Weekend Wrapup

Friday

* Eye Exams are so stressful... "What looks better? 1 or 2... 3 or 4... 5 or 6"... the pressure!  I can't stand it

* I asked if I could just use my glasses from before & get new lenses?  Yeah, but it would cost $525... or I could get TWO new pairs of glasses with the eye exam for $360 .... Um, OK... easy choice.  So I pick up my new glasses in 2 weeks

* It was such a beautiful night... Ricky & I were like old ma & pa Kettle.  We sat out in our rocking chairs on the front porch until it got dark & we couldn't see... I wish summer felt like that every day

Saturday

* Ricky had to run into work... I went for a run.  It was still so beautiful & low humidity so I did something I hadn't done in awhile.  5.33 miles!  Yahooo!!!!

My little Garmin hasn't had a 5 on it in awhile...

* My back hurt from the stinking hills... I need a flat track to run on

* Met with a potential wedding client.  When they walked in with 2 other ladies, I wasn't sure it was them.  But they brought their moms with them... which was so much fun.  These ladies were awesome.  That's the coolest part of weddings - meeting the whole families.  The more people to meet, the better :)

* Had to run to the grocery.  I used to hate going on Saturdays.  Maybe because I remember always going to the grocery with my mom on Saturdays & it was always so busy.... to my surprise, the grocery store was virtually EMPTY... I guess everyone who grew up in the 70's had the same idea as me.

* Starbucks... a large Peach Green Tea Lemonade ... I'm so addicted to these things

* Finished up the wedding pictures... ahhh... 3 weeks.  I love that.  Such a weight off my shoulders when I get through the editing part of it!

* Watched "Sophie's Choice"... goodness gracious... talk about a depressing movie. 

Sunday

* Woke up to a text from a friend about Cory from Glee passing away... I kept thinking, 'Not Finn' - I thought it had to be another character on the show.  Ran to my computer & saw it was actually him... I sat in disbelief all morning.





* Small Group Day... the best line of the day, "I read my mom's diary when she was a teenager.  I never want to think of my mom that way again as long as I live" haha!!!

* I had painted my nails the night before & MAN OH MAN... uber 80's color.  Like neon orange.  So when I saw the other kids nails - I fit right in :)

Its funny that mine look normal... they are actually NEON... but the camera doesn't capture how truly BRIGHT they are

* Kohls trip... I did good walking out only spending $16 ... I've been checking out their neck scarves on clearance.  Beautiful colors - good for all seasons.  Now to go to Pinterest to find all the ways to tie these things.

* We watched "The Host" ... Ricky was like "SHUT UP" every time I said, "That wasn't in the book"... which was like 100 times.  I will say though, I did like it.  Though 50% of the book was left out & then they added stupid stuff in the movie.  But what do you expect when the book is like 700 pages long. 

* Ended the night holding my breath watching Real Housewives of New Jersey... how in the world is Bravo going to tease us like that, leaving it as the 2 bulls collide?  The screaming afterwards & the previews of Melissa screaming "Help your brother" as Teresa is running out of the room... I seriously was ready to have a panic attack!

So let's hope its a great week friends!  Here we go - let's knock it out!

Friday Fragments

We made it... FRIDAY!!!!

******

Man, a full week of work after a week with only 3 days in it?

MAJORLY BITES!

******

I'm going today after work to get my eyes checked & to get new glasses.

I'm afraid they're going to tell me, "You're old"... which is what I fully expect.

I can't see anything close up anymore. 

I have 'readers' all over the house.  Literally 4 pairs in the kitchen so when I have to read any directions.

How do eyes change so much when you get older?

Just another fun perk of climbing up the hill of age

.... or is it more like coming down the other side of the hill?....

I foresee (like that pun) bifocals

This should be interesting

 

(Praying this isn't going to be me after today)

******

Dang it...

why did I see the 20% off everything on Old Navy's website?

I can't resist its powers

But did find the skirts I've been looking for

I found one of these at Target on clearance a few weeks ago & fell in love with it.  Its like walking around in PJ's... & have scouted every Target since to find more.  No luck.  So when I saw a sale code & the skirt I've been looking for?  How can a girl resist?

*******

 

I just watched "United 93" ... the movie about the plane that was over taken by the passengers on 9/11 & crashed in a field...

 

The whole time I was watching it, I was saying, "Why am I doing this to myself"

 

You know the ending... but the whole time the passengers were plotting to take over & when they made their move, I kept thinking, "It's going to be work out... they're going to make it"...

 

Only to know how it really ends...

How I watched this movie

 

******

 

& speaking of movies...

 

I FINALLY got around to watching "Anchorman"

 

 

OH MY GOSH - it came out in 2004 & I'm just now seeing it?

I'm a little behind in my movies, what can I say?

 

At least I know I'm caught up on all things Burgandy now

 

******

 

 

I have a new lunch addiction

 

HUMMUS

 

Its it wrong to sit & eat a whole container?

 

*******

 

TV Time:

 

The Bachlorette:  So Des says she is in love with Brooks... & its not the finale?  That's just weird.  If she ends up with someone else, I bet they sat & watched that & was like, "Great"... but I'm thinking the odds on favorite is the man himself. I still like Zak - but I think he's more in the 'friend zone' with her.  I am rooting for Chris though to win.  Even though the whole writing poetry together would have made me laugh in his face.

 

 

America's Got Talent:  Anyone else see the Kentucky Coal Miner?  Ricky & I are so rooting for him.  I'm not a big country fan personally, but even I thought his voice was fantastic... & he was so dang polite!

 

 

 

Speaking of those WITHOUT manners...

 

Big Brother:  Anyone see this lady, Aaryn?  OH.MY.GOSH.  I've never screamed more at a tv screen then watching her.  She is such a mean girl!  If you haven't watched it, you may have heard her name in the news with the racist & homophobic comments she's been making.  Then last night, they showed someone in the house taking her to the side & letting her know the things she was saying was offensive.  She just rolled her eyes, said she wasn't even going to give that issue any thought because its immature of everyone to be offended.  She had a great opportunity to try & make herself look better... she only dug a whole deeper. 

 

The world's most hated reality star of 2013

 

When this girl gets out of the house... she's going to be amazed at what's waiting for her... no job being one...

I just keep thinking that her family has GOT to be embarrassed watching this

... at least I hope their embarrassed & not the same way

 

 

Real Housewives of Orange County:  I want a "Bling'd Out Bible" like Alexis has!

I'm seeing pictures on Instagram of the girls at the reunion & so far, no pictures of Gretchen... uh oh...

 

******

 

OK... let's finish this day ... & hope by the end of it, I'm getting some glasses that will keep me from squinting  every minute of my life

 

Have a Fantastic Friday Friends!!!

I just dont get it....

As long as I can remember, I've always hated to see people's feelings get hurt...

& always hate to have my feelings hurt.

I think I could handle getting punched in the face more then someone trying to hurt my feelings....

& when I see someone else getting their feelings hurt, it even feels like a punch in the gut to me.

I've seen repeatedly over the past few weeks that I am surrounded by some people that really love to discourage others... really find a joy in trying to belittle others... really find happiness in trying to embarrass others.

Its so sad to me

What makes someone WANT to just hurt someone to the core?  For no reason?   

& the worse part is when this person is feeling so happy with themselves for insulting others & they look at me, with an expression of "You agree - right?" ...

I've actually been bolder in standing my ground & saying "That's not right" or just shaking my head & letting them know that in fact, I don't agree...
& not being with the others who laugh, uncomfortably... but with fear that if they don't laugh, they're next on the list to be made fun of....

This is usually my reaction at least 3 times in a given work day

Sometimes life feels like it's nothing but Middle School all over again...

It makes me really aware of how hurtful words are...
How they effect a whole atmosphere...

& it makes me completely aware of how I respond to those words...

I never want to be a part of hurtful words

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,

but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

~Ephesians 4:29

Do you think hurt feelings are the worst?

What do you say to a 'bully' in action?

Ever feel like life is still just like middle school?

Hodgepodge

Wednesday... just a tad depressed because this time last week, I was getting ready for a long weekend.  Today?  Knowing I have 2 more days of work... BOO!!!

1.  What's something people might ask you for help with?

I have to laugh, but my coworker asks me all the time advice on healthy eating & natural remedies.  Everyone know how "Anti-medicine" I am & she's had some health issues.  So just yesterday, she was like "What does Apple Cider Vinegar do for you?"... Oh, that just makes me happy to open people's eyes.  She's never had green tea either, so I went in my office, pulled out a cup, gave her a green tea with mango tea bag & introduced her to it... I felt like Dr. Weil... minus the white beard & bald head.

I also get lots of questions on running, photography & knitting... things that I love to do, I love to talk about

2.  What's something you might ask people for help with?

How to do crafty things... while I can knit, I'm not really 'crafty', so when someone makes something, I'm all like "HOW DID YOU DO THAT?" ... & then sit with my jaw dropped

I also always ask Ricky about measurements.  I'm horrible at how many pints are in a gallon & that sort of thing.  I don't remember that being covered in school at all..... or else I was asleep.


3.  Did your family take summer vacations when you were a child?  If so, where did you go?  If you're a parent, did/do you plan summer vacations for your own family?  Did/do they resemble those you took as a child?

I don't remember summer vacations that much.  I do remember spending all summer at my aunt's pool with my grandmother, & playing board games all day long with my mom... which is cool enough.

But I remember our family vacations being in the fall to Gatlinburg mostly... & the funny thing?  Ricky & I take our vacations in the Fall every year too.  It's actually our anniversary week we normally take... but its my favorite time of the year to take a vacay... especially to Gatlinburg.  Give me those fall trees in the mountains every year.


4.  Pool-lake-ocean...which one is most appealing to you on a hot summer day?

Pool... 100% .... I've said it before - I'll say it again, I'm not a huge fan of living things swimming around me that I can't see...

& I'm sure they don't care for me stomping around in their home


5.  Have you ever justified using the expression 'you gotta be cruel to be kind'? Was it really necessary or were you rationalizing?

Sorry... all I can think about right now is that song from "10 Things I hate about you"...  I love that soundtrack




Heath Ledger... still so sad...


6.  The Journal of Psychology recently mentioned the results of a survey identifying the ten most hated foods as-liver, lima beans, mayonnaise, mushrooms, eggs, okra, beets, brussel sprouts, tuna, and gelatin. Of those foods, how many do you actually hate?  Any you'd add to the list?

I actually like lima beans, brussel sprouts - & I LIVE on & LOVE mushrooms...

I could do without gelatin though... things shouldn't jiggle ever... I tell that to my thighs every day too

I wont even get started again on my loathing of the C-word... (cereal for those who don't know me.. & yes, I just gagged typing out the word)

A friend on Instagram had a picture of that STUFF on her pictures... I thought I was going to pass out from nausea...



7. What's your favorite book or movie set in a beach or lake town?

One of the movies in my top five favorite movies... The Lake House...



Not really "Beach" ... but its got the word "Lake" in it...


8. Insert your own random thought here.

My Bicep Tendonitis has flared up again...

You cant imagine how painful this stupid thing is...

Just realize how much your use & move your arm every day... now think about every time you use it, someone is putting hot prods in the area right above your arm pit all down through the front of your bicep area..

good times, right?

Praying for it to ease up again.  My only option for this is to have them CUT the bicep tendon... which is a whole new set of issues.

It does tend to ease up after awhile.. so just praying for that time to hurry back up.

It's always something, ain't it?  Getting old ain't for wimps!

Your Life....

This is the reason why I love teaching the youth group at church...

It opens my eyes & heart to things I never really think about ... shows me things with a new light

... & of course, any time I get to have fun with the kids, embarrassing myself in the mean while, I'm all for it.

The topic we were talking about this week was "WORSHIP"

& yeah... what do you think of when we say "Worship"?  Usually what everyone else thinks of.  The music - the guitars, the words on a screen in the front of the room...some would even go old school & think of organs playing. 

(Do churches even still have organs anywhere that are actually being used?)

Worship

If you look at the history of worship, you really can start back & look in the book of Psalm ...

Does anyone else always want to put an "s" on the ends of that... I say PsalmS every time I say the word.... If there is a pop quiz on spelling the books of the Bible in Heaven, I'm in trouble... let's not even get to the chapters like Habakkuk

But if you read the book of Psalm (Dang it, I actually did just type an S & had to delete it) you'll know its like a book of poetry...

...which means I just fell asleep....

I'm not a big poetry person. 
Shakespeare in high school?  I don't know how I made it through. I guess it was those awesome Cliff Notes that you could buy.




But this 'poetry' is different if you really look at it.

It actually is true emotion written out... how people were feeling... what they were going through.  A lot of it is David's thoughts & the struggles & joys & the heart that cries out to be like God.

But its all rare, real emotion...

Sort of like a diary...

Well, just so happens, this girl is a diary-junkie.  Seriously, have been writing in diaries as long as I can remember.

Anyone else have those diaries that had a little tin 'lock'... & I say 'lock' while laughing... because the key was like a tiny piece of tin foil that would bend when you put it in & turn it.

Secrets held with the utmost security.

I still have most of my diaries... & I took the one I wrote in from 1985....I was 13 years old.  Middle School.  The MOST DRAMATIC TIME EVER... (Yes, Chris Harrison could be there holding roses & emphasizing how dramatic is really was)

I read some of the entries to the kids.

Entries on how "Todd was staring at me today.  But Stephanie said he doesn't like me.  But I just know he does." ... riveting stuff, huh?

& entries that most kids can understand - "My parents won't let me go to the zoo.  My brother can do whatever he wants & I get in trouble for the smallest things" ...

& friendships - "Brian told me that he is going to ride another bus.  I was so mad, I told him that I was glad he was getting off of this bus.  I feel so bad being mean to him.  I really don't want him to ride another one"

& of course, many entries of what Stephanie & I did most weekends... Sleep over at my house... sleep over at her house... repeat every other weekend...

Oh, the emotion.

Its funny because I can read these entries & actually remember how I felt at that time.  I can still recall the events... & it may sound corny on how I wrote it out, but it was what was happening in my life.

Here's the funny thing... when you look at the book of Psalm & read what they were going through, it may sound different then my middle school entries, but its still the same emotion.  Its joy, fear, happiness, heart break...

& the crazy thing?  These words written in Psalm?  That was the worship of that time period.

So that would be like if my diary entries were up on those big screens in all the mega churches of the world...

Everyone singing about how Todd was staring at me... awesome stuff...the makings of amazing songs

What does this boil down too?  People back in the good ole days of a few thousand years ago... they took their lives & they made it worship... everything they did.  All the things that happened to them & the way it made them feel... it was turned into a way to worship God & to show that it wasn't about the music.  It was about the way they reacted to the things happening to them.

Its funny because I looked at some of the things I do...

when I run, at the end of every work out, I'll always stop, point up to Jesus & give a "High Five" - yes - I high-five the sky for Jesus - I've done it for years... but I always give thanks that I made it through another run.  .... I just worshipped....

I'll sit in traffic & I'll be so mad I can't stand it & I'll cry out, "Lord, get me through this mess before I get out & stab someone in the face"... as messed up as this sounds, that is worship....

When I'm with friends & we're sitting around a table laughing & sharing life & in my mind, I stop & thank God for the people he brings in my life... I just sat there & worshipped....

We have such a narrow idea of what worship is...

Do you realize, its your life... everything you do in it & how you handle it.... the way you bring God into all the things you do each & every day.... that is worship

So today, look at all the times you worship God...
In the good
In the bad
In the happy
In the sad

Just talk to God in it all ... & you're worshipping...

Weekend Wrapup... Long weekend

Nothing better then a long weekend

Nothing worse then coming back to work after a long weekend...

...sigh...

it was a great 4 days off though...

Thursday - 4th of July

* we got up early & headed to breakfast at Panera ... I'm weird about oatmeal, especially out at places, but mercy - their steel cut oatmeal with strawberries & pecans?  Its fantastic... & I didn't know they had Acai Berry Tea... I was in breakfast heaven

* Went to the first showing of Lone Ranger...It wasn't great... it wasn't bad.  It should be called "Tonto" though.  Johny Depp made the whole movie.

* The theater was so packed, we had to sit in the front section - the kind where you have to sit slumped down & look straight up to watch the movie.  That's always good for back aches.  Ricky even left with a back ache.

* We celebrated our country the only way we know how... with a trip to Target!  God Bless America! ... they had all the Paula Deen things on clearance there.  Made me sorta sad... but sorta happy.  I mean, 2 pans for $20.00?  (& they are AWESOME... already cooked on them)

* Stopped at Starbucks to get something warm to drink.  Yes, I usually only drink warm in winter, but it was so rainy & I had a chill in me since the movie theater.  I love giving fake names at Starbucks... so I stick with my favorite - Belle... & then was bummed when I saw the lady must not be a Disney fan.  Bell?  Really?  Come on lady!

*  No cook outs for us... we ended up having dinner at Red Lobster.... does that place consistently have a wait?


Friday

* Tried something new... made some vegetarian baked beans in the crock pot.  It was a butt load of ingredients... had to be good, right?  Well, in the end, they tasted just about what I do that takes like 10 minutes on a regular night - pinto beans with vegetarian BBQ sauce & spices on a stove top.  10 minutes is better then 8 hours.  At least I tried something new

* Went for a run since it finally stopped raining for a few hours... then I was praying it would rain.  HOLY COW... it was so humid, I thought I was breathing through a plastic bag.

*. Worked on wedding pictures... & finally got a preview up for the couple.  It was so hard to decide on which ones to post...

Here's a sample of 2 of them... reminder - this is 2 out of 400 pictures too... decisions :)

I had to laugh, someone posted the comment on Facebook, "Elaine's dad is like OHHHHH crap" - haha!  He does kinda have that look, doesn't it... a dad's ever watchful eye

* Ricky went to cut the grass.  Sydney knowing it was humid out didn't want to stay outside, but wanted to keep her watchful eye on her daddy.  So she gets up in the kitchen chair & lays across it just so she can peek out the window.  Ricky saw her & I opened the window for her & he stopped to love on her... I loved that I had my phone nearby so I could take this picture... this totally defines their relationship :)

Saturday

* I stayed in my junky shorts & t-shirt for most of the day (junky always means the most comfy).... This was truly a day off...

* We rented "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone"... wow... that was a really stupid movie.  & I love stupid for the most part... but I can see why this didn't make it at the theater.

* We went over & saw mom & dad.  That means Ricky has to go see his horse friends.  We've determined that Ricky is truly an "Animal Whisperer"... someone from Animal Planet needs to give him a show.

* We decided to try a new pizza place that opened ... I thought Ricky was going to pass out when we walked in.  There was a country band playing right as you walked in - I mean, you could stumble in & hit the ladies guitar.  So every eye was up that way when you walk in... attention is not Ricky's favorite thing.   In the end, the pizza was horrible too.  We ended up throwing 85% of it away... dinner fail.

Sunday

* I was up to teach... I had so much fun on this lesson.  I took my diary from when I was 13 years old & read out of it to the kids... One kid asked me, "You were 13?"... I looked at him & said, "Yes, I was actually 13 at one point in my life" ... its true.

* I surprised Ricky & had him come up front with me to make him dance with me like you did in middle school... I thought he was going to pass out.  (Read note from our dinner the previous night about attention & Ricky)... I told him, "OK, put your hands on my waist" & he literally BOLTED from me... but I gave him that "wife look" & he came up & did it with me... the kids loved it

* We decided to give grooming a try ourselves. Ricky bought some awesome sheers - I bought some extra blades - we were ready to go.  We headed to Feeders Supply so we could use their table, bathing stuff & so we wouldn't have to clean up the hair in our own home - SCORE!  I don't think we did too bad really, for the first time ever.  Zoe was such a trooper... Note to self though:  Watch the You Tube videos BEFORE going to groom instead of after.  We did everything backwards.  At least she came home without cuts, skinned alive & not bleeding.  See - success!

Kinda choppy... but now we know what we were doing wrong
Bruno is up next!

* Look at this animal we saw in the parking lot!! I want him!!!  His head was bigger then mine & Ricky's heads together!  I can't imagine something like this walking around my house! 

* Back home to work on more pictures... I'm on the downhill side of it...

* Ended the night with my New Jersey Housewives... HOLY COW... is that a cliff hanger or what?  Both Joe's getting in a fight next week? I'm totally counting down till next Sunday!

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend & a safe 4th of July...

Hodgepodge... round 2

This is why I don't try to stay ahead of the game...

I did the Hodgepodge Questions yesterday & scheduled it to post this morning... & when I saved it 1,000 times, & then closed it... it lost everything.... great...

So let me see if I recall all my witty initial thoughts... sigh... (Stupid computers)

1. What's one simple small pleasure on your summer 'to-do' list?

I'm looking forward to a night time run! ... yeah, I know I do all my runs at night time, but there is a Glow-Run that Ricky & I are doing in July that I'm looking forward too.  Why?  Because it starts at 9:30PM ... which Ricky reminds me, "That's when I'm getting in bed"... but he's not going to act 85 one night & we're going to go CRAAZZYYYYY & run at night!  I'm just glad to have other runners welcome to MY time instead of me waking up at 5:30am for the other races at their time.... we need more night time races!  I've always said that!


2.  Do you have strong feelings or opinions about the immigration debate in your home country?  Feel free to share your thoughts, but please play nice.

This is a political topic... y'all know I never know enough about politics to discuss anything...

But... I do always have an opinion :) ... always... ask Ricky

I love that our country is the 'melting pot' ... but I also learn from cooking if you put too much stuff in a pot, it over flows & causes a mess...

I fear when too many people are here & jobs & resources start to get effects, then something needs to be monitored...

I probably sound like a moron... that's why I don't talk politics


3.  What's something in your home or wardrobe that could be described as 'star spangled'?

OK... I'm winning the award for the coolest 'star spangled' item in a home... guaranteed.  And this is if the award is given out by 9 yr old boys... or grown men who love their comic books...

Julie, Steve & the boys gave Ricky for Christmas the ultimate gift this year....

A REAL Captain America shield...

You don't get any more "Star Spangled" than this!!!!

& yes, Ricky will pick it up & make "Swooshing" sounds while he uses it like his hero, fighting off imaginary villains in his own world.

I always tell him I wish he would grow up... while I'm on the side twirling in my Belle dress... geez...


4. Is your house set up for a party?

Maybe it was, but I destroyed that.

When we moved in, it had a beautiful dining room in the front of the house - perfect for entertaining... but I said, "This girl don't cook" so I turned it into a library... This girl reads!!!

& we only have a small kitchen table that seats 3 - & a counter with 2 bar stools... so I could entertain exactly 3 people...good times!

Not to mention, we have 4 dogs, so our back yard becomes a land mind in any course of the day...

Saying all of this, whenever I'm at, there's always a PARTYYYY!!!! Yeahhhh!!!! :)

5. What is one never-before-visited city in America would you most like to see?

I have two... have wanted to visit these two places forever...

& they couldn't be more opposite

Denver, Colorado... & New York City!

I'll take a visit to either one.... Anyone giving out any free trips?  Anyone?


6.  Your favorite red food?  White food?  Blue food?

Blue?  I have a feeling Blueberries are going to dominate this answer for everyone.  How many other blue foods are there?  I will say though, I've had a BLUE potato before!  Didn't even know they existed until I saw it in my co-op box & thought something really wrong had happened.

White?  Cool Whip... duh!

Red?  Just because they are in season & EVERYWHERE right now - strawberries.  Yum!  I'm having them in my smoothies every morning right now.

Hey - a potato could apply for ALL the colors!  There are also red potatoes.. & the inside could 'technically' pass for white... look at me being so smart!



7. What freedom do you value the most, and why?

Freedom of religion... it blows my mind that people in this world still are persecuted for their faith & beliefs in Jesus Christ.  You read about that stuff in history books & then realize that just around the globe, it still happens... I don't get it...

That we can meet openly, freely, to worship - its a privilege I think we forget about...


8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Anyone else have problems with one shoulder & not keeping things on it?

My right shoulder... I can never keep my bra strap up... What the heck is that about?

I can't ever carry my purse on that shoulder either... it always slides right off.  Not to mention, it just feels funny to carry my purse on that arm...

Am I walking around with sloped shoulder & not even knowing it...

This must be how I walk all the time....

That was my deep thought for the day....

All I got counting down to the long weekend!!!

Have a great day my Hodgepodge friends!

With you...

We are living in the summer storm season...

Every day this week - & for the rest of the week ahead, a chance of rain...

No leaving the windows down to help with the summer heat.... you'll walk out to a car full of wet leather.

Its getting on my nerves because I prefer to run outside.  Love my treadmill, but since my neuropathy episode last year, the treadmill makes my feet feel like they are on fire if I'm on it for a long period of time, or running.  Walking, it does OK... running?  Might as well have a match to the bottom of my feet.

Plus, I'm a nature girl anyways.  Love to look at the sky, the clouds, the dogs running to jump on me... always keeping my eyes open for those dang snakes...

So when it rains, I'm on my phone & my weather app.  There has to be a break in there somewhere... & I try to take advantage of it.

Yesterday, I made dinner early so my belly would be good for a later run.  I get my clothes on, lace up my shoes & what do I hear?  Thunder... great....

Ricky & I sat on the front porch watching it downpour... I mean DOWNPOUR...

I don't mind running in rain... it actually is refreshing on hot summer days.  Its like a natural cooling system... but downpours with thunder & lightning?  Not smart... I thought I was destined for the "dreadmill"

Actually, it just makes me feel like AHHHHHH on a hot humid day
I think steam comes off of my body when it rains on me on a summer's day

But wait... it's slowing down... then stopped.  I pulled out my weather app & see there is a small area of clear before another storm rolled through.  I didn't waste any time... I grabbed my iPod, my watch & high-fived Ricky & I'm headed out.

I get to my turn around point & the sky is actually staying clear... the sun even peeked through a bit... but as I turn around, I see Ricky's truck right there...

I asked him what he was doing & he said, "Your phone's weather alert went off & they said a storm is getting ready to hit again"....

Right then, the sky was still OK, no rain... which at this point, I wouldn't have minded a good wash off...

I told Ricky that I was fine, he could go home... but he said, "Nah, I'll stay here in case it rains on you & you need to get in"...

I didn't mind the company....

Being on a country road, after the rush hour of 5-6 of everyone getting home from work, there's virtually no one on the road, so Ricky just kept the truck at 5 mph & stuck next to me with the window down, chatting it up, encouraging me, pushing me along...

I ended up making it home ... but it wasn't 2 minutes that we were in the house & BOOM... down pour galore...I mean constant hard rain for the next hour...

We just had to laugh...

I told Ricky that God must have had an umbrella over top of me while I was out there...

(This doesn't really have anything to do with this post... I just love it though... totally me & Ricky)

& then I was looking at the rain & thinking that if it did start raining, I had a place to jump into for protection.  Ricky was there with his truck.  It really was a comfort to have him right beside me the whole time I'm running.  Even though I didn't jump in at the time, just knowing he was there was a sense of relief.  It let me enjoy my run - it let me look around & focus on things other then "MUST GET HOME BEFORE RAIN"...

The rest of the night, while it was raining & I was looking out of the window, I just felt a sense of protection... a sense of being loved...

I realized once again of my amazing husband who loves me, looks out for me & wants to keep me safe ... or in his words, "you'll slide on the wet road & break your ankle"... he knows me...

But I just felt a sense of peace of the reminder that God is always right beside me as I'm running this road of life.  Right beside me, hanging out of the window cheering me on, easing my mind so I can focus on other things, giving me a place of protection should I need it...

Yep... my muscles got worked out from the run, but at the end of the night, my soul was the one that was lighter...

"And surely I am with you always,

to the very end of the age"

~Matthew 28:20

Weekend Wrapup

This was just a gosh darn good weekend... I'll take those every time

Friday

* Headed over to friends to play Corn Hole (Yes, I was on my game tonight) - chat, laugh, & eat amazing food.  I had a cup cake that had an Oreo cookie at the bottom, with a layer of peanut butter & then awesome icing on top... BEST.CUPCAKE.EVER!  I would have taken a picture, except I was too busy thinking of the delishishness of it & not about the memory sake of it.  I was like the guy from Austin Powers... GET IN MY BELLY!

Take note Corn Hole Players of that awesome form Ricky & Jordan are sporting



* A young lady was visiting from Chicago - she said they play the same game, but its called "Bags" up there.... I didn't realize there were different names for it.  Guess its sort of like the whole, "pop" "Cola" "Coke" debate... By the way, its always Coke


Saturday

* I thought I had slept in when I woke up & the room was full of sunshine... it was 7:00am ... guess that still sleeping in compared to 5:30am

* Went for my morning run before it got hot... I underestimated that ... it was already hot...

* I was like a Neon throw back to the 80's on my run today... Yes - I wore all these colors at once...



I said on Instagram that all I needed was blue eye shadow to go along with it

* SAW A SNAKE!!! It was like 6 feet long too!.... OK.. maybe 6 inches.... no, try 12 inches. It was just a snake - enough to freak me out.  But it was in the middle of the road & a car was coming.  No matter how much I hate you, I don't want you to die... so I thought, "I'll save it"... I must have been watching too much "Turtleman"... I go to tap the ground behind it thinking it would slither on.  Ricky said, "Why did you do that?" ... I said because everyone has always told me "They're more afraid of you then you are of them"... I've always debated that but anyways, I remembered it was always told to me.  Do you know, that slithery booger coiled up & STRUCK MY SHOE!!!! I even put my finger out, shook my head & said, "No you didn't"... I ended up my walking in front of the snake so the car could go around it & it ended up going its own merry way into the grass.
For the record, Ricky told me never to believe anything anyone ever tells me - that snakes are aggressive & will attack.... I witnessed that... & next time I see a snake, I'll go back to my old ways of running FAST & screaming LOUD

* Working on wedding pictures... giddy at every picture I do.  I am constantly texting Chasity to "look at the ones I just uploaded"... so good to have a friend to share my secret pictures happiness with

* Headed to see "Man of Steel"... really enjoyed it.  YAHZZAAAA - that is one good looking Superman!  Ricky said, "HEY NOW" when I said that to him... but I told him even the girl in the movie said he was hot - I was just quoting a movie line :)
I will say, the fight scenes were a little TOO long for me... but Ricky loved that they were long.  You say tomato, I say TO-MAT-TO... just with that kind of emphasis

* I got even more excited about the poster in the entry way...WOLVERINE!!!!  Bring on my Hugh Jackman!  Ricky already knows that its doesn't have to be a movie line for me to say how hot my 2nd boyfriend is... (For the record, my first boyfriend will always be Steven Curtis Chapman... let's keep it straight)

* Time to get caught up on Real Housewives of Orange County... I watched that 100th episode special.  It got on my own nerves how Vicki kept saying it was her "baby"... I bet Andy Cohen was like "shut up - I own you"

Sunday

* Selah Sunday - which meant we didn't have youth class today.  I ended up staying home to finalize the wedding album I was delivering in just a few hours.  Its always so hard to pick 300 pictures out of 530 to put in an album... decision, decisions...

* Met with my bride & groom & gave them their goodies... I love hearing "I love these" - "These are perfect"... "every picture is my favorite"... makes me sigh with happiness

* Met up with Ricky for lunch.  We tried the new Bob Evans... & to say I'm gagging now at the thought is an understatement.  First of all, there's not much on the menu for vegetarians.  I ended up just ordering a few sides to eat... & every bit of it was bland & disgusting.  How can you mess up mac & cheese?  Go to Bob Evans & find out.  It was horrible.

* Ricky went out to do some errands & I came home to work on pictures some more... it started storming & the rain just was a perfect setting to sit by the window & watch while working on pictures.  Bad side?  Storming makes Bruno want to sit in my lap, which makes it hard to work on the computer.  I have such needy animals.

* I had this dog also that kept nudging me to throw her Frisbee... think she loves it?

Yes, she'd even sleep with it so no one would take it... & by no one, that means Zoe who take all her toys

* Headed to a concert at GCC... I just love this girl, Jordan, ROCKIN' OUT!  I look at her & remember her as a baby in our middle school class... her talent is mind blowing, in so many ways.  When I see her perform, I swear,  I see a star in the making.

Ignore the horrible picture of me & look at the future Rock star... I want proof when she's famous that I knew her when :)

* Saw a few different people that went to Dominican Republic that were ALL sick... one couple went for a honeymoon, the other guy went for a mission trip.  I was freaked out to hug them all... but I did anyways.  While holding my breath & praying to God that I didn't get sick.  My germaphobe side lives on...
One of the guys got his sickness from some sort of infected mosquito... this is why I don't travel to foreign lands... & by foreign lands, I mean anything other then Indiana, Tennessee & Kentucky :)

* Ended the weekend working on more pictures until 11:30, watching the New Jersey Housewives... I'll say it again, Rosie needs to be on every show. She's the true peacemaker of the group.  Peace - or she'll break your nose. The Jersey way.

Hope its a great weekend... a short one for many with the Holiday!

(Can you believe its July?)