Saturday, February 27, 2010

Project 365-7

Clickin' away... let's look at the week

Sunday 2/21/10 - Dinner Surprise for Uncle Ricky!..... I had a rough day & needed a big smile, so what do you do with that?  Go visit two little twins that are the cutest little girls in the world!  Ricky had called me to meet him for dinner & the plan was on to surprise him with two little faces!  There is just nothing like conversations with 5 yr olds...


Monday - Surprise for my hairdresser!... I got to finish blocking another project for my wonderul hair dresser.  She saw one of these that her granddaughter had, that Lynn made for her during Christmas - & she wanted one.  All she had to do was say the word & it was done... I really love these things... so cute...


Tuesday 2/23/10 - Done with one, begin another..... As soon as I get done with one book, I cant wait to start another one.  Its always exciting to me... and as I type this, I'm done with both of these... so onto ANOTHER book... always love to see what lies in between a front & back cover...


Wednesday Feb 24, 2010 - My first experience with oil!.... Ricky LOVES jumbo butterfly shrimp.  I ended up trying to make it for the first time frying it up.  As you all know, I'm new to cooking & I had never worked with oil & frying up anything... well, Ricky ate every little bit of it & wanted more... SUCCESS!


Thursday - Feb 25, 2010 - Do I hafta get up too?.... It was a cold morning & my Bruno sleeps with me all night long... but when I got up for work, he just stayed snuggled.. I was getting ready to leave for work & saw him STILL under those blankets... I just wanted to crawl right back in & go back to sleep.


Friday - Lovin' my new Crocs!..... I saw where the Croc Warehouse was having a bargain of a sale online & got these shoes for $19.00.... they were regular $65.00 - BARGAIN!  And I LOVE 'em!!! 


Saturday - Feb 27, 2010 - Pump me up....  I ran 6 miles today & didnt realize I had only had toast for the day before my run... UNTIL, I felt like I was going to die!  I was going to the hospital to see my friends Joe & Erica with their baby Emily, when I stopped to pick up some food.  Whoooo - I wasnt feeling good standing in line.  And of course, there was a LONG line... I started seeing the room spin, I got hot & cold & felt suddenly sick... I walked out ot my car & next think I know - I'm down for the count.  Totally blacked out.... next thing I know - a lady who was in Subway came out to check on me.  I couldnt get a hold of Ricky so I drove home.  I had to pull over one other time because I thought I was going to black out again.  I got home & almost felt like I had to crawl in the house.  Ricky called me after seeing missed calls & reminded me that's exactly what happened to me when I ran the mini-marathon last year & didnt have food for awhile... so I found these babies & they instantly pumped me back up... I felt shaky the rest of the night - but now, I know I need to keep an eye on my blood sugar levels...


Hope everyone has had fun clickin' away this week... cant wait to see all your pics...

Friday, February 26, 2010

Friday Fragments

Mommy's Idea
Its Friday!!!! Thank goodness, this week went by SOOOO much faster then last week... I really think last week had some sorta jinx on it that was just playing with my mind.  But I've shaken it off & ready for another Friday full of fragments...

*Its coming!  Its coming!!!  I'm talking about Spring!  And yes, while its still below freezing here & way below the normal temp AND we had snow yesterday AND we'll have more this weekend... I can tell its coming!  How do I know?  Because driving into work, the sky was actually LIGHT & the sun was creeping up!!! I'm used to driving in the pitch dark so I had a big smile on my face when I got out of my car at work & could actually look around & see things!  YES... bring on the sunshine!!!

*SPAT OF THE WEEK:  Ellen Degeneres.... Ricky & I havent watched American Idol in the past few years & we have been keeping up with this one... but even since Hollywood week, Ricky just rolls his eyes.  He's not an Ellen fan.  She's always gotten on his nerves - but she shouldnt take offense - I think everyone gets on his nerves! (kidding)  And now, with this weeks competition & to hear Ellen actually critique people, Ricky just moans & groans every time she opens her mouth.  Yes, I will agree - she does seem to stutter & have a hard time getting complete thoughts out... but she's Ellen... and I love Ellen!!!....I wonder if she knows she causes me to hit my husband in the face with a pillow everytime she's on?

*Speaking of American Idol... I remember why I quit watching it... Its the first elimination & I'm already mad... I LOVED the little 70's dude....Tyler Grady.  He's not my fav - Andrew Garcia holds that spot - but I did think he was unusual & fun & a different kinda guy... & he's already gone... sigh...


*In case you didnt know it - I have a pretty cool ride!  Just ask my 5 yr old nieces... I got to take them out to dinner Sunday & on the drive, they were watching my GPS & Sophia said "When I get big, I'm going to buy a car just like this because it is soooooo cool!"... so, there's the key!  If you have a GPS - You are officially cool!  Who needs a Porshe!  A 2002 Hyndai is the bomb-diggity!

*I dont get why people are shocked when a KILLER whale KILLS someone!  I mean, I dont call my Australian Shephard, a KILLER Australian Shephard!  If that was what their breed was called, I wouldnt want to roll around with her & play with her thinking she could take my face off at any moment....Its a horrible accident & it breaks my heart for this trainer's family.... but we have to understand that some animals insticts cant be changed...such a sad story....

*Styx & REO Speedwagon is coming to our area & I just got an email saying I can get tickets, buy one, get one free.... Ricky & I actually saw Styx when they opened for Def Lepard not too long ago... but I'm wondering if I should get some nose bleed section tickets so we can just go to have fun & listen... two tickets for $35.00?  I may have to go for it... Especially because after the TV Show "Sing off" - Come Sail Away sang by that group of college kids - I'm lovin' that song!

*Reminder, in case you might have forgotten... I still cant stand Vienna.. & am preparing my puke bucket for Monday when she gets the final rose on The Bachelor... & then I'm waiting for the "After the Rose" show so I can keep my fingers crossed that Jake WOKE UP & realized he's an idiot...

*...which leads me into... I personally do NOT think Ali is a good choice for the next Bachlorette... am I the only one here?  I think Tenley deserves it... she is SOOO exactly what someone said about her - a woman who stepped out of a Disney movie!  She deserves to find a Prince Charming...

*SHUT UP!!!! I heard this morning that Olivia Newton John is going to be on GLEE!!!!! Singing "Let's get Physical" with Jane Lynch's character, Sue Sylvester....I have to find my leg warmers & head band & the one piece unitard just for that episode! .... the commercials for GLEE are killing me.... I'm missing my Mr. Shue and the wonderful evilness of Sue!

*Next week, I'm supposed to run in a 5k... but its still so darn cold... I'm praying it doesnt snow like it is supposed to this weekend!  See this picture below?  Yeah - that WONT be me... if it snows, I'm staying home under my covers & chalking that 5k up to a loss...And I'll pat everyone that does run it on their back... but I'll be doing that in my mind.... where its really warm & toasty....


*If you want a chance to win a $100 Target card, can you stop at my bloggy buddies page & take a survey.  She's doing it for a school project & as she likes to remind us on there, if we ever want her to graduate so she & her husband can have babies, then we need to help her!  I told her that when she gets pregnant down the road, I want her to give all her bloggy buddies a shout out that we had a part in it!... I'm sure her husband will appreciate that! :)... Anyways - go right HERE ... who doesnt want a chance at a Target Gift Card? 

Hope everyone has a Friday Full of Fun!!!!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Its written all over my face....

I dont even try to hide it....  you've all heard me say on here I cry almost every day... it can be about a story of someone who is going through something hard... it can be a commercial with Sarah McClaughlin singing "Angel" in the background (oh man, that gets me EVERY TIME!)... it can be over a song I heard on the radio... My name is Rebecca & I am a crier...

But, I'm also a laugher!  I love to laugh.  As Buddy the Elf likes to say, its my favorite!  I can laugh over the dumbest things & find humor in the corniest things...let me see a video of people falling & I'm on the floor with a belly ache from laughing... My name is Rebecca & I am a laugher...

I also get angry... I get angry when people say things that arent true.  I get angry when I see things arent getting done the way they should be.  I get angry when I feel like I've been betrayed.  I get angry when I see people who suffer.  I get angry when people dont understand... My name is Rebecca & I can be an angry person...

Yeah - I am a crier, I get sad... I am someone who enjoys laughter, I get happy... I am someone who gets angry & frustrated, & I also am goofy & giddy & filled with joy, & filled with confusion & heartache... I have emotions...

Some may even say I get "too emotional" at times... but how do you turn off emotions?  I personally dont feel like I am a drama-queen, but I do show my emotions.  I will admit that.  And at times, I dont even realize I show emotions.  You say something I dont like, you can probably tell by my face exactly what is in my mind.  You say something that hurts my feelings, you will probably see the stab my heart feels right in my eyes... its not something I can really help or change...

The thing that I think about is that Jesus is my example in life... & you know what - Jesus was ONE EMOTIONAL DUDE...& I love that about him!  Think about his examples he gave.  He was ANGRY in that temple & didnt just sit there & count to ten & get in a yoga position doing deep breaths.  He knocked over tables! (which by the way, I have never done, for the record! ... haha!!)  Jesus cried when he heard the news of a death of a loved one.  Jesus was strick & strong with words with his disciples when they werent getting the pictures & words he was telling them. 

I imagine Jesus showed love on his face without EVER saying a word...

I even think we see how "emotional" God was in the Bible... how he was "pleased" with his creation... how he was ANGRY when the Israelites grumbled & complained again & again.... how he forgives & sacrifices for us, over & over...

We are to be Christ-like & strive to have a heart like God's... I believe that includes emotion...

Can you imagine what the world is like when people dont express how they feel?  What a messed up world that would be...

So what about you?  Do you show your emotions?  Willingly or unwillingly?  Or do emotions make you nervous & want to run?.... Tell me how you FEEL about this...(oh, is that emotion I'm asking for?) - haha!!!..
Are you one that shows your emotion all over your face?  Please tell me I'm not alone! :)

Monday, February 22, 2010

The Climb....

...& no, this isnt a post about Miley Cyrus.  I'm not a fan...

The sun came out Saturday & it just called my name.  Time to hit the roads instead of being in the stuffy basement on a rotating belt.  I find its so much more enjoyable to just look around at all the beautiful surroundings when you run.  Especially where I live.  I passed many a dog in a front yard, one beagle that followed me for quite awhile (I thought I was going to have a new pet), lots of acres of land that was covered with pure snow that no one has stepped a foot in - the sun just glimmering off that snow too.... the smell of cows & the big lashed eyes watching me as I run by & say "Hi Baby!"... yes, much better then staring at a TV in the basement...

I did venture out of the normal way & challenged myself though on this beautiful day... call is the effects of the sun!  Who knows what can happen when you're sun-deprived for so long & then it hits you... it causes some crazy reactions!  But I took a turn that I knew would take me a further distance then I had before.  And the thing is, I knew once I went down this way, I had to commit... it would be just as long to turn around & go the way I had come... but the difference, this way had some HILLS... & I'm not talking the pretty rolling hills you may expect. I'm talking some hills that leave you leaning at a 45 degree angle to get up.

The hard part about it, this was on the BACKSIDE of my run, so I'm already a little worn  & tired... & then I look up & see the hill of all hills... honestly I didnt know they had hills like this around my area.  This picture on the side... doesnt even compare... & maybe if you're driving it, it doesnt seem that big of a deal... but let me tell you, run a few miles & then see it ahead of you & then stand at the bottom & look up!  It might as well been Mt. Everest!

I started up it looking at the top & had energy, but it didnt take long for the legs to burn... for the breathing to become really rapid & labored.... my heart rate was beeping at me like "Do you know your heart is ready to explode?"... oh, be quiet Mr. Heart Rate Monitor... I have a hill to get over!

But I noticed that the more I kept looking at the top of it, I wasnt feeling like I was making any progress.  So I changed my perspective... I started looking down at my feet & the ground right in front of my feet... I concentrated on the next step I had to take & then the next step.... & then the next step...

Before I knew it,  I was at the top... with my heart rate STILL telling me I was about to pass out & roll back down that hill, but I made it up!!!

Then I realized that so many times, we look up at big hills, or big goals in our life & we struggle just to make it to the top... but we dont focus maybe on each little step it takes to get there... focus on the smaller steps... focus on the journey instead of the destination...it was more encouraging to know I did take that one step that took me one step closer, instead of taking one step & seeing I was still no where near the top....

When we get discouraged in the big goals of our lives, may we stop & look at the little, small steps that make up the journey to the big goal... find comfort & encouragement in every little step we take...

"I have fought the good fight....I have finished the race... I have kept the faith"
-2 Timothy 4:7

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Project 365-6

Another week of life through my eyes.... I'm sure a bunch of you all have snow pictures too... I just keep thinking, we'll have many more with NO snow & then we'll look back & miss it...

Sunday Feb 14, 2010 - The Wonderful Singing Balloon!!!.... Its Valentines Day & Ricky woke me up with this balloon bouquet... & not just ANY bouquet - but the big balloon sings "You're Still the One".  The funny thing (or irritating, however you want to look at it) is that every time you hit it, Sydney comes running & barking & trying to attack the balloon - no matter where she is at, or whether she is sound asleep. She HATES this balloon!!!


Monday Feb 15, 2010 - This snow is for the dogs... literally!!!... We got 8 inches of snow & I came home from work & saw no foot prints in the snow at all from the dogs... & a bunch of pleading eyes of help. So I wrapped up & had to go out & shovel a path for the dogs to go out to go potty.  Poor Bruno & Zoe would have gotten lost - it was taller then they were...so I cant blame them.


Tuesday Feb 16, 2010 - Look out Below!!!... I wouldnt want to stand under that when it fell off the roof!!!


Wednesday Feb 17, 2010 - Minnie Mouse is officially lost.... Our poor Minnie Mouse statue is about totally covered by the snow... I see now why she stays in Orlando where its a usual warm temperature..


Thursday Feb 18, 2010 - Is that a BLUE sky?????.... I was lying down on the ground doing crunches at Jazzercise & looked up through the window & actually saw a sky that wasnt grey or white... I almost wanted to cry!  And wasnt sure if it was because of the sky, or the darn stomach crunches... (I'm still sore)


Friday Feb 19, 2010 - Bible Study with a new friend is Muy Bueno...We have a Bible Study at our church where we are "partnered" up with someone we havent really gotten to know before.  Well, I met my partner Jana out for dinner at a Mexican place.  It was Yummy-o & we ended up sitting there talking for 3 hours... oops!  I did leave the waiter a generous tip... didnt want him being angry at us...


Saturday Feb 20, 2010 - Suns out? Crank up the miles! .... oh my goodness - the temp hit almost 50 degrees today & the snow was melting & the sun was shining.  So I got to get off the treadmill & actually hit the pavement.  I had a great run.  That says 6.26 miles - I actually ran a little over 5 for the run... the other miles was just from house cleaning.  Felt great just having the sun hit my face though... but sigh... cold weather comes back tomorrow...


Hope everyone has a Happy Snappy Week ahead of them!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Friday Fragments

Mommy's Idea

*OK, I've gotta start off right here because I REALLY, REALLY want to encourage you to go visit my friend Erica's blog.  If you remember, Joe & Erica are the ones with Baby Emily & they received the diagnosis of Infantile Spasms.  This is a condition that is pretty much not as "in your face" as most conditions - & because of that, they are having some issues getting the help they need.  They've been told their baby is just a "mystery".... but I've seen the bloggy community gather around Harper & Stellan & Miracle Max & many other beautiful angels... They can use your words of encouragement... & honestly, Erica is such an honest writer on what is going on in Emily's life, I think you will immediately fall in love with all of them too & want to stay up to date with their story... Their blog is called Our Beautiful Emily ... God is at work in their lives... go give them a visit & let them know you're praying for them!
*American Idol... so I havent watched the past few years (who is Adam Lambert? ... kidding) - but who are your favorites so far?  I'm horrible with names, but I love the dude with the tattoo on his neck who redid Paula Abdul's "Straight up"... that was genuis!  I also really liked the 70's guy... very Jim Morrison!  For the girls, not sure who stands out for me there... I know I REALLY cant believe some of them made it through & that some amazing ones got away... oh well. I'm sure it'll all change once the real performances take place..

*It hit above freezing yesterday & the sun was out... how messed up is it that it felt like SPRING... Honestly, it felt like it was Heaven... But, back to freezing temps after the weekend so we're not going to get used to it... sigh...

*I love GAWDY rings - the bigger the better... always have... so when I saw this ring, I had to stop & say "hmmm... is this too much"
And this is not a joke... there is a lady on Etsy that sells this - along with other various rings- go look!  Tell me which is your favorite? http://www.etsy.com/shop/SouZouCreations?section_id=5917583 & for $12.50 for each, I may have to get one just because....

*Am I the only one who could care less about Tiger Wood's press conference today?  Remember, its 8:00 am right now - but see if I can predict what he's going to say .... "I'm sorry I hurt my wife, I'm sorry I hurt my sponsors, I'm sorry to all those I hurt...." - just go play golf Tiger...

*SPAT OF THE WEEK:  SNOW COVERED SHOES!!!! Its bad enough I have dogs dropping little snow balls from their fur all over the house, but Ricky refuses to take his shoes off at the door... so he'll walk around & big ole dirty snow clumps fall off & I either walk right into it unknowingly with nice, clean socks... or I have to wipe up the dirt stains it leaves.... I need to start standing at the door with a spray bottle & shoot him in the face if he doesnt take them off... isnt that how you train cats?  He does hate for his hair to get messy so it could work!!!

*Speaking of hair... THE FLYING TOMATO - Shaun White is everywhere - isnt he pretty dang cool?  Well, every time I see him, I tell Ricky, "There you are"... they resemble each other so much... especially of pictures of Ricky when he was younger (ALOT Younger, as I like to remind Ricky - haha!!!!)... I need to start calling Ricky a nickname - "The Flying ???" - oh, help me - I gotta get a good name... remember, he is a skater, so it could work...

*REALLY RANDOM!!!!.... I saw a billboard today that said "Vicki Lawrence and Mama" are coming to a local riverboat casino... who knew "Mama" was still getting around!


*GROSS OUT PICTURE.... Ready for this... my dad has been having PLASTIC SURGERY!!! Not really, but kinda!  He's been having the excess skin lifted over his eyes removed... & the first eye was done last week, the other gets done next week... He said he's got Michael Jackson's plastic surgeon!  But how painful does this look?  Isnt technology great that we can make people go "OHHHHHHHH' with just a click of a button?


**UPDATE - I still hate Vienna from "The Bachelor"...you may continue on with your day now
Happy Friday everyone... may your day be full of frags!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

You need a laugh? Then you gotta watch this...

I was in so need of a laugh this morning & this was sitting in my in-box... just what I needed... I think I have watched it like 5 times & have tears coming out of my eyes...

so now, may I introduce to you "Ugly Furniture"... Why is that on the wall?  I really wish it wasn't...

May today be full of laughter for you!

(& sorry for that one word at the end... it IS technically in the Bible though... & how do we not know, they may be talking about donkey's here... afterall, I wouldnt want to put MY donkey on that couch!)




Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Just passin' by....

I love to organize... I love coupons... so one day when I was at my buddy, AuburnChick's blog I noticed she had a coupon organizer that helped her in all the savings she gets.  I was immediately intrigued.  So off to my 2nd Heaven, Hobby Lobby, to get some baseball card holders.  I already had a binder at home  & plenty of labels, so that night, it was a Coupon Craft Event!  I was in love with my binder... loved looking for a few cents off an item in a store...felt like the organized Coupon Queen!  (That's a real title too - I promise!)

THEN... lets fast foward to Christmas time.  I am in Wal-mart, on December 23rd.  You can imagine how crowded it was - how hectic the pace was.  I'm in to pick up a few last minute things, wrapping, tape, & some snack goodies for Christmas Eve & Christmas morning breakfast.  So of course, I have my handy coupon binder. 

I pull out my binder, when all of a sudden, it was like something in the movies - everything went into s..l..o..w..... m..o..t..i..o..n......& I'm fumbling & trying to save my binder like an action star.  Well, a female Bruce Willis I am not, because SPLAT - my binder hit the floor.  And not only did my binder hit the floor, but my binder came OPEN & all the pages of individually tagged coupons just SLID right across the floor... and NOT ONLY that, but all the coupons slide OUT of the holders... Mess is NOT the word.  I literally just stood looking at it for a full minute, like "are you kidding me?"

So, I bend down & start picking them up... & you're talking little coupon cuttings too - so they were hard to get ahold of, & they were sticking to the floor.  At one point, I ended up using my feet to kick them into a pile so I could at least scoop them up a little bit easier.  When I got them in one area, I just sat on the ground while I tried to pick it up.  All of a sudden, I just realized I had been working on this mess for about 5 minutes.. & then,  I looked up....

I was very close to the front of the store, where people were coming in & leaving... & just next to the check out lanes, where the lines were long because it was the last minute shoppers loading up.  These people were just standing there - not moving... And as I looked up, I noticed that no one would even look my way.  They obviously could see there was a "situation" that could use some help.  I mean, how do you miss a lady on the floor in the middle of Walmart, just looking up at people while sitting in a PILE of papers?... people were avoiding catching my eye... they didnt want to help - they didnt want to take time out of their schedule.  It was the day before Christmas Eve afterall - who has time to slow down?.... I actually kinda chuckled at the craziness of it all....

Then this weekend, during Believe, we went over the story of the Good Samaritian (Luke 10:25-37)... here was a man who had been robbed & beaten... It says that the priest "SAW" the man & then "passed by on the other side"... then here came another man who also "SAW HIM" & passed him too...

Finally it says that this Samaritian "Saw him & took pity on him"
I instantly thought back of my "coupon incident" & thought, who REALLY saw me?  I think a lot of people actually SAW me... but they just passed me right by...

Here was a simple situation - if one other person helped me, it could have been taken care of in a matter of minutes... but no one was willing...

So what happens when big situations happen & people SEE & pass right on by?

Thank God there are the Samaritians in the world who do see & take pity... because I think we have become a world where people are much more comfortable with blinders on... pretending not to see.  And I know I fall in this category myself sometimes.  I think we all do really at times...

But I also know now, I'm more aware... I'm going to try to keep blinders off & SEE & take pity... after all, at the end of this parable, Jesus asks who do you think was a neighbor to this man... "The one who had MERCY on him"...

Jesus reaction "Go & do likewise"....

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A gander at Believe!!

Another successful year at Believe!  This was probably one of the best trips, in the sense that the most dramatic thing that happened was one of the kids forgot his coat & we had to wait for him to run back & get it... how nice is that!  It let the time be focused on the important things...

The weekend was full of lots of laughter, some A-MAZ-ING worship, some deep & powerful discussions in small group & just great time worshipping the MESSIAH!


The theme this year was "The Messiah is MORE".... & each session would discuss more about that - like "The Messiah SEES MORE" - "The Messiah LOVES MORE" - "The Messiah EXPECTS MORE"...


During each of the sessions, the artist, Eric Samuel Timm, portrayed GOD & would paint a picture right there in the midst of a song that was just gorgeous & relevant to the message...

At the last session, it all built up to this amazing presentation... he painted this crown of thorns & the music started building up representing the death of Jesus... The lights went red & "God" just stood & then hung his head... he stood like that for about 5 minutes & there wasnt a sound in the room... a room full of thousands of kids & silence... it gave me chills. 


Then the music started again, & Eric started painting over that crown of thorns & turned it into the CROWN FOR A KING!!!!


The picture was complete... Eric pulled chains raising the whole complete picture of the Messiah... all the while, the entire areana was singing "Hosanna".... I had chills non stop & to see the reactions of all the kids around - it was just so beautiful...

We were reminded at the end of it all that the Messiah expects MORE from us... that we are all called to be Kingdom workers for Him!  Big or small - we can do MORE through HIM because HE IS MORE!

If you ever get a chance to go to a CIY Convention, please load up the kids & go... they have such a powerful way of relaying a message - perfect for young & old of all ages... just be sure to know, LOUD, BOOMING music is going beat your chest out!  Just the way I like it...

And see this group?  Yep, we all BELIEVE that the MESSIAH IS MORE!!!!!

We're already ready for next year....

(Here is a little taste of what the weekend was like... you'll enjoy this - trust me)




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