SLACKER!

Okay, I know it's been a while since I have blogged. I can give you several excuses for this:
1. laziness
2. not having anything to say
3. busyness (which may not make sense paired with number 1, but trust me, it makes perfect sense)
4. craziness in life (see number 3)
5. i would have just complained a lot and was trying not to do that (and am glad I didn't after I read Katie's blog yesterday and gained some wisdom on the subject from her)

So, here I am now on the other side of the craziness for now (I think) to say that I am blessed in the Lord to have people who can pray for me, even when I go to them whining for them to do exactly that! I was able to hold a friend's three month old today and have a "conversation" with him, which always brings my heart joy. I was able to spend time with brothers/sisters in Christ at Bible study last night to discuss Ephesians 5:1-14, which has been my favorite chapter of this study so far. I am looking forward to meeting with a good friend next week to be encouraged and gain some accountability in memorizing some of God's Word. I've had some sunlight to rejuvenate me in ways I can't describe. I've been able to relax with a good book on several occasions this week. I've had some good conversations with my roommate, even though we've both been crazy busy and we haven't been able to watch the Cosby Show in almost a week! Oh, the list could go on about how blessed I am. I'll share more later, but I'm getting ready to eat dinner and see a movie with a friend. Have a great Friday evening!

I like to celebrate

As you know, it doesn't take much for me to find an excuse to celebrate, but today is a special day for me. Today I turn 12 in Lord. It is hard to believe that it has been 12 years of celebrating with the Lord my new life in Him. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." I did not do anything to celebrate today. I was going to be at Bible study tonight, which would have been an apt way to celebrate, but poor Sarah is sick so we cancelled Bible study. I hope you feel better soon Sarah!

Deep Breath

It was one of "those" days. :) I'm glad it's over. Here was my itinerary in one long breath...

home to office for paperwork to East Peoria to office for lunch to Creve Coeur to office to Creve Coeur House A to Creve Coeur House B to office to Creve Coeur House B back to Creve Couer House A to McDonald's to Creve Couer House A to Pekin and home. 80 plus miles. 11 hours and 5 minutes. So much for having yesterday off :) I just need sunshine. That would make the next two days of long days and lots of appointments much more bearable. On the bright side, at least I'm billing hours!

Hmmm...

I just balanced my checkbook and have a lot more money than I thought I would. Don't get me wrong, it's much better than finding out you have less that you thought you should. But I just keep racking my brain to figure out if I forgot to pay a bill :) So far I'm coming up empty.

Hard to believe

I recently realized that at the end of January, I will have lived in Illinois for 4 years. That means that I have officially lived in Illinois longer than I lived in Texas (that actually happened about 6 months ago because I only lived in Texas for 3 1/2 years). It makes me feel happy and sad all at the same time (I recently discussed this in a therapy session with a client...how you feel pleasant and unpleasant feelings at the same time). It makes me feel happy because I love the life God has given me here in Peoria. I am close to family. I fellowship at a wonderful, Bible-teaching, God-honoring church. I have amazing friends that I get to spend time with and grow with. But it makes me sad because I had some of those things in Texas too. I have amazing friends. I had a job that I enjoyed. I loved the area. And now it seems like such a long time ago.

Just to be fair

and so that it doesn't get out of control and make people mad when they find out later than everyone else....

I joined Facebook.

out of protest, but I did it nonetheless. Everyone who knows me well knows that the stubborn streak will always end eventually. It becomes a game to see when. New Year's Day I caved. There were finally too many people that I wanted to contact that I had lost all other information for. So I did it. There. Now you can all rush over and friend me. :)

Random Ramblings

I wish I could watch my clothes actually go through the wash cycle in the washing machine. How is it that I can put a shirt into the washing machine right-side out and when it comes out of the washing machine it has turned completely inside-out? It fascinates me.

My first snowmobiling adventure!

Today was a perfect weather day! Well if you like temperatures close to zero and a lot of snow! Kari invited Kinsey and I over to snowmobile. I, for once in my life, decided that I could try something new even though I'm 30. I took it slow today and only rode on the back of a snowmobile with Kari, but still had a lot of fun. Here are the three of us all decked out and ready to go.
Here I am. As Kinsey was taking the picture, she said, "At least you don't have to smile." Afterward I told her I was smiling, it just comes natural.

Oh no! Kinsey is falling off the snow mobile! :(

After awhile, we decided to pull out the sled. Kari pulled Kinsey and I around the yard. These are Kinsey's feet. They went by too fast and my camera was too slow!

Here's Kinsey again.

Here I am getting ready to go. The funniest part is that the helmet was a little to big, so it kept falling low on my face and I couldn't see where we were going. Sometimes we were going slow enough that I could reach up and adjust it, but other times I had to hang on.

Here I am again. Thanks Kari for a great time!

Turning over a new leaf

So, I've been waking up earlier on a regular basis. While I don't necessarily like it, I have attempted to embrace it. Today I woke up at 8. I actually woke up at 8 (normally I wake up earlier and then fall back to sleep, wake up, fall back to sleep...). I was out of bed by 8:20. It is now 12:40 and here is what I've done:
1. showered and gotten ready.
2. spent about an hour with the Lord!
3. made my to do list.
4. paid my car payment.
5. returned something to Target.
6. grocery shopped at Walmart.
7. went to the atm to deposit a couple of checks.
8. cooked myself lunch. and by cooked i mean, made spaghetti...an actual meal!

Now, I won't hesitate to say that I may end up wasting the rest of the day away! :) But just look how productive I was!

Lost Mittens

Three little kittens have lost their mittens and they began to cry...

That's me. I don't lose things very often, so when I do it's even more irritating. But when I lose things, I do it at the most opportune time. Like when it's zero degrees or less. That's a good time to lose one glove in the warmest pair you own. At least when I got home I realized I have the same pair in a different color. I don't like that color nearly as much, but I'll definitely go with function over fashion...at least until we get back into the 20s. :)