Beneath the Surface

Applebee's

2011-11-01T23:50:00.001-05:00

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2011-03-05T15:11:00.001-06:00

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SUPER, UBER Exciting News

2009-08-25T21:57:00.002-05:00

So today at work, out of nowhere, although I guess I have been working towards it for over 2 1/2 years, I got a call asking if I would like a promotion to Store Team Lead at the Walgreens on Logan Ave.............I was super excited and said "Yes" of course. It's basically a step below being an assistant manager and since a promotion to assistant is hard to come by right now with all the restructuring the company has done, I'll take whatever I can get. It comes with a small raise as well, which is always nice. I thought I'd start in a few weeks but much to my surprise, I start Thursday! So it's going to be very sad to leave my store. I've been there for over 2 and a half years but it's also going to be good to start on a new path. That seems to be what life has been lately...lots of new paths. Some good and some bad. So far this one is turning out to be good!!

FXB Five week testing update

2009-08-23T22:39:00.002-05:00

So Saturday was our half way point. We did our testing that morning. I was amazed, happy and very impressed with my results. So here they are:
4.2 pounds lost
Almost 4% body fat decrease
A total of 6 1/2 inches lost so far
I doubled the number of situps and pushups I can do
I reached 2 inches further on the sit and reach
And finally I cut 1 minute and 7 seconds off my mile run.

All this in just five weeks. I have never been so motivated to be the best me I can be as I a now. I feel so much better and I want that to continue. Tomorrow starts weeks six. I am excited to see even better results in five more weeks.

I apologize for being a stranger lately. Many good things going on in my life at work lately and many trying things going on in my life at home. Just trying to survive it all while getting myself healthy and in shape at the same time. Have a good week everyone.

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FXB Update

2009-08-10T20:27:00.002-05:00

Sorry it's been so long but it's been quite an adjustment to this new work out thing. Getting up at 4 am and working out at 5 gives me tons of energy so I'm always doing something and rarely sit down long enough to get on my computer. It's good and bad at the same time.

So an update.....I am totally seeing results in several ways. I know I've lost inches and a little weight but the most improvement I've seen is in my stamina and strength during the workouts. I can do more and push myself harder. My push ups and sit ups have greatly improved. I can also see better flexibility. Overall this has been a great program so far. Tomorrow is day 2 of week 4. At the end of week 5 we have testing and measurements again so I'm hopeful to see some actual change then. It was difficult to adjust to the nutrition plan at first but by the end of the first week I could tell a huge change in my energy. I still thoroughly enjoy my fun day each week but then I feel even better when I get back to the healthy eating.

Well, it is now after 830pm and way past my bedtime. Night all..............

Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping.....The Journey Begins

2009-07-18T20:19:00.001-05:00

So, today was the baseline testing for the new program I joined called Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping....hereafter referred to as FXB. We did the basic stuff like weight and fitness stuff and I had to run 1 mile and I about died. It's been about 4 years since I last seriously ran and back then I was doing 1 1/2 to 2 miles in the time it took me to do just one mile today. But that's okay cuz I'm going to improve a lot over the next 10 weeks. My first official class is 5am on Monday morning. I'm super excited and can't wait to start seeing the results. I know it's going to be hard, but it'll be totally worth it. Today, they also took the before picture. Scary. I actually went out and bought a bikini because they want to be able to see as much as possible to do comparisons of before and after. I'm excited to see the after. It was strange, but according to their little magical body mass machine came back with numbers that put me as overweight. I thought that was rather interesting. Monday I'll start the new nutrition plan and today I've totally pigged out. I'm excited for the new foods. There's no depriving, it's just eating healthier. I want to get the most out of the program so I'm going to follow everything very closely. Sunday is fun day, so if you're in my ward, just ignore the crinkling of candy wrappers coming from the back row. Sundays we don't workout and we get to eat whatever we want. I'm pretty sure I won't go crazy because I haven't really been craving a lot of candy and junk food lately, but I at least won't have to pay as close of attention to what I am eating. I'll just sneak a few extra nursery snacks at snack time (-:

Well, I'll keep updating my progress on here as much as possible. I want to do everyday, but with the craziness of life lately, I'm not sure if that will happen. I can't really post pictures, although it'd be too scary anyway, but I'm sure my excitement to fit into old clothes will pour over into a blog post. Have a great Sunday and rest of the week all!!!!

If I write it they will come....

2009-07-08T23:39:00.002-05:00

back, i hope. Sorry I haven't posted lately. It's been a life of running home from the full-time job, changing, running to the baseball games, coming home and going to bed and then doing it all over again sometimes throwing my overnight job in there as well. Now I'll be adding a whole new dimension. In T-minus 9 days, I will be starting Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping classes. It's 10 weeks, 6 days a week. And to fit it into my schedule, my class is at 5am. So therefore I'll be up at 4 am to let the puppy out, get dressed and get to class by 4:45 am. Then at 6 I'll head home to shower and head to work at 7:30am. It's going to be busy but I think with the exercise thrown in there and a new healthier eating diet plan, I should find that I have lots more energy to get through the day....Plus I'll be getting into way better shape. I can't wait to see and work those muscles that according to the commercial, I didn't even know I had. My one friend at work is already jealous and says she turns the radio station every time she hears it. She wants to do the program but can't afford it right now. I'm lucky enough to have saved enough money from the Baseball games that I could pay for it. My friend is going to follow the meal/diet plan with me though and work out on her own so hopefully we can continue to support each other. As far as I know, I don't think I can post any updated pictures of myself so since most people who read my blog only see me once a week if that, hopefully the results will be noticeable. I'm just excited to get rid of the jiggle and fit back into some old clothes. I'm also excited for the healthier meals and getting used to eating healthy again. Although going without sugar is going to kick my butt in a serious way. Sundays are the "fun day" so if you're at church and hear crinkling noises coming from the back of the chapel, that's just me getting as much out of my "fun day" as possible. And to those of you who have kids in nursery don't worry, I won't steal too many of the nursery snacks (but if it's your turn to bring the snack bucket, chocolate and cookies are always good ideas...for the kids of course (-: Well, hope all is going well for everyone this summer.....and to those who offered a get-together for ice cream on Facebook, give me a holler and we'll set up a time.....I only have 9 days left to enjoy it....(-:

Our newest addition.......

2009-06-13T00:08:00.003-05:00

Well, Shaun and I have been wanting to get a dog for quite awhile now and on Wednesday, we finally did. Janice is excited about it as well. Since we know we're going to be here (Janice's house) for awhile longer, we decided why not start to really settle in. We know our stay here is for as long as we need, which is tremendously helpful at this point.

So, our newest addition is a 6-week-old AKC beagle named Brutus Tiberius. Weird name, I know, but he looks like a Brutus. The best part is that Shaun always wanted to name our first-born son Brutus Tiberius. Now that our dog is named Brutus, he can't name a child that. Score one........Million........for me. So here are some pictures from his first day home. He's adorable. I can't wait til he's even bigger so we can really start to go for walks and stuff. Right now he just chases us in the yard when we take him out to potty.

He's teething right now which means lots of fun toys for him to chew on rather than chewing on my fingers. He's going to Des Moines tomorrow so my parents can meet him. They're excited to meet their newest grand-dog. My mom refuses to call him Brutus though and says she'll call him Brew....Shaun says "great....beer." My dad heard his name.....paused for about ten seconds then said "you're going to give him a complex"....not totally sure what that might be but once they meet him, they'll be in love. Closest thing to a grandchild they're going to have for a while.....unfortunately. We're still coming up with his AKC Registered name. I think we need a few more weeks or months to really get to know him, then we'll be able to find something appropriate. Cutie Pie probably wouldn't be very good for a male dog.....................

My Mini Photographers...

2009-06-02T23:09:00.003-05:00

So, as many who read this blog know, I am in the nursery for 2 hours every Sunday...which I totally love!!!! Well, there is a little brightly colored toy camera that causes many fights but is also well played with. The kids love to take the adults' picture. So this last Sunday I had my camera with me to get some new pics for our board and I thought it would be a fun idea to let the kids take a picture of me while I took a picture of them. Here are just a few of them.....in some their faces were showing and I didn't want to post those without permission.

These should be up on the board this Sunday. Can you tell who's who? Aren't they adorable?!

So true.

2009-05-23T21:26:00.003-05:00

I have this as the desktop background on my computer and it will soon be a framed 8x10 on my nightstand. It's really been the one inspiration helping me to keep going lately. Going to Nauvoo today was also very helpful. I've been needing that. It was so awesome that we are going again next Saturday. If I could afford it I would go on one of my days off every week. I feel like right now I need the comfort I feel when I'm in the temple to be a constant. I guess I'll have to see what I can work out.

And on a totally different note....I've been thinking a lot about writing a book over the last few years and I think I'm ready to start. I was really inspired by some John Bytheway CDs we listened to on our way to and from Nauvoo today. I'm going to try cutting out TV at night and going to bed earlier so I can get up earlier and work on writing the book. I'll have to see how it goes.

Something is missing...

2009-05-17T22:44:00.002-05:00

I will start this by saying this is going to be one of my most personal posts but since this is also sort of like an online journal it feels okay to write this.For a very long time I have looked forward to having children and a family of my own. Each week I work with the kids in nursery and I love every minute of it. I love kids as I think many people know. I have dreamed of the opportunity to carry a child of my own; to feel it move inside me and to finally hold it in my arms. I know that sort of romanticizes things but my desire and longing to have children is more than I can put into words.Since the day we were married we have tried to start a family. Within about the last year we have learned that starting a family is going to be a much harder and much more expensive process than most people experience. When i see friends with their kids or when I see friends who are expecting, a part of my heart truly aches for what is missing in my life. I feel very sad and usually just wait for the ache to pass.
Today that ache hasn't gone away so easily. The sadness has lingered a little longer lately. I know thay my turn will come. I know that I am learning patience and that things come on the Lord's time. I know that Heavenly Father loves me. He has promised me and Shaun a family and I know that I can trust Him and I know that it will happen. I also know that Heavenly Father has been with me, especially today, drying my tears and reminding me how much He loves me. I am grateful for this knowledge and my many blessings. I know that I am sad now but I also know that those missing pieces will come to me someday and that sadness will be taken away. For that I am truly grateful.

We have a runner....

2009-05-15T22:11:00.003-05:00

So, I think on the door we need a sign that reads something to the effect of..."Beware. Flight Risk." or something you might see on the door to a mental hospital....I say this for two reasons: 1. Some days it can feel like we're all a little mental around here (hence our family motto "Remember, as far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family." And it is truly our motto because we have it on a magnet on our back door which we use to exit the house on a daily basis (-: 2. We have cats who like to escape...at the most inopportune times. This is my reason for the flight risk sign at the present moment.

Tonight, when Shaun got home, he sat in the car for a few minutes in the driveway before he came in the house. Well, Small Fry, one of our cats who is also a "daddy's boy" since I sort of acquired the cat and Shaun around the same time, and who by-the-way really isn't all that small, got very anxious to see him since Shaun hasn't been home since 7 this morning. Small Fry cried at the back door and his cries got louder and louder and more upset. I was just about to go out and tell Shaun to come in when he finally opened the back door. Small Fry at that point decided to make a run for it. He headed out into the garage (our back door is actually the door that leads to the garage and is called such since we don't have a real back door..anyway...) and was snifffing around. I ran outside to catch him and Small Fry decided to run out of the garage and under the massive evergreen tree. What made all this really hard is that it was almost 10:00 at night and completely dark outside. Long story short, we finally caught Small Fry when he ran out from under the tree and back into the garage. We were upset with him but the innocent look in his eyes was too cute to stay mad at. His eyes looked like the thing the cat in Bolt does when begging for food, if anyone has seen that.

So, anyway. Small Fry is safe inside...actually laying near my feet testing the waters to see if he's still in trouble. I know this whole thing may sound a little ridiculous, but our cats are pretty much our kids at this point....not that I'm in anyway saying it's anywhere near the same...just that since we don't have kids they get a lot of attention. So, that's my excitement for the night. I hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll include a picture or two of Small Fry, which many people refer to as Super Size Fry....but he was the smallest kitten I'd ever seen so his name at one point did match.

Here is Small Fry under said tree...but in this shot I let him out and it was daylight and he didn't run and hide in wet, muddy stuff.

Daddy's Boy

He's not dead, he's sleeping in this picture. This is how he usually sleeps. To get a better idea of his size, these are three of my shoes and I wear size 9.....
Small Fry found an empty shelf and decided he needed to make it his little hideout. This was after I found him and opened the cupboard door. There is a door next to it that is off the hinges and that's how he got into this shelf. When I found him he was looking out watching me call for him.
Small Fry, my little cowboy....this is from last Halloween. He really did like his costume because when I put it on one of my other cats, he got mad and pulled the hat off with his teeth.

Well, hope everyone has a great weekend.

A remodel update...

2009-05-04T20:06:00.008-05:00

So, I saw a friend at the store today and when she told me she'd noticed I hadn't blogged in a while, I felt loved and like people really are interested in what goes on around here. So that kinda sounds cheesy, but thank you for that even if it seemed like a minor thing at the time. So I decided to post some pics of the remodel. It took a twist today as we were trying to install the new electrical wiring for the new lights. There is one wall that was wood paneling and we had thought about dry walling it to make it look nicer but we couldn't really afford it. Well, we found out today that we're going to have to afford it because when the wall was put in, they put in extra studs and there was no way to put in wiring without drilling through the studs. You'll be able to see in the pics. So we decided to rip out the wall and we'll be putting up drywall....hopefully soon. I've included some before and during pics on here with a little description for each. I hope that soon I'll be putting up the final after pictures.

This is one of the walls before it was primed.

And here's the same wall after two coats of Kilz.

This is the big concrete wall. In the upper right-hand corner is the drain from the bathtub. We replaced that plumbing to put in something that can be covered by the drywall ceiling.

Here's the same wall with a coat of Kilz.

And this is that same wall. We moved in some of our furniture over the weekend. You can also see the new ceiling. I did a lot of it myself which was totally awesome.

Here's the wall by our bedroom. You can see the wood paneling on the wall and around the support beam. We pulled all that down.

And here it is with a coat of Kilz and the support beam exposed at the top of the pic.

This is the wall/door by the laundry and shower area. You can really see the wood paneling here.

Here's with a coat of Kilz before we knew the paneling had to come down.

And here it is minus the wood paneling. You can see the gray beam on the top. This wall will be drywalled soon.

Here's the ceiling and light fixture before.

And after the drywall, with the new can lights. They will make the room much brighter along with the white walls.

Here's the stairwell. It will be drywalled also to make the hall look more put together.

And here's a bunch of our stuff being stored in a spare bedroom until we get the living room done. I think the black will be an awesome contrast to the white.

Me cutting a hole in the ceiling for the lights....with a POWER TOOL!!

And me with drywall dust in my eyes, even though I was wearing safety glasses.

And back to cutting the hole for the light. Not too bad for my first try.

Well, hope everyone enjoyed the photos. I''ll add some more as soon as we make some more progress. Happy Tuesday to all.

It's all in the little things.

2009-04-24T23:42:00.003-05:00

So, I know I haven't posted in a while but I really like to only post fun, positive, interesting stuff and life hasn't been so good the last few weeks...actually months...but anyway tonight I am really wide awake although exhausted so I decided to post about the changes coming to the Stern house....and I do mean literally The House.

So, the first thing to be done is that we have a new back door. Like my title says, "It's all in the little things." A new back door isn't a lot (it's actually the door to the garage but since it's the only other door besides the front one, we call it the back door) but it is so much better than the old one. It shuts automatically and it has a dead bolt too. The old one was literally held together by duct tape and all you had to do was pull a little and it would come open, even if it was locked. Since our garage door doesn't shut, that was very unsafe. Now it's much safer. The garage door will be fixed soon so that will help with the safety as well.

The other big change happening right now is in the basement. I am working on turning what is now called "the room between the rooms" (since it is between Shaun's and my room and Chris's room) into our living room. We are painting the walls "Wedding White" which is like whiter than white and really brightens up the room and we are putting in a ceiling. And then we are going to move our stuff in and it is going to be awesome. I am taking pictures throughout the process so I'll post those once everything is done.

Other changes coming this summer involve the outside of the house. We are going to strip the paint off the front and one side (we can't afford the whole house at the present time) and repaint it. We are also changing the color of the trim. Then we are going to rip out the two front gardens and get rid of all the ugly weeds and the big red concrete block thingys (we are giving these away. I'll put a picture up here but if anyone wants some or all, just come get them. They aren't bad looking they just won't fit with the new style of the house). Under the big front window, we are going to lay out bricks or something like that to make an area for a swing or bench. On the other side of the front steps, we are going to put statues and other decorative stuff instead of plants. Plants don't really survive here very well. Overall, by the end of the summer, the house should be looking pretty awesome and I'm going to be completely exhausted.

I think it will be some really nice changes. We are getting stuff cleaned up and uncluttered and little makeovers here and there. The next big project to tackle will be the bathroom but I think we'll need a good year to save up for the expense of that. So, by May 4th, the basement will be done and I'll post pics of that. As soon as I finish painting the inside of the new door and we get the trim back up, I'll show that. It completes the living room makeover that I did for Janice for her birthday last summer.

Well, that's my good news and interesting info to share. Have a great weekend everyone....(-:

New post from email.

2009-04-15T23:42:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I just set up posting from email so I thought I'd give this a try. Not too much to update. I need to get the curly hair pics posted but I've been super busy and not on my computer very much. I'm getting it highlighted this weekend so I may wait until that's done and post even better pics. Well, anyway, I hope this works. If it does, I can post blogs on my break at work from my phone. That will be so nice....we'll see.

My new...er, lack of....hair!!

2009-04-09T21:13:00.004-05:00

Okay, I did it!! I got my hair cut today. I donated around 11-12 inches of my hair to Locks of Love. Here are some pics. She divided my hair into three pony tails to cut it off. There was a lot of it and she didn't even use the sides, as you'll see in the pictures.

Here's the before. My hair was very long, but it was so heavy and thick that it made my head hurt when I would pull it up.

Here she puts it in the three ponytails. You can see the extra hanging down in front that she didn't use to send to Locks of Love.

Here's the first cut!!!

Here's the second cut!!

And here's the final cut!!

And here's some of the rest of my hair....on the floor.

Here is the after with me holding the bag full of hair that will be sent to Locks of Love.

Here's one last, closer shot of the final new do!!

Well, tomorrow after I wash my hair I'll play around with the curly look. I'm expecting it will be pretty curly. I'll take pics and post them...if I like how it looks.

For my friend...

2009-04-08T21:52:00.002-05:00

So my friend at work (you know who you are) looked at my blog and was disappointed that I wasn't writing everyday. So I'll post an entry just so she'll have something to read...(-:

There hasn't been too much exciting going on for the last few weeks but today has brought huge exciting news..at least for me. First, I decided today that I am going to cut my hair. I thought about just a few inches but decided I didn't want to cut it just for myself, so I have decided that I am going to get it ALL cut off, as in 10+ inches that will be donated to Locks of Love. It's happening tomorrow, Thursday, at 1pm at Jiva Salon on Main St. in Cedar Falls so if anyone wants to lend some moral support, come join me. I know it's only hair but I've grown somewhat attached to it and with cutting so much off, it's going to be very short. I'm really excited for it though...and a little scared. I'll post pics on here after it's all over.

On another AWESOME note, we received a package from my parents today. In it were some Easter gifts, as is their tradition. There was also an anniversary gift for Shaun's and my 3rd anniversary, a little early, but totally AWESOME. They got us tickets to see Kenny Chesney at the Wells Fargo Arena on May 7th. The opening acts are awesome too. We also have a hotel room for the night so we won't have to drive back so late. It was very exciting to open that part of the gift. My mom had put together a really cute scrapbooking type card with all the details of the gift. Janice says I'm spoiled but this kind of stuff only really happens once in a great while and gift giving is what my parents do. I am hugely appreciative of what they gave us and I called right away to let them know. I think I'm way more excited than Shaun is, but we'll go shopping at the half price book store and he'll be happy the whole trip (-:

So, my friend, here's a post for you. I'll try to keep up on my blog. Hope everyone has a great rest of their week.

Not so Home Sweet Home

2009-03-28T17:09:00.006-05:00

Well, we made it to San Antonio and back without too many difficulties but I missed being in San Antonio before we'd even left to come back home. I really loved being there. It was like coming home when we first arrived. I've never had that happen any place else I've vacationed to. Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to live there again. For now, I'll post some of the fun pictures from the trip.

Here's a shot I took of the Riverwalk and one of the boat tours. We ate at the restaurant with the colorful umbrellas. It's called Casa Rio. Very good food.

Here's the Alamo. It was very busy so we didn't end up going inside.

And here's me inside a cut out of the world's largest man at the Guiness World Records Museum.

A seagull flying over the Gulf of Mexico. We went to a beach on North Padre Island/Corpus Christi. It was beautiful. That's where I made the "sand angel" shown in my picture above.

This is a huge sand castle-like thing on a big souvenir shop on the island.

Giraffes at the Wildlife Ranch drive-through park. It was awesome. We had some animals come right up to the car. An ostrich tried to stick its head in my window but I screamed (-: and it walked away.

The San Antonio Temple.

Me in front of the Temple.

Another shot of the Temple with the sun setting behind it.

On the last day, I laid out by the pool at our hotel for most of the afternoon. It was gorgeous. I'm glad it was cloudy the day we left or I might have stayed!

I posted lots more pics on my Facebook if anyone were interested in seeing more......

and then there were 12.....

2009-03-10T22:17:00.004-05:00

So, as I said in my other post, I discovered there are not just 6 Disney Stores between Oklahoma City, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, there are 12. So I broke the news to Shaun and here was the reaction......

So, not too thrilled...actually, he knew I was going to take a picture so he overdid it a little. But still funny.

On that note, I have to say today has been a very stressful day and I am sooooo ready for vacation. When I got home, I needed a nap. I've been sick and I did not sleep for more than a half hour last night....and sadly that is not an exaggeration. So, I got about a half hour of sort-of sleep and then my dad called. He was super pissed because he and my mom keep getting calls from my car loan company wanting to get ahold of me to pay off my car. I've been making payments every time I get paid, but they want it all now since the car was totalled last June and the other insurance company's payment didn't pay off the total loan. So, my dad was way peeved and was threatening to call the Attorney General and Better Business Bureau and his attorney and all this other stuff because the messages the woman leaves are pretty harassing. I get them everyday, but when they get my parents involved, I get peeved too. I've been doing all I can to get it all paid off but it's been slow going. I usually just erase the messages she leaves because there's nothing more I can do. So tonight after talking to my dad, I decided that even though I desperately need a vacation...especially for my mental health right now....that I would take some of the vacation money and pay off the rest of my car. I am currently rearranging our plans to make it all work with the funds we have left. I am hoping to still have as much fun as we planned before. Since many of the places to visit in San Antonio are free, we are good there. It's just some of the museums that we have to pay for. We'll try to save money on meals also by packing lunches instead of going to restaurants.

So anyway, after I spoke with my dad and then made the payoff payment, I was super angry and I just wanted to call this woman who constantly leaves harassing messages and just tell her how I feel, but I know I'd be repenting for years to come, so I won't be doing that. And even though I should have just paid bills or gotten ahead on bills rather than taking a vacation, I just know I seriously need a mental health break. I haven't been able to take any time off of work since October. The only thing that is sort of comforting is that I was able to make all my car payments online. This woman who was trying to get money from me always wanted me to pay through her and would try to tell me there was no other way. I know, since I used to work in collections, that if I had paid through her, she would have gotten some commissions. And since she was so rude and demeaning and demanding I didn't feel that she deserved that. But anyway, it's done and over and hopefully now I can move on with my life.

Ok, so I apologize for my rant. Hope everyone has a good rest of the week....Bring on 4am Saturday morning (that's when we leave!!!!).

San Antonio.....by way of 12 Disney Stores!!

2009-03-07T19:09:00.003-06:00

OK, so as my vacation countdown shows, it is now less than a week until we leave for San Antonio, and I've found out that there are 12 Disney Stores between Oklahoma City and San Antonio--including some in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and as I am slightly obsessed, we will stop at quite a few of these if not all. When I first looked up the info, I only found 6 stores, but we recently decided to make a stop in Dallas to see some of those sites so I looked up Disney Stores in that area and found a few more. So, the picture that follows was taken at the moment I told Shaun and his mom how about the 6 stores. I'll try to get one of him when I tell them there are actually 12!!!

Sorry about the shadow, I forgot to take the lens filter thingy off.

Interview Part 2

2009-03-05T23:11:00.003-06:00

Here are links to the first and second parts of the interview.....It's only the articles. The video isn't posted anymore for the second part.
#1 http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=9915646&nav=menu82_8

#2 http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=9957474&nav=menu82_8

New Camera!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-28T21:07:00.005-06:00

I got a new camera yesterday and I am so excited. For some people, a new camera would be nothing, but for me, who works with photos and such everyday, it's a HUGE thing...(-:

I took it to the hockey game last night and finally got some decent pictures of the players that weren't just a blur on my camera screen. The zoom on this thing is awesome too. As an example, I'll post two pictures. The first shows a picture with no zoom from where we are sitting and the other is zoomed to the opposite side of the arena.

The area that I zoomed in on is circled in this picture.

This is the picture I got after zooming in....AWESOME!!!

And this is a photo of the camera I got!!!!!!!!!!

So, I just thought I'd share my excitement. Now I'll have awesome pictures when we go on vacation. And speaking of which, I had the idea today that we should stop at Adam-ondi-Ahman on the way down since it's right off I-35. We'd get there about 8am and I am hoping that it will be a sunny morning. That should make for an awesome visit. No matter what the weather though, it's an awesome place to be. So I will have pictures of that too. YAY!!!

Thank You, Thank You.

2009-02-28T19:34:00.003-06:00

This will be a short post, but I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone for your support and wonderful comments about the interview. My therapist was interviewed for next week's segment so it should be good as well. Again, thank you all. (-:

Here is the interview.

2009-02-27T07:06:00.002-06:00

The video got a little messed up so now I'm just posting a link to the story and you can view the video that way. Here is the link:

http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=9915646&nav=menu82_8

Let me know if something doesn't work. Thanks.

Quick Update

2009-02-26T22:27:00.002-06:00

There will be another part to the interview next week on Thursday at 10pm. I'll post the first part tomorrow night. Next week it looks like they'll show more of my interview and then there will be a therapist who will talk about stuff too. So, anyway, it's weird to be on TV but I'm glad what I said made sense. I wasn't sure how it would sound. So, that's all. Thank you for everyone's support and interest. It makes it so much easier to know I am doing the right thing. (-:

An Interesting Development...

2009-02-25T23:15:00.001-06:00

So, I found out today that the person who was supposed to do the interview for KWWL's Health Plus for next week was unable to do it, so they are turning this week's into a two part. I'm not sure if I'll be in both or exactly how this will all work but I know they did another interview to have the view of a counselor. So I guess we'll all find out tomorrow night when it airs. It's on KWWL on the 10pm news right after the weather. Let me know what you all think if you see it. I'm just sorta curious. I hope it turns out well.

The Strangest Thing Happened...

2009-02-21T23:30:00.002-06:00

So today while I was at work, I was thinking about my plans for tonight. Shaun and I have tickets to all the rest of the Black Hawks Hockey games for the season and tonight there was a game. I was kind of thinking that I didn't want to go tonight but that I'd rather go see a movie. I talked to Shaun about it and he said he wanted to go to the game but if I didn't want to go that was fine. After I got off the phone later this afternoon after telling Shaun that I wasn't going to go to the game and after telling Janice that we should go to a movie....aaand after Shaun reassuring me that he was fine with going to the game by himself...I had a really bad feeling that I just couldn't shake. I talked to a couple people at work because it was really unsettling. It was also overwhelming. I felt like I needed to go to the hockey game and that I shouldn't be going to the movie...but I thought I had made up my mind. After a while of trying to get rid of the feeling, I decided that I would go to the game rather than to a movie. Immediately, the feeling of uneasiness left me. I called home again and told Janice what I had been feeling and my new decision about what my activities for the night would be. The feeling never came back. As I thought about it, I thought maybe there would be something tragic that would occur where if I'd gone to the movie I'd have been involved. A million things raced through my mind and I still don't know why I had to make the decision to go to the game rather than going to the movie but I do know I made the right choice. It turned out to be a good game and the Black Hawks won, but I believe there is a much deeper reason for why I did what I did. I don't know what that reason is, I just know it's there. It was most definitely not a still, small voice speaking to me today. It was a very active screaming...and I heard it and I listened. It was all very strange and I don't know the meaning but I know I did the right thing.

San Antonio...Here We Come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-19T00:28:00.003-06:00

No, I am not moving there, although I would LOVE to move back. We (as in me, Shaun and Janice) are going to San Antonio, TX for Spring Break....in less than a month....and I am SOOOOOOOO Excited!!!!! I love San Antonio and I really need a vacation. I am a little worried that I won't want to come back or I'll really want to move there again, which I already sort of do, but sometimes the feeling gets so urgent that I can't hardly stand it. I haven't been back since I moved back up here in May of 2004 and I'm so excited to get to go back with Shaun and Janice. I will get to share everything I did then with the people I am closest to now. It really doesn't get any better than that. And we're all really excited to go so I know that it will be awesome. We leave March 14th and we're back on March 22nd...ish. There is so much to do there that we'll be going non-stop but it's all so exciting. There's never a dull moment. So, as the time gets nearer, my excitement will grow...and I'll probably share it on here a little more. Then I can do daily posts while I'm there. A little virtual vacation for some...I guess. So anyway, yay tax refunds and YAY San Antonio!!!!!

Interview Update....

2009-02-17T21:47:00.003-06:00

Okay, so the interview was this afternoon and I think it went very well. I was complimented several times for being brave and so willing to do the interview. I sent some pictures too so they will be included in the story. It will air on Thursday the 26th (a week from this Thursday) on the KWWL 10pm news. It will be on again the next morning, Friday, between 5 and 6. On Thursday night it comes on right after the weather. So, overall it was really interesting. I basically just answered Tara's questions about the history of my eating disorder and what I think caused it, and then some more in-depth questions about how I think and some behaviors. I am interested to see how it all edits down to about a minute and a half. I'll post it on here as soon as it's up on the internet. Hope everyone has a good rest of the week.

Tomorrow's the BIG Day...

2009-02-16T23:05:00.002-06:00

Although at the time I'm writing this it is almost tomorrow, I can still say that tomorrow is the big day of the interview. It will happen around 230pm and then it airs a week from Thursday. I think I mentioned it before, but the video will be on the internet and I'll post it on here too, or at least a link. I'm sorta nervous, but I haven't been feeling all that great for a couple days so that's been in the forefront. I guess as it gets closer to tomorrow afternoon the nerves will probably increase.

So, other than that, it's actually been a rough week or so. Mostly of my own doing, but that's a whole other topic. Life seems pretty...um..what's the word I'm looking for...boring, mundane....I'm really not sure. I just know that I really need a vacation. Hopefully we'll be planning one for Spring Break but it's still up in the air. A nice getaway I think would help a lot right now. Hopefully it will all work out. I should know more after we get our tax information back tomorrow.

Wow, tomorrow is a big day....the interview and a possible vacation in the works. Hopefully I can sleep soon so tomorrow will come faster (and that totally reminds me of when I was younger and I would ache to fall asleep on Christmas Eve because I thought that if I was asleep Christmas morning would come faster...oh to be a kid again).

Well, til tomorrow.......

Not so good weekend

2009-02-09T18:26:00.003-06:00

Sorry to go so long without blogging but it's been a kinda rough last few days (actually weeks) and I just haven't been able to come up with something not so depressing to blog about. But, since I don't like to bore others with my woes, I'll go through all the stuff I did today...on my day off.

I just love feeling like I've accomplished something. I started out by getting all of the tax stuff together and sent off to my Aunt-in-Law. She's a CPA and does our taxes for us. Hopefully we will get money back so we can take a little Spring Break trip to somewhere warmer. Then I did a little shopping and spent money on myself, with permission of course. Then I went to a CPR class so that I can be certified and not get fired from my part-time job. Tonight I'm going to work out with my friend and catch up on everything I missed at work today...because for some unknown reason I just can't go too long without knowing all the happenings. I guess it's good to like the place I work. It definitely makes it easier to go to work everyday.

So, hopefully things will start to look up. But at least today I kept busy and accomplished a few things. And I got a post written. That's something too. (-:

Have I mentioned that I HATE Winter?!?!?!

2009-02-05T13:29:00.002-06:00

So, last night I had to work until close, which is 10pm. We usually get out around 1030ish depending on who is working. Well, by the time we got the alarm working properly, it was after 11 and I was exhausted. I got into my freezing cold car and turned up the heat. Then I called to say I was on my way home so that we could switch cars in the garage when I got there. I was told during this conversation that I might need an extra blanket because for some reason, the heat wasn't working. I decided that I would get warm in the car and then as soon as I got home I'd run down to bed and stay warm under the covers. I thought maybe it was just a little cold in the house and that I'd be okay. Well, I was Wrong...capital W. When I went to bed it was around 55 degrees in the house. It got down to the middle 40s during the night. I had two cats under the covers with me and one at the foot of the bed all trying to suck heat from me. It turned into a very cold night. I would never have survived before the invention of the furnace. And I'm not ashamed. I like to be warm. I Love Summer. The hotter the better which is why I loved living in San Antonio, where it rarely snows.

So...this morning the furnace people came to fix it and did some routine maintenance to get everything back working the way it should. And as an added blessing, it didn't cost anything since Janice has been paying monthly for a membership to cover yearly maintenance for summer and winter. It ended up the problems would have been fixed through our winter maintenance anyway, so our emergency, no heat call became our routine maintenance call. Such a huge blessing!!

So, now that it's starting to warm up, I realize I am so thankful that I live now and not back in the "old days" with no central heating. I also like indoor plumbing, but that would be an entirely different blog post (-:

On another note, the interview is only 12 days away. It will air on KWWL on Thursday, February 26th. I don't know the time yet, but I'll fill in those details soon.

Long time, No blog

2009-02-03T21:24:00.002-06:00

So, it's been awhile since I've even looked at my laptop, let alone checked my email or blogged, so I decided I should do all of the above tonight. I've been pretty busy lately, and horribly tired. By the time I've been getting home at night it's so hard to keep my eyes open that email, etc are out of the question. The bad part is that even with being that tired, I have a really hard time falling asleep. Lying awake being completely exhausted for hours is SOOOO frustrating. I'm hoping I'll be able to take some time off soon. Maybe a little relaxation will help? Hopefully.

On another note, I finally had some time to work out tonight and it was very productive. It seems weird, but working out and taking time to stretch really well help my back and knee feel better. So that was a nice change since on Sunday I could hardly get out of the chair without serious back pain, even after sitting on the heating pad for hours. So, the exercise was good.

And, on that note, I think I'll head to bed. Hope everyone has a happy Wednesday.

Nervous Wreck.......!

2009-01-27T22:19:00.002-06:00

So, I'm trying not to dwell too much on this up-coming interview but I had to do some thinking over the weekend because on Friday, I got an email from the person who asked me to do it saying that she would like me to write up a brief history that can be forwarded to the PR guy and the local newscaster who is doing the interview. Just basically to get a better idea of what kinds of questions to ask and to know more about me and my history. So...I knew I had the weekend to get things together but I just could not find the inspiration to start. How do I collapse the past 25 yrs or so into a brief synopsis????

So finally on Sunday night, while I was at work and bored out of my mind, the inspiration hit and I started writing. At one point my manager saw me writing and he joked to me (it went something like this):
Manager: What's that? A love letter?
Me: No, it's my life story.
Manager: On ONE Page?!
Me: No, it's closer to three. See, with all this stuff I wrote on the margins. Plus I wrote front and back.

So I summarized as best I could and it ended up being one full page typed. My life all on one page...if only it was that simple. Monday morning I sent the email off and was super nervous...like what if they see that and think this is way more info than we needed...basically I could think of nothing else and waited for a response, checking my email several times an hour. I finally got a response today that said my summary was wonderful and would be very helpful.

As I've read over what I wrote, I think of everything else that there is to my life. Saying my life fits on one page is like saying there is only one star in the universe. I could write a whole book...which I actually have started although I don't know that anyone would really want to read it but me. It's mostly to have all my notes and journals and poems in one organized spot.

Anyway, this blog entry has been very therapeutic. And in reference to my last entry and how busy I've been, I am exhausted and going to bed now....Yeah!

I'm what you call a Blog Slacker...

2009-01-26T17:26:00.002-06:00

So I have decided that I am a blog slacker. I check everyone's blog everyday but I don't always write in mine. I love to see what's going on with everyone and now I feel the need to update.

I got some background information on myself written up for the interview and emailed that off. It's only three weeks from tomorrow. Yikes....

This last weekend Shaun and I splurged a little and bought tickets to the hockey game. It was totally worth it. The game was very exciting and they won which makes it even better. I also had to work all weekend and was looking forward to my day off today. I worked Sunday from 1-930pm at Walgreens and then 10p-7am at Goodwill. 19 hours of working was a lot and I was totally ready to spend the day off doing laundry and getting caught up on things around the house....but at 8:15 this morning, after being home for only 45 minutes, I got a call to work today from 9-5. Since we really need the money, I agreed. I hurried to the shower and set off. Now I'm home, but I leave again in a few minutes to go to a friend's jewelry party. Then tomorrow morning at 630am, I have an MRI scheduled for my knee, and then I work 8-430 and then I babysit at 530pm and then whenever I get done with that I am heading to a friend's house for some Rock Band and just to reconnect. Then back to work on Wednesday. Busy but could be worse.

So, that's about the extent of it. Now I must go change over the laundry quick before I leave.

~~~~~sincerely, the Blog Slacker (-:

It's a go...

2009-01-20T18:49:00.002-06:00

Well, the interview is on. It will be taped on the 17th. I don't know exactly when it will air, but I'll find out eventually I guess. Next week I'll get a list of the possible questions...I won't know the actual ones until they are asked, but since it's basically all about me, I don't think the answers should be too hard. At least I know I won't get any wrong. So, I'm kinda nervous, but kinda excited at the same time. Maybe I can use this as an excuse to shop for some new clothes...and then again...

An Interesting Proposal...

2009-01-15T20:18:00.004-06:00

So I was checking my email tonight and I got an email about an opportunity to be interviewed by a local news reporter for Eating Disorder Awareness week in February. I responded that I would be interested. I guess basically it will involve telling my story and it would be on TV at some point. I think that if I get the opportunity to participate that it will be a very interesting experience. I've never been one to tell about my eating disorder without being asked, although if someone asks, I've never had anything to hide and I have always talked openly about it. The person who asked me said that she thought I might be interested since I have an eloquent way of telling how I feel. I guess that is true most of the time. I think that if I can help raise awareness of eating disorders by talking about my life/story, then it is a good cause. I am definitely interested in learning more and, if anyone is interested, I'll update on what I find out. The last time I was on TV was sometime around my 4th or 5th birthday when I was on The Floppy Show at channel 13 in Des Moines (it was an old kids show that was on everyday around noon...google it for more info)....and all I did then was tell a knock-knock joke to a dog sitting in a box on a guy's lap...Interesting.

This is The Floppy Show...I'm not in this picture (it's from the internet), but that was pretty much how I remember it.

Have I mentioned that I love pictures?

2009-01-13T21:41:00.004-06:00

So I really love pictures...taking them, having them taken of me, etc. And I really love to look at them and remember fun times and see how things have changed. I also like to share them with family and friends and really anyone that may want to see them. Right now, I am working on organizing my pictures from this winter so far (which also includes hockey even though they are not all from the "winter" but it's cold to watch hockey so it feels like winter). Anyway, thought I'd share some more pics and have them on here so I can look and remember and enjoy anytime I log in...

Me and Tommy Hawk, the Waterloo Black Hawks Hockey Team Mascot

My favorite Black Hawks player and also an awesome player with definite chances in the NHL

Shaun with the Black Hawks goalie.

Me and my sis, ROCKBAND All-Stars!!

Shaun and me at the Black Hawks game on New Year's Eve, which they WON!!

Harley in her Christmas outfit getting her pic taken for our Christmas Cards, which I never got sent out.

Small Fry the Reindeer.

Zeus, not so happy.

Small Fry frolicking in the snow. He absolutely loved being out in the snow and never tried to run away.

More frolicking...

Well, that's just a few. I have lots more on Facebook in an album. If you're viewing this and we're not friends on Facebook, just look me up and request to be friends...if you're not on Facebook yet, try it out. It's a great way to keep in touch...Keep warm everyone (-:

...worth a thousand words...

2009-01-07T23:29:00.005-06:00

So I put one of Shaun's and my pics up, but there were some other really cute ones so I decided I would share them.

P.S. Sorry about the last post...just needed to write/vent/journal a little...

Here's a close up one.

This one totally looks like he's feeling me up...cute and funny too.

Just chillin'

More formal but mostly relaxed.

Now we were just being funny...

Another one being funny

And finally, we just needed to waste the last few pics on the film,
since we were using my Rebel 35mm.

Well, those are the other good ones. Enjoy and hopefully you'll laugh a little....we sure did. (-:

~Uneasy~

2009-01-06T22:02:00.000-06:00

Do you ever have something happen in life where whenever you think of it you feel a little achy, uneasy feeling inside. I had something like that happen a few months ago. When I got on the internet tonight, I was reminded of that incident and I started to feel uneasy again. Everything about what happened is something I would really like to forget. And seeing the people involved makes me just as uneasy. I also get angry because although the incident that happened had nothing to do with my family, they were affected...and my family is very important to me. I get very angry when people mess with my family. It's immature and very un-Christlike. But I know that in the end, I have to continue to deal with my own feelings through prayer and faith that Heavenly Father knows me and knows that I am doing the right thing.

In other news, I must say that this year so far is going very well compared to last year and my resolution to get more organized is coming along quite nicely. It feels really good to be happy (-:

"Happiness is loving and being loved in return." (I don't know if someone said that before I just made it up, but it really fits how I feel now)

Resolutions for 2009

2009-01-03T22:04:00.001-06:00

Well, since it's supposed to be a tradition, I decided to make a few resolutions for 2009. I usually don't, but I'm really feeling a push to do this now, so here they are...

1st: I am trying to get myself and my life organized, in every way. The biggest thing I am doing is getting Shaun and my part of the house organized like our room and the area outside our room in the basement so we can have a clean, organized living area. I also need to get the rest of my life organized, like bills so that hopefully we can get a little bit ahead sometime soon, and pretty much every other aspect too.

2nd: I am trying to get back into better shape. It's been hard since the car accident. When so much hurts, walking and doing exercise just doesn't seem very appealing, but I really need to get back to it and remind myself that it will help me feel better faster.

So, for now, that's about all I've resolved to do. I think once I've gotten that done, I'll resolve to do more. For now I've decided these two things are enough. I've actually gotten some goals set up to keep myself on track. Hopefully I make these resolutions a reality. Here we go...

It's been a while...

2008-12-27T20:38:00.000-06:00

So, what with working a lot the last week or so and watching my niece Kali (she's my sister's dog), I haven't really done a whole lot on my computer or blog. I do have some really cute pics of Kali...we played a lot tonight because I have to work overnight again tonight and I hadn't been home since 2:30 yesterday afternoon. I guess she missed me after I was gone for 26 hours. I missed her too...so here are some cute pics.

Here's Kali ready to play

Here the cat watches as Kali runs around with her toy.

Kali playing tug-o-war

Grrrr...gimme my toy....

Kali playing with Bandit...

Kali on her bed...ready for more play.
Kali's constant shadow...Bandit.

Kali all tuckered out, sleeping very soundly.

And finally, here's a little video of Kali as she follows me. I made it with my digital camera, so it's kinda bumpy and sideways as I walked or ran with Kali following me. She was my shadow just like Bandit was hers.

Reunited at Last...

2008-12-19T21:42:00.001-06:00

So, I got my computer back tonight!!!! I am very excited. Still not totally sure what happened to it as there was no virus found, but all my pictures (a couple thousand pictures actually) and other files were all saved. Now I just have to reset all my background and other settings. And I've had to remember all my passwords to various accounts so that I can log back in. I had them all set to remember, but with the crash of '08, I lost them all. Well, not much else to say now....except I really hate winter in Iowa. I like snow from a distance, but definitely not driving in it.

Love...Hate

2008-12-16T20:30:00.001-06:00

So, my computer crashed yesterday and my the husband of my absolutely wonderful friend is trying to fix it for me. I think it was some kind of virus, but that really stinks because I have good virus protection on it. It's not even a year old. So now I have to bribe computer time from my family members. I love computers and sometimes I can hate them too, but mostly Love....

So, hopefully my computer is fixed soon. I am going through a little withdrawl. It's how I mostly stay in contact with friends over long distances, and some not so far away...and also how I stay up on my current events. Maybe this time without a computer on my lap so much of the time will teach me how to get up and enjoy other things...or else I'll just do lots more reading because I really enjoy that. It's hard to tell especially since my back and now my knee have been giving me lots of troubles again. Like I've said before though, it could have been much worse.

On a brighter note, I took some pictures today that I think will be awesome. Once I get the film developed, I'll try to post them to share. Happy Holidays!!

Just an update...

2008-12-13T00:41:00.000-06:00

Well, my birthday (the first anniversary of my 29th birthday, to be exact) went pretty well. My friends at work signed a card and everyone wished me happy birthday. One of my managers made me a yummy chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. My friend gave me the most adorable Mickey and Minnie Christmas ornamant, and a little one that says "I love cats" because I DO!! I got a few other cards and some money which I am saving for the ultimate crafting tool, a Cricut Expression. It even cuts vinyl so I can make more words to put up on the walls. Tonight was my party and my friends house. It was a pretty small gathering, but it was a lot of fun. We sat around and ate and talked and then we played some Rock Band...that rocked!!! I love playing. I wish I could afford to take real guitar and piano lessons. I believe I have a small gift for music that I never used when I was younger, but that is waiting to come out now.

The only not so good things about the last few days is that my husband neglected to acknowledge my birthday. He did not say "Happy Birthday" or get a card or do anything to show he remembered. The same thing happened last year. I guess there's not much I can do about it and no use staying mad for too long. The other thing is that on Wednesday my knee started to hurt again very badly and it has also been swelling. Both of these things are not good and it is all still a result of the car accident that happened six months ago. It's rough to still be dealing with the pain on a daily basis, but I am alive and working and living life, so as much of a cliche as it is, I still believe that it could have been so much worse. Well, I must get to bed as it is almost 1 a.m. and I have to work in 7 hours....blah...

29 and holding...

2008-12-05T19:20:00.000-06:00

Only five days left until i am no longer in my 20s...and i don't think i'm really looking forward to being 30. My parents told me at thanksgiving that having a child that is going to be 30 makes them feel old. i believe you are as old as you feel, so i would guess i'm about 24 or 25. and from now on, i think i just might have anniversaries of my 29th birthday. so in about 5 days i'll celebrate the very first anniversary of my 29th birthday. also, i decided that since 30 is a sorta important birthday (though why I really don't know), i should have a party. so i then gave my husband and mother-in-law the task of planning it!! it's kind of turned into a joke around here. but there really is going to be a party and my friend from work has graciously helped plan a lot of it...so if you'd like to come, some invitations are on their way but just let me know and i'll let shaun know and he'll get you more info. i know there's a party but not sure about when or what time....so, here goes the quick countdown to my official 30th birthday, or in my world, the first anniversary of my 29th.

It's the Most Wonderful Time...

2008-11-28T22:48:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note since it's been a few days. Shaun and I went to my parents for Thanksgiving and it was nice. Now we're in Christmas mode. I worked at 630 this morning for Black Friday. It wasn't too bad and neither was the nice nap I took when I got home. My biggest and most exciting purchase today was a GPS system for myself. It's awesome!! I love it...especially because Shaun was so willing to get up early and stand in line to get it for me since I had to be at work. Beyond just a new toy, I really love this time of year. It can be a very commercially motivated time of year but it also brings us back to the birth of our Savior and the true meaning of why we're all here.

On another completely unrelated note, my favorite hockey team is on an 8-game winning streak. They beat their rival, CR, two nights in a row. Once at home and tonight on their ice. Tomorrow night is "date night" again. I'm waaaaaaay excited!! I hope they are able to keep it up. They are currently in second place in their division. Totally fun and exciting, for me at least...and Shaun!!

Date Night

2008-11-21T22:10:00.000-06:00

Well, tonight my husband and I had "date night" which in our house means hockey. I Love Hockey!! We both do. So we went to the game and watched the BlackHawks whoop up on the Storm, winning 5-0. It was awesome!!! The Storm took their starting goalie out within the first 5 minutes of the first period because we had already scored twice. Well, anyway, i know this is pretty boring to most anyone else. i really just like to write things that remind me of the fun we had. i love that shaun and i have something like this that we both love and we can go do together. it may not be something where we can sit and talk and stuff like that, but after the games, we can discuss the events of the game and which fights were the best. basically, it puts us on the same level. we have a few common interests, but most of the time, our lives are unfortunately going in 6 different directions. hockey gives us a chance to reconnect. and by saying our lives are going in different directions i don't mean that we're somehow growing apart. we are very much a team and very close, we are just a young married couple still trying to get our life started. with me working two different jobs and shaun working full time and going to school, things are crazy and hectic sometimes. even when we're home, we are usually doing two different things in two different parts of the house. since i still hurt a lot when i get home from work, because of the accident, it is usually most comfortable for me to lay or sit in bed while shaun is on his computer upstairs doing homework or something else for work. i guess what i'm trying to get at is how much i enjoy the times that we are able to reconnect. and there is nothing like a rowdy hockey game to do just that!!! i have to say that each year these games get better and the fans are awesome. it's a huge feeling of togetherness. it is such a blessing that we can have something that means a lot to both of us and that we can share our love for. sometimes, it's just those little things in life that mean so much...like date night.

Patience

2008-11-20T21:53:00.000-06:00

one last piece before i hopefully fall asleep...tonight i had a chance to babysit for some friends. their youngest is in the nursery at church on sundays and i get a chance to see her for two hours so she's more comfortable around me than if she didn't know me very well. so she was lying on the floor covered in a blanket and i thought she looked cold. i asked if she wanted to sit with me to stay warm and she said yes. so as we cuddled on the chair, i started to think about how badly i want to have a child of my own. this is a daily thing for me but not something that will be a reality in the too near future, unfortunately. and as frequently happens, i had a realization. i realized that i am still learning patience. i thought maybe that lesson was over since i was taught extraordinary patience as i waited for so long for my now husband to come in to my life and for us to get married. i dreamed since i was little about being married and the whole thing was perfect. i have also dreamed about having children. so tonight i was reminded that i am still in the process of learning patience. maybe my chance to be in the nursery each sunday is a way to help me cope as i wait for our turn to start a family. it makes me smile each time i see all the kids and i hear from their parents that they asked where i was when they hadn't seen me come in to church yet. i love their unconditional love. i also love that i know i will have children. and if it means i need a lesson in patience first, bring it on. i'm ready.

it's the little things

2008-11-20T21:17:00.000-06:00

so, today was my day off from my full-time job, but i had to do some training for my new part-time job. once i'm on next month's schedule, I'll only work overnights, but today i worked during the day so i actually got to interact with the people i work with/for. one of the videos i had to watch this morning for training was about brain injuries. it really got me thinking...lately i've been kinda down and a little frustrated that i'm still having pain from the injuries from my car accident (almost 6 months ago now), and the medical bills that come everyday and the headaches and the insomnia. i really believe that things could have been much worse but unfortunately that doesn't make what did happen any better. so anyway, when i was at work this afternoon, i was watching some of the people i work with playing basketball. they all have some form of brain injury or mental problem. they were playing 3-on-3 and the thing that most impressed me was that when one person would make a basket, everyone, from both teams, would high five or clap for that person. it was just such a little, simple thing that really showed they were there to have fun, to learn, and to be with friends. i really doubt anyone else noticed or really even paid attention, but i did. i love that everyday, at both my jobs, some kind of rewarding incident will happen. whether it's helping a customer and making them smile or seeing someone purely enjoy themself, it's just really awesome.

My first entry

2008-11-18T22:47:00.000-06:00

So I don't know exactly what to say yet...just that I have a lot to say but I'm not sure how to do it. There's so much going on in life right now and I really feel like I have been keeping it all just beneath the surface, hence the blog name. I want to put it all out there, but how do I know I can really trust...it's all so complicated yet so simple...it seems anyway.