Friday Fragments

*Mother Nature - are you going a little insane?  We're feeling Spring here in all its glory - 70 degrees with the sun shining, birds chirping... & then its supposed to have snow flurries Sunday & Monday - DO WHAT?  Well, I've already pulled out the flip flops & I refuse to put them back... so I may be tracking through snow flurries with my wonderful Old Navy flip flops anyways....because I, Miss Mother Nature, wont be bullied by you...

*Spat of the week:  NCAA Basketball... oh yeah, I'm sure I'm not the only wife that this "spat" is happening too - but I'm sure its not to the extremes my husband takes.  Ricky BLEEDS BLUE... UK all the way - but if you havent ever heard - he truly believes I'm a curse to UK.  I'm not allowed to watch the game, or apparently even be in the same room with him when its on becaue I'm THAT jinxed!  I'm not even joking here!.... so Ricky was pacing around the kitchen 20 minutes before the game getting all geared up - I reminded him I was doing laundry & I would have to pass through his room to get to the clothes... He FREAKED OUT!  NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was not allowed to even come in the room, less some tragedy falls on UK... He then ran - RAN I'm telling you - downstairs & locked the door so I couldnt get in there...I thought he was joking but he wasnt!  "You'll make them loose" is what I heard on the other side of the door.... so if UK loses, go ahead - you can blame me too... because I am that magical...

*Isnt that amazing they're talking about no mail on Saturdays... proof the world is turning into such a technology place... that & the idea that people on Facebook got Betty White on SNL!  Which by the way, I'm totally counting down to watching!!!

*Wanna know about the new love in my life?  Yes - its a Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Almond Bar...Its not all that hard for me to fall in love, obviously... but there is a REAL reason why this just made my heart flutter...The bottom of the granola bar is covered in an Almond Butter Coating... OH MY WORD - yumminess... & just 160 calories...have you tried one?  I'm warning you - you'll probably fall in love too...

*My brother sent me this picture & asked me if I had made one of these yet....

I told him, "Why yes, I have - but in pink!"... anyone else want one too?

*A comment I made on someone's blog yesterday:  "You can step down now Mr. Jon Gosselin... Jessee James has now taken over for the Biggest Jerk Husband Award".... I am just sick for Sandra Bullock!  Especially after all the award ceremonies & her expressing her love for him & how wonderful he has made her... Hoping everything they say isnt true... but its not looking too good, is it?

*Dancing with the Stars is starting.... I'm beyond excited... gotta dust off my fringe pants & glitter body spray!

*How did I just recently learn about Katie Brown?  Do I live under a rock?  I caught her shows lately on our local PBS station & am love with the simple ways she does things... its like she's the "easy" version of Martha Stewart... love her... its a good thing (& by the way, if you google Katie Brown - WOW - there must be a million women with that name!)

*Random Final Thought:  I know they have "mom jeans" - but do they have "dad jeans"? - because let me tell you - I saw a guy this morning whose jeans were so high up on the waist & baggy legs.  The perfect "mom jean" but on a man... I think the worlds needs to call out men for these same fashion faux pas... just saying..

Fabulous Fridays to you all!!!

Who's making it?

My dad sent me this poem that I thought was pretty cute but will make you stop for a second & say, "hmmmm" (anyone singing the classic 80's song now, "Things that make you go HMMMM")

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor...

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter & gasp -

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics & the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor,

Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought

Was rotting away in Hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal?

I would love to hear your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must've made a mistake.

"And why's everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue."

"Hush child," He said, "They're all in shock.

No thought thought they'd be seeing you"

There is only one Lawgiver & JUDGE, the one who is able to save & destroy.  But you - who are you to judge your neighbor? -James 3:12

Everyone's a Critic....

The defintion of a critic - a person who judges, evaluates or criticizes....

There are people in the world who can critique you & give you some good feedback that is helpful & really inspires you to become a better person & then, there are those who just love the "judging" or "evaluating" part of that critiquing...

But I read this yesterday & thought it was so profound....

A young musician's concert was poorly received by the critics.  The famous Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius consoled him by patting him on the shoulder & saying, "Remember son, there is no city in the world where they have a statue to a critic"... -Haddon Robinson

I think that is so wonderful to remember... the next time you feel like people are judging you & evaluating you, remember that - the statues & the merits go to the people who make a difference, those who excel....even when someone is criticizing you...

According to HIM...

Oh my... (Big swoon).... the drama of love....

its always so crazy to sit on the other side of teenage love & hear the drama that ensues.... the way that teens know this is the person they LOVE!!!!... how they broke their heart... how someone can cheat on them & they still just love them because its REAL!!!...

Oh yeah, we were all teens at one time - & we all had those stupid teenage hormones that make us all feel that way when it came to relationships.

There is a new song out by Orianthi (please do NOT ask me to pronounce that) - but its called "According to you" - you may have heard it.  I admit, I get a little groove on every time I hear it.  Yes, its a secular song - something you'd hear in between Lady Gaga & Lady Antebellum... (lots of Ladies lately)

But the gist of the song is how one relationship just drags this girl down - always getting slammed - being told she is stupid, & useless & cant do anything right...

And the chorus - I'm digging it - starting to move as I sing it in my head

But according to him, I'm beautiful, incredible, He cant get me out of his head

According to him, I'm funny, irresistible, Everything he ever wanted

Everything is opposite, I dont feel like stopping it so tell me what I got to lose

He's into me for everything I'm not - according to you!

I just love to think that HIM is someone better then the "other guy".... I love to think that God is the other HIM - the one who thinks we're beautiful, incredible - EVERYTHING HE EVER WANTED!!!

And yeah, we're all pretty much not teenagers anymore - I'm close though, right? isnt 38 the new 18? - but we still have those people in our lives that tell us we're not worthy - that we're difficult, hard to please - just a failure at things...

In grown up land - that is everything of the world, really.... people at the job telling you you're messing up.... people in a magazine telling you you dont have style or that you are over weight to their standards..... people in our lives who dont realize that their words put down more then lift up... all that can be a weight to bear on some shoulders...

and next time that happens - remember that chorus part of the song - sing it over & over - think of God & how much He thinks you are irresistible... & that he's into you for everything you're not.... because He loves you THAT MUCH!!!!

Project 365-9

Its been one hectic week... I'm glad I remembered to click the camera - but I did...so lets look to see what the week held.

March 7, 2010 - Half way done.... No, my hair is not that short & I didnt get it chopped off - that's just my top "layer" - the longer part of my hair is in the back in a pony tail... but that IS how frizzy & puffy my hair is before it gets straightened.  The one side, you can see is finished - the other half is waiting for the straightner...its only because I love my bloggy buddies that I can show you the frizz-fest my hair truly is....

March 8, 2010 - Calories in - Calories Burned?  Not buying it.... Yes, I did a 5 mile run & this is what my heart monitor said was the calories that I burned according to my height, weight & the beat of my heart during the trek... so I do these runs at LEAST 3 times a week - how am I burning this many calories & NOT shedding pounds?  I dont get my stupid body... because believe me, I didnt eat an extra 1,063 calories ... the joys of a 38 yr old body... big sigh... Oh well, I'll keep burning the calories away...

March 9, 2010 - Pray for this Princess.... I have mentioned here a few times of beautiful Emily & the fight she is having with Infantile Spasms.  If you havent yet, PLEASE, go to her mommy's blog (the link is in my side bar) - you will want to read her story & they NEED your prayers more then ever... Emily has been in the hospital for the past week & had some tests & a surgery... its been a rough week for this angel...look at that sweet & precious face.  Arent you already in love?  I know we all are...

March 10, 2010 - Dont try to steal my MOJO!!!... & no, I'm not thinking Austin Power language.  But this new "granola" bar from Clif is so yummmmmmy!!!  I love the Clif brands because they are full of all-natural products but this has really topped off the charts for me... no losing my mojo Mr. Powerrs!

March 11, 2010 - This is supposed to SOOTHE children?.... Went to visit little Emily again in the hospital & she's in a children's hospital & her floor is decorated with CLOWNS!!! Now, I'm not a fan of clowns but oh my... this picture gives me the creeps... I almost RUN past it so it doesnt look at me & have the scary eye balls following me down the hall...Watch, its probably worth millions of dollars or something... but you couldnt GIVE me this thing....& what is that on its outfit?  A big green olive?  I dont get it...

March 12, 2010 - Give me a big ole Sam's cup.... Friday night was wonderful with the first night I had to come home at a decent hour (before sunset anyways) & I had my Sam's cup & my computer... couldnt get any better then that... time to get caught up on blogs & a big dose of Diet Coke... how my Friday nights have changed...

March 13, 2010 - Trade a grooming trip for a ride in the car.... Zoe & Bruno went to the groomers today & while Bruno LOVES his grooming time - Zoe hates it just as much.  But the payoff for her is a good car ride.  And she likes to sit in my lap while I'm driving & look out the window...& dont worry, she's so tiny, she doesnt get in the way of my steering wheel... her & Bruno both got holiday bandanas to celebrate St. Patrick's Day... just glad they didnt get dyed green...

Cant wait to see all your pictures Project 365-ers... Click away!

Friday Fragments

*Do you hear that?.... shhhh... if you listen quietly, you can hear the angels singing!  Why?  Because the clocks SPRING FORWARD this weekend!  Yes, I'm going to miss that hour's worth of sleep & yes, it'll take me a few days to recover from it... but sunshine.... sweet sunshine... we'll see more of you.  It wont be dark early - the days are getting longer.... I can hear it... the sweet sounds of "Hallelujah"...

*I have dreamt a NUMBER of time that my teeth have fallen out... its very disturbing.  I literally have worken up to check my teeth to make sure they are still there or that they havent cracked....Anyone else ever have that dream?

*I just Googled "Teeth falling out dream"... I think its telling me I have like 20 mental illnesses

*Ice is my friend! .... There was a post from last year when I was training for the Mini-marathon where I talked about messing up my inner thigh... well, its aggravated all over again!  oh mercy, the pain... So I read where you're supposed to ice up an area & it really helps.  So needless to say, if you see me lately, I'm usually carrying an ice pack.  Driving?  Got it on my leg... Sitting at work?  Yep, an abundant supply of ice... Home?  I am the queen of balancing an ice pack while I knit.  Pretty soon, I'm just hoping I numb all nerve endings on my leg & wont have to worry about pain again... thnk it'll work?

(my ice pack literally looks just like this... aint she beautiful)

*I remember now why I quit watching American Idol... because of stupid madness like last night... when adorable, little dreamers who want to hit the big times get their dreams squashed because American's dont know how to vote.... actually, I never vote myself... but I refuse to tak the blame.  Alex Lambert was just the boy next door with an amazing voice.... & now he's gone... & when he started tearing up & that face turned red... & everyone else started tearing up... oh man... I was so angry at American Idol!  THEN Lilly got voted off to?!?!?  ... My mentally drained tooth-dreaming brain cant handle this...

*I have to laugh at a world where Kate Gosselin & what latest "hair style" & extensions she has makes the news... & I laugh that I'm trying to find the picture of that latest hairdo!

*So how did I never know about TWEETDECK until now?  I am in love!  You download it & it is all one screen that keeps your Twitter & Facebook (& Myspace if you have that & also Linkedin) all in one place.  You can see the updates, you can comment & respond... its A-MAZ-ING!!!... Because of TweetDeck, I got to "Tweet" through the Oscars with some of my blog-buddies.  Totally laughing at Lauren & Sarah Beth & feeling like I was sitting in a room discussing the show with them.... totally gotta get some Dancing with the Stars "Tweeting" going on when it starts...Anyone else use Tweetdeck?  And thank you Becky Jo for that (Yes, there is ANOTHER one... we are both pretty cool... with a name like that, how can you not be?)

*My brother sent me this picture this week... you can tell its Spring time when the girls are able to go to the Park... they love their playground time... & look how beautiful these twins are... makes me wanna squeeze them every time I see those GORGEOUS faces

*Survivor is MESSING ME UP!!!!  It has taken a turn somewhere & I'm now not really liking RUPERT!  How can you not like Rupert?  You can start not liking him when he's acting like a jerk... & getting TOM voted off... Rupert has always been the good guy... why am I not liking him this year?  I'm still rooting for Boston Rob though... looks like him & Russell are going to butt heads ... come on Boston Rob!  Take that little "Hobbitt on crack" (Rob's words - not mine!) out of the game!!!

*If you get a chance, go back over & visit our girl Julie's Blog ... she's walking for the March of Dimes & can use any support... $1.00 would even help... with Julie giving birth to two preemie boys, this is a charity that is near & dear to all of our hearts.  We were blessed to have two healthy, strong preemies... but love that Julie wants to give back!  Go girl!.... And you can give Julie a big high five while you visit... girlfriend is back at work.... A working mom with two boys at home... all you working moms know its not easy, but she's one amazing young lady

Hope you all have a Fantastic Friday...  Hope its feeling like Spring where you live... I think we are ALLLLL over Winter about now...Can I get an AMEN on that one?

This Woman's Work

Anyone watch American Idol last night?  Did you hear Michael Lynche do his version of "This Woman's Work"? ... that ended in this reaction

And it wasnt because the song made her sick & she couldnt sit up... it made Kara actually cry...

And believe me, I'm not making fun of her in any way - wanna know why?  Because she at least had a pretty cry going on.... I was sitting home on my couch with an ugly cry going on... (with Ricky sitting next to me saying "What is wrong with you?" haha!!!)

That song just gets to me everytime.  It has been a favorite of mine since "She's Having a Baby" & Kevin Bacon is sitting in that waiting room for his wife to go through emergency surgery...

And then, So you Think You can Dance did this song in the MOST beautiful dance EVER... & yep, that had an ugly cry going with that too...

The words to it are to touching too...showing how strong a woman is & how God created woman differently - to do our own work that was designed for us...

Then this line - The words that say:

But I cant stop thinking

Of all the things I should've said that I never said

all the things we should've done that we never did

All the things I should've given but I didnt

It just hits me everytime... what a life of regret & "woulda & shoulda's" is - how heart breaking it is...

And then, yep, I end up looking like Kara again...

Does this song get to anyone else? Did you see American Idol last night?  What did you think?

And for your dancing enjoyment - here is the So you Think you can Dance version with the song... Got your Kleenex's ready?

Randon Dozen

I've seen some of my blog buddies playing along with this... & since its been a rough day for me at work, I'm going to take a brain break & play along... so lets look at this weeks questions:

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?     I probably have some heels from high school days - & they're probably in pretty good shape... just shoes you how often I wear heels.

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year?  If so, what variety?    Yep - 4 boxes for Ricky.  Got 2 of the Tagalongs only to find out that he doesnt like Peanut butter (hello? He eats at least 4 Reese cups every night) - so one of the youth kiddos got a box & what do you know, Ricky ate the other box afterall.  And 1 box of Thin Mints & 1 box of Samoyas... mmmmm... I only got one box because I would have taken a box & hid in a closet & downed them all... I have no control.

3.  Do you know how to ballroom dance?  If not, would you like to?    Have you NOT seen my Dancing with the Stars recaps every year?  Ballroom dancing would be a DREAM... I'd LOVE to learn - especially if Tony D was my partner!

4.  Were you a responsible child/teenager?   I think so, for the most part

5.  How many of this years Oscar-nominated movies did you see?    I dont think any.. not even sure who was nominated...

6.  If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?    I probably want to watch & make sure someone survives before.  But if it were like outpatient surgery, then no thanks, dont wanna see THAT much...

7.  What is your favorite day of the week & why?   I love Sundays.  Just love being at church, love the lazy afternoons of Sunday & love the ease of Sunday evenings

8.  Do you miss anyone right now?    Oh heck yes...  Miss my buddy Stephanie every day & her laugh... and miss Julie being in Texas with those beautiful grandbabies of ours

9.  Do hospitals make you queasy?   I have to admit, sometime the smell makes me a little dizzy.  Funny quick story - I volunteered as a teenager (Candy stripers?  Do they still call them that?) - they showed us how to make the beds.  While standing there, the smell of the room got to me & I had to sit on the floor because I felt like I was going to pass out.... guess where they put me to work?  Outpatient Surgery!  Seriously!  I was in the back where they were doing actual PROCEDURES... and for the record, it never bothered me back there... weird.

10.  At which store would you like to max-out your credit card.  Not that you ever would, responsible person, you.    My first reaction was, I dont have a credit card (Go Dave Ramsey, Go Dave Ramsey)... BUT, I'd probably go for Target...takes care of clothing, shoes, house supplies, house decorating, AND dog supplies... cant forget those doggies

11.  Are you true to the brand names of products/items?   Not really - If I have a coupon for other name brands, I'll give a try - never know unless you give it a go - right?

12.  Which is more difficult?  Looking into someone's eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone's eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?   I would probably say when I'm telling how I feel, only because I'm a mover & hand talker when I'm in deep conversations.... so its hard to sit still to look into someone eyes...

Oh - that was fun & easy enough... good for my stressed out, cruel co-worker kinda day...

Be sure to click the Random  Dozen button at the top if you want to play along.

Close up....

Look at the picture of this art work....

A pretty cool wall mural, dont you think?

Here's another one...

I just love the shadowing of the art work... so "Renessaniance"... I love the art work of that time because women werent SKINNY sticks - but real...

But look again at it a little closer...

Look at that butt!! I want a butt with muscle tone like that!  - haha!!!

But now, look REALLY close... look what these projects are really made out of....

STAPLES!!! Can you believe it!  Over 35,000 staples used on this project alone...I believe it was created by a artist in Germany. My brother, being the artist he is, found this & sent it to me...

But isnt it amazing to see it close up - to see what its really made out of? 

And even if you didnt REALLY like it at first, once you see what its made out of, you have to look again at the art work & then for me, I get a new appreciation of it - to really take in the uniqueness of it all...

Then, that Sneaky God, once again (I think I need to give God a hommie nickname like SG for Sneaky God) - really spoke to me on how we do that to people.  See them from a distance - make a quick judgement & dont really get up close to see the uniqueness that is involved.  And if you do get close up, & you see how special that person is, you step back again & see a different person - someone who you're glad you took the time to look at & get to know...

Is there someone in your life you need to take a closer look at?  Get to see how unique God made them?

"Stop judging by mere appearances, & make a right judgement" -John 7:24 

Got worries?

My butt was up early Saturday running that 5k... I mentioned before, I ran my personal best - which I found out later, still really sucked compared to others... sigh... so that let out some air in my personal best balloon I was carrying...

Then from there, it just seemed like everything started going downhill....

I got the mail & what do I find in it?  Jury Duty summons... oh no... not now... I've got tons of work, not to mention plans on going to Texas soon.  And the summons is for the time period of April, May & June... what the heck?  What happened to a 2 week time period?!?!?!

Add in that my car is growling at me - seriously, its like something out of a horror movie!  It will shake & feel like its possessed & ready to shake to pieces.... I just keep turning it off & on until its fine.  Ignoring that its doing the monstrous things seems to be my own skill in car repair.

Then add in that I got no sleep over night... my inner thigh that I pulled (tore?) last year while training for the mini is aggravated again & I literally was woken up with the pain.  There was NOOOO soothing it either.  So I woke up frustrated for the lack of sleep I had, plus, aggravated because the 10K is less then two weeks & today, I'm supposed to be running 5 miles.  I cant deal with this inner thigh thing again... & I dont have time to go to a doc to check it out & see what they say... the 10K is in 10 days!

Add to it all the building up of the fear of flying... the little things that are always in someone's life (work, laundry, dogs that need groomed) ... yeah, I feel like my stress level is at a 11 on a scale of 1-10...

(yeah - I actually had a good laugh when I found this picture... that a RED HEAD lady worrying about her dogs & a plane)

And then, darn it... that sneaky God reminds me again on what He wants me to know... the scripture that was preached on just YESTERDAY (how quickly we forget)...

Phlippians 4:6-7

Don't fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray!  Let petitions & praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come & settle you down.  It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Ok God... I get it... stop worrying... It'll all come together - right?  Why wouldn't I believe that?  It always has come together in the past...

Just waiting for that worry to be displaced ... anxious to see how a messed up inner thigh & jury duty is going to come together... but I have faith it will...somehow... that is the awesomeness of God....

And I once again realize, these "worries" - these problems... they are nothing compared to what others are going through.... they are tiny little blips on a scale of worries....

But just in case you have something to worry about yourself - big or small... I know that God cares about them ALL... so hope this scripture blesses you in whatever way you need it - to know that those worries, all of them are going to be come together for good! 

Project 365-8

Let's  see what the camera caught this week

Feb 28 - My friend should be on CAKE BOSS!!!!!.... Look what my sister-friend, Lynn did for a baby that was going to be born into our chuch family.... Isnt it beautiful?!?  The good/bad thing about the cake - The momma went into labor the morning of the shower & the shower was called off & new momma didnt even get to see the cake!  Good news - Baby Abigail was born perfectly healthy!!!  Even WORSE news - I didnt get to eat any of this cake... OH, the tragedy!!

March 1 - Could I BEEEE any busier?.... oh mercy!  The first of the month & with some taxes due & deadlines that needed to be done by the end of the day... it was one hectic day!  My bin doesnt even reflect how stressed I was today!

March 2 - Sing with me... "Running on Empty"!!!.... I hate to let my gas tank get like this... it makes me a nervous wreck... but I'm sure Ricky would assure me, "You can make it another 50 miles on that!"... yeah, I'm not trying it...

March 3 - Good bye Snow..... its all fading away with the warmer weather.  And by warmer weather, I mean, above freezing!  That's OK - if it gets rid of the snow, I'll take it... hopefully that will be the last of it until next year (fingers crossed!)

March 4 - What to do when you're bored.... I dont know why, but lately, when I've been getting bored (which is actually very rare) - I've been making cookies.  But I dont want to eat them - so I make Ricky take them to work with him.  I had some icing I wanted to play with, so why not make smiley faces?  Hopefully it didnt embarass Ricky too bad to take smiley faced cookies to his play mates ... um, I mean, to his work buddies...

March 5 - Eating fresh before the race.... I had to run out at lunch to pick up my packet for the Anthem Fitness Class 5k & thought about what Bob or Jillian would want me to do for lunch.  So naturally, I had to spit out my Sugarfree EXTRA gum & head to Subway.  I think if I had any leftovers, Bob or Jillian would've shown me a ziplock bag too - but there were no leftovers... what would we do without all the advertising from The Biggest Loser?

March 6 - My best time EVER!!!!.... So you can tell by my eyes here, it was DANG early.  But the 5k was today & I felt so proud of myself doing 12 minute miles... but then seen where others were doing like 7 to 8 minute miles... what are these people made of?  Mercy me.... oh well - I'll be happy I had MY best time...

Going to recharge my camera battery & get ready for another week of photos! 

Happy Snapping!