I am going through a rather hard time right now. And it has led me to think about why God lets us go through hard stuff.
I mean i know he lets it happen because we will grow through it, or we at least have that choice. More of us will get rubbed off so that we can be more like God. Sometimes i just wish it wasn't so hard. Because even knowing that it is all for the better and that God loves me and is taking care of me and is always with me, I still can't sit back and just be okay with getting my hide sand papered off. At least I think that is a good analogy.
You know, it is like we know it all in our head but our minds can't quite wrap around it and it takes a long time for the knowledge to make it to our hearts. It is so hard, so i know it will be good in the end, cause few things that are worth getting are easy to get. Sometimes i just wish God didn't think i could bear so much!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Life's too short
I am so thankful that in God's infinite wisdom and mercy that he has made our day's only 24 hours long. But even still sometimes it is not long enough.
It seems that lately I have been almost physically unable to get much of anything accomplished during the day! This is very frustrating for me. I hate not feeling like I have accomplished something at the end of the day. And yet i seem unable to force myself to get things done!
Although, today i have just run out of time, and definitely out of energy. I hope this doesn't get worse with age.
It seems that lately I have been almost physically unable to get much of anything accomplished during the day! This is very frustrating for me. I hate not feeling like I have accomplished something at the end of the day. And yet i seem unable to force myself to get things done!
Although, today i have just run out of time, and definitely out of energy. I hope this doesn't get worse with age.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Research and options
You know, it has always flabbergasted me how the American people, in general, are when it comes to being consumers. Some research and look into the best camera model, or the cheapest grocery store, the longest running car or the longest lasting fabric. Others do not. But a lot of people forget to research one of the most important things they will ever face: birth.
Now, i don't know this for a fact, this is just what i perceive, but it seems that not many people know the risks and options they have when it comes to having a baby.
I have always been a research, organized, plan ahead, lists type of person, sometimes to my own detriment. So when my husband and I found our thinking shifting from children being a long way off, to having children being in our near future, I started researching.
I went on line, i became a member of a great site, Whattoexpect.com. It is run by the author of the popular book What to Expect When you Are Expecting. One of the greatest parts about this site, in my opinion, where the message boards. Here i could ask veteran moms about anything and everything having to do with pregnancy and birth.
One thing i have always known, is that i wanted a natural birth: no drugs, no c-section, no IV thank you very much. So i frequently checked the "natural birth" board. This lead me to renting and watching a FABULOUS documentary called "The Business of Being Born".
Now a word to those who want to rent this, i could only find it on Netflix, and you can watch it online though it is harder to find. But it is well worth it. Even if you have already had a baby, if you are planning on having another or it is your first time i would HIGHLY recommend watching this documentary. Though you may not agree with all or any of it, it shows the other side of the picture, a side we never see.
The documentary is about the failings of our modern day ObGyn system. It is very Pro-midwife and pro-natural birth, but with good reason. Some of the figures they present are astounding! 90% of women who give birth in hospitals have some type of augmentation before they give birth (pitocin, prostaglandin gel, breaking of waters, stripping of membranes, etc.). What this translates into is a 25-40% rate of C-section throughout the US. It measures out to about 1 out of every 3 births. So if you are planning on having 3 kids, you could end up with at least one c-section. Every other developed country in the world, 70-80% of births are attended by midwives, and these countries have a lower infant and mother mortality rate around the time of birth.
A warning also, to those who don't want to see a live birth, don't watch this. There are several throughout the movie. All in all, this documentary showed that a woman's body knows best, that she can birth a baby safely and effectively with a midwife, often at home and get a better outcome then going to a hospital. It was just amazing! The home births were especially beautiful and i found myself having to change my thinking a bit. We have been so conditioned to think of birth as scary, or at least being on a razor edge that bad things can happen so quickly and everything can go wrong. That we need help to birth our own babies, that we can't do it ourselves or that it is impossible to have a safe birth without at least the presence of possible medical intervention.
I also just read a wonderful book called "The Birth Book" by Dr. Sears. It was excellent. It went right along with how research is showing that for low risk women, home births with midwives have much better outcomes.
In the end, i have had to change my entire way of thinking. I am now envisioning a beautiful, relaxing and stress free home birth. No where to go, not having to worry about if it is time to go, or not being able to relax afterwards until we can pack up and leave, having the freedom to move and do what my body and my labor tells me I need, that will be a beautiful thing.
Now, i don't know this for a fact, this is just what i perceive, but it seems that not many people know the risks and options they have when it comes to having a baby.
I have always been a research, organized, plan ahead, lists type of person, sometimes to my own detriment. So when my husband and I found our thinking shifting from children being a long way off, to having children being in our near future, I started researching.
I went on line, i became a member of a great site, Whattoexpect.com. It is run by the author of the popular book What to Expect When you Are Expecting. One of the greatest parts about this site, in my opinion, where the message boards. Here i could ask veteran moms about anything and everything having to do with pregnancy and birth.
One thing i have always known, is that i wanted a natural birth: no drugs, no c-section, no IV thank you very much. So i frequently checked the "natural birth" board. This lead me to renting and watching a FABULOUS documentary called "The Business of Being Born".
Now a word to those who want to rent this, i could only find it on Netflix, and you can watch it online though it is harder to find. But it is well worth it. Even if you have already had a baby, if you are planning on having another or it is your first time i would HIGHLY recommend watching this documentary. Though you may not agree with all or any of it, it shows the other side of the picture, a side we never see.
The documentary is about the failings of our modern day ObGyn system. It is very Pro-midwife and pro-natural birth, but with good reason. Some of the figures they present are astounding! 90% of women who give birth in hospitals have some type of augmentation before they give birth (pitocin, prostaglandin gel, breaking of waters, stripping of membranes, etc.). What this translates into is a 25-40% rate of C-section throughout the US. It measures out to about 1 out of every 3 births. So if you are planning on having 3 kids, you could end up with at least one c-section. Every other developed country in the world, 70-80% of births are attended by midwives, and these countries have a lower infant and mother mortality rate around the time of birth.
A warning also, to those who don't want to see a live birth, don't watch this. There are several throughout the movie. All in all, this documentary showed that a woman's body knows best, that she can birth a baby safely and effectively with a midwife, often at home and get a better outcome then going to a hospital. It was just amazing! The home births were especially beautiful and i found myself having to change my thinking a bit. We have been so conditioned to think of birth as scary, or at least being on a razor edge that bad things can happen so quickly and everything can go wrong. That we need help to birth our own babies, that we can't do it ourselves or that it is impossible to have a safe birth without at least the presence of possible medical intervention.
I also just read a wonderful book called "The Birth Book" by Dr. Sears. It was excellent. It went right along with how research is showing that for low risk women, home births with midwives have much better outcomes.
In the end, i have had to change my entire way of thinking. I am now envisioning a beautiful, relaxing and stress free home birth. No where to go, not having to worry about if it is time to go, or not being able to relax afterwards until we can pack up and leave, having the freedom to move and do what my body and my labor tells me I need, that will be a beautiful thing.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Patent Red Happiness and Fav 5
I have a confession to make. I might be just a little obsessed about certain things. But this one is getting bad, i mean, it is silly how inordantly pleased I am about my fingernails.
Yes, i know, it is really silly that my fingernails are such a big deal. But, i used to be worse. I was downright manic about having nice, long, groomed and painted fingernails. It would take me several hours to complete a manicure. So you can imagine my horror when i got a job at Starbucks and they informed i couldn't even wear clear nailpolish. Why you may ask? It might chip and fall into someone's drink.
Well okay, that might be a valid concern, but i knew i wasn't working at Starbucks forever so i comforted myself with the fact that it was just temporary. I found a buffer that made my nails naturally shiny and started buffing my nails as obsessively as i had painted them.
Then my first day of massage class and my teacher says we shouldn't paint our nails because one of our clients might be allergic. Dang it! This is my life career! I can't not do my nails ever again, but i am not changing careers just because of nails! What to do?
Well, now that i am in practice i haven't come across anyone allergic to me massage them with my nails painted. So i have gradually got back into doing so, especially since i have to keep them so painfully short for massage. They need something to pretty them up.
Well, last week i was at my mother-in-laws and she let me use one of her red nail polishes. And OH MY GOODNESS! Talk about red patent leather heels on my nails! They are shiny and the perfect red, they look great on my short nails, it hasn't chipped and it only took one coat that dried fast! I am a women obsessed! I am so proud of how pretty my nails look (like Evelyn's on Pearl Harbor!). I look at them a lot!
So there is my red patent happiness, on to my favorite five and i think i am going Christmas this time:
1. Snowmen! There is something about building a snowman or seeing one in someone's yard that just makes you smile!
2. Hot cocoa. This kind of goes right along with the snowmen making, but i love hot cocoa! I love curling up at the end of the day with a good book and a cup of cocoa!
3. Decorating the tree. My husband and I always do this together and it is always such sweet communion. I can't wait to share it with our children some day!
4. Egg nog. Need i say more?
5. Mistletoe. Though i have none in my decorations, i think this tradition is quaint and cute and i intend to get some for sure for next year!
Yes, i know, it is really silly that my fingernails are such a big deal. But, i used to be worse. I was downright manic about having nice, long, groomed and painted fingernails. It would take me several hours to complete a manicure. So you can imagine my horror when i got a job at Starbucks and they informed i couldn't even wear clear nailpolish. Why you may ask? It might chip and fall into someone's drink.
Well okay, that might be a valid concern, but i knew i wasn't working at Starbucks forever so i comforted myself with the fact that it was just temporary. I found a buffer that made my nails naturally shiny and started buffing my nails as obsessively as i had painted them.
Then my first day of massage class and my teacher says we shouldn't paint our nails because one of our clients might be allergic. Dang it! This is my life career! I can't not do my nails ever again, but i am not changing careers just because of nails! What to do?
Well, now that i am in practice i haven't come across anyone allergic to me massage them with my nails painted. So i have gradually got back into doing so, especially since i have to keep them so painfully short for massage. They need something to pretty them up.
Well, last week i was at my mother-in-laws and she let me use one of her red nail polishes. And OH MY GOODNESS! Talk about red patent leather heels on my nails! They are shiny and the perfect red, they look great on my short nails, it hasn't chipped and it only took one coat that dried fast! I am a women obsessed! I am so proud of how pretty my nails look (like Evelyn's on Pearl Harbor!). I look at them a lot!
So there is my red patent happiness, on to my favorite five and i think i am going Christmas this time:
1. Snowmen! There is something about building a snowman or seeing one in someone's yard that just makes you smile!
2. Hot cocoa. This kind of goes right along with the snowmen making, but i love hot cocoa! I love curling up at the end of the day with a good book and a cup of cocoa!
3. Decorating the tree. My husband and I always do this together and it is always such sweet communion. I can't wait to share it with our children some day!
4. Egg nog. Need i say more?
5. Mistletoe. Though i have none in my decorations, i think this tradition is quaint and cute and i intend to get some for sure for next year!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Job benefits
Lots of people that i talk to about my job (i am a massage therapist) don't understand how i can do it. They always have lots of questions: Do your hands get tired? How do you massage someone for a whole hour? What do you do if you get someone that smells?
Then there are people who just aren't a people person. You know what i mean. I would cry if my job was to sit in a little room, by myself all day long and type on a computer. To some of you though, that sounds wonderful cause then you don't have to deal with people. I AM NOT LIKE THAT!
But in spite of loving my job so much there is one perk, and oh it is a big one, that makes me just love my job all the more. And i can describe it in two words: FREE MASSAGES!
I am very fortunate, because this is not an inherent "job benefit" that all massage therapists get. Granted, it is within anyone's grasp, you just have to make time for it and find someone willing to trade massage with you (ie you give me a massage and then i will give you one).
But i have it much easier. See, i share an office with another therapist. So almost without fail, we trade a 90 minutes (that's right people, an hour and a half!) massage EVERY WEEK! I can not tell you how blissful this is. I am especially blissful right now because i just got out of my 90 minute massage. And let me tell you, it is a good feeling.
It is also necessary, like taking vitamins, for a massage therapist to get regular massage. When you use your body daily in your work you will know what i mean. I would be a mess if i did not get regular massage. Not to mention that it is delightful and a job requirement that i am all to happy to take care of!
Then there are people who just aren't a people person. You know what i mean. I would cry if my job was to sit in a little room, by myself all day long and type on a computer. To some of you though, that sounds wonderful cause then you don't have to deal with people. I AM NOT LIKE THAT!
But in spite of loving my job so much there is one perk, and oh it is a big one, that makes me just love my job all the more. And i can describe it in two words: FREE MASSAGES!
I am very fortunate, because this is not an inherent "job benefit" that all massage therapists get. Granted, it is within anyone's grasp, you just have to make time for it and find someone willing to trade massage with you (ie you give me a massage and then i will give you one).
But i have it much easier. See, i share an office with another therapist. So almost without fail, we trade a 90 minutes (that's right people, an hour and a half!) massage EVERY WEEK! I can not tell you how blissful this is. I am especially blissful right now because i just got out of my 90 minute massage. And let me tell you, it is a good feeling.
It is also necessary, like taking vitamins, for a massage therapist to get regular massage. When you use your body daily in your work you will know what i mean. I would be a mess if i did not get regular massage. Not to mention that it is delightful and a job requirement that i am all to happy to take care of!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Christmas Baking
One of the things I love about Christmas, besides decorating, is baking! I am a domestic housewife at heart and although i love my job, during Christmas i would be quite content to stay home and bake goodies for all my neighbors and friends.
When i was growing up we always had several traditional treats that we always made. My little sister always requested eskimo cookies, little balls of chocolate dough that you roll in powdered sugar and refrigerate. My little brother always made peanut brittle in the microwave. He usually made a huge mess but he was pretty good at it. My dad always requested sugar cookies with sprinkles, and i always made our fabulous not to sweet super chocolaty fudge. But the one goodie we ALWAYS made and we all helped with were peppernuts.
When mom started talking about mixing up dough, we knew Christmas was on it's way!
Peppernuts were traditionally from Germany (my heritage), but the Mennonites were who brought them across the ocean (also a part of my heritage). So we got the recipe for peppernuts or pfeffernusen, from my great grandma. When i searched it on the internet i learned that they used to be a lot more plain then the recipie that I now have. More then anything, peppernuts mean christmas to me.
We were always all involved in the making of peppernuts because they are a LOT of work! First you mix the dough up, which usually fell to my mother. Then it must be refrigerated a minimum of 4 hours, usually overnight. Then the next day we all rolled up our sleeves and began to roll the peppernut dough into long snakes. This was quite a process because the dough gets warm and sticky quickly, and especially when we were little, it was hard to make them a uniform size. I think our "snakes" usually got re-rolled sneakily by my dad. Then these snakes must go in the freezer overnight. So the next day, or whenever we got to it, we would take one roll out at a time and my mom would start cutting them into little slices. Our job was to put the little tiny cookies onto the cookie sheet, and make sure she fairly handed out the heels of the snakes. We would fight over them if she did not cause that was the best part of making peppernuts, as far as we where concerned, and the dough was SOOOOO good!
I don't think that as a kid i ever ate much of the BAKED peppernuts! Even still, it is a fond memory of Christmas. One i am excited to pass on to my own children one day, and someday remember how they fought over the heels too!
When i was growing up we always had several traditional treats that we always made. My little sister always requested eskimo cookies, little balls of chocolate dough that you roll in powdered sugar and refrigerate. My little brother always made peanut brittle in the microwave. He usually made a huge mess but he was pretty good at it. My dad always requested sugar cookies with sprinkles, and i always made our fabulous not to sweet super chocolaty fudge. But the one goodie we ALWAYS made and we all helped with were peppernuts.
When mom started talking about mixing up dough, we knew Christmas was on it's way!
Peppernuts were traditionally from Germany (my heritage), but the Mennonites were who brought them across the ocean (also a part of my heritage). So we got the recipe for peppernuts or pfeffernusen, from my great grandma. When i searched it on the internet i learned that they used to be a lot more plain then the recipie that I now have. More then anything, peppernuts mean christmas to me.
We were always all involved in the making of peppernuts because they are a LOT of work! First you mix the dough up, which usually fell to my mother. Then it must be refrigerated a minimum of 4 hours, usually overnight. Then the next day we all rolled up our sleeves and began to roll the peppernut dough into long snakes. This was quite a process because the dough gets warm and sticky quickly, and especially when we were little, it was hard to make them a uniform size. I think our "snakes" usually got re-rolled sneakily by my dad. Then these snakes must go in the freezer overnight. So the next day, or whenever we got to it, we would take one roll out at a time and my mom would start cutting them into little slices. Our job was to put the little tiny cookies onto the cookie sheet, and make sure she fairly handed out the heels of the snakes. We would fight over them if she did not cause that was the best part of making peppernuts, as far as we where concerned, and the dough was SOOOOO good!
I don't think that as a kid i ever ate much of the BAKED peppernuts! Even still, it is a fond memory of Christmas. One i am excited to pass on to my own children one day, and someday remember how they fought over the heels too!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Good hormone crazies
Not many people would say this, and i know i DEFINETELY do not feel this way all the time, or even very often, but i am thankful that God gave us hormones!
Here is why: i read this article awhile back and it was on the female hormone cycle. Let me tell you women, we should get MEDALS for what we go through every month. But anyway, when we are all hyped up on estrogen (pre-ovulation) we have tons of energy! But only for about one week or so. But i am so thankful that at least we have that one week! Cause the rest of the time it is progesterone city and we don't feel like doing ANYTHING!
So i am so thankful that God gave us that energy filled week cause we get enough done in one week to make up for doing nothing for the next three!
And i am so thankful for it right now cause i am in that week. And i have got a TON of stuff done this week, and it only just started! I love everything being clean and organized, even knowing that all of my cupboards are clean and organized gives me a strange thrill of joy and immense pleasure in knowing that when i sit down to have a cup of tea, that i don't have ANYTHING i have to do or that needs cleaning. I am not putting it off, it is all DONE! So this week so far i have got my whole house clean, cleaned out the last two cupboards that needed cleaning out in my upstairs, mixed, rolled, froze and baked peppernuts (thought not a whole batch, it fills a gallon jar with tiny little cookies!), wrapped Christmas presents and called and emailed a ton of people. And it just feels so good to have it all done and to know that i have at least a couple more days to get ahead in!
One of the greatest things about reading that article, was realizing that i shouldn't beat myself up for those three weeks in which i do nothing. I mean, yeah, i should at least put in some effort in keeping up with things, but it is time for my body to rest. That is why we are flooded with that hormone. Cause if we had 4 weeks straight of estrogen we would all be dead from doing so much!(But our houses would be spotless!)
Here is why: i read this article awhile back and it was on the female hormone cycle. Let me tell you women, we should get MEDALS for what we go through every month. But anyway, when we are all hyped up on estrogen (pre-ovulation) we have tons of energy! But only for about one week or so. But i am so thankful that at least we have that one week! Cause the rest of the time it is progesterone city and we don't feel like doing ANYTHING!
So i am so thankful that God gave us that energy filled week cause we get enough done in one week to make up for doing nothing for the next three!
And i am so thankful for it right now cause i am in that week. And i have got a TON of stuff done this week, and it only just started! I love everything being clean and organized, even knowing that all of my cupboards are clean and organized gives me a strange thrill of joy and immense pleasure in knowing that when i sit down to have a cup of tea, that i don't have ANYTHING i have to do or that needs cleaning. I am not putting it off, it is all DONE! So this week so far i have got my whole house clean, cleaned out the last two cupboards that needed cleaning out in my upstairs, mixed, rolled, froze and baked peppernuts (thought not a whole batch, it fills a gallon jar with tiny little cookies!), wrapped Christmas presents and called and emailed a ton of people. And it just feels so good to have it all done and to know that i have at least a couple more days to get ahead in!
One of the greatest things about reading that article, was realizing that i shouldn't beat myself up for those three weeks in which i do nothing. I mean, yeah, i should at least put in some effort in keeping up with things, but it is time for my body to rest. That is why we are flooded with that hormone. Cause if we had 4 weeks straight of estrogen we would all be dead from doing so much!(But our houses would be spotless!)
Monday, December 8, 2008
Thankfulness
I know thanksgiving is past, but i am feeling like doing a thank you post. I think it was brought on by watching the movie Facing the Giants. If you have not watched it, you need to. I don't know if you remember but it came out, i think a year or two ago and it was such a big deal because it was making millions of dollars at the theaters and yet it was made by a church and they used only 500,000 dollars, and members of the church filled all the acting roles. Not to mention that it has a strong Christian message and yet was so popular with the mainstream. (you think that says something about our lost and searching world?) Any way, i digress... I watched that movie for the second time last night and it always makes me cry. I mean, the poor guy has almost everything that could possibly go wrong, go wrong. His car is a piece of junk and finally breaks, his house stinks, his dryer doesn't work, nor does the stove, he is loosing his hair, he might loose his job because his football team never wins, and to top it all off, the doctors say he can't get his wife pregnant, and they have been trying for 4 YEARS! I mean, talk about grounds for suicide! Not only is his manhood and the very essence of what makes him feel like a man taken away (hair, fertility) but everything else is going wrong too! But here is the part I love, he finds his identity and his manhood, his strength and peace in God. Because what does he do? He gets in his Bible and he starts spending more time with God, he cries out to HIM and things start to happen! He changes the football teams goals and they start winning, he figures out what is making his house stink, a parent gives him a BRAND NEW TRUCK! He gets a HUGE raise, so they fix the rest of their house, and in the end his wife and has a baby. It always makes me cry at that part. But i am always in awe at the end of this movie, because God is so BIG! And that this guy does what we all hope we would do under the same circumstances, he does not give in and give up, he gives it to GOD and God pours blessing upon blessings on his head!
This movie always makes me thankful too, because i am not up against that much. So you don't have to read this, this list is really more for me. But i feel like today I need to stand in awe of my God and what he has done for me and just thank him from the rooftops (or over the world wide web!)
Things I am thankful for:
1. Mini blinds - i finally got mini blinds for my living room window, it was a gift and I know God was in it, such a small thing, but so wonderful!
2. Cars that run - my car might not be much to look at, but it always gets me where i need to go, and gets good gas mileage on the way!
3. My husband - no, he is not perfect, but he buys me chocolate when I need it, and he loves me in spite of the fact that i am not perfect either. And he loves God! Could I ask for more?
4. Our house - so many have so much less then i do, i have a house that keeps me safe and warm, my water heater works, my toilet flushes, i even have electricity! Who cares if I don't have a dryer or my kitchen sink doesn't drain?
5. God! I could not live without him. He literally give me each breathe and each second of every day. Not to mention provides somehow for us to pay our bills when it looks like we can't and i am sure that it is HIM keeping us healthy, fed, and my car running!
6. Good health - i am not sick all the time, i have no diseases or chronic illnesses! I can live with the occasional cold or flu.
7. Family - all of my family is close, supportive and loving. We have no family feuds and they do not push me to be something i am not. They just love me for who I am, and i know they would all give me the shirt off their backs if they thought i needed it.
8. Work - not many people may be thankful for work, though i am sure many people are thankful they have a job right now. I am thankful that i have a job i LOVE that will enable me in the future to spend time with my family. I am thankful that God has kept me busy enough (though just barely, i think to remind me he is in control) that i do not have to find another job. I am so very blessed!
9. Sunshine - right now we don't have a lot of it, but i am so thankful when it does show up and helps keep my house warm (heating bill down) and helps to cheer me up.
10. Kids - now this one needs some explaining, cause i don't have any children. But as my husband and I have been pondering when to start a family i am just struck by how much of a gift it really is! Not only because there are couples who can't have children, but God has given us a role in CREATING NEW LIFE! Isn't that amazing?
This movie always makes me thankful too, because i am not up against that much. So you don't have to read this, this list is really more for me. But i feel like today I need to stand in awe of my God and what he has done for me and just thank him from the rooftops (or over the world wide web!)
Things I am thankful for:
1. Mini blinds - i finally got mini blinds for my living room window, it was a gift and I know God was in it, such a small thing, but so wonderful!
2. Cars that run - my car might not be much to look at, but it always gets me where i need to go, and gets good gas mileage on the way!
3. My husband - no, he is not perfect, but he buys me chocolate when I need it, and he loves me in spite of the fact that i am not perfect either. And he loves God! Could I ask for more?
4. Our house - so many have so much less then i do, i have a house that keeps me safe and warm, my water heater works, my toilet flushes, i even have electricity! Who cares if I don't have a dryer or my kitchen sink doesn't drain?
5. God! I could not live without him. He literally give me each breathe and each second of every day. Not to mention provides somehow for us to pay our bills when it looks like we can't and i am sure that it is HIM keeping us healthy, fed, and my car running!
6. Good health - i am not sick all the time, i have no diseases or chronic illnesses! I can live with the occasional cold or flu.
7. Family - all of my family is close, supportive and loving. We have no family feuds and they do not push me to be something i am not. They just love me for who I am, and i know they would all give me the shirt off their backs if they thought i needed it.
8. Work - not many people may be thankful for work, though i am sure many people are thankful they have a job right now. I am thankful that i have a job i LOVE that will enable me in the future to spend time with my family. I am thankful that God has kept me busy enough (though just barely, i think to remind me he is in control) that i do not have to find another job. I am so very blessed!
9. Sunshine - right now we don't have a lot of it, but i am so thankful when it does show up and helps keep my house warm (heating bill down) and helps to cheer me up.
10. Kids - now this one needs some explaining, cause i don't have any children. But as my husband and I have been pondering when to start a family i am just struck by how much of a gift it really is! Not only because there are couples who can't have children, but God has given us a role in CREATING NEW LIFE! Isn't that amazing?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Friday's Fave 5 and the Monster
So I am going to try a new post thingy. My good friend at Robinznest does this every friday and i think it is a great exercise to remember what i am thankful for....... But i also must post on my monster.
It is back and more vicious then ever.
I am speaking of the chocolate monster. I thought he was gone for good but he was not. I ate almost an entire chocolate bar on the way home from Walmart yesterday. And my dear and loving husband, seeing that i was down and not just a little hormonal on wednesday, bought me chocolate icecream. An entire GALLON of it.
I am in trouble. Resisting the monster is almost futile, and right now there is enough chocolate icecream sitting in my fridge for me to gain a permanent food baby. That is a problem.
But on to my favorite five:
1. My husband. He love me, he loves God and I swear he is getting better every day. And he has become sensitive to my moods and bought me chocolate twice in the last couple months. He is a smart man!
2. For cars that run. We have paid next to nothing for our 2 cars, and our pickup gave us a scare this morning. But it is running! And so is my poor beat up car! Thank you Lord!
3. Christmas garlands. I love decorating for christmas and garlands are my fav. It is a good way to get the christmas look in every room of your house without having to hang lights in window or make room for a tree in every room. And they go almost anywhere!
4. The internet. Do you know how much cool stuff you can find for so cheap on the internet? And how incredibly fast you can waste time on it too? Hurray for AMAZON!
5. My mom. Need i say more? She is always encouraging, helpful and ready to listen to all my stuff. That is all you can ask for and more in a mom!
It is back and more vicious then ever.
I am speaking of the chocolate monster. I thought he was gone for good but he was not. I ate almost an entire chocolate bar on the way home from Walmart yesterday. And my dear and loving husband, seeing that i was down and not just a little hormonal on wednesday, bought me chocolate icecream. An entire GALLON of it.
I am in trouble. Resisting the monster is almost futile, and right now there is enough chocolate icecream sitting in my fridge for me to gain a permanent food baby. That is a problem.
But on to my favorite five:
1. My husband. He love me, he loves God and I swear he is getting better every day. And he has become sensitive to my moods and bought me chocolate twice in the last couple months. He is a smart man!
2. For cars that run. We have paid next to nothing for our 2 cars, and our pickup gave us a scare this morning. But it is running! And so is my poor beat up car! Thank you Lord!
3. Christmas garlands. I love decorating for christmas and garlands are my fav. It is a good way to get the christmas look in every room of your house without having to hang lights in window or make room for a tree in every room. And they go almost anywhere!
4. The internet. Do you know how much cool stuff you can find for so cheap on the internet? And how incredibly fast you can waste time on it too? Hurray for AMAZON!
5. My mom. Need i say more? She is always encouraging, helpful and ready to listen to all my stuff. That is all you can ask for and more in a mom!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Falling down the hill
Sometimes i feel really old. And that worries me a little! I mean, i am only 23, i should not feel old. What happens when i really AM old? Am i going to feel that much worse?
Take for instance, i always feel tired. Now part of this is due to the lack of regular sleep i get. I am a night owl and tend to have a hard time going to bed before, say, 11pm. It is also partly because evenings is when i really get to spend time with my husband. How can i say no to him just to go to bed before 11pm? I don't want to not spend time with him, and neither does he. However, lately i have been going to bed at a decent hour. I'd say before 10:30pm for the last couple weeks, and i don't even get up until 8am at the earliest. So that is almost 10 HOURS! You would think that would be enough! Yet here i sit today, at work, wondering why i am so tired! And it is only the beginning of the day!
It really makes me wonder if that means that i am doomed to a life of always being tired or if, horror of horrors, I will be that much more tired all the time when i am actually old!
Take for instance, i always feel tired. Now part of this is due to the lack of regular sleep i get. I am a night owl and tend to have a hard time going to bed before, say, 11pm. It is also partly because evenings is when i really get to spend time with my husband. How can i say no to him just to go to bed before 11pm? I don't want to not spend time with him, and neither does he. However, lately i have been going to bed at a decent hour. I'd say before 10:30pm for the last couple weeks, and i don't even get up until 8am at the earliest. So that is almost 10 HOURS! You would think that would be enough! Yet here i sit today, at work, wondering why i am so tired! And it is only the beginning of the day!
It really makes me wonder if that means that i am doomed to a life of always being tired or if, horror of horrors, I will be that much more tired all the time when i am actually old!
Falling down the hill
Sometimes i feel really old. And that worries me a little! I mean, i am only 23, i should not feel old. What happens when i really AM old? Am i going to feel that much worse?
Monday, December 1, 2008
8402 days
8402 days is how long i have been alive! That sounds like such a long time, but really my age is fairly young (i just turned 23). Age has never been a bad thing to me. I still like having a birthday party, i still like celebrating my birthday, and i don't see that changing any time soon.
But for some reason i get the feeling that most people expect you to not think of your birthday as a big deal once you are an adult. My family and my husband, thankfully, still celebrate our birthdays, so i get my birthday fix then. I think birthdays should always be celebrated! It is an accomplishment to have made it through another year. You are more wise then you where last year (hopefully) and at this point in my life i might look better now that i am older. I guess at some point you start looking worse, but i am not there yet and beauty is in the eye of the beholder so thanks to my husband i will never be there!
I think birthdays are great, because they are usually a bright spot in a holiday void sometime in the year. It is another day to bring family together. that is what i like about holidays. Sure the presents are fun, and i am sure i wouldn't have wanted to do without them when i was a kid, but now i mostly look forward to seeing family and friends and sharing food and fun. Because for some reason in our busy lives, we don't take time out to spend with our friends and family very often. But holidays refuse to be ignored and they force us to take time and get together and have fun with those we love. I think it is wonderful!
But for some reason i get the feeling that most people expect you to not think of your birthday as a big deal once you are an adult. My family and my husband, thankfully, still celebrate our birthdays, so i get my birthday fix then. I think birthdays should always be celebrated! It is an accomplishment to have made it through another year. You are more wise then you where last year (hopefully) and at this point in my life i might look better now that i am older. I guess at some point you start looking worse, but i am not there yet and beauty is in the eye of the beholder so thanks to my husband i will never be there!
I think birthdays are great, because they are usually a bright spot in a holiday void sometime in the year. It is another day to bring family together. that is what i like about holidays. Sure the presents are fun, and i am sure i wouldn't have wanted to do without them when i was a kid, but now i mostly look forward to seeing family and friends and sharing food and fun. Because for some reason in our busy lives, we don't take time out to spend with our friends and family very often. But holidays refuse to be ignored and they force us to take time and get together and have fun with those we love. I think it is wonderful!
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