Harmony Song

Here..worth the listen

2012-01-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

I just downloaded Kari Jobe's new CD, Where I Find You. Seriously SO worth it! Listen and fall in love with the Lord all over again. Amazing. Beautiful. Truthful. I love it!

a peace that passes understanding

2012-01-20T17:29:00.000-08:00

If you run in the Christian circle, you undoubtedly know the phrase "a peace that passes all understanding". It's taken from Phil 4:7.

I have been thinking a lot about this phrase...and the responsibility that comes with it. As we walk through life's circumstances, we face trials. Those who don't know the Lord watch us closely. They want to know how we will handle situations. Will we crumble? Will be hold on to Jesus? Or will be grumble and complain like many? We have the choice to make and a testimony to uphold.

When I find myself in a trial, I worry. I allow my mind to race, play out different scenarios, and oftentimes become physically ill. I deny that peace the Lord gives us. It's almost a minute by minute battle that I have with myself and the Lord.

But as a Christian do I not have the responsibility to show the strength of the Lord? That even when I am facing something difficult, I can still find peace? But at the same time, I want to be real about the struggle.

I am finding myself in this place of figuring out the balance. How do I grasp onto His peace without hiding the mere fact that it's difficult. How do you explain that to nonbelievers and maintain His name?

Project Fall

2011-10-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

Project Shroom

2011-10-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

Tonight I Celebrate!

2011-08-24T20:02:00.001-07:00

I am celebrating no longer being a student!! For the first time in 21 years!! WOW!

I can hardly believe it.

But I did it!

WOOHOO!

Time to grow up.

Maybe tomorrow

Because tonight I am celebrating!

And by celebrating I mean going to bed early! :)

Master's Degree: COMPLETE!

And at 3.9 thank you!

:)

5 Question Friday!

2011-08-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

I Haven't done this in FOREVER! and by FOREVER I actually mean months! Jump on in on the fun over at Mama M's!

1. Do you close the bathroom door when you are home alone?(this one was my question suggestion)
Oh yeah, all the time. In fact, when I am home alone, closing the bathroom door just stops. I don't even have to consciously not close it. Weird. I do it at other people's houses, too....like when I am dog sitting. I always close the door when I am showering though. Tell me that makes sense...

2. You have to walk around with a word on your forehead. That word describes you. One word. What is it?

Random

3. What store do you refuse to shop at and why?
WAL-MART!!! Oh. my. word. I know a lot of people shop here, but I just can't bring myself to do it! And if you ever hit up Sturgis, MI, you will meet the epitome of all Wal-Marts!

4. If you participated in arranged marriages for your child(ren), who would you choose for your child(ren)?
I don't have my own kiddos, but for the 2 girls I watch, I would choose the 2 brothers who play hockey them!

5. If you could pick how and when you would die, would you?
Tough question!! In the game "Would You Rather" there is question that states "would you rather know when you are going to die or how you are going to die?" I stand by my answer of when. I think if you knew you were going to die in a car accident you would be afraid to get in the car every time...or of cancer...you would think every lump is a malignant tumor. That is way too much stress for me. However, to this question I think I would go with yes, but I would just say on my 80th birthday and not painfully! :)

Sweet Jesus~ Thinking about this tonight

2011-08-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sweet Jesus, my Savior,You are my faithful friend
You made me, You know me
You see my every sin
And my soul is amazed by this gift of Your grace
And these arms that take me in
Sweet Jesus, my Savior, You are my faithful friend

Sweet Jesus, my shelter, You are my faithful friend
The refuge that I run to when my world comes closing in
Why should I be afraid when I know I am saved
By the arms that take me in

Sweet Jesus, my shelter, You are my faithful friend

Oh yeah

Sweet Jesus, my shepherd, You are my faithful friend
You hold me, you lead me, I'll follow til the end
And once more I will say on that beautiful day
When Your arms take me in
Sweet Jesus, my shepherd, You are my faithful friend

Sweet Jesus my Savior You are my faithful friend.

By Selah

In "so many days" and counting.....

2011-08-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

The final countdown has begun. The days and nights I have stayed up until the morning hours, all the times I said I had work to go home and do, the papers and papers and PAPERS I had to write, the books I bought and (sometimes) read, the quizzes and exams, the students loans, and all the crazy, ridiculous APA 6th Edition rules.....

It's all about to come to a crazy ending. Truthfully, I can't believe it's already here. I have never felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel, but I never saw this coming so quickly.

Lord willing, in less than two weeks, I will have my MA in Human Service-Health & Wellness.

I am about to embark on "real life" I am equally excited and scared out of my ever-loving mind! I keep saying, "It's time to grow up!" I have been so unbelievably blessed to have walked this path with parents, family, and friends who have been so supportive and understanding. People have made serious sacrifices so I can be here today. My heart is so full of gratitude. I know I will never be able to thank them enough. I don't even know how blessed I am.

Onward I march to the finish line...that I know is really only the beginning.

Truth in the eyes of hypocrisy

2011-07-10T19:41:00.001-07:00

I always tell people to not worry

I always say God will provide
I always preach the importance of communication
I ask others why they allow themselves to be used
I tell people to lift their eyes to the heavens, from there they will find help
I tell people to just trust, even when it seems too hard
I always say God will make a way

How easy it is for me to say these things to others....but time and time again, I fall short in all of these areas. I am a hypocrite. I am only a shadow of who I want to be.

Oh, Lord, that I would learn to heed my own advice. To walk in the way You desire. To love with no abandon. To stand up for myself and for You. To trust.

Toes

2011-06-14T17:34:00.001-07:00

In my cup

2011-05-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

Been a hard couple days...but I took some pictures this morning and I LOVE the way they came out! Also, just found out I finished my nursing course on death and dying with a 98%! Been a good day!

Season in Bloom

2011-05-10T20:18:00.001-07:00

Mighty

2011-04-23T20:17:00.001-07:00

Mighty is He

Mighty My Savior

Mighty is He Who gave His son for you and me

Mighty is the power of the cross

Mighty is the resurrection

Great and mighty is the LIFE we have in Him

There is nothing greater

Nothing Mightier

Nothing.

Super Powers

2011-04-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

I think we all remember playing "MASH" as a kid. You know the one. You name four boys, four places you want to live, etc. After picking a number, you end up with your fortune. It's a great way to plan your future.

Anyway, the girls I take care of have a notebook that allows you to come up with about 500 pages worth of your future. I was picking categories the other day for them, and for some reason "super powers" came to mind. The girls picked things like flying, spiting fire (I think I may have came up with that one...) and waving waving their hands to complete homework.

I promise there is a point to this post....

When it was my turn, I picked my four super powers. Now, remember this is a silly game. Not meant to be taken seriously. However, being the person that I am, I decide to take it to a whole new level, and completely confuse the girls by asking for the super power of wisdom. Yes, wisdom. Way to take a fun game and make it adult-like and boring, Liz.

I'm pretty sure the girls did not ask to do my fortune after that round. I can't imagine why. Then I began to think about wisdom and how great it would be to possess such a gift from the Lord. Then I remembered a verse I had memorized a couple years ago when I was memorizing scripture with Beth Moore's blog.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like the wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1 :5 &6

We don't need a game to pretend we will have super powers in life. Imagine how much stronger we would be if we didn't doubt God and simply asked for His wisdom. I can only begin to fathom how much we would be able to accomplish for His kingdom with His wisdom.

By the way, at the end of my round of MASH, I was living in a shack with the super power of flying.

At least I am going to marry Vin Diesel.

Flower Characters at Epot

2011-04-11T18:07:00.001-07:00

My absolute favorite! Lady & The Tramp

Look how stinkin' cute her face is!!

ha! Look at Grumpy in the back!

So cute with the bubbles!

The Battle Between Life and Death

2011-04-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

"It is the mercy of God that sustains you-even when you hate Him."

"There are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses. The Lords looks after them, but you are the one that will suffer forever."

Gianna Jessen is a late-term abortion survivor. I love her words. The man that aborted her had to sign her birth certificate. This video of her speaking is worth your time.

Part I

Part II

Are we willing to be hated? Am I?

Parrots

2011-04-04T12:08:00.001-07:00

Giraffes

2011-04-04T11:55:00.001-07:00

Not overly thrilled with the way these came out, but they are the best of the bunch. The animals themselves were amazing!

to be or not to be

2011-03-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

Update: Winner has been selected!! Ironic that the winning comment was

"Now to practice my face if I don't win... >:'[ "

Thanks for playing along! Loved all the entertaining comments!

Cathy @ Dancing in the Rain, YOU WIN!!!!!!! I especially loved your "TWEE DIDDLEE DEE...A WINNER'S LIFE FOR MEEEEEEEE!!!!" comment!

I will e-mail you your code!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That is the question.

The answer is NOT to be this time around.

That means one of YOU should be excited because I am hosting another GIVEAWAY with CSN!

They have oodles and noodles of things to choose from. I'd love a LCD tv stand for my new tv, but I did choose NOT to be selfish this time.

Or I could add to my growing Rachel Ray Cookware collection.

3 pieces of bake ware for just under $30? That would leave you with $15 more to spend because I am giving away $45 to their stores! HUGE score for one of you!

Or put the money towards a whole set.

Go BIG or go home, people!

I'll keep the giveaway open for a couple days. Enter as many times as you'd like. I enjoy all the entertaining comments when I allow you to comment like this.

Enter away!

The God who created...

2011-03-02T16:46:00.001-08:00

this beautiful mountain....

(Click on the picture for an even more beautiful display of His creation)

He promises to hold us.

He promises to be near us.

He promises to not give us more than we can handle.

No feat is too great for Him.

He can move mountains. We can move mountains.

Mountains seem so incredibly large, heavy, and impossible to move lately.

My mind can barely wrap around all that is happening.

If you have been reading here for any length of time, you likely know my brother-in-law has been very sick now for about 18 months. He has seen top specialists in the country and no one seems to be able to diagnose him.

He is back in the hospital after a week of increasing seizure activity that has caused new neurological symptoms (if interested, you can read more here on my sister's blog). His body is exhausted from day in and day out seizure activity that has been going on for 18 months. My poor sister is trying to work at her very stressful job just to keep them afloat so they can pay medical bills and not lose their house.

I won't lie. This mountain has been painful. It has been exhausting. It has left me questioning God. It has, at times, taken me to a place of doubt. I have countless times asked "HOW LONG, O LORD?!" When will it be enough? When will it be over? Will it ever be over this side of heaven?

Look at the beauty in these mountains? The creator of these mountains has carried us thus far. He will continue to carry us through to the end, whenever that may be.

I want to hope.

I continue to plead for it to be over-for health to be restored.

I know He is in control.

What mountains do you face? Where is He allowing your faith to be tested?

I pray you (we) are faithful as He is faithful to us.

Dear Jogger

2011-02-16T18:31:00.000-08:00

Dear 50ish year old Jogger,

Running at 7:00pm in the middle of February is not safe.

Wearing all black while running at 7:00pm in the middle of February is even more unsafe.

Running across the middle of the road while wearing all black while running at 7:00pm in the middle of February is craziness.

Running across the road when a car is coming while wearing all black while running at 7:00pm in the middle of February is a death wish.

BUT, Dear 50ish year old Jogger, SPITTING at the driver/car, who can't see you while you are committing suicide.

IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!

because if you had been killed, not only would the driver have your blood and guts all over his or her car, but your SPIT, too.

Love, The Driver

ps. keep your spit to yourself.

pss. Let's not have a repeat

psss....the response to your actions (in the driver's head) was not very Christ-like

pssss.Just be glad the driver didn't turn around and.......nevermind.

comments, conversations, confessions & considerations

2011-02-09T18:20:00.001-08:00

I have been pretty involved in a conversation in the comments of MckMama's post from yesterday. Definitely not about surface things. Lots of talk about Satan, our freewill, and claiming responsibility. It has been a particularly good conversation for me. It has allowed me to think about what I believe and share it with others. These types of conversations are good for us. I think we need to be able to explain to others what we believe. I had a professor in college who told me "You don't truly understand a concept until you can teach it to others." I know some people are not great at instructing others, but you catch her idea. I think we have to be able to make our faith tangible.

I certainly don't even come close to knowing all the answers, but these conversations help me grow and assess where I stand.

I confess I used to be a very black and white person. I have worked very hard of the last 5-6 years to change that. There are certainly things that I am still black and white about (absolute truth etc) but I am also less defensive and willing to discuss with others.

I hope today has found you in a place where you can discuss your differences with others-whether that be your spouse, friend, or someone on the internet whose face you don't know. We have much to gain from listening to others.

Catching Up

2011-02-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

I realize I have not written a real post in a while. Truthfully, I have sat here many times lately wanting to "bear my soul". I have time and time again started and deleted posts. Mostly, though, I have just not written what I want to because it will take too much energy. So I figure I'll just go with a quick recap.

-Been busy with school and work. Lots of trips to the hockey rink with the kids. Let me tell you, just when you think it's freezing out and can't be any colder, step into a hockey rink. Better yet, step into the "warm room" at the rink. Then you will realize what cold really is!

-We have so much snow, it's enough for 4 winters! If it never snows again this year I will be happy. Honestly, the snow banks make driving so dangerous!

-I have hardly taken any pictures lately. I started a photo blog, but I am having issues with Lightroom and watermarking. Too many crazies out there...I don't want to chance putting up pictures on a photo blog without watermarking them.

-When I graduated from college in '09 my parents gave me a trip to Disney with my mom and sister. The problem is we never really had time to go on the trip, and my mom wanted to save up more points on her Disney card. Anyway, we are going the end of March. We will spend 3 days in the parks and 3 days on a Disney Cruise. The ship is brand new this year. Seriously check the ship out! I am mostly looking forward to the warm weather and going to Animal Kingdom. It will also be great for my sister to get away. Life has been so hard for her lately.

-I will be done with my Master's Degree in just 5 months. I am so ready to be done with our educational system! I think it fails us in so many ways. Don't get me wrong, I know there are many things the system does well, but I also think there are so many holes that should be and can be fixed.

That's all for now. Hope everyone is doing well. I am trying to catch up on some of my blog reading, too.

I'm off to the hockey rink to freeze my butt off (if only).

Peace out!

Ice Ice Baby

2011-01-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

I like the one below blown up

They don't quite go with the flowers in my header.

How can you not

2011-01-22T13:36:00.000-08:00

Be obsessed with this face?!

maybe it's just me

This weekend

2011-01-16T20:01:00.001-08:00

This weekend I:

Went to New York with my dear friend for a night away.

Listened to live jazz music at a piano bar.

Watched a lot of football

Went to the mall in NY

Had my first "black and tan" (Yes, I totally just used wikipedia as as reference) and loved it

Spent 15 mins driving around Albany waiting for my GPS to warm up and tell us where to go....only to find out we were within walking distance from our start point.

Got free breakfast because the toilet in our hotel room had not been cleaned when we checked in.

Ate some of the best onion rings I have ever had!

Got off the elevator on the 11th floor at our hotel to have a guy look at me and say "something tasty is cookin' ".....??? yeah.

Walked around the New York State Museum for about 3 hours.

Got to see Engine 6 from 9/11 and hear the only surviving fireman from that engine speak (on video).

Didn't take a single picture of the weekend! Crazy, right?

Feeling so grateful and blessed for such a fun and refreshing weekend! Would love to rewind the whole weekend!

And now I prepare to start school again in the morning. Break was nice while it lasted.

A lil funk

2011-01-16T19:44:00.001-08:00

Five Question Friday

2011-01-14T06:10:00.000-08:00

*No idea what's up with the font size at the end...

Jumping in this week...although I wish I jumped in most weeks!

1. What movie could you watch over and over again and not get tired of?
You've Got Mail. It's so cute!
Pirates of the Caribbean
Chronicle of Narnia- Just saw Voyage of the Dawn Treader....twice! Aslan gets me every time!

2. What's your biggest pet peeve right now?
I'm peeving myself lately!! Can't keep a darn thing clean!

3. If you had to describe your best friend in five words or less, what would you say?
funny (and) easy to talk to

4. If you did not have to worry about money or go to school what would you do for a living?
Gosh, I don't think I am far enough along in life to really know what my dream job would be. For a long time I wanted to work as an OB or midwife, but I don't do blood. Minor detail.

5. What is your one "splurge" item, that you will always buy, no matter the cost?
Hands down, no thought, Apple over a PC!

Check Out Mama M's site for more answers to today's questions!

Comfort

2011-01-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

Rest for my soul

At times seems hard to grasp

My heart and soul are exhausted from longing, pleading, and asking

For health

For peace

For salvation of those so dear to me

For the right words

For the right thoughts

I know all these things will never completely come to pass here on earth.

When I picture the following, I know one day all will be right....

Romans 14:11 “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

My job is to assure my life holds a reflection of Him.
My heart is so burdened for loved ones to know and love Him here.

For what do you long? From where do you find your comfort?

THE place to be

2011-01-10T15:50:00.000-08:00

My Bed

In all its unmade glory

Is apparently the place to be today.

Blog Titles/Posts I never finished

2011-01-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

I tend to start posts for this blog and never finish them...here are the titles of many such posts:

"I have missed you"

"Even Beth Cried"

"Wade in the water...but be careful"

"Bet you didn't know"

"Dear Life"

"Bucket List"

"i can't"

"shoes"

"walking the streets of gypsy camps"

"i could"

"Spirit of Timidity"

"Books I Would Like to Write"

"Beauty from Pain and Weakness"

Recycled Post: In the waiting "room"

2010-12-30T18:34:00.000-08:00

I posted this almost a year ago. I think it is a good reminder to myself, so I wanted to post it again.

I have spent multiple hours waiting around the hospital all week. If you don't know why, see my post here. In these hours I observed a great deal of people and situations.

In the initial waiting room of the ER, I watched an elderly gentlemen on a stretcher being transported to a psychiatric hospital. In the post assessment room, I saw a student with either a deformity or a large amount of swelling in his head/on his brain. He sat in a wheelchair with a hole in his shoe and a thin jacket on to keep him warm from the harsh wind that night. He was alone. That room also housed a husband and wife. The wife was in a wheelchair and crying.

Once we were given a room in the ER, the room across from us had a number of people pass through. The first, a woman who had surgery recently, was discharged but began throwing up once home. The second, a man in a wheelchair bent over in pain. His clothes were tan and I could hear him moaning in pain. His feet and hands? Handcuffed to the wheelchair. He was escorted by a police officer. The last patient I remember was someone I saw in the initial waiting room. He was also hunched over in pain. His face gaunt. His coat was about 3 sizes too big and his winter hat sat atop his head, not covering his ears. He was a homeless man.

For about an hour my chair was positioned in the hallway between two floors. To the right was the ER exam room floor and to my left was the pediatrics floor. Hospitalized babies filled the beds that night. As I sat there I could hear the cry of a baby that sounded like a one year old. It wasn't a cry of need or discontentment. It was a cry of desperation and pain. I found myself pleading with the Lord to give this baby, whose face I didn't know, some relief and rest. The babe continued to cry off and on for about 10 minutes, and then, from the silence, I assumed he was able to finally rest.

I walked down the hall to the bathroom several times and each time I walked by one of the empty beds for babies in the hospital. The kind that we have all seen Stellan in through MckMama's pictures. I pictured all those parents who just want to hold their children and bring them home to their own bed, yet all they can do is reach their arms through the bars of the bed to comfort their child, letting them know they are close.

My mind raced knowing large quantities of parents walk the hallway of the pediatric wing every day for days and weeks on end. Millions of tears have been shed in that wing and in that hospital.

Yet, there I sat with warm winter boots on my feet, without a hole. My family was together. My coat fit properly. I had a home to go to and have never known the feeling of watching my child sit in a hospital bed, feeling hopeless.

It doesn't mean the Lord loves me anymore than He loves each person I observed. He loves us all equally.

It doesn't mean I have good luck and they have bad luck- I don't believe in it.

I means that I am responsible to take what the Lord has given me to give back to Him. It means sitting in that hallway looking for ways to extend His love to those who are hurting. It means praying for one another, even when we don't know their face or even their name.

It means no matter how bad things become, the Lord walks with us.

It means the elderly, the homeless, the incarcerated, the emotionally exhausted, the 24 year old grad student, and the wife with no answers have hope. That not one moment of their life goes unnoticed. There is hope in the One who created them.

Even in the darkest hours of life, there is always hope.

Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Tis so sweet

2010-12-28T21:35:00.000-08:00

Tis so sweet
To trust in Jesus

Tonight I learned of the death of someone many loved dearly. I cannot say I know many who are loved so deeply by so many. Truly. She was a woman after God's heart. Her love for Him was so tangible and sweet.

Only a couple months ago was she diagnosed with leukemia. She missed her daughter's college graduation and her son's high school graduation due to the cancer and having a very difficult time with treatment. Her battle was hard and long. Yet, I can testify that when she came to church one Sunday in between treatment, she sat in the back with a blanket over her lap. When the pastor called attention to her presence in church that day, she simply raised her hands to heaven, eyes fixed on Jesus, giving all the glory to God.

I'll never forget singing in choir when she directed. The joy on her face when she sang praise is indescribable.

Just to take Him at His word. Just to rest upon His promise, and to know "thus saith the Lord"

There are hundreds shedding tears tonight over the loss of a friend, wife, mother, sister, aunt etc. My heart aches for her family. I can only pray and take confidence in knowing that Jesus will watch over them. He will hold them. Oh these coming days will be more difficult that my comprehension. But we have to trust...

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

No doubt in my mind...she is pain free tonight and singing with the angels. Glory to God, what a wonderful site she is seeing.

Please pray for her family. She leaves behind many who desperately need Him for comfort.

A Time For Everything

2010-12-18T20:12:00.000-08:00

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 & 4
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance"

For my family, 2010 has been a time for the former of both these verses- a time to weep & and a time to mourn.

I can never remember a year that was filled with more sorrow, heartache, and pain.

My heart has never longed like it has this year.

The death of family and family friends.

Sickness that still haunts us.

Stories that don't seem to have the capacity of more negative outcomes to only disprove this theory.

We have mourned health and life this year.

We cried over thousands of unanswered questions.

Laughing and dancing has had no part in my vocabulary many a day this year. There have been many nights where I have driven around, talking aloud to the Lord asking and wondering "how long" until this season will pass. Pleading for a season of "the Lord's favor" to rest on my family, specifically the health of my family.

This Christmas season has especially been hard for me. I can hardly believe how many things remind me of my grandmother. There is a small part of me that wants to walk down to her house (she lived right down my street) , sit on her back porch, and just cry. I have so many memories in that house. Some of my most cherished childhood memories were formed there.

I sit here, with tears that still continue to stream....

Yet, my earthly desires, questions, and wants can still be coated in joy because He is the One Who gives me strength. Even when I fail to ask. Even when I question and doubt. Even when my sinful wants and desires overtake me, He remains faithful and reminds me of that little baby in the manger.

He is why we are here.

Yes, He is the reason for the season.

What joy fills my heart when I stop thinking of myself and focus on that baby, so soft and so sweet.

So full of promise and HOPE.

Because I am selfish

2010-12-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

'tis the season to be selfish, right?

No?

Darn....well, CSN has picked me once again to run a giveaway or review. Since I did the giveaway last time, I thought I would use the review option this time. Does it count as being selfish if I use it for a gift?

Anyway, if you haven't heard of CSN stores, don't be ashamed! I hadn't until I started blogging, and now is the time to be educated! They have over 200 stores and you can find ALL kinds of things. They have everything from

a fun briefcase

Seriously, how sweet is this one?!

To dog beds
I just want the dog in this picture

To lots of cookware!

Seriously, go check out their 200+ sites! Finish up (or start!) your Christmas shopping with them! I love to shop online, especially when shipping is free on many items!!

From the sky

2010-12-06T20:49:00.000-08:00

Over thanksgiving week, I spent time in 4 different planes. That means taking off and landing 4 times. For me, this translated to 4 times I had to deal with intense pain in my ears. When I say intense, I mean screeching, knife stabbing pain in my ears. I have tried every trick, but the ol ears still give me grief. Of course the higher altitude, the more pain upon descending. Good times.

But my ears are not really the point of this post.

It was not until the fourth flight I was on, from Newark, NJ to Manchester, NH, that I began to look at the ground from my window seat. As we took off, I could see hundreds of houses and cars. How tiny they looked from my little seat on the airplane. Their size did not amazing me, though. I began to think about all the people coming and going from those houses and how any people are in those cars. Each house likely represented, on average, four people living there.

Do the math; that is a lot of people. What took my breath away was thinking about how the Lord knows every person in that city. Every tear. Every laugh. He beats every one of their hearts. Are you getting the picture here? His power and omniscience in knowing that city alone is amazing. If you take it farther and think about our whole country and then our whole world? I am overwhelmed just thinking about it. Billions of people!

He loves each one.

He hears each one.

He longs to have a relationship with EACH one! I can barely maintain a close relationship 15 people, never mind billions.

That airplane ride showed me just a glimpse of this power. My finite mind does not even have the ability to comprehend what He is capable of being and doing.

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." 1 Corinthians 1:25

Work was canceled today

2010-12-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

So I spent some time with my new pictures from my trip...

Partially

2010-12-01T20:54:00.000-08:00

I certainly have not been a good blogger lately.

Partially because I have been too lazy.

Partially because I have lacked the desire.

Partially because I can hardly keep up with reading the blogs I follow

But mainly because I just haven't had the time!

I will be on a break from school in two weeks, so I am definitely hoping to write some posts then- including a CSN review.

I hope everyone is well and had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and/or friends. I, for one, and happy to be back home from a trip to the mid west!

VERY blurry, but here is what my suitcase weighed in at the night before my flight...

Yes, that's 49.6...that means I had 0.39 to spare!! Don't ever question my packing abilities!

Be back here soon!

2010-11-15T19:07:00.000-08:00

A piece of my heart

is in these photos

and will remain there

and with them

in heaven

Until we meet again.

My heart has been changed forever.

They taught me the meaning of a beautiful life.

They never wasted a day.

They stole a lot of my heart and love.

I will never be the same again.

Cinco Question Viernes

2010-11-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

Somewhere other there my old Spanish teacher (who is now a very dear friend) is shivering! :)

I haven't done 5 Question Friday for a while. Who am I kidding, I have hardly blogged lately.

I'm jumping in with Mama M this week! You should, too!

1. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?

Oh, this is NOT pretty!! Like REALLY ugly! It has to do with my bear ~~bottom~~ butt!! I had a cyst on my tailbone. LOOOONG story short, I was basically taken in for "emergency surgery" to remove it. The doctor was HORRIBLE! I felt the WHOLE thing...all the cutting, digging, cleaning, more cutting, more digging...

and THEN...WAIT FOR IT....I had to keep the hole open for 2 FREAKIN weeks.

Thanks for making me remember all that. Really, thanks.

2. How much sleep do you get at night?

Different every night...I know, bad...anywhere between 5 and 9 hours. Usually 7. I would sleep for 10 hours every night if I could.

3. How long did you believe in Santa Claus? How did you find out that he does not exist?

My parents always told us he was not real. Fine with me. I would have been afraid of him anyway. My parents were always very "strict" about the true meaning of Christmas. Although they never did the Easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc either

4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?

Ramona and Beezus.... GOOOOD MOVIE!

5. What do you wear to Bed?

heated mattress, smartwool socks, flannel or sweats with hoodie, and 2 down comforters...no heat in my room, people.

New Hampshire Fall

2010-10-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

GIVEAWAY time again!! Over

2010-10-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

**Giveaway now over!! Thanks to all who entered! Winner announced by tonight!!**

CONGRATS TO MAMIPDX!!!!! Thanks for enter everyone!! definitely a fun round!!

Welcome to another CSN giveaway!!

Anyone can enter...just be aware of the shipping. I believe most shipping is free as long as you are a US resident.

On with the giveaway....

CSN works hard at promoting their online stores. I have been on the receiving end of some of their wonderful products. Check out their bar stools, so many to choose from. I personally love these:

from here

and here

This time I am not doing a review, I chose a giveaway, so one of you will get to choose...AND you are not limited to bar stools. Check out all their different stores! If you win, you will get $45 to spend at one of their online stores!

SO enter as you wish....as many times as you'd like! I'll let you know when I am getting close to shutting the giveaway down, but for now, no stipulations.... enter away!

the week that followed

2010-10-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning will mark 2 weeks since my grandma went to be with Jesus.

The days that followed her death were some of the hardest I can remember. I walked around in a daze, just trying to get through. I was literally on the verge of tears at every second. I can't even tell you how many times I broke down. Anywhere and everywhere...including the dinner table with the whole family.

I will admit, my fear got the best of me. I started to worry about others. Pleading with the Lord not to take anyone else away. I was trapped in my fear. Somehow the Lord is helping me to release this fear and breathe again.

One day at a time. If you think of it, please continue to pray for my brother-in-law. He is still very sick. He did not return home with my sister after the funeral out here because he was not stable enough to fly. He still continues to seize several times a night and have severe headaches. His uncle also just dropped dead 2 nights ago....there has to be some respite for him...and I am hoping it comes really soon.

on a positive note, I will be posting another CSN giveaway this week!

Still

2010-10-21T09:23:00.001-07:00

It still hurts to look at her pictures

I hated how she was frowning in her casket. She never frowned...and I know she is certainly not frowning in heaven!

I still can't drive to the end of my street (where her house is).

It still doesn't seem like she is gone.

I still don't believe it.

I still keep thinking our bi-weekly dinners are part of my life....waiting for her to call me and ask what I want her to make. :)

I still look with expectation that one day I will see her again in heaven where we will sing and dance before the Lord forever.

Afterall, she taught me to Greek dance!

if you were to ask me

2010-10-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

what yesterday looked like, I would tell you....

black clothes and cool fall weather

my grandmother's wake

my grandmother's funeral

my tears, snot, and whatever makeup I had on all over my dad's suit coat

a white wine toast to my grandmother's life

a cemetery burial in the middle of beautiful fall leaves

a pink carnation placed on her casket

hundreds of people

hugs and laughter, tears and sobbing

my brother having three seizures

my brother-in-law having three seizures

piano and singing from the hymnal as a family

prayer

love & support

memories & pictures

more tears

~~a goodbye~~ a promise to see her in heaven

it turned out differently than I thought

2010-10-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

When I left the ICU 2 weeks ago with my brother, who was being moved to a regular floor, I said if I was never there again, it would be too soon.

Little did I know.

In that same room, room #7 in the ICU, I would be following the nurse with my grandmother in the bed two weeks later. I spent all day yesterday beside her. Her breathing was labored and she was so irritated, confused and the most miserable I have ever seen a person. She also had hypoxia due to the lack of oxygen she was getting. She kept telling me all day she was dying. The doctors assured her she was not and just needed to get over this hump.

One week ago she fell and broke 5 ribs. She was taken and admitted to the hospital because she had aspirated and had pneumonia. As she was weened off the pain meds, her breathing became more labored and even a 100% oxygen mask was not keeping her stats where they needed to be, thus the need to move her to ICU for the night.

The doctor told my aunt and I we were causing her breathing to be so bad by "micromanaging her". Dear Doctor, if you would give her some pain meds maybe she would not be suffering. Clearly the small dose you gave her is not helping.

Once she was in ICU, (where we thought she was just spending the night and would be moved back to a regular floor in the morning) she started to talk nonsense. Because I have been with two other grandparents during the dying process, I knew this was all too familiar. She was taken for a CT scan and the cardiologist told us she thought my grandma was having a heart attack but her stats were improving. We went to her bedside and she was very ash. We stood around her bed as she sang lullabies in Greek, never opening her eyes again....and then she just stopped breathing and went to be with Jesus. I had just been helping feed her lunch 7 hours before.

If she was going to go, it was for what I had prayed- quickly and peacefully.

It's so hard knowing she was so healthy and walking 2 miles every day just over a week ago. I just look at pictures and can't believe it.

I won't lie, I really wish life would stop hurting because this has been a very long year and I'm tired. So very tired.

I miss you my YiaYia. Thank you for always being at every school play, graduation, and cooking for me every Thursday night. I'm glad you are with Jesus and Papou now. I know how much you missed him. I love you! xoxo

Want List

2010-10-03T13:49:00.001-07:00

I've been spending way too much time online lately just browsing ~~instead of doing school work~~ ...here are a couple things I'm putting on my 'want list'.

I actually need a new pair of good winter boots. I love this and really love the company. Always loved ever shoe I have bought from them.

I have been drooling over Dansko lately and want to spice it up with these. I actually saved up for the last couple months for these and hope to buy them soon. Yes, they are patent!

Some really cute Sam Moon finds:

I think this is just beautiful!

Color theme much?

I LOVE LOVE this Columbia parka, but for someone who hate the cold weather the $270 is slightly excessive! And when I say "slightly excessive" I mean RIDICULOUS!

Love these sweaters from Old Navy

Guess that sums it up for now! :) Please excuse me while I ~~continue browsing~~ do my school work.

mmm mmm good!!

2010-09-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

MckMama's Spinach/Sour Cream Pancakes!! SOO delish!!

Over the Hump

2010-09-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

Wow...

the last week has been a whirlwind.

I can honestly say I am exhausted!

Tired of hospitals and watching monitors. Tired of going back and forth. And goshdarnit tired of sitting on horrible ICU metal chairs!! I'm pretty sure my butt was flattened out!

I have spent more time in hospitals this year....between my brother-in-law being in Boston for weeks (remember this post?) and this past week....too much time. I has made me realize how amazingly strong are all the parents who have spent countless weeks and months with their babies in the hospital.

Heartbreaking.

If you didn't already know, both my brothers were in the ICU this past week for seizure activity. My brother-in-law in Ohio and my brother here, in NH. I was woken up on Tuesday morning to my mom telling me the ambulance was on their way because Ben was having grand mal seizures, one right after another. I was confused because I knew my bro-in-law was in the hospital for the same thing, and surely my mom was just confused, or I wasn't hearing her correctly because I had been woken from a dead sleep.

Sure enough, I rushed down my stairs, my dad was in my brothers room and Ben was face down having a grand mal seizure. He stopped breathing a couple times and aspirated. The ambulance arrived after what seemed like forever, and he was taken right away to the trauma room at the local city ER. By the time he was there, he had had over a dozen grand mal seizures. He was intubated and placed on a vent to breathe for him. He was completely sedated and remained in this state for over 48 hours. They tried to take him off the sedation meds but he was showing more signs of possible seizure activity, so back to a medically induced sleep he went. The second attempt over a day later was more successful.

I'm tired just writing all the details. I'll spare you the rest. It has been a LOOONG week, but both Ben and my bro-in-law are home from the hospital now. Ben is doing well, but experiencing some negative behavior due to all the med changes etc. My bro-in-law is still dealing with severe headache pain that is not even touched by morphine.

People kept telling us having 2 family members in the ICU at the same time, thousands of miles apart was too much for one family to deal with.....

Amazing, though....the grace of God....was abundant and evident.

So we press on hoping, praying, and receiving the grace He gives.

it gets worse

2010-09-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

My mom woke me up this morning to tell me the ambulance was on their way. Ben, my brother, had several grand mal seizures this morning, and he was not coming out of it and continuing to seize. They brought him to the ER, and now he is heavily sedated in the ICU.

We are waiting on an EEG. Ben is a complicated case due to the 7 other meds he is on, so every single medical decision has to be made with great caution.

So now both my brothers, who live 14 hours apart from each other, are in the ICU for grand mal seizures. What in the world is going on???!!!

This has to end somewhere, right?!

Thanks for the prayers and encouragement. We are trusting the Lord to work out the details.

the hands of men

2010-09-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Things aren't looking good.

My brother-in-law was making great progress over the last 2 months, but 2 weeks ago he took about 100+ steps back. As of tonight they cannot get his seizing under control and no one has any freaking answers.

No doctor has cared enough to see this through.

Why does no one want to figure this out? Why does no one care?

I love the medical field for all it has accomplished for SO many, but I also hate it for what it has done to my family. I hate that no one really seems to care. How can you allow someone live with a migraine for 10 months with little to no relief?

I don't know what it's going to take, but I fear it's his life....

so I can only remind myself that his life is in God's hands....not the hands of men.

**Updated: It's just after 4am and I just talked to my BIL. He is being admitted to the ICU right now...

Nantucket Beach

2010-09-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

Funk Take 2

2010-08-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

I still can't put my finger on the funk, but I have spent sometime thinking about it. I should have clarified and told you it's not an emotional funk. It's just a I feel very strange all the time funk. For example, things that seem normal to me, appear to be strange in my mind. Weird, I know. It's enough that I have considered going to the doctor if I don't feel better soon.

I have felt better the last couple days. But I have to be honest, there has been a part of me experiencing an emotional funk in addition to the strange-feeling funk.

The emotional funk stems from feeling unappreciated.

It's true. I'm an affirmation girl. I need to hear from you that you appreciate what I am doing or that I am doing it correctly. I am not looking for high praise, but to simply have the satisfaction that my effort is worth it.

When I don't receive this affirmation that I so desperately seek, I begin to not only feel unappreciated, but also taken advantage of.

It finally "hit me" the other night. One of my favorite quotes states, "Intense love does not measure, it just gives" (Mother Teresa).

If I am giving of myself to others, I don't have to feel unappreciated or taken advantage of. If my actions are out of love, measurement has no part of the equation.

But if you want to affirm me, I won't mind! :)

Funk

2010-08-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

I have been in a total funk lately.

I have no idea.

I have been feeling very strange mentally.

And it has put me in a real funk.

To the point where I don't want to do anything.

I don't feel depressed.

I am not really anxious.

Just in a funk.

And I hate the feeling.

It's a feeling of not being able to be present in the moment. ever.

I keep thinking I will wake up and it will be gone.

But it hasn't.

I've felt better for a couple days.

And I have moments when I feel normal again.

But then I go back to the strange feeling.

Today the funk just made me totally annoyed at everything.

UGH!

I wish I knew what the deal was....

Brother-In-Law

2010-08-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Many of you have sent me messages, e-mails, and comments asking about my brother-in-law. I have been maintaining a blog for them so everyone can stay updated. Should you want to continue following their journey and read a letter my sister wrote recently, please visit their blog here.

Thank you, friends, for all your prayers and concern on behalf of our family.

this and that

2010-08-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

I always have so many blog ideas running through my head, but I hardly even write them down or have the mental energy to type them out.

I have no idea where the last two months have gone. SO crazy and I hate how it's the end of summer. I always say I don't even want to think about my Bday (Aug 14th) because that means summer is winding down. UGH!

I turned 25 this year. Time to grow up! :) I spent it snuggling with a 4 week old baby. I stayed with some friends for a couple days to help out with the baby. But wow I am tired. Last night was my first night back in my bed and I am pretty sure I could have slept until my 26th birthday!

My sister and BIL where here for a week. We went for lunch at an amazing restaurant called Latitudes. It's the summer restaurant for a hotel call Wentworth By The Sea. The owner saw some of my pictures and is interested in using some of them!

THE BEST salad I have ever eaten!!

My sister and BIL's wedding rings

Sister

Mom and her girls

It's Five Question Friday!

2010-07-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

-Thought I had the stomach bug this week, but have decided it was actually food poisoning- either way, so not fun!

-I keep changing my background because I am looking for something that will look good with pictures. Everything I like is just too busy.

-Totally pumped for Project Runway to be starting! The new season is looking different-they are mixing it up!

-My sister flies in tomorrow with her hubby and I can't wait to see them!

-I would really appreciate prayer for a very close friend. She is facing some really scary unknowns right now.

And NOW on to 5 Question Friday!! Mama M is the running this gig, so head to her blog to join in!

1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?

My grandmother made all three of us kids blankets. I was the only one who was not allowed to have mine because my g'ma made me a real quilt. To this day I have no idea where it is or what it looks like. SO I stole my brother's and sister's and held on to them ALL the time!! No, I do not still have theirs'.

2. Do you dream in color?

Some people DON'T dream in color? I don't believe it!

3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller?

Just under 5'9. It's one of a few things I would not change.

4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be?

I have a GPS??

Christian Kane

Or Taye Diggs

5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot?

I get so upset with people who are TOO LAZY to put the cart where it goes...usually taking up another parking spot or getting blown by the wind into another car. No excuse people, no excuse!!

walk through a cemetery

2010-07-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

Let's Celebrate Eternal Life

2010-07-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

Imagine what it will be like when thousands of generations will join together as one voice in heaven, like this, singing before the Lord?

Vanity, Vanity

2010-07-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

I wish I had a house of my own so I could decorate it. If I did, I'd probably get a beautiful bedroom vanity like this one:
It's a little ridiculous how I get ready every day sitting on the floor with my stuff all over the place. This vanity would be perfect!

I won't quite be making a purchase this large right now, but CSN Stores is allowing me to do a review of one of their products! I have already picked out what I want to review, and I can't wait to share it with you! I may even throw something in there myself for someone who leaves a comment on the review post! Hold on to your seats, I'm going to be cooking up (hint hint) something good!

bench with a view

2010-07-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Haven't seen these parts in a while

2010-07-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't been here in a long while...aside from some a couple posts here and there.

I am on a break from school right now. I handed everything in a couple days ago, but today was my first official day off from the daily mental grind.

I wish I had written down all my blog posts ideas I've had over the last couple weeks, but I didn't.

I am looking forward to learning more about photography on my break and getting my resume all ready (not that I am looking forward to that part....)

Summer has been fun so far! I flew out to Ohio for two days to help my sister drive out here for two weeks.

Ohio morning

We took some family pictures while she was here

Sisters and Their Shepherds

Whole Fam

Girls
Me and Ben

I also shot up to Maine for a quick weekend. I ended up having to do school work up there, but it was still great!
In Maine, I finally got to see my college roomie who I had not seen since being in her wedding over a year ago!
Been spending lots of time with this girl while doing school work. She won't let me out of her sight!
Had a pedicure done by a guy who JUST returned from Iraq....???
and have seen some BEAUTIFUL sunsets!

Do share what YOU have been doing!

Raw(e) Flower Style

2010-07-08T14:04:00.001-07:00

I LOVE this week's theme! I could post 52 pictures (see this post), but this one is still one of my FAVS! I took it YEARS ago and about three cameras ago!

Check out Sami's blog for more entries!

ps. hoping to return to the blog world when final exams are behind me!

tribute to bryan

2010-06-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

MY FAV below!

Some of the beautiful flowers from the funeral

heavy heart

2010-06-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

This has been happening too much lately. Getting phone calls with bad news.

I got a call from my mom tonight. One of her friend's son (brother of my close friend) was killed in a motocyle accident today. Just like that and he is dead. He has a 17 year old daughter who is a total daddy's girl. He had his life together and now he is gone. Just like that.

Please pray for Brian's family. They are so broken.

My first reply to the Lord was "I just don't get it". I don't. I don't understand the Lord's ways, but I still have to trust.

Brian's mom was a single mom for most of her three kids' lives. She lives about 18 hours away from where Brian lived, but she is on her way up here tonight and will be staying with us, along with her daughter who will be traveling tomorrow. Please pray for traveling mercies and for comfort for this sweet family.

The Facebook Status

2010-06-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

Oh you know the ones....

Going to get coffee

Coffee was great

Think it's time to shower after my coffee

Decided to go for a walk before my shower

Time for lunch. Turkey with swiss on rye.

Lunch was delicious. I should make that more often

Going to do a little work around the yard

I hate yard work

Saw a hummingbird while weeding

Going to work on my sewing project.

Accomplished a lot on my sewing. Wait until you see pictures...

(post pics 5 minutes later)

Thinking about what to make for dinner.

I decided to go with chicken

Hubby is home, time to eat.

Dinner was delicious

Watching CSI with hubby.

What a good episode.

Time for bed. Goodnight.

And repeat in the am.....

Sometimes it's better to leave some of the details out....

I'm just sayin'.......

Beach Morning

2010-06-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

Close to home....

2010-06-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time listening to bad news. My stomach drops before I even hear the details. I can just hear it in the tone of voice. I got a call from a good friend last week. Her son's best friend had hit a deer with his motorcycle and crushed his brain stem. He was wearing a helmet and because of that, his family was given time to say good-bye. He was a good kid. I didn't know him too well, but he was the best friend of someone who is like family to me.

I sat in church last Sunday and couldn't help but feel so broken for the family who sat two rows in front of me. I had just found out their mom (who was once my choir director) was battling cancer and had to be hospitalized for a month to receive large, intense doses of chemotherapy. She is in a room where everything going in must be sterilized. She had to miss her daughter's college graduation and her son's high school graduation.

I admit, I will often avoid reading the "medical blogs". I am more than willing to pray, but sometimes I get so caught up in them and have a very difficult time emotionally when following their journeys. Information like that overtakes me and I can't function. It often paralyzes me.

The two situations I mentioned above have hit close to home. They have given me perspective and allowed me to see and understand just a little bit more of what some people have to go through.

I believe the Lord has given me a heart for those who are hurting. To come alongside them and mourn with them. I think, in part, that is why I decided to be a Human Service major.

But....most of the time, I think the pain is just too much.

But then I have to remind myself that I don't have to carry the pain. I just have to take it to the cross and lay it at His feet.

SO over it

2010-05-31T21:32:00.000-07:00

I have tossed around the idea of going for a doctorate.

hahahaha

I am SO over that idea!

SO tired of school and the whole educational system.

I really amazed at what schools try to get away with nowadays.

Shocking, really

Let's hope grad school goes by quickly.

Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the opportunity and Sallie Mae agreeing to take my first born child in exchange.

I'm just tired... and sick of paying money for certain things

I'll leave you on a more happy note:

Giveaway....

2010-05-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, seriously, I am half tempted to keep it open a while longer because the comments are just so darn funny!!

hmmm..should I or shouldn't I......

:)

ok, ok, ok

It's closed.

Winner has been notified via e-mail.

Thank you to everyone who entered!! I was thoroughly entertained!

Are YOU pumped for THIS GIVEAWAY??!

2010-05-21T20:15:00.000-07:00

Giveaway CLOSED*** Winner has been notified via e-mail!

BECAUSE I AM!!

I could have gone a different route and asked the company to send ME something, but I wanted one of YOU to receive something instead. I'm self-less like that.

I should have taken them up on their offer to let me use the money because, ya'll, my ceiling looks like this

That's a ceiling in my house-covered so your eye is not entirely drawn to the hideousness of it all! With that said, I would have loved to spend the money on some fun track lighting from their lighting store.

But, no....still want one of you to win. I'll deal with the hideousness for a while longer.

Details....

CSN Stores is sponsoring this giveaway.

Want to know what they are going to generously give one of you? $40 to buy ANYTHING you want from one of their sites! Yep! Pretty swEEEt if you ask me! Again, I could have taken the $40, but I'm a giving spirit.

If I was the one receiving the $40, I would also pick something like this skillet:

Or perhaps a Marble MAZE! This was one of my favorite toys as a kid- what a great gift!

Or even a hydration pack...in fact, I might buy this one- ha!

Why am I letting someone else get the goods again? Oh, right. Ok, moving on..

What would YOU get?

Entries:

First entry should be telling me what you might get with the $40, or what you'd put the $40 toward.

Second entry+ whatever your heart so desires!

Enter as much as you'd like!

Only other rule is you MUST leave your e-mail address with every comment if you, you know, want to win.

That's all! Enter away and as much as you want!

Ends when I say so...so get entering!

FYI** there may be shipping charges, or in the case of Canadian readers, international fees, for certain products.

Five Question Friday Vlog

2010-05-21T12:08:00.001-07:00

Alternately titled: Why am I not doing school work?

Check out Mama M's site for more!!

When in Maine

2010-05-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

I swear, there IS a giveaway coming!!

I'm Alive & Giveaway Coming SOON!

2010-05-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Just popping in.

Been SUPER busy with school work (and work)! I am making progress, but I still have mucho to finish. I also just realized today that my classes end next Friday and not the usual Sunday. That's a loss of 2 days of work. errrr.

I am looking forward to a couple days in Maine next week. I'm heading up to stay at a friend's parent's house while they are away. Their puppy just had major surgery and needed someone to stay with her. Here is to hoping for some sun and time in their hammock..if I can get my school work done!

My brother-in-law is back here. He exhausted the doctors out in Ohio. They found a tumor on his pituitary gland, but they are saying it's secondary and not large enough to be causing all the problems. He is not passing out now but having 6+ grand mal seizures every day. He was admitted to Mass General this morning because he has a constant migraine and the seizures are out of control...and we have NO IDEA what is causing them!

It's been a LONG haul, and we are all exhausted. It's ironic...the minute I started this paragraph the lyrics from my itunes were "I believe that You're my Healer". We are still holding onto this, but we are tired and weary.

My giveaway post will be up in the next couple days. Come back and try to win!!

El Agua

2010-04-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Some things I've been thinking about

2010-04-26T17:51:00.000-07:00

-I don't know how army wives do it. I'm not talking about the television series. I don't even watch it. I'm talking about all the wives and mothers who stay at home while their husbands are off putting their lives on the line. I just don't know how they do it. Dont' get me wrong, I will forever be grateful for our soldiers. I just have a hard time putting myself in their shoes.

-I have GOT to stop killing my stomach by eating dairy products without taking meds. Oh man, the PAIN! I wish there was a weekly shot.

-Why don't fudgsicles taste as yummy as I remember them from when I was a kids?

-Totally excited to have been approached by a big company to do a giveaway! Woohoo!

-What am I thinking going to a Grad school where a 93% is considered a freaking B?! A NINETY-THREE??

-Amazon was having a sale last week and Lightroom was $100 off! I totally splurged and bought it! I'm nervous, though. My computer is getting really slow. I'm not sure if it's going to have enough space without killing it.

And some pics...

Hang tight for an awesome giveaway coming up!!

TOTAL HUMILIATION!

2010-04-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I don't even know....

Wordless Today

2010-04-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

things to accomplish

2010-04-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

-not spill water on my keyboard again

-clean room

-write review on 800 page book

-write review on 750 page book

-write 15 pages on Autism

-write 15 pages on Racism in the US

-take clothes out of the dryer that have been in there for over 24 hours

-iron clothes sitting in dryer

-break in new hiking boots

-hike a mountain over the weekend

make dinner

-clean house

-sleep sometime

-take 4 quizzes

-take 3 exams

-participate in ~~four~~ eight discussions

-question why I'm in grad school

-work

breathe!

VLOG!!!!

2010-04-13T17:09:00.001-07:00

My first one!! And probably the most boring one you will ever see!!

you probably want to turn your volume up...don't know why it's so quiet...

and, yes, I do make all those weird faces in real life!

There's a hole in my nose, Dear Liza

2010-04-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

**Alternately titled: WOW, I have a big nose and a lot of freckles!

5 Question Friday!

2010-04-09T05:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't done this is in WEEEEKS! My life went from busy to 'what the heck have I got myself into' very quickly, so I haven't really had the time...but this week I am making the time...at 1am!

1. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
hmmm, I think, if it had to be someone who is already famous, Jennifer Aniston. I Just love her so.

2. Did you ever go to summer camp?
ohmygosh!! BEST times in my childhood- no joke!! Every summer I went away for 2 weeks to camp. I LIVED for camp!! I'd go back to being a kid again, just for CAMP BEREA!!

3. What sends you running and screaming in the other direction?
Snakes, cold weather, and.......DRAMA!! Seriously! If you are going to stir up drama, peace out! C~YA!!

4. What is something you do that drives your spouse nuts?
When I get married, I'll let you know!

5. What is currently your favorite song?
Radio- Hey, Soul Sister- something about the beat
oh, but I love Haven't Met You Yet. I LOVE Michael Buble!

Worship- Come and Listen by David Crowder. I admit, I don't generally listen to all the contemporary Christian bands. I can't stand all the crazy electric guitars and added effects. I love me some acoustic, raw worship, mostly. Come and Listen is very simple, and that's why I love it so

Other- Right As Rain by ADELE

Head to Mama M's site for more!

must be nice

2010-04-08T18:49:00.001-07:00

If I die

I'd like to come back as one of my cats

Seriously, they have it pretty good. If I, you know, believed in that kind of thing, I'd peace out now and come back as Lilie or Mosey....probably Mosey because Lilie Girl has had a hard life! She came to us after being found in a snow bank by the police department. As a kitten she was caught in a snow plow. She had to have a leg and 1/2 her tail removed. Poor baby! But she has it pretty good now!

untitled

2010-04-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

It's hard for me to be so far away.

It makes it easy to pretend.

Sometimes I feel so disconnected, I hardly believe what is going on.

I know what my BIL and sister are dealing with, but being so far away?

Makes it seem unreal.

I won't lie.

The question of why do bad things always happen to good people has run through my head- a lot.

It doesn't change the situation.

It doesn't change Who God is.

He remains the same while everything is spinning out of control.

That IS what's happening.

Spinning out of control.

10 Grand mal seizures in one day? Doctors who truly don't care. And I mean truly. His neurologist simply didn't care and would have sent him home if another bed didn't open up at another hospital (thank You, Lord!)

Tonight I am having a hard time dealing with all this.

But God is still sovereign.

Easter Sunday Pics

2010-04-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Me & My Brothah

Fam minus my sister and BIL

Not too shabby, huh? :)

Ok, I have promised a vlog to Jes.

I will not SING! NO WAY!

What do you want to know??

BIL update....

2010-04-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

If you've been following along with our story, you know my BIL has been randomly fainting since October. Hasn't been able to work, top doctors in the country have no idea what is going on.

Fast forward to last night....

3 grand mal seizures.

Taken by ambulance to the hospital

Had 10 grand mal seizures today.

They are NOT the same as the fainting.

We are so far away from them (we are in NH and they are in Ohio)

My sister is beside herself. Has no more "sick days" left.

I don't know what else to say......

PLEASE, LORD.....

Making a statement I have something I want to say....

2010-04-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

So, I pierced my nose. Well, I didn't pierce it. Some guy at Spider Bite did it. (nice name, huh?)

Yep!

I have wanted to do it for years, but never really had the courage. Plus, I don't exactly have the best history with piercings.

Anyway, I wanted to get my nose pierced. I thought about it for a while. After about 2 days of mulling it over, I decided to do it.

I thought about all the people in my life...what would they think? Would they care? Would they think less of me? Would I be disappointing people?

I HATE to disappoint people. I fear disappointing people.

I thought so much about it, I made myself sick. I knew there were going to be people who thought less of me.

Nose piercings have a stigma.

I have lived so much of my life caring about what other people think, and it's honestly so exhausting. My piercing is NOT to make a statement! I don't want it to be that at all! I did it solely based on my decision to stop caring so much about people judging me and because I wanted to do it.

Just because I have a hole and stud in my nose, does not mean I now represent the stigma that is represented with the piercing. I know my heart, and chances are, if you know me well enough, you know my heart, too.

Now, if I go out tomorrow and get my tongue done and a tattoo all the way down my arm, you might want to be concerned about me.

Basically because I have NO tolerance for pain....I'd have to go over the deep end to do anything more extreme!

Easter

2010-04-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

I have about 52 people in my life who are shocked at what I did...revealed in this post! :)

I'm definitely a conservative girl! However, that is exactly why I did it....

but that explanation is not coming tonight. Come back tomorrow! :) It'll be good, I promise!

Today is Easter.

The day we celebrate what Christ did for us.

The tomb was EMPTY!

He is RISEN indeed!!

No power of sin, no scheme of death can ever pluck me from His hand!

Real or Fake pt. 2

2010-04-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

Did you read this post? Some of you guessed via facebook, others comments, and the rest were via twitter.

Remember this picture?

I asked ya'll to tell me if the nose stud was REAL or FAKE.

Some of you guessed correctly. Others were wrong (obviously).

Well, peeps, I am here to reveal the answer to you.

It was....

FAKE!

Oh, I'm sorry, the above picture was a different side of my nose, than the first?

You don't say....

Well, yes, it IS true- the picture above is a FAKE stud.

However,

the one below??

REAL!!!!!

The picture at the top is from yesterday. The ones right above? From today!

Yeap! Had it done today!

Man ALIVE, I have a THICK nose!!

Real or Fake??

2010-04-02T16:52:00.001-07:00

Hiking

2010-03-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

I went hiking this morning with some friends, even though it's still pretty raw out. Definitely walked through some FOOT deep water! It's been raining for days around here. 1/2 the trails were covered. I, of course, could not bring my good camera on the hike, but I did get some good pics with my good point and shoot!

Heron!

Beaver Damage

Some sort of den with a heck of a lot of poop!!

Back to school work.....

POST IT Tuesday!

2010-03-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

Head to Supah Mommy's site for more post it posts!

Ben Jammin'

2010-03-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

Pics of my Brother from yesterday at the park.

Raw(e) Distractions

2010-03-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

Just as the clock is in the "shadow" of these flowers, so is time in my life.

"Time" is one of my biggest distractions in life. Yep.

It keeps me from doing.

It keeps me from committing.

It keeps me from accomplishing.

It keeps me from sleep.

Time has always kept me from being present. My mind often travels to how much time I have left. How much more do I have to get done in the amount of time I will have? Will I make it on time?

Oftentimes, I will way overestimate my time. I get very stressed about arriving somewhere 2-3 minutes late to a commitment with a specific time. Traffic puts me over the edge because I know I will be late.

If I have to wake up particularly early for work, I will set 2 alarms to ensure I am up and ready to leave when I have to. I will wake up several times in the night, checking the clock, to see how much time I have left to sleep and make sure I didn't miss my TWO alarms (it has happened before).

If I'm hanging with a friend and having a great time, I will think about how much time we have left together before we have to part ways instead of just enjoying my time.

Time rules my life, and I hate it.

Head to Sami's blog for more Raw(e) entries!

One Year Ago

2010-03-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

One year ago today I cried the most hysterical tears I have ever cried. My body has never convulsed so violently before.

There have been plenty of tears since that day for many other reasons, but none like that day.

I don't know what came over me. I knew what was coming. I was the strong one. I knew the signs for which to look. My presence was sought after because I was one of the only one's with a calm demeanor.

If you know what Greek families are like, you would understand. Very emotional. Very dramatic. Lots of yelling. Lots of tears.

I grew up with grandparents, but they were somewhat distant. I never knew either of my biological grandfathers. My mom's dad died while she was in college, and the only memory of my dad's dad is him on his death bed.

From the day I was born, I had "adopted" grandparents. They were the parents of my mom's best friend. YiaYia, my grandmother. Papou, my grandfather. They were at every school play, church program, many soccer and basketball games, graduations... Papou would take me out for breakfast every Saturday morning and then to buy a Barbie at K-mart when I was little. We went to parades, to watch the planes take off at the airport, grocery shopping, to the cemetery to water etc...

My grandmother says I was "the apple of his eye". My Papou....how I miss him. It doesn't seem like a year.

I can still hear him say "Hello my κούκλα αυτή" ("doll" in Greek)

(Taken Christmas 2008)

Love and miss you, my Papou

Kickin my butt

2010-03-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

Literally!

People, I don't know if my butt has gotten bigger, or if I am actually able to do the moves the right way by now. But I can actually kick myself in the butt (at least a couple times) during the rockstar jumps on level 3 in The Shred!

I am SOOO proud of myself and my workout buddy, Hilary!! We only have ONE day left!! WOOZAH!!!!

Please excuse me while I go pat myself on the back.

And kick Jillian in the butt.

I'd like to think

2010-03-13T20:44:00.000-08:00

Last night I sat across from a "newish" friend at dinner. We went out to eat and there were 6 of us in total. My newish friend and I rode together and we stayed so long, the two of us the closed the place. I honestly don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

We went from 6 to 3 people after about 2 hours due to prior commitments. Once it was down to 3 of us, I literally went from hysterically laughing to tears pouring down my face from sadness. No joke. I have no idea how we went from one topic to another, but we did, and I can't get my mind off of it.

My friend was talking about a horrific tragedy that happened to her family. Horrific. Thankfully in the end it turned out okay, but the event that happened was beyond words. To this day her family and especially her daughter still are affected from the repercussions of what happened.

I had already known the story, but listening to her tell it really affected me.

If I put myself in her shoes, I wonder how I would have handled the situation. When struck with tragedy, would I cling to the Father or would I run in the opposite direction, denying Him.

I'd like to think I would never do the latter.

I'd like to think that.

I'd like to say I would wholeheartedly trust the Lord.

I'd like to say I wouldn't be angry with Him.

I'd like to tell you I would never forsake Him.

I'd like to tell you I would be as faithful to Him as He is to me.

But I can't.

I don't know what I would do. It would be easy for me to sit here and tell you I would trust. That would be easy, but tragedy is not easy. Tragedy is horrific. I think about my friend's story and I want to vomit just picturing it.

I don't know what I would do because I am a sinner.

But I do know one thing.

I have today. I have right now. I have the chance today to make the choice to cling to Him.

Because without Him?

I am nothing.

RAW(e)

2010-03-12T09:04:00.000-08:00

My friend Sami, over at Sailor & Company is doing a little photo contest/challenge. This week "Crayons" is the theme- no editing allowed-simply the RAW picture! :) Here is my entry:

Slack or Humility

2010-03-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days where I had to juggle several things. Typically, this doesn't bother me, and I tend to bring it upon myself anyway.I agree to do this and that. However, usually, I volunteer to do this and that. Today was one of those days.

I homeschool the kids I nanny once a week. Today was homeschooling day. Being the animal lover that I am, I volunteered to take their dog to the vet (my dad) today because the dog was 6 months overdue for his yearly vaccines. Fine, no problem. We have the appointment. Kid (only had one of the 2 today) in tow. Dog had double ear infection. We get meds. We pay. We take a tour of the hospital for the (very hyper) kiddo to look around.

Then he wants to hit McDonalds because it's now noon. Great. Grab a to-go Boy Kids Meal and we are on the road back home, a 40 minute drive. At this point I have driven to work (40 minutes) back towards home for the vet (another 40 minutes) and headed back to the house (40 more minutes).

Back at the house. Now I have both kids. One grabs their rollerblades and the other his scooter. I leash the two dogs, grab my phone for emergencies, and we head to the park.

Once at the park my phone rings. I recognize it's a number from my state, but not one I know. I hit ignore. Two seconds later my dad calls me from his cell phone.

"Hi, Liz! Are you on your way to pick up Ben?"

long pause

panic

WHAT??!! I FORGOT TO PICK UP BEN!! I HAD IT ALL PLANNED OUT IN MY HEAD. After the appointment at the hospital I was going to pick him up from work and drop him off. I even thought about it this morning. YOU DUMB MORON!! HOW COULD YOU FORGET?! UGH!!!!!!!

My poor dad had to go get him and start his afternoon appointments late because I was 40 minutes away.

You see, I pride myself in being able to handle several things at a time. At the same token, I leave very little room for myself to mess up- no slack. I freely give it to others but not to myself. I'm not a mother or a wife. I have little reason to feel scattered or unable to remember things.

So while I am giving myself no slack, I am a little humbled today, knowing I can't do everything all the time. Even when I have it all planned out and perfectly set, I can easily hinder my plan by simply getting in my own way by trying to be too perfect or too "planned".

hot, black & bald

2010-03-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

My bloggy friend, Jess, tagged me in a fun little game.

The game is I am supposed to ~~talk~~ type about where I want to be in 10 years. I'm also supposed to tag 10 other people...so if you are reading, consider yourself tagged. ;) I'm lazy like that.

So here we go....

I would like to be married to a hot, black, bald man. Taye Diggs would be perfect. He's not already married, right?
We will have 2 of the most beautiful babies on the earth...because Taye is HOT, remember? (ohmygosh he is so cute!!!)
We will be living in a nice, beautifully decorated house where the weather is perfect all the time.

Our children will say "Yes/no, Sir" and "Yes/no, Ma'am"

We will have an inground pool with a diving board, outdoor bar and grill, and hot tub.

I won't have to work and Taye will be retired. We will live on all the millions he made acting.

I will have learned to be a great cook and will be a lover of working out.

Taye will be teaching music lessons as a hobby, and he will fill our house with beautiful piano and guitar music.

Yes, that's where I want to be in 10 years.

Oh. I'm sorry. Was this supposed to be realistic??