Project 365-1

I love when people are trying to get a picture of every day of the year for their blogs... what a fun way to look back for yourself & have good memories... So I'm going to give it a go.. & I KNOW I'm not going to be getting EVERY day, as I've gotten home from being out & then thought already, "Dang, I didnt take a picture"... but at least this is a start...

Sunday 1/10/10 - Went & got more totes to organize more of my yarn... WOW - didnt realize I had so much & this isnt even ALL of it... You cant even see how crammed in the yarn is in certain totes... at least now, its organized a bit.  Cottons, Sock yarns, Luxury Yarns, Wool... a system of some sort...

Monday 1/11/10 - Its dang COLD outside... look at the thermostat when I woke up... & yes, the inside temp is like 60 degrees... I took this pic to have proof that Ricky is trying to freeze me out of the house!

Tuesday 1/12/10 - Got to get my hair done & I was bearing gifts for a hair stylist at the shop.  She wanted a slouch hat & is a Pittsburg Steelers Fan.  I couldnt find the right color "yellow" so went with a black hat & then found this ADORABLE feather that can be added & taken off easily for game days... I think it added alot of personality!

Wednesday - 1/13/10 - Found even MORE inspiration for knitting in a Health Magazine! (Can you see what it says - Burn more than 500 calories an hour... at about 100 calories an hour... so see, I HAVE to knit 5 hours at a time - for my own health!)

Thursday - 1/14/10... Wrapped in Love... our "Fiber" group... dont wanna say Knitting group because we actually have more crochet-ers... or as I like to call them, "HOOKERS"... yes, I said it... its true though.. they use hooks!  Get your minds out of the gutters!... but all these projects were prayed over & ready to go to the local Cancer Center for little bit of hope to brighten someone's day...

Friday 1/15/10 - Yes.... after a VERY long & VERY busy week... this is my Buffy ready for me to lounge with her for the night... I was ready to curl up & snuggle with our "110 lbs-who-thinks-shes-10 lbs" dog...she already got a spot warm for me

One week down...

Friday Fragments

Is it Friday already?  Not complaining...I'm exhausted & ready to rest for the weekend (or at least rest for an hour or two of the weekend)... so lets "frag" - shall we?

*The Mini-Marathon Training has officially started... I ran just this week 12 miles!  Next week, I get amped up to 4 miles every other day with a 2 mile run in between... oh mercy!  But I'll tell you, when I start a new week & the miles are amped up, its TOUGH... but I'm seeing by the end of the week, my heart rate is more level, I'm stronger at the end of the run... in just a week's time, your body adjusts THAT quickly!  What a strange thing our bodies are!

*I'm now addicted to Lipton Cold Brew Tea!  I gotta drink SOMETHING during the day with shaving down the Diet Coke addiction & I found these little individual bags that I can put in my mug, put ice on top, use cold water & 15 minutes later, I have a really good cup of tea.  And yep, not even adding sugar!  That's HUGE for me folks!  But I'm getting used to the taste, & really enjoying unsweetened tea now.  For a Southern-girl - that may be against some sorta code, so dont tell anyone...But I'm averaging now about 2-3 Diet Cokes a day & I'm trying to cut that down even to one, & then eventually none.  Think that's still bad?  You have to remember, I would EASILY drink about 10-12 Diet Cokes in a Day... gasp!  Would Dr. Oz like to get his hands on me?

*Tax time has begun.... my hands have been KILLING me at work from boxing files & preparing for returns.  They've hurt so bad that I havent even knit like 4 nights out of the week.  I must quit my job...

*I'm taking a stand... TEAM CONAN!!!! Jay Leno needs to go on with his selfish-self!  How is he going to step down, hand over the show to Conan, make Conan move his family across the country (along with the crew & their family) & then say, "I want it back?".... shame on you Jay Leno... I didnt care for you before & I really REALLY dislike you now.... I hope Conan comes out of this with a killer deal from someone!

*How many of you all had "Pants on the Ground" stuck in your head after watching American Idol Wednesday?  Ricky & I literally sang it until we fell asleep...

*SPAT OF THE WEEK:  I will not be putting up a spat of the week... why?  Because my husband totally redeemed himself after last week.  Friday evening, when it was like 5 degrees outside, he came in & handed me his Snuggie & told me I could use it... THEN, Saturday, he ran out to the store & came home & handed me a bag... with?... Yep, my very own Snuggie... funny how the stupid, small things in marriage can make you so happy...But never fear, another week will go by, so I'm sure next week, there will be fresh new "Spats"

*You've heard me talk about my dear friends, Joe & Emily & their daughter, Emily, who was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms... they started a blog about their journey with this condition... If you get a chance, stop by & give them some encouragement... http://ourbeautifulemily.blogspot.com/

*Bachelor Drama - I believe Rozlyn totally set up all this drama so she could drag it out for even MORE drama... I mean, once these girls gets kicked off, who hears from them again?  So why not set it up where you're on every entertainment cover & interview show?  Just my opinion... glad she's gone though... dont care for people who think they are too hot for the world... Weirdest line from last weeks show: "Do you wanna make out with my forehead?  You can make out with it all night if you want"... weird, just weird

*Anyone excited about the Golden Globes?  I normally dont care... but gotta cheer on my "GLEE" cast!  Go Jane Lynch!!!  Go Lea Michele!! Go Matthew Morrison!!!  Hope they win something! .... Hope Jay Leno doesnt want to take over their show (dont get me started again on that man)

Happy Friday everyone!

To Save a Life....

Who doesnt a love movie?  Who doesnt love a good movie with a message? 

Our church was really behind "Fireproof" when it came out - & we're excited about this movie as well.  Looks like its going to be an amazing movie for teens & for the whole family to discuss... Check out the trailer! 

Go support good Christian movies with a GOOD message... when the industry sees that people ARE interested in this sort of thing, maybe we'll get more & more of them...

Until that day - lets enjoy this movie that will be released January 22nd!

Cleaning up Garbage...

I've been up since 5:00 am...

Let me re-word that.  I've been WORKING since 5 am this morning.  Not working at work, but cleaning up in my home this morning.

I wake up to hear Ricky yell, "WWHHHAAATTTTTT??????" - that's not a good way to start a day, I can tell.

I walk into the living room & see a cranberry sauce can, then look & see a trail of paper towel that leads to the kitchen & that's where I REALLY woke up... my eyes were like "BONK" out of my head.

The dogs got into a bag of garbage during the night!  They never do that - but yeah, I am usually pretty good at making sure the garbage gets outside to the can.  But it was so dang cold & the cans were outside the garage door - & truth be told - I totally forgot about the bag by the door... but believe me, our dogs are trained & they KNOW BETTER!!!!

3 of them were off running & hiding.  My Bruno came around the corner totally clueless... he was safely tucked with me in bed all night so he missed all the fun.

Ricky & I spent the morning picking up jars, papers, old chicken wrappers (I guess they ate the chicken fat I cut off dinner 2 nights ago ... gagging!)... they got the crock pot bag that had all kinds of juice (gagging again)...it was a mess - it was garbage.... true garbage...

The floor was sticky from all the mess, so I'm mopping at 5:15 am... yeah, not a way to start a morning...

The dogs know when they are in trouble & did something wrong.  They'll sit just like this puppy with their head hung down & all you have to say is "get away" & they run into a different room & just lay down.  Only for a minute though because they'll come back & see if you're still mad at them.

I sit down to put on my make up & here comes Sydney, our Aussie.  I look at her & just stare at her & she walks away.  She comes back again & I tell her that was bad.  She hangs her head.  She literally JUMPS up in my lap & lays her head on my chest.... I'm totally not joking!!! She does this.  I try not to love on her because I want her to know how serious I am about being angry...but dang it, after about 10 minutes, her sweet personality just gets to me & I love on her & am rubbing her ears, but still telling her she was a bad girl.  And if you arent a dog person, you may think, "Why are you talking to your dog?", but let me make you aware that we have to SPELL around this dog, she's so smart - she knows what I'm saying...

Then driving into work, it just clicked to me the sermon we heard at church Sunday about forgiveness & the events that happened during the morning...

How many times do I get back in my old garbage & pull it out?  Scatter it around & get myself into trouble?  Or pull out things that have been thrown away & done with - only to be reminded of the stink & filth that was there? 

And God comes along & cleans it up once again... I run & hide ashamed of myself... & I go to God & feel horrible & say "I'm sorry" one more time...

And then God lovingly takes me back into His arms & tells me that he still loves me....

I learned a lesson this morning... EARLY this morning... & I'm thankful that God isnt worried about waking up early to love me once again...

Who wants one?

I drove by the local "Movie Gallery" & this is the sign I see...

Free Kids?  Anyone want one?  Everyone loves free stuff.... :)

I dont wanna!!!!

If you have kids, you've probably heard that statement before... "I dont wanna do that"

I know I just heard it from my husband this morning when I reminded him it was garbage day.  Every Monday, I like to make it a little tune & go, "Honey... its GGAARR-BBBAA-GGGEE DAY" to the most lovely tune.  He groans the biggest groan every Monday & I usually hear a "I dont want to take the garbage out"... I just drop the lovely tune & tell him to shut up & do it.. kidding - kinda! 

I'm going to keep track today how many times today I say to myself' I dont wanna do "something" - whatever it may be.  Wash the dishes, file some paper work,  run that 3 miles I have to run today... but you kow what, I'll end up doing it....

But for all of us complainers & whiners... we're not alone...

We were looking at the story of Moses yesterday with the Jr. High kiddos & the scene is where God is talking to Moses in a Burning Bush...

God is telling Moses what he wants him to do.  Moses just keeps making excuses. 

What if they dont trust me?  What if they dont believe me?  I'm a horrible speaker! 
... wha wha wha... sounds like me sometimes...

And even after God continues & continues to tell him He'll be right with him all along, he says it again:

But Moses said "O Lord, please send someone else to do it" -Exodus 4:13

Cant you just see him covering his ears & wanting to throw a tantrum of "I dont wanna do it"... a desperate "PLEASE" thrown in there... like a PLEASE, dont make me do it!!!!

But you know what - He did do it!  And man, look at where his life went & the changes he made in so many other lives...how God blessed him for doing what he was called to do... even though he didnt start off with the attitude of "no problem, I've got this!"

Kinda a little bit of encouragement to me - that even though I dont WANNA to something, there may be a blessing in it - from the big things to the small stuff...

Love that God can use whiners...just like me ... (& my husband... haha!! Love ya honey!)

Six Word Saturday

WELCOME TO THE WORLD LUCAS VINCENT

Funny how yesterday, I just hit "publish post" & mentioned Julie making it further in her pregnancy with Isaac - & I no sooner get a phone call from Julie telling me her water broke!  She was on the way to the hospital!!

She got there & apparently, they didnt waste any time in getting her ready for a c-section.  Luke never turned & once they opened Julie up, they saw why.... he had the cord wrapped around him TWICE!  So he wasnt able to move around!  Julie said he was so active the whole time, guess he got wrapped up with all that commotion.  So it was truly a blessing that the water broke & they did the c-section when they did.  If he got any bigger & that cord was around him, things could have taken a really bad turn... But God is good - & LucasVincent Bohannon is here!  Yep, born the same as his brother - at 34 weeks & 1 day... the doc says its 2 days, but Julie's calculations have it the exact same time as Isaac. How funny is that! 

He's a tiny little squirt - 4 lbs 7 oz & I believe she said 16 inches long... Julie just kept saying over & over - "He's so tiny!"... & Julie said his lungs are perfect because he's been screaming & crying - which is like music to their ears!  The doctors are saying he is very strong & healthy... THANK YOU LORD!

And talking with Julie yesterday, she was feeling pretty good after the c-section.  Probably a lot of the morphine talking - so pray for her healing & recovery over the next few days...

And now, of course, the obligatory Grandparent pictures... You totally know though, if I was in the same state, I'd have 1,500 pictures already up here, but we're sitting up in Indiana at the mercy of others who have cameras... I'm not liking this very much at all!!!  I wanna be clicking away & kissing that little face... & wanting to see how Isaac is going to handle being a big brother... oh, life will change in that household...

Look at that pitiful face... but let those lungs work sweet baby!

You know how tiny those hats are anyways - & look how big it is on his head... but Luke looks like he's got some long fingers... ready to grab all his brother's toys!

Look at that face!  He was listening to his mommy talking... probably saying "Sorry mom for all that kicking"

Good Job Julie!! We love you all!!!

Friday Fragments

Its Friday?  Already?  This is the first full week I've worked in quite a few weeks & it FLEW by... I seriously woke up this morning & asked my husband, "Is it really Friday?"... yep... "Did we work a full week?"... yep...I must be getting forgetful in my old age... anyways - Fridays mean Friday Fragments!

*Its DAAAAANNNNNG cold!  The high's this weekend are going to be in like the TEENS!  And the lows are pretty much negative numbers... that's just not right...but you know what, I cant decide what I hate worse, the extreme cold or extreme heat...

*Speaking of cold... doggie snow covered feet, jumping on you in the middle of the night,  is NOT a fun way to be woken up!

*Did you hear about the State of the Union the President is supposed to be giving?  They originally said that it COULD be on Feb 2... but people are freaking out because that's the night of the LOST premiere!!  I'm one of those people!  They just reissued a statement that said that its not a confirmed date yet... Please let Obama be a fan of LOST & move it to another night...

*SPAT OF THE WEEK:  The Snuggie... Yes, we have been spatting over a Snuggie!  Why, you  may ask?  Because we only have ONE in the house!  And I want to wear it!  And yes, its technically Ricky's.  But when we got married, wasnt there a vow or something that said that what is his is also mine - or the two shall become one... same thing, right?  And I think I heard the Preacher breath something specific about Snuggies on cold days in those vows too... but Ricky doesnt remember that...

*Does anyone have the iPod Touch that they run or exercise with?  I'm asking because I got it to hold all the running music (Go PodRunner - love you!) & I bought an arm band - but just feel like its so HUGE on my arm... almost like the days where the big ole' cassette players were strapped on your side & weighed down your pants... is it the band I'm using?  Or do I just need to get used to it?

*Yes - I'm watching the Bachelor - & Yes, I am one of those few people that love Jake... think he's just a perfect Ken doll... and yes, think the season is already FULL of crazy gals... Seriously, you're going to bring jelly beans for gifts for the girls as they leave?  STUPID!  And you SERIOUSLY are already in love with this man because you saw him shirtless & doing a two step on last season?  ...well, I guess I can understand that! (JOKING!)... cant wait to see the drama for next week... I have a feeling it will be the MOST DRAMATIC ROSE CEREMONY EVER!!!! 

*OK - its like 2010 could be the BEST YEAR EVER... why?  A blog buddy informed me that "Beauty & the Beast" is being re-released in 3D this year... GASP!  I KNOW!.... & then I find out from my cousin that Steven Curtis Chapman is coming to the area in April, along with Michael W. Smith & Sarah Palin for a women's conference... my head is spinning from all the excitement!  The only thing that would make it a complete year?  A Knitting Conference... ahhh, that would would totally make it the best year!

*Go give our girl Julie a vist!  She's made it to 34 weeks!  She is now officially further then she was with Isaac... Praise the Lord!!!!  Go see how beautiful she is a pregnant mommy!!!

*My name is Rebecca.. & I'm a Diet Coke-aholic... but I've been doing very well so far this year!  I've been wanting to cut back & the past few days, I've only had 3 Diet Cokes - for the WHOLE day!  Now I've usually downed 3 by 10:00 am!  So this is huge for me.  I even went into the store the other day to get something to drink... I bought Flavored Bottle Water... HELLO, this is ME we're talking about... Ricky gave me a high five!

Hope everyone has a fantastic Friday & you're staying warm wherever you are!

You think AMERICA has talent?....

.... then you should meet my friends!  Because they REALLY have talent!  This blog post is totally to brag on all my crafty & creative friends because I am surrounded by AMAZING people... And being someone who loves to be creative & craft myself, I so appreciate every single thing that people have made for me... so allow me this chance to share the talent with all of you...& beware, its picture heavy, but so WORTH every picture!!!!

Of course, you all remember my wonderful knitted goodies that my best buddy Lynn & my amazing knitting daughter Julie made me....

But here are some other goodies.... first, check out this painting that one of the kids in the youth group painted me... Jordan is an INCREDIBLE artist & I literally had my jaw drop when I saw this painting she did...& remember, she is 16 years old! 

And even though she didnt sketch this picture for me, I had to show you - she made this for Joe & Erica of their new baby Emily... she took various pictures of her & made this collage...

Erica & I say that when she becomes a famous artist, we're going to have some "Jordan Originals"

Then for my birthday, I got the cutest little surprise from Lynn's daughter, Chandra... She made me a tissue cover.  I always have to have tissue in my purse because, as noted before, I'm a crier... & plus, who doesnt like to have tissue in their purse in case you're in a bathroom with no TP... but it always gets all squished & yucky in your purse... NO MORE... look at this cover she sewed... how adorable is that!

I also received the cutest box made by another one of the youth girls, Brittany... She "aged" it & I loved the cross she put on it.  My fav part of it though is my name she made with little rhinestones in it... & inside, I had to laugh.  She had me some beautiful Belle & Beauty & The Beast stickers, along with fudge & peanut brittle, but she also had tucked in there, a Diet Coke!  Do these young girls know me or what?

I also was able to take a picture of the wreath that my bloggy buddy Dawn made me... its so adorable!  I love the Minnie Mouse colored Bow & the word "Noel" in the middle just reminds me of the joy she has for our Savior, Christ...

And then there is this surprise I got last night... are you ready for this amazing piece of creative work... I mean, are you REALLY ready?  Because I wasn't!  When I opened this up, I literally did a "Flashdance" sort of quick-jog-in-place dance, accomplanied by a loud shreik, but it was all worth it! 

I am having a love of aprons lately - maybe its because I finally cook - or maybe because they are just darn cute... but take a look at what Christy, my sewing hero, made me!

For those of you that are not wise in the world of Beauty & the Beast, first, shame on you!  But as soon as I saw that blue color, I knew INSTANTLY what it was - a Belle apron!!!! 

Well, then Christy told me to open up another package... & all I had to do was open up & see a small piece of gold, & yes, let the screaming & jumping begin all over again!

How many people can say they have a Belle Apron?  Complete with TULLE no less!!!!  I totally said every time I cook, I could sing "Be Our Guest"... & it would totally be appropriate!

And Christy just didnt stop there ... she wasnt going to let Ricky miss out on all the fun!  As nuts as I am about my fairy tales, he has his love for Super Heroes (is that why we're a good match)... But look what she created for him...

A SUPERMAN APRON!!! With a REMOVABLE cape!!! Notice the spatula in his hand?  He's ready to hit the grill with such manly manhood!!!!

Yes - he is acting like he's flying... with the spatula still in his hand... the GRILLING SUPERMAN... with a dog looking at him wondering what the heck he is doing!!!!  Thank you Christy!!!
I am just blessed... blessed with amazing friendships & family & blessed by their talents...

Thank you isnt enough when someone makes you something - gives a piece of work by their hands... just makes me Thank God once again putting these people in my life!

My two loves? Mixed together????

I saw this today & thought it was beyond awesome!  You all KNOW Beauty & the Beast is my all time favorite movie... & yep, I'm a Twilight-er... so when I saw this, I was a mixture of cracking up to a little in awe that someone took the time to create this... so sit back & enjoy, the best of both worlds!

Training

I'm not one for New Years Resolutions... mainly because I dont keep them.... and lets be honest, most people dont.  I guess I can make a New Years Resolution NOT to have a new years resolution... then I'd be successful!

But today, around here, its the kick off for the training for the Mini Marathon... 13.1 miles of pure torture!  KIDDING... it was only torture for me for mile 10-13.1 - but this year, I plan on the whole thing being nothing but enjoyable.  Is that possible?  We'll see...

I know though that TRAINING is a huge part of it... And hopefully, with no injuries this time. (Last year, I strained an inner thigh muscle that deterred my training BIG TIME)...

But I know even with the training I did, it was a rough run & this year, I want to train even better.  Dedicate myself to the end goal - to be at that start line & know that I'm going to give it my all, & that everything in the past few months is what pushes me over the finish line!

And then Sunday, we were in 1 Corinthians in our Bible & what verses do I see? 

Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly;  I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body & make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualifed for the prize. 

-1 Corinithians 9:24-27

Strict Training...

yep... what I need in my life in so many areas...

What I plan on for my New Year.... in my physical life, in my spiritual life, & in my emotional life...Training!

And yeah, I'll get a medal at the end of the race in April... but I'm more excited about the rewards I get at the END of ALL my training...

How about you?  You in training yourself?

Did you know you're a composer?

I sat this weekend & watched Mr. Holland's Opus... again... I hadnt seen it in awhile...

I can remember the first time I saw it, I thought, what the heck is an "opus", besides a pretty cool Scrabble word?  I found out it is a musical composition - a work that has been created. 

If you havent seen the movie, its a MUST SEE... but the end of it, every dang cotton pickin' time, I get so choked up, I cant stand it....

Mr. Holland gets surprised by a "farewell" of sorts when people who he touched in his life come together to play his composition he had created his whole life...

One of his students from many years past, comes back & says these words:

"Mr. Holland had a profound influence on my life & on a lot of lives I know.  But I have a feeling that he considers a great part of his own life misspent.  Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his.  And this was going to make him famous, rich, probably both.  But Mr. Holland isnt rich & he isnt famous, at least not outside of our little town.  So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure.  But he would be wrong.  Because I think that he's achieved a success far beyond riches & fame.  Look around you.  There is not a life in this room that you have not touched & each of us is a better person because of you.  WE are your symphony Mr. Holland.  WE are the melodies & the notes of your opus.  WE are the music of your life."

.... such powerful words...

I wanted to share them for all the people out there that are teachers, leaders, nurses... even parents...

You may not become famous or rich for the things you do in your life... but look around you & realize that you too could have a room full of people who you touch & who are the melodies of your own works... You may feel like your life is misspent yourself, but you would be wrong....

Didnt realize you were a composer yourself, did you?

Six Word Saturday

Always said he was a doll!!!!!

Yep, you've all heard me say that I think our grandbaby, Isaac is the cutest little boy ever... I mean, how can you resist those blue eyes & that blond hair?  He's just the cutest little thing ever - a little boy doll that is real... like Pinnochio at the end of the movie...

Well, I got my confirmation on how much he is a doll when I downloaded my Christmas pictures into Picasa - the photo software that Google provides.  If you havent ever used it, it has a like a face recognizition tool on it that lets you categorize peoples faces into one file... so I can just click on "Isaac"  & every picture of him in it has all the pictures together.. its a pretty cool feature...

I download the picture of Madi & her doll that I gave her for Christams...

And then, this is what Picasa asks me....

Yep... it saw those blue eyes & that blond hair on the doll & thought it was Isaac... I had to laugh... see, I'm not alone in thinking he's a beautiful baby doll!!!