take some ibuprofen. Thankfully, it kicked in about 45 minutes later and he was actually able to close his eyes and rest. I don't know if he slept, but i was finally able to. So don't EVER weld without a welding visor, or glasses, or goggles. I will have to keep you updated as to whether or not his eyes peel. I think it will be rather interesting, especially since it isn't happening to me. :)
Oh, and if you read my blog yesterday, i did have 2 BOWLS of chocolate ice cream last night, and it was heavenly.
If you grew up on a farm like i did, i am sure your dad had to weld something, or someone else came to weld something. Things just break on farms and it is just cheaper to weld the broken piece back on. Welding is pretty fascinating to a little kid: it makes noise, it is bright and shiny, and your dad always looks like some kind of martian with the welding visor on, at least mine did. But i still remember him saying, "Mandy, don't look at the welding, it will burn your eyes and then they will peel and it will hurt a lot." Come to find out later, my dad was speaking from experience. Now i don't know if your eyes actually peel, but i have heard that they can. And that was motivation enough for me to look the other way. The thought of my eyes PEELING, well that just gives a whole new meaning to a sunburn and gives me the heebie jeebies even now.
Now, i know my husband knows all of this. His uncle has a farm and he learned to weld in school, so i am sure they told them about this whole peeling business. Nevertheless, my husband welded yesterday, without a visor, or goggles, or glasses. So last night i got no sleep. Because my poor husband was walking around the house trying not to cry and scream cause his eyes hurt. He said it felt like someone poured a bucket of sand in his eyes. And he couldn't open them, and i could not, under ANY circumstances turn on a light. He couldn't close his eyes cause they hurt, but he couldn't open them either cause they hurt.
So we called my dad. I had remembered this happened to my brother and if any one would know what to do, dad would. And he was the only one that wouldn't scream at me for calling him at 1 o'clock in the morning. I love my dad. He didn't even get grumpy with me. I told him how michael's eyes felt and he said yep, that is about how it feels. And then he told me there was nothing we could do except wait for them to heal. I had told michael this but i don't blame him for wanting a second opinion. My dad then added we could try eye drops but he didn't remember them helping when it happened to him. So we hung up.
That wasn't enough for my poor husband, and i don't really blame him. I have never seen him in that much pain, it was pretty brutal. So we called his mom to get the number for Ask a Nurse.
Now a side note: i have never called ask a nurse before and, silly me, i thought i would just call, tell a nurse what was going on and they would tell me what we could do. Well it wasn't like that. It was like going to the doctor! I think the only information they didn't take from me was the color of my eyes and the name of my firstborn! I mean, it took 15 minutes just to get through all of it. And then in the end, the nurse said the computer was telling her that at the level he was rating his pain, we should take him to the emergency room and have a doctor check him out. So much for that! The emergency room was out of the question: too much money, too far away, too many bright lights.
So at this point, i got michael to take some ibuprofen. Thankfully, it kicked in about 45 minutes later and he was actually able to close his eyes and rest. I don't know if he slept, but i was finally able to. So don't EVER weld without a welding visor, or glasses, or goggles. I will have to keep you updated as to whether or not his eyes peel. I think it will be rather interesting, especially since it isn't happening to me. :)
Oh, and if you read my blog yesterday, i did have 2 BOWLS of chocolate ice cream last night, and it was heavenly.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Love Affairs with Chocolate
I know this sounds pretty cliche' but i am totally having a love affair with chocolate. Not just during that "special" time of the month, but all month! I LOVE CHOCOLATE! But the only way i want it is in ice cream form. And it has to be ONLY chocolate. Not chocolate ribbons, not chocolate chunks or chocolate chip. Just pure, unadulterated chocolate! Seriously, i think they have a name for this and it should be classified as a disease: chocoholism.
Chocoholism definition: makes otherwise healthy and sane eaters consume insane amounts of chocolate at one sitting multiple times a day and will, at times, make them consider selling their first born to get another piece of chocolate (or in my case a scoop of chocolate). Okay, maybe that definition is a little dramatic, and i don't have a first born child, yet. But it does remind me of a time when i was desperately searching the house for change hoping i could find enough to buy a teeny tiny little pint of Ben and Jerry's chocolate something at the gas station. Because it was 11 o'clock at night and nothing else is open at that time in my teeny little town.
oh, add this to the definition: makes otherwise frugal people, NOT frugal and picky people to be otherwise. Because seriously, $4 dollars for a tiny pint of ice cream? i could get half a gallon at the grocery store for that price! And if it had been anything else, i would have waited until the next day, because more is always better and saving money is what we should strive for each and every day. :) But we are talking about chocolate here and i needed it. NOW.
Then of course my little gas station didn't have pure, unadulterated chocolate, (probably because no one is as crazy about it as me!) but i needed it SO bad, i settled people, i settled for Karma Sutra. That is the name of Ben and Jerry's chocolate icecream swirled with carmel ice cream with a huge pillar of pure carmel going straight up the middle. This was HUGE for me. There is probably quite a few of you out there salivating at the thought of chocolate and carmel ice cream! But people, I hate carmel. I mean, seriously hate it. I was desperate enough to compromise my "beliefs" and eat carmel to get my chocolate! If that's not addiction i don't know what is.
Now the shining star that i should be talking about through this crazy story is my husband. He accepts that i have love affairs with chocolate, almost every week! He is a very understanding man. And not only that, but in my little story while i was crazily digging around for loose change to get my chocolate fix, i decided i did not want to drive two blocks down to the gas station in our tiny little town at 11 o'clock in the evening to get my chocolate by myself. So he was gracious enough to take me, even though he thought i was crazy. And you know what? Last night he came home with not just a pint, but a half gallon of pure, unadulterated chocolate icecream. Just for me! Now that is love!
Now i am desperately wanting some of my chocolate ice cream, but thats okay, this is "normal!"
Chocoholism definition: makes otherwise healthy and sane eaters consume insane amounts of chocolate at one sitting multiple times a day and will, at times, make them consider selling their first born to get another piece of chocolate (or in my case a scoop of chocolate). Okay, maybe that definition is a little dramatic, and i don't have a first born child, yet. But it does remind me of a time when i was desperately searching the house for change hoping i could find enough to buy a teeny tiny little pint of Ben and Jerry's chocolate something at the gas station. Because it was 11 o'clock at night and nothing else is open at that time in my teeny little town.
oh, add this to the definition: makes otherwise frugal people, NOT frugal and picky people to be otherwise. Because seriously, $4 dollars for a tiny pint of ice cream? i could get half a gallon at the grocery store for that price! And if it had been anything else, i would have waited until the next day, because more is always better and saving money is what we should strive for each and every day. :) But we are talking about chocolate here and i needed it. NOW.
Then of course my little gas station didn't have pure, unadulterated chocolate, (probably because no one is as crazy about it as me!) but i needed it SO bad, i settled people, i settled for Karma Sutra. That is the name of Ben and Jerry's chocolate icecream swirled with carmel ice cream with a huge pillar of pure carmel going straight up the middle. This was HUGE for me. There is probably quite a few of you out there salivating at the thought of chocolate and carmel ice cream! But people, I hate carmel. I mean, seriously hate it. I was desperate enough to compromise my "beliefs" and eat carmel to get my chocolate! If that's not addiction i don't know what is.
Now the shining star that i should be talking about through this crazy story is my husband. He accepts that i have love affairs with chocolate, almost every week! He is a very understanding man. And not only that, but in my little story while i was crazily digging around for loose change to get my chocolate fix, i decided i did not want to drive two blocks down to the gas station in our tiny little town at 11 o'clock in the evening to get my chocolate by myself. So he was gracious enough to take me, even though he thought i was crazy. And you know what? Last night he came home with not just a pint, but a half gallon of pure, unadulterated chocolate icecream. Just for me! Now that is love!
Now i am desperately wanting some of my chocolate ice cream, but thats okay, this is "normal!"
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