Who I Am...a challenge for all :)

I saw this on Facebook the other day

I don't know about you, but I think I'm pretty good at hearing the voices of the list on the right.

Discouragement... worries... fear....

Wait a second... that's not God's voice!

God wants to comfort, love, reassure...
I don't hear that voice very often

Why?

Because I guess I'm not listening for it.

Just like we don't hear compliments like we hear the criticism.

So this morning, driving into work, I thought of a challenge

I came in & got a piece of paper & immediately put my mad artistic skills to work

(Don't start cracking on my artistic skills... It took years for me to learn how to draw flowers that awesome with Highlighter markers)

What I plan on doing for the next few days is keep this list....

But how I'm going to do it... every time a negative thought comes into my mind, I'm going to write down the opposite... I'm going to FOCUS (shout out to my word of the year!) on who God says I am... not the negative, worrying, fearful person that Satan wants me to be.

& I'm not going to be false in this either

like when a voice says, "you're fat" - I'm not going to put "I am skinny" ... because goodness knows I'm not... but I can write "I am active" ... just something TRUE & opposite of what Satan tries to drag me down with.

I've put it on Twitter & Instagram with a hashtag of #whoiam ,  so if you want to join in, please, post some pictures & hashtag it ... or put it up on Facebook & tag me if I'm your friend (& if I'm not your friend on Facebook, send me a request) so we can all see who God calls us to be

I'm excited to start looking towards the positive... start FOCUSING on who God says I am

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Hodgepodge

 

 Today is Hodgepodge day... not yesterday.  I had it in my mind all day yesterday that it was Wednesday.  That's always depressing when you're ahead a day...

1. Do you play games of luck/chance for money? Have you ever played bingo for money? Visited a casino? Placed a bet on a horse? Bought a lottery ticket? 

Yes to all the above.  I've not been to a casino since 1999 after we came back from Vegas - but I have nothing against casinos... just that they are usually smoked filled & I cant bear with that.

I'm in Kentucky - do ya think I've bet on a horse?  Does the sun rise every day?

I'll buy a lottery ticket when the jackpots get crazy & people are all freaked out.  I always say, I wont buy one if the jackpot is less then a few million... I wont accept anything less :)

I just thought the other day that I missed Bingo.  My grandmother & her daughters used to go every weekend.  Me & my BFF would meet up with my mom & aunts & go play with them at the midnight Bingo sessions... that meant we got to stay out till 2 am.... good times :)  My friend used to just dob (technical Bingo term there!) away on her papers because it was fun - no other reason.... it was like a big crayon to make your own artist creations.

(this was always my luck at Bingo)

2. Will you be preparing and/or dining on the traditional corned beef and cabbage meal this St. Patrick's Day? Mashed-baked-hash browned-french fried...your favorite way to have potatoes?

Ewww... corned beef... ewwwww....

Potatoes - I can go with.... My favorite way of having them?  In my belly!!!!
I love everything about potatoes.  Never met a potato I didn't like...

Have you ever had Potato Candy?  I havent had it in FOR-EV-ER!!! But it reminds me of being little.  It was such a treat having this... I need to con my parents in making some for me.

Source: google.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

3. What's the last thing you felt 'green with envy' over?

All the runners with a better time then me in my race Saturday......
missed my gloomy race recap post of yesterday?  ... sigh...


4.  What's at the end of your rainbow?

A cow....

Seriously!!!!
When we moved into our house in the country, we had cows in the field across from us. A storm came up & caused the most beautiful rainbow.  Guess what - the rainbow ended in the field across the street from us!  I've never seen the end of a rainbow in my life till then... haven't since either.

But it was so funny because cows were walking right through the rainbow... they were like some 70's hippy looking cows.

I wonder if cows are color blind or if they wondered if they were having a stroke or something walking through that ....



5.  March 12th marks the anniversary of the death of Anne Frank (June 12, 1929 -March, 1945). Anne's diary spent detailing her time spent hiding from the Nazis ranks as one of the best selling books of all time. Besides your blog, do you keep any sort of diary or journal? Was this a habit you developed as a child or is journaling something new for you?

I've been a journal nut my whole life.
I bet you can find journals I wrote as a kid, all the way up to today... its always been something I did.
I guess that's why I love blogging.... but I do keep record of other things in a journal.  Y'all dont want to hear about my inner thoughts every day anyways.  (I'm saving it for my Best Seller Book anyways) ;)

I'm one of those nerds too that have to look at journals in every store.  Touch & feel them, look at the pages, see how it opens.

For the record, TJ Maxx has the BEST journals for the best prices :)


6.  What's an item in your home or closet that contains every color of the rainbow.

My yarn bin/shelf/containers....

yarn yarn everywhere... every sort of color you can imagine :)

the side effects of being a knitter

Source: jadorablehome.tumblr.com via Kymberlee on Pinterest

7. Write a limerick with you as the subject. You can do it!! Just remember this is a family friendly blog...don't make me get out my wooden spoon. 

There once was a girl who ran

she'd get so hot she needed a fan

sweat & strong

miles that are long

....her time still sucked...

what?  I didn't do it right?

Let me try again

There once was a girl who knit

never enough yarn she could get

scarves, gloves, hats she make

working till her hands would ache

... her running time still sucked...

WHAT?  I'm missing something here...



8. Insert your own random thought here.

All this Pope Watch is interesting to me.

Pope Smoke Cam... Pope Alerts... Pope Alarms....

The best part of this whole thing?  TWEETS!!!!!

No time to explain! I've been requested at the Vatican ASAP and asked for my hat size!! #wtf
— josh groban (@joshgroban) March 12, 2013

Between my humidifier & Portia making me tea non-stop, there's so much steam coming from our house people think we picked the new Pope.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 12, 2013

Reminding you of the latest odds for who'll be the new Pope twitter.com/HuffPostUKCom/… (via @huffpostukcom)
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) March 13, 2013

So I'm clear... the Vatican has NOT decided to pick up another season of Bunheads?
— Damon Lindelof (@DamonLindelof) March 12, 2013

I laughed all day yesterday at some of them...

Anthem 5k - WORST.RACE.EVER

Well - not the worst race... MY worst race

I look happy here... but felt like the biggest loser!  & not the one's who win a million dollars & train with  Bob& Jillian)

I guess I should clarify before Anthem 5k people are knocking on my door with a lawsuit.

They are even more tops on my list because a few weeks ago, I actually won a contest they had on Facebook & ended up getting a special embroider sweat shirt & a backpack.  I was thinking it was going to be one of those back packs that are just strings that they give away as swag.  No way... this thing is like, let's go hike & put all the gear in here for a week & still have room & compartments to sort things!  Nice!

I knew going into these races this year that I wasn't going to have amazing races.

My training has been haltered with my low back issues.

Plus, I've just been having problems catching my breath.  I think it has to do with a vitamin B-12 deficiency.  It just started not too long ago & reading up, Vitamin b-12, you get mainly from animal products.  Well, guess what this vegetarian doesn't eat?  yeah - the word 'Vegetarian' just gave it away.  & no, I don't drink milk & I'm not a c-word-breakfast-food-throwing-up-now-eater
****gagging at the thought of that food now*****

The clue that really makes me think I'm having a B-12 deficiency?  They say not only with shortness of breath, you also have tingling in limbs & feel like they are asleep (check) & you also have white spots on your skin where your melanin is being affected by the lack of vitamin (check).... I actually noticed white spots on my arm in the shower the other day & refused to look it up on WebMD because I thought for sure I thought it would say I had leprosy ... or cancer... or MS... or some horrible disease... there is never good news on WebMD.

So yes -  I knew my racing, & my body has been effected by the change in my diet & my injury... but I still wasn't as prepared mentally as I thought I'd be.

Woke up early... well, let me rephrase that - I didn't even get good sleep the night before.  I get so anxious & excited about a race.  Do I have everything?  I need to take pictures of everything I lay out for a race-eve preparation.  I don't think I even pack that much stuff when we travel
...... yeah, those that know me just laughed because you know I don't travel.

It was 33 degrees for race time so I knew to bundle up.  Long pants - with a base layer long sleeve shirt I just got on clearance at Target (Thank you Target for putting winter running gear on clearance already) & a t-shirt over that, with a light running hoodie.  Gloves, head wrap, my iPod - I'm ready.

Ricky came with me on this race & he was all prepared ... even though he kept saying "Its COLD'
Now this guy works in minus zero weather & doesn't complain, but on a 33 degree day, he was cold.  I think he's just never gone to work in Nike running leggings (that'd be awesome if he did)

We got down there in plenty of time to not have to rush to the starting line.  We even jumped inside of the Louisville Slugger Field area so Ricky could warm up a bit.

7:50 & the crowds were starting to swarm out so we headed to our place.

I always love seeing the crowd & seeing how different people are in a race.
A guy was in front of us carrying an American Flag - like a HUGE flag that had a HUGE pole on it .... disappointed that there was only one running Elvis that I came across.... there was a guy in a suit.... I love seeing families with their kids in the crowd.

I'm such a Sport Shoe Carrie Bradshaw because I'm constantly looking at everyone's running shoes while we wait.  I found one person with my same shoes & was instantly like "she's cool" :)

The "Call to the Post" (We're in Kentucky people) was blasted on the horn & we were off....
I think this is the first time I didn't hear the National Anthem.... maybe they had it & I was just too busy messing with my iPod - but at least I was behind a guy with a huge American flag.

Now, with my back, I've been training in intervals... 3:2 intervals (3 minutes walking, 2 minutes running) - I'll adjust that with the distance I'm doing.  Want to get it the opposite - 3 running, 2 walking - by the time the mini gets here.  Not sure how realistic that will be, but its a goal - right?

But I thought, its just a 5k, screw the interval & what I've been doing for the past 7 weeks - just run.

The first mile was great.  I ran non stop, keeping a steady pace & not going out too fast.  Saw some friends from church in the crowd & kept trucking along.

At about 1.60, we hit a hill & I knew I was just going to walk it - after all, I'd pushed myself more then I was used to & I didn't want to ruin my back on the first race of the season.  Plus, in all honesty, I think I walk up the hills faster then I run them.

Got up the hill & ran to the next place, a water stop, which was right before mile 2.

Got to the time marker at mile 2 & saw I was doing about a 12 minute pace, which I was thrilled about.

From here on though - I don't know what happened.  I felt like I was keeping a steady pace - I had slowed it down a bit just to keep it consistent & didn't want to feel horrible coming to the finish line... but I guess my pace slowed down a LOT...

I saw the finish line - the last few feet, I even put steam on my pace & got across...

But when we crossed, I knew immediately I was slower then ever.

Source: tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

The crowds had already thinned out in the coral to cheer people in.  There was no wait to get a Gatorade after.  There was a crowd around Panera though... there's always a crowd around there to snag a bagel.

This year, they had on the bib, you could scan it with your phone & get your results immediately.  I did it & my jaw dropped.  I knew basically what it was on my Garmin, but sometimes, it works where its a few seconds off & that always makes me happy.  Not this time - my Garmin was johny-on-the-spot.

& I sucked

Confirmation that I sucked

We ran into friends that I always love talking with & this was the first 5k for my friend's wife.  The husband is an old pro & he said as soon as we saw them, "She's already criticizing herself for her race"... Ricky just looked at him & said, "Yep - she is too"... I was quickly reminded that sometimes its just for fun & finishing - nothing else - no PR - no negative split - nothing to prove - just finishing!

That sounded good... until I got home...

I have a book that keeps all my racing bibs & info about the race & my times, rankings - all the stuff no one cares about but me...

I flipped through...

My first 5k that I did was this race 4 years back.  Appropriate that my time this year was 4 minutes SLOWER then my first year.  WHAT?

It felt like someone kicked me in the gut.

Ricky said, "Is 4 minutes that big of a deal?" - I said, "I beat my time one year by 10 SECONDS & thought it was the world! Now compare seconds to minutes & think if it's a big deal".... & then I lost it... I cried for a good 15 minutes.  Just sat at the counter & cried.

Felt like I had the word "FAILURE" tattooed on my face.... I was embarrassed... I felt fat & blobby... I felt awful

Ricky, bless his heart, kept trying to reassure me all those things aren't true... & if a race that we finished, with no pains, with no injuries is a failure, then he'd hate to see what a REAL failure looks like.

I get that... but man, how hard I am on myself right now...

Funny thing?  I knew going in it wasn't going to be good.  I didn't really expect to pull out a surprise PR or even be close to my time... so 4 minutes really shouldn't be that awful... but it still was.

& now - I'm scared to death.  I have a 10k next weekend & a 10 mile race... all before the half marathon.

Source: google.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I just need to keep reminding myself that I'm doing OK - if I finish - THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.  No one is looking at my time thinking any different of me... & if they do, then they're losers in my book.
The world doesn't end if I'm slower then ever.
No little puppies were kicked in the stomach if I didn't make a goal
.... everything goes on as normal.

It's just a race with my own mind....

so far I'm losing :(

This is what I'm going to keep in front of my face until I get through race season....

Source: boxingbeauty.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I need to just turn off all timers - not look at the clock - not look at the results...

just see the finish line & know I crossed it...

Let's really hope the next race recap is a lot more cheery than this hot mess of a blog post

Weekend Wrapup

Friday

* Packet Pick up Day... It was cool that since this was the 10th anniversary, they gave 2 t-shirts.  One for the race & one in honor of 10th Anniversary with all the past years logos.  Nice!

* Pasta Night... I always eat pasta the evening before... carb up baby

* tried to get to sleep early, but nerves always get the best of me on a race night... so I was tossing & turning

Saturday

*... & up at 5:30.  Plenty of time to get ready.  Ricky went with me & he saw how much it takes to get ready before a race.  Especially a COLD race.  Our bedroom was like a dressing room on a 90% clearance sale - clothes thrown everywhere.  "This will be too hot"... "This will be too cold"... we were like Goldilocks.  Or I should say, Ricky was like Goldilocks.  I've been to this rodeo before - I had my clothes laid out the night before & knew exactly how to dress for 33 degree weather.

* WORST 5K EVER... seriously... I cried real tears over it... I'm going to do a race recap tomorrow...
here we are after the race, before I got my time & the tears came

* Went out for breakfast after... & goodness gracious - we couldn't find anyplace that didn't have a wait.  We ended up at Panera bread (after leaving because the line was so long & coming back) & sat in the drive through forever.

* Home to get the sweaty cold clothes off & get that reward of a warm shower..... aaahhh

* My afternoon consisted of taxes... another year done

* Headed out to dinner & Ricky wanted Texas Roadhouse... I was shocked when he ended up ordering a veggie plate.  His own meat consumption has dropped about 95%.  ... I guess my face when he orders meat may sway him a bit on what to order :)


Sunday

* Time change!!!  hate loosing that hour, but man, I love a lighter evening

* Church  .... I think I almost saw a child being ripped in two during the youth game.  The kids were comparing battle scars of rug burns & blood/cuts... its how we worship :)

* Weekend tradition of Target.  The store was EMPTY.  I was thinking, "is the Super Bowl playing or someting?" ... felt like we were missing out on something somewhere.  But it was nice.  I walked around the store for 30 minutes with Season 2 of Downton Abby in my hands debating on whether to get it or not.  Ended up putting it back... but now I'm kicking myself!  Gotta get caught up!!!

* Went over to see my mom & dad.  I wanted to play with some settings on my new camera & my dogs just are sick of me taking pictures so I did the next best thing... my dad's horses :)

* Playing with the pictures & watching Celebrity Apprentice... I always hate how subjective the 'firing' is.  If it was real life, Gary Busey wouldnt even be back on, but Donald Trump loves trouble & trouble makers, so he keeps those types of people around.  I hate that part of the show.

* Time change MESSING ME UP... I couldnt get to sleep....

...sigh... its gonna be a long day

Hope everyone's weekend was wonderful ... now back to life :)

Friday Fragments

 

 Friday...Friday... FRRIIIDAYYYYY!!!! 

__________________________

Tomorrow kicks off the Triple Crown of Racing

The Anthem 5k

I've been kinda dreading these races because of the back pain (which is improving - not 100%, but improving) & I've just been having some body struggles - (I'll talk about that in another post)

.... but...

today is packet pick up day & that gets me excited

& I know my time is going to be horrible

& I know I'm not going to feel as strong as I have in previous years

& I know I'm going to be left in the dust of other runners

& I know no PR is in my future

...BUT...

I'm going to have fun

I'm going to just move my body

A 5k distance is still a 5k distance no matter how I get there

so I'm going to enjoy it

After all, my hubby is going to be with me this time

so we'll go out & have fun together

I'll even make him hold my hand & skip with me if need be :)

_______________________

We went to say good bye to friends last night

I've talked about my friends Joe & Erica & their sweet baby Emily throughout the years

they are moving across the country to help their daughter fight this horrible disease called Infantile Seizures

Can you lift a prayer for them as they travel across the grand ole US of A?

& pray for that sweet angel of theirs... she is just precious

I'm just glad we live in a world where we can keep in touch with Facebook & Twitter

But goodbyes always bite....

I just did quick hugs, quick "love you's" & I bolted out of the door 

THAT's how you say goodbye :)

_______________________

I always have the stupid reoccurring dream of being back in high school & not knowing my locker combination

but I've been having a new one lately

Driving & hitting the brakes & nothing happens... the car wont stop

& I either wreck or wake up before I wreck

Any thoughts?  Is it official - am I really out of my mind & crazy?

(Ricky - dont answer that!)

________________________

Oh snap!  The new posters for Catching Fire came out yesterday

Source: mybadbadangelputthedevilinme.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I.CANT.WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

_______________________

Anyone going to see this movie this weekend?

Source: insidemovies.ew.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I cant wait to see this one either

My mom is an Oz-head fanatic!
So we're all trying to find a good time where the whole family can go together

After all - she used to force my brother & I to watch The Wizard of Oz every year when it came on tv
so it works that we all sit together in a theater watching this.

......

By the way - I'm ticked at the magazines that let out who the actual Wicked Witch is
I wont give it away
but I wanted to be surprised in the movie
Spoilers get me every time

______________________

Funny of the day:

Since I was talking Wizard of Oz for my mom... the funny of the day is for my dad

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net via Rebecca on Pinterest

______________________

Anyone got any ideas how to keep finger nail polish on?

Don't tell me a top coat

y'all know I'm a confessed germaphobe, so I'm constantly washing my hands, using hand sanitizer, doing anything I can to get the germs of the world off of me...

so on the flip side of that - my finger nail polish is chipping 2 hours after I put it on

I see the cutest designs on Pinterest .....

Source: homebasedbusinessprogram.com via Aimee on Pinterest

.
& I can only imagine the time it takes to create something like that

& if it chipped a day after I did all that....
... I'd probably have to do one of those hands in the air, looking up to the heavens & scream "WHHYYY?????....

(I actually do that move at least twice a week)


________________________

TV Time:

The Bachelor - Women Tell All:  I know Ashlee got a bad wrap for being all cold to Sean & giving away what he said in the fantasy suite, but I like her even more for that.  She's a woman scorned - don't mess with that!
.... word is Desiree is going to be the next Bachlorette.  Me thinks her brother had that planned all along!

The Biggest Loser:  I really want Danni to win ... she's fought hard to stay there..

(I want Tim Gunn to give me a makeover)

but I'm scared to death that lawyer woman is gonna take it.
Also - I just love Bingo.  He needs his own Disney show!  He's adorable!

America's Got Talent:.... yeah, I know its not on yet, but news of Heidi Klum being a judge?  That's disappointing. She just rubs me the wrong way... with that stupid "Auf Wiedersehen" - I just want to say "Peace out Blondie" & throw a gang sign when she says it.
At least Howie Mandell is still on it

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills:  Even Giggy gets to go to Paris?  That dog has the life.  (Did you know he even has his own Instagram account) .... I also learned from this week's episode that I'm not a fan of French cuisine.  Did they really want the ladies to chop the head off of those ducks?  I freaked out a bit.
.... did you hear the news?  Adrienne isn't coming back next year.... I for one don't feel a love loss.


Onto tackling the day!
Hope everyone has a Fantastic Friday!!!!

 

What-EVER!!!

I can totally say that with all the attitude of a Valley Girl...

It can be taken in 2 ways too... that kind of 'what-evvverrrrrr' attitude that says, "I don't really care because you're answer is going to be stupid & I won't care regardless" - come on all teenager parents, you know what that sounds like!
.... or 'whatever' in the sense of "it's up to you, & I'm ok with the decision you make"

I think I've said Whatever in both ways...

You want me to do what at my job?  Do 100 things & do your job for you as well?  Or I'll get in trouble... whatever... Oh yeah, said with major attitude & said with the tone of 'you are so stupid'

Where do you want to go eat at?  Whatever works for me.... I'm totally ok with wherever we go.  The decision you make is fine with me.

I think we've all pulled out our share of "whatever's" on both sides throughout life.

Well, we all know the verse in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"... that was my friend Steph's FAVORITE verse...

But have you really looked at the beginning part of it?  ... I know my friend Lynn has - that is her favorite part of the verse

(I love I know friend's favorite scriptures)

"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know both how to have a little, & I know how to have a lot.  In any & all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being content - whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.  I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."

-Philippians 4:11-13 (HCSB)

Whatever circumstances...

So how to you say that 'whatever' to God?  With the attitude of 'this is stupid' ... or with the attitude of "Lord, I'm ok with what you decide"?

But I love one of the words before.... I HAVE LEARNED...!!!

You have to to LEARN to be content in whatever circumstances....

Learning takes time... patience... experience...

I know when I learned to knit, it took awhile before I was good at it...
I know when I learned to drive, I was nervous before I was comfortable behind the wheel
I know when I learned to run, I was struggling & thought I'd never make a half marathon

It takes time.... patience... experience

Source: weheartit.com via Brian on Pinterest

So WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES you are in today.... try & find that time to settle in it... try to be patient in it... try to learn the experiences you are taking away from it....

Maybe then we'll find the strength in Him to do all of those things...

"The difference is Christ in me.  

Not me in a different set of circumstances"

 -Elisabeth Elliot

Hodgepodge

1. My real life friends came through with another question this week so thank you real life friends. When you've eaten in a restaurant do you complete their comment card? Do you take online surveys highlighted at the bottom of store receipts?

Not usually... we did have a great waitress the other day & I said, forget the card & went & found the manager & bragged about her.

I almost filled out a card the other day because McAllister's was playing Christian music on a Sunday.  I wanted to thank them for that.  But then I thought, what if the 'higher-up's dont know... & then it gets this place in trouble... & then they ban Christian music from playing anymore....

I tend to over think things... just go get the stupid manager.

I don't usually do the survey at the bottom, but bless her heart, Ricky had a coworker who has now passed away who would always do them.  She would get free desserts or $5.00 off a dinner & she'd always give us the receipts with the code on them.  Many a dessert was ingested by Ricky because of Sharon.  She knew Ricky is the one to always give extra calories too :)


2.  The (US) ban on women in combat was lifted at the end of January. It will probably be next year before specifics are worked out but it's been reported over 200,000 front line positions will eventually open up to women. Your thoughts?

I feel so un-American... I never knew that there WAS a ban on women in combat....

I wanna say GIRL POWER!!!!  But you wouldn't find me in combat.  I'd be too busy crying & freaking out & throwing up at some of the sights.

I obviously wouldn't be good in combat... but if someone feels the need & the call, then I'm all GIRL POWER for them!


3.  In looking back at all the blog posts you've written, what's your favorite post title?

I want to just say "hodgepodge" so I can be lazy & not look back...

Plus, I've been blogging since 2006 (wh-wh-WHAT?) & do you have any ideas how many titles that is?

I'll go with my entry at the end of the year called "Time for me to get SMOOSHED" when I had my first mammogram ... then I realized that "Smooshed" in "Jersey Shor"e terms is not the type of smooshed I meant & that I probably would get some traffic to my blog that would be questionable.



4. What's worse-overly permissive parents or overly protective parents? Did your own parents lean toward the permissive or the protective category? If you're a parent where do you fall?

Free pass - I'm not a parent & don't fall in any category.  I'm a step-mom so I just earn the category of being plain awesome & cool... enough said :)

I think my own parents were a good mix of both.  Which means they were weird.  On some things, I'd have wings to fly & try new things... on other things, (like dont even THINK about riding the bike past the 3rd house down on the right & the 4th house down on the left on our street)  my butt would be ready for a spanking.

I never realized my parents were overly protective in some areas until I hear all the time "you were sheltered, weren't you?" ... but I didn't know it - so that must mean my parents hid it well from me... which makes them awesome too!


5.  Candlelight-moonlight-firelight-bright lights in the big city....which one's your favorite?

All of the above.

Candlelight.  Its flattering & soft... makes me think of my wedding
Firelight - makes me think of coziness & fun stories - plus, I LOVE the smell of a fire
Moonlight - when its bright, I love it - especially where we live... it'll light up a whole room
Bright lights in the big city - usually means excitement is happening

See?  All good things


6.  Dr. Seuss's birthday was celebrated on Saturday. What's a favorite book you remember (Seuss or otherwise) from your childhood? Did books play an important role in your growing up years? Explain.

I was a HUGE reader since childhoold... but I never remember owning Dr. Seuss books.  I can remember going to my mom's friend's house & her son had the books.  I'd sit in his room & look at them over & over.  But never had any of my own.  Probably because I had no room for any other books.

Growing up, the two big ones I remember are Judy Blume books  - c'mon, every teenage girl grew up with Judy Blume! - & Sweet Valley High books.

Source: google.com via Janet on Pinterest

Source: blogs.babble.com via MeuAnjo on Pinterest

My mom & I always would go to the library or a local "Book Nook" where you could buy used books.  I would always be so excited about going there.  I actually still have the "Family Circus" books that I got from there :)



7. To quote Dr. Seuss...

"From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere."

from One fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Share something funny you've recently read, seen, or heard.

Because this has absolutely nothing to do with Dr. Seuss... but I saw this this morning & totally laughed way too long

Source: cheezburger.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Here's my picture on Instagram this morning...

I feel a little lost & odd...

That old pedometer on the left? I've carried it with me for over 3 years... YES - 3 years!  Through every work out, every race, every day at work, every holiday - it's always on me.
That's why it has a binder clip on it & the strap looks like its ready to dry-rot.

& now, today, I left it at home.
I'm wearing my new FitBit today.  The latest in pedometers... (that little gadget on the right)

I'm always one that feels like I'm betraying my old things when I leave them behind.

I blame Toy Story ... who didn't want to go find their dolls & hug them after seeing Woody so sad about Andy growing up?

So yes - I get weird attachments to things in life.

it's why I'm doing my blog on a typewriter :)

Believing or Following....

(An example I gave from the youth lesson I taught on Sunday)

If I were to ask you if you were a Jesus Follower, I think most of us would be like "Oh yeah... that's me!" & not really think anything of it.  We know we love Jesus & all that he stands for - so of course, we're his followers
... but are we?

Do we get believing confused with following?

Believing is when we agree with something we've been told or learned.  We agree that Jesus is the Son of God & died for our sins & rose again from the grave.  I know I believe that...  & Jesus WANTS us to believe in that.  Its why he did what he did....nothing wrong one bit with believing... but is believing all that there is?  Nope...

How about the next step of following?

A good example of a difference between the two.

My buddy Ryan is a firefighter.  I believe he is amazing at his job.  I believe he saves lives.  I believe he puts himself in dangerous situations in order to help someone.  I believe he changes the world.
.... but if he was called to a fire, would I follow him into it?

Probably not... I wouldnt feel prepared for it - I would feel like I would just be in the way, messing him up in his job... I would probably stick to my belief of what he does & leave it at that.

Following is HARD work...

Ask Ricky...

He makes it look easy but he's amazing at following someone skating.
(Some of you may have seen this already, but you know you want to dance to the music again, so go ahead & play it)





I asked him what's so hard at following someone & he said that its different with each person you're behind.  You have to learn their steps because it changes.  & if you aren't aware of how they move, you can easily mess up & click wheels & you're going down...

I'm awful at following in skating.  You have to move FAST in order to be as good as Ricky.  I'm 'ok'.. not bad...not great... but I at least can do some moves.  But following is not one of them.  I don't like going that fast.  So if I follow someone, I end up getting so far behind & I cant keep up - next thing I know - the person has circled the rink & is behind me!... so I don't even bother trying to stick behind someone.

When we think about following Jesus - all of these things can apply to our lives

... we think we're not prepared for what Jesus calls us to do
... we think we'll just mess up His plans & it'll just be better to stay out of the way
... we're afraid we'll mess up & trip up & fall right on our face
... we're afraid we can't keep up with what He's calling us to do, so we just don't bother with trying

It's so easy to believe... but stepping up to FOLLOW Jesus is hard...

It means putting ourselves in a position to be uncomfortable, to do things that we wouldn't normally do - to change the way we live, think, act to the world...

But how the world would change if we took those steps to follow Jesus...

Jesus tells us in Mark 8:34

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me

Turning from our selfish ways...

there it is...

turning from what we want - turning from our fears - turning from doing things the way we want to do things

Following is hard...
but we're called to do hard things in following Jesus.

I pray that God lays on our hearts one thing that we need to 'turn from our selfish ways' in order to follow him more as we head into this Easter season.  We all have these things...

are we ready to step a little further out of just believing?

Weekend Wrapup

Friday

* Got home to a package on the front porch.  YIPEEEE.... I had won from Tracy's Blog a collection of teas from Davidson's Organic Teas.  Oh my gosh.  This thing has enough teas to last for quite awhile.  I'm interested in checking it out because it says this tea had medicinal purposes.  I love teas that do double-duty in making me healthy.  It also came with a catalog.  They should probably be happy that I'm the one who won this contest... since giving up Diet Coke - I'm a tea-a-holic - & some of these teas sound amazing.  Yep - I'll be placing an order.

* Backyard night.... It was cold & snowy & just a yucky night... but kids always want to come out for fun so another full house

* Back to uploading my new computer with my photo programs.  I was up to almost midnight with dreary eyes & my head spinning.  Have I mentioned how much I hate Windows 8?


Saturday

* Did get to sleep in... Thank you Lord!  I love waking up & seeing the room is filled with sunlight.

* Had to move around my cameras in my camera bags & found 2 lens caps!! YES!!! I've had to buy some because I keep loosing them.  Now, I'm ahead of the game.

* Baby Session.... Chasity & I loaded up the gear & went to their house for this little angel's photo session.  She's 2 weeks old & her mom said, "she eats & then sleeps for 4 hours" - exactly what we want.  When they sleep, we can contort them & put them how we want & let's face it, a sleeping baby's face is just so soothing & comforting.  So, we were all surprised when the 2 1/2 hours we were there, this little booger was awake for 98% of the time!!! She refused to go to sleep.  She loved the camera & the lights.  She'd just keep staring at them... a future model in the making.  & mercy - for 2 weeks old - she was STRONG.  She'd kick that head up & push that body up!  I've never seen a 2 week old like her... but she is a beauty - that's for sure.

* got home & wanted to try my new Elements 11 ... I thought I was going to loose my mind.  Nothing was working.  So I went to my old computer to start on the pictures... it was so slow... so went & uploaded Elements 9 to my new computer.  Thought I was pulling a fast one... except, with every picture I would work on, Elements would crash & loose ALL the information I just spent all the time uploading, & fixing!  I literally sat the computer in tears.  I finally Googled & someone said to run an 'Updates" & it took 20 minutes to update all the Elements programs I had.... & I think that fixed most of the problems...
I'm still not sure I'm a fan of Photoshop Elements 11... the 'undo' feature just aggravates me

* I didn't even eat supper - so I went to bed late exhausted & hungry ....

* Was supposed to run 7 miles today... with everything else going on - didnt get to it - so planning on a Sunday run

Sunday

* 5 am.... NO NO NO NO NO!!! I woke up screaming that when my calf was cramping.  That's the worst!!! UGH!!!!  I couldn't go back to sleep after that.  So much for waking up with a sun-filled room this morning.

* Went & watched some shows on my DVR.  I had Oprah's interview with the Kardashians.  They just mesmerize me.

* More snow.... was hoping this would be it before Spring came... but nope - we're getting more snow tomorrow & Wednesday

* I was up to teach in the Youth ... & got to use the video of Ricky skating as an example.  Good stuff... I'll have to share some of that lesson tomorrow :)

* Headed to Target... I was out of all my products - deodorant  mascara, cotton balls... all the stuff girls cant live without.  It was good stuff though when we found the Hoover Pet Vacuum marked down from $169 to $75!! & we have the Red card so we got an extra 5% off... I was giddy excited.  I have one of those vacuum's already & its the best one I've found in picking up dog hair... & long red hair from two other people that live in the house :)
Plus - I found Beastly for $5.00!!!  I know some think its corny - but its a Beauty & the Beast take off... I liked it... & it was $5.00!

A successful Target trip, for sure.

* I had those plans on doing the 7 miles... but after being up late, waking up early & having no food the night before - I was literally exhausted & could hardly stand.  I ended up scrapping my 7 mile run for the weekend.  (Side Note:  I am so feeling like a failure this morning - so I'm planning on doing the 7 miles tonight)

* Worked on baby pictures & finished up for the most part - just a few tweeks to make... but glad I got everything done quickly.

* Once Upon A Time... Its funny how Little Snow is growing.  She was on last year & much SMALLER, & these scenes were supposed to have taken place BEFORE the ones last year... & she's bigger.  Time to cram in every scene you think you'll need for SNOW... unless she's going to be a teenager in the flash backs.

* Talking to my momma when I saw the Les Miz 25th concert was on KET... I was so excited... this how I went to bed... with Alfie Boe singing in my head.

(For the record, I did DVR the new mini-series "The Bible" so Ricky & I could watch it together... cant wait to see it... & also taped Celebrity Apprentice.  Also cant wait to see crazy Gary Busey back) ... what a combo that sentence is.)

Prayers of a good week for us all...

... & that I get in my 7 miles today!

Friday Fragments

I'm moving slow today... its Friday, but it feels like Monday

_________________________

Its snowing... again...

I'm not sure the sun exists anymore

__________________________

One of my bloggy/Twitter/instagram/facebook friend

 (Oh heck, she's just a friend who lives in a different state)

has been talking about her new little gadget - 

the FitBit One

Source: notquitesusie.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Now, I'm all curious about it

It even tracks your sleeping habits by a bracelet you put on your wrist with it

I'm Rebecca Jo & I'm a fitness gadget addict

Anyone have one?  Thoughts?
Anyone that could care less?

________________________

Today is Colon Cancer Awareness Day

I'm wearing blue today for that very reason
My Daddy-O had colon cancer & it was caught early
(Thank you Jesus)

But my friend Steph also had colon cancer & that has spread to her liver
Not everyone is as lucky as my dad

So wearing blue to support & honor all those who fight this ugly thing called cancer

(Yesterday would have been Steph's birthday too.... miss my friend)

_________________________

So, I found out why I cant watch videos anymore at work
They limited video streaming, music streaming & social networks
to the bottom of the priority list

We're limited in 'space' used in the internet so they knocked that stuff to the bottom

Do they know they just ruined my lunches?
This is cruel & unusual punishment

I can still get all my bloggy friends links though so I'm still surviving

________________________

I have a photo session Saturday
....excited about it!

I took off during the holidays & winter is hard to do pictures
but getting back in the swing of things

Saturday?  A 3 week old baby
Everyone... go "Aaaahhh"

A baby GIRL too...
so got my bows & tutu's ready

_______________________

Did I mention its snowing?
C'MON SPRING!!!!!

_______________________

Cuteness overload:
My fur babies

Last night I looked down & they were both side by side on this dog bed.
Now, don't feel sorry for them & think they have to squeeze on one bed together
We have dog beds ALL OVER the house

Its like dodging land minds in my house

But these two stick together & they were so cute

They're getting so old & the thought of one of them passing away just breaks my heart
& makes me worry for the other one

_________________________

Funny for the day:

Source: imgfave.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I need to remember this when someone's sick

I'm just not good when people aren't feeling well
Y'all know I'm a confessed germaphobe
... & I'm a chain puker...

so this is perfect for me.

Maybe I can even put a fake hand on the end of the broom so I can pat the shoulder?
Shark Tank.. here I come!

________________________

TV Time:  

The Bachelor:  I dont even care now.  He sent AshLee home & left two little girls standing.  Good luck with that Sean.

Dancing with the Stars:  NEW CAST REVEALED!!! I am so excited Lisa Vanderpump is going to be on there!  I dont think she'll make it long, but love her!  You already know the football player is going to win it!  But excited to see Dorothy Hamill on there as well.  She's aged very well!

Well, that was easy....

...not....

We're in the 4th week of the Bible Study called Let.It.Go.

What I love about it is it gives me all sorts of verses to look at, study, & even better, easy picks for me to keep as my next Siesta Scripture Memory Verse.

Yesterday, we were told to look at a verse that I love, & actually was shocked I didnt have the verse memorized in previous years.  I looked back in my little notebooks that I keep all my verses & nope - not there.

Found my next verse for March

Always be joyful.  

Never stop praying.  

Be thankful in all circumstances, 

for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The trick with this verse, we were asked to put our name in front of every sentence - like it would go,

Rebecca Jo, always be joyful
Rebecca Jo, never stop praying
Rebecca Jo, be thankful in all circumstances
for this is God's will for you, Rebecca Jo, who belongs to Christ Jesus

Cool - right?

Except, last night, I was ready to pull my hair out.

My schedule is swamped for the next few weeks.  I mean the kind of schedule that nothing can get off track or I'm going to scream... & I think I actually did last night.

My sweet husband got me a new computer for our anniversary.  & if anyone has had any dealings with the new Windows 8 - I dont even have to say another word - you know how frustrating that is in itself.

Well, my new computer was running slower then my 4 yr old laptop from the moment I got it.  So we took it in to have it looked at.  That wonderful group, the Geek Squad took it, did their thang, & gave it back to me.    Actually, my hubby was so sweet & stopped & picked it up for me so I didnt have to worry about wasting time going by there.

I get it home... & nothing... & mean, nothing... they removed all my programs I had installed.

My picture programs, all my actions in Photoshop, all my music.

I just wanted to scream & say "Aint nobody got time for that"

Source: polyvore.com via Lainie on Pinterest

But I was set out to reinstall some of my stuff... let's start with iTunes

OH MY WORD....

Fast version?  I sat in front of my laptop for 4 hours moving one song over at a time to iTunes from my flash drive.  Why it didnt just move them all?  I have no idea... why it wouldnt copy over?  I have no idea.  All I know is I had to move each song ONE BY FREAKING ONE!!!!

& then, all my play lists were gone.

I need my playlists for running... this is serious stuff folks...

so another hour going through 1,000 songs & putting them in a playlist.

By the time 10:00 came around, my eyes were bugged out of my head, my clicker finger was exhausted & I felt like I had been on some sort of shock therapy.

But wait... Rebecca Jo is supposed to be joyful... & praying... & thankful in ALL circumstances!

Ouch... I dont think I was any of those... though, I may have prayed that I didnt take my computer & smash it in the ground.

& God answered that prayer.  (Thank you Lord)

So 2 out of 3 isnt bad - right?

Yeah... I know... utter failure here... on the FIRST day of clinging to this scripture.

Well guess what - today is a new day & I'm going to try again putting my name in this scripture.. & living it

& when I think about it now, I was joyful because as I was sitting at my computer, my neighbor's fiance was outside the window giving me the biggest wave & the cutest smile (I love this girl)....

& I was praying - seriously - because I have hundreds of Christian music on my iTunes & I would play some of these songs I forgot I had & would have a great time worshipping while sitting at the computer

& I was thankful - for my sweet husband who picked up my computer for me, & helped me make supper while I was running back & forth from the oven to the computer

So maybe I wasnt too far off base...
...but I know I have a long way to go...

Because I have a feeling my schedule is going to have a lot more surprises in it then I expect

How am I going to react?

I'm just praying this joy, praying & thankful attitude gets easier :)