Where is everybody?

So, I keep checking blogs, but it seems like a lot of people have checked out for the summer! Which is understandable - kids out of school and vacations and what not...can't say much has been going on with me. Still working, looking forward to Canada in a few weeks, life carrying on in general. Oh, but there is a new addition to our house. Well our garage anyway....


Seems a few people are getting pregnant these days....I thought I would get a new car! I am now the oh-so-proud owner of a brand new Volkswagen Tiguan!! It is VW's newest model-it is the small SUV, their "crossover". It is the only one where I live and the only RED one in Texas!! I feel so special! I L-O-V-E love it! It is my first vehicular and biggest ever purchase! "Look Ma, I'm all growed up!" I am pretty sure I have lost my mind but I am having a lot of fun doing it!

Unharmonious eHarmony

Ok, so I don't know if I am bored or I have lost my mind but I signed up on eHarmony and went through their well-known comprehensive questionnaire. I have been pretty open about how I didn't want to do online dating, but really I am at the point where I don't know what else to do and God helps those who help themselves, right?. It's not like I meet any guys in my line of work, and there really is not a huge single population around here other than horny college students. So, I have gotten "matched" and on several of them, before any communication has even taken place, I have been "closed". Which, ok obviously I don't expect every guy on there to see my introductory info and be convinced I am the coolest woman on Earth, but it stings just a little. Especially when their reason is "other". What does that mean? And I will say, that it is not even being rejected that is the hardest for me. It is harder to do the rejecting. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but these people are total strangers. It is all rather strange. I don't know how long they have been on, how many other people they have been matched with, how many they are talking to, if they are a secret serial killer....how do I make a snap judgement on a few introductory statements? The answers all seem really similar. Is it fair to make a judgement call on a few pictures? And really, I don't even want to initiate any kind of contact. We're in the 21st century, right? What difference does it make who initiates it? But seriously, I am definitely scared to "want" to be with anyone because I have been burned, but I do want to be "wanted". And yes, I see the discordance. Do I talk to all of them? Do I only talk to the ones who initiate? Can you sense that I am overwhelmed? I want it to be fun, I want to get back out there and have some fun! I am not an Old Maid just yet. I am not holding my breath that my guy going to show up as a match on eHarmony, but I want to be open to the possibility. I am giving it a month and we'll see what happens I guess. "Out there" may just be a little too out there.

Tagged by Raina

Ok, I'll bite.....What three skills or hobbies would you learn if you had unlimited time, money, and tools?

1. Going back to childhood....I have watched Gene Kelley movies for as long as I can remember. I am a huge musical lover and he has always been my favorite. Singing in the Rain, An American in Paris, Brigadoon....my favorite is Summer Stock with Judy Garland. That said, I would still love to learn to tap dance. It just looks like so much fun. I don't know if I would have the patience to learn though because I would want to immediately start doing it all fast and crazy.

2. I think it would be helpful if I spoke Italian since I will be living there one day. I don't want my fellow Italians to think I am a silly American. Every time those Rosetta Stone commercials come on I am tempted....

3. I wouldn't mind spending more time with my creative side. I am really not all that creative but I do like to paint ceramics, mosaics, and quilting and stuff. I initially learned how to sew and quilt to spend more time with my mom and grandma and because it is such a part of my family's history. I even made a special sewing area in the office just for that, and all it has done so far is collect piles of intent.

So I tag Jamie and Melanie!! :-D

Tooth Talk

I have just returned from the place dreaded by so many...the dentist. I have to say that it is just so bizarre to have one side of your mouth be numb. It takes deliberate thought and movement to coordinate all the parts of my mouth to form a word. I feel like my bottom lip is sticking out like 2 feet. And I keep thinking that my tongue is swelling. I think the most unpleasant thing for me is the sound that those crazy tools make as my whole head is reverberating. I guess I should have listened to Laura Bush this morning when she said the best place to listen to your iPod is in the dentist chair. I was thinking though as I was sitting there that I am glad that my mom always took me to regular appointments when I was young. Because now, even though I know it will probably not be my idea of a good time, I don't have great fear about going. I am also glad that God gives us all different gifts and desires. Because let me assure you, I can think of about a million places I would rather be than up close and personal in someone's mouth. But I am sure there are tons of people that would say that about what I do. Well, I would love to say that I am off to eat some breakfast, but I don't think I want to risk it.

Is it...

Sad that I am "pushing 30" and I still have a plastic cup from when I was in elementary school?

Daily Miracles

I sometimes wonder how many miracles that happen in a day that I either don't see at all or don't see them for their wonder.....Today was one of those days where I remembered how much I love my job. I see miracles every day that I go to work. Recently, we had triplets born, and we are waiting on two more sets of them and 8 sets of twins. All babies are of course miracles, but I am so awed by multiples. It is just amazing. I have been fortunate to have witnessed several deliveries of multiples - I remember a couple pregnant with triplets some months ago - they went in a couple and came out parents of 3. All within a matter of minutes. The set of triplets we have now are amazing even beyond just being triplets - they are identical!! It is just so stinking amazing. (I need another adjective) The parents apparently did invitro - they had 2 embryos they implanted - one did not survive and out of the other came identical triplets. How cool is that! One of our secretaries is pregnant with twins and I love to look at her belly and think about how there are 2 babies in there!! I am always awed by how God creates life and I am so lucky to be a part of it every day. I am blessed to have a job that I love, even on the bad days, and that I feel like my gifts are right at home. I wish that everyone could find such peace in their job.

On another note, I did see another miracle today, completely unrelated to babies. It snowed all day today. And by all day, I mean all day. I could only see limitedly, but I did catch enough to see quarter-sized snowflakes falling like we were in Blizzardville, North Dakota all with a backdrop of a setting sun. Only in West Texas folks. And when I was leaving, had I not seen the snow actually fall, I never would have known. Not a trace to be seen.

In the same way that I loved being entertained by seemingly insignificances, I love to be awed by the "little things" in life. I love the subtle ways that God nudges me to pay attention to all His wonders. And I love the big ones, too. I wish you all the joy of a Daily Miracle.

How One Man is Changing the World

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Dave Ramsey, but he is a prime example how one person can make an enormous difference. He may single-handedly get Americans out of debt. My dad introduced me to him a while ago, but I was not all that receptive. Over time I have gradually heard more about him and once I was actually making a paycheck and looking at getting my financial future on track, I began to seek out more information. His philosophy helped my parents get to a better place financially and my dad was really wanting me to hear his message. So, today we went to a live event. Basically, it was a short seminar, but it mapped out what we can do to live better financially. He is so motivating and really has a heart to reach out and help people to get out of debt and get them on a road to living better and does it all with a Christian standpoint. He has authored several books and a class that a lot of churches have called Financial Peace University. He also has books to help parents teach their children and is starting outreach to teens across the country. I encourage you to take a look for yourselves and see what he has to say. I will answer any questions I can. If being "Debt Free" is anywhere on your life to do list, it may help you out. You don't have to agree with everything he says to really make some positive changes in your life. I am not sure what number it will be on my list for sure yet, but you can believe that I am making it a priority and can't wait until I can put a big fat check by it. Happy saving!!!

Days of Indecision.....Maybe

For whatever reason, lately I have been incapable of making a decision. What to eat, what to wear, should I buy, should I save, should I travel??? Tomorrow I am going to a Dave Ramsey Live Event and I am hoping to come out having a few things figured out, at least concerning my financial future. I want to save and plan for retirement but I don't know how or where to do it? CDs? Stocks? Mutual Funds? IRAs? HUH?!?!?!? Traveling has been on my mind recently but the thought of getting on an airplane again is somewhat sickening (I hate flying). So, do I let fear cripple me? Of course not. I still get on planes and I still go amazing places. (Watching the emergency landing of the plane in Miami over my lunch was quite gut-wrenching for me though.) I have had a running "Life To Do List" in my head for years now, but today I made the Decision to make it concrete. So, my new project will be my To Do List and I hope to be able to blog about them as I get them accomplished. I saw a quote today that really struck me-strangely enough I have never seen it before and today I saw it more than once- "Be the change you wish to see in the world" Gandhi. I really like it because I catch myself feeling like little ol' me can't really do much to change anything, i.e. voting, etc. But I don't want that to be true for myself. I want to make differences in my life. I really want to think about what I want for my life and, as a person who makes lots of lists, I want to make one that really counts. I hope I will have my dear friends along for my journey as I check them off.

One Word

Something random....

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? work
3. Your hair? unruly
4. Your mother? heroic
5. Your father? hard-working
6. Your favorite thing? hugs
7. Your dream last night? forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? dr.pepper
9. Your dream/goal? travel
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your ex? lied
12. Your fear? falling
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? notinlubbock
14. Where were you last night? couch
15. What you're not? tall
16. Muffins? cinnamon
17. One of your wish list items? ifItelldoesn'tthatmeanitwon'tcometrue?
18. Where you grew up? arlington
19. The last thing you did? laughed
20. What are you wearing? jammies
21. Your TV? small
22. Your pets? darling
23. Your computer? acceptable
24. Your life? mine
25. Your mood? happy
26. Missing someone? unfortunately
27 Your car? cute
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29 Favorite Store? alltheonesIcan'tafford
30. Your summer? toodanghot
31. Like someone? nothatiswhyIhavecats
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? 5secondsago
34. Last time you cried? ThursdaywatchingadocumentaryaboutaCanadianmanwhowantedtosavebears (not the creepy Grizzly Man one)
35. Who will/would re-post this? doubtful

Flu, Flu Go Away

Well, I got it. The bug that apparently is going around everywhere and seemingly out-smarted the flu shot. I have been required by occupation to get my flu shot for the past 6 years and I got paid back in dividends. I have been in bed for 4 days. And the kicker - just when you think you are getting back to normal it lets you know who is really in charge. And that would not be me. I rented some movies today and was totally wiped before I even got back in my car. I have finished watching the seasons of The Office and I have watched 3 movies just today. I am always aware of all the things in the house I would like to get done but am usually too tired b/c of working, but it is rather tortuous to want to get stuff done, be at home to do them, not have the energy to stand and have to look at the very thing you want to get done. It is somewhat easier to spend 13 hours at work and come home to it and talk myself out of it. I have had some good cuddle time with my kitties though. I am always amazed at the irony of never wanting to get out of bed at that oh-so-early-hour to go to work - my bed is quite heavenly - and then now I would love to be able to feel good enough to go to work. I am tired of feeling neglectful of most aspects of my life. I admire so much you people that find a way to love and care for husbands, jobs, kids, churches, and friends. Clearly, I have work to do.