5 Question Friday

Here lately when I type in the address to bring me to my blog my fingers keep hitting "40" instead of "30". I wonder if that's the universe reminding me that I'm getting old. Or if it is just bad typing skills when not using the numeric keypad.

It's been a long week. The hubs still doesn't have a job. We are hoping for an offer next week. He has interviewed with several companies. I'm trying not to worry too much about it. I'm trying to be thankful that we have some money saved that will buy us some time. We also have plans that will start being implemented towards the end of next week if he hasn't gotten a job. Like adding a roommate to help with paying the rent and utilities. It's not the ideal situation, but it's better than moving.

Tomorrow we will celebrate the life of my husband's cousin's wife, Diane that passed away earlier this week. It broke my heart to know that she would have been 32 the end of the month. Her life was so very, very short. More on that next week. I have an interesting thought process that I had the other morning. Which we will blame on a lack of sleep, and too much homework.

1. How often do you shave your legs in the winter?

I'm one of those crazy, weird people. I shave every.single.day. Rain or shine, sickness or health. My legs are removed of hair each day. My armpits are a whole 'nother story.

 

See, I have super sensitive skin, and shaving my under arms on a daily basis, I'm pretty sure that after day 3 I would die from the agony.

 

They itch, they hurt, I get razor burn or something else, that is just unnatural. So I only shave those when I can feel the hairs when I'm taking a shower, it comes out to about every 3-4 days.

 

I know that right now your thinking that is tons of hair, but amazingly so, I was blessed with sparseness in that area. I hope the older I get, the balder my arm pits get. That would be a bonus.

2. Valentine's Day cards for your spouse: funny or romantic?

Here's the deal. We often don't do cards for Valentine's Day. And the cards usually depend on how things have been going in our relationship. If we are having lots of fun and been on a goofy kick, we lean more towards the funny.

However, if we haven't been seeing each other, or if we have been really busy, we put more effort into the cards and what they say, and what we want to convey.

This year - the only Valentine he is getting is one written on the mirror. But I do have plans for an awesome dinner planned. Since we can't really afford to go out to eat to some where extravagant.

 

3. What are you most looking forward to about spring?

The warmer weather. The green brown that will continue through the spring thanks to the drought. I love the flowers, the birds chirping, the return of flip flops and capri's.

I love the pastel colors. I just love it all.

4. What's your favorite way to pamper yourself?

Not do homework. Read. Take a bubble bath. Take a nap on a random afternoon. I'm not much on pedicures or massages.

New clothes helps too. Usually because I'm cheap, hate to shop, and rarely buy new clothes.

 

5. Does your tax return go into savings or do you spend it instantly?

 

The last couple of years we have used our tax return for other purchases. Not instantly. We bought some new furniture last year, and part of the money went towards that. This year we had plans for some of our return, but not all of it.

 

We were going to take care of a few things that we have been neglecting to get done. Like a diagnostic on my car for a sensor issue. A 2nd TV in our house, so that my husband could have a man cave while I studied, but then I ended up turning his man cave into my office, where I study. So yeah. Maybe I hadn't thought that through completely.

 

With the jobless husband situation our tax return may go to help pay the bills. I hope not, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do to avoid moving in with the parents or the inlaws.

 

Have a happy weekend!

When it rains...

It seems like here lately all I do is post the stuff that is going wrong in my life.

Here lately there seems to be a lot of that.

My heart is heavy today. My brain is unorganized and my thoughts are scattered.

A family is missing their wife and mother.

Others are missing a friend.

Prayers for the family would be greatly appreciated.

Catchup

Just a few updates on things I've mentioned in the last month.

- John is still looking for a job. Say a prayer for him to find one soon. We are accepting donations.

- Granny is better and back at home. She does have a tumor on the lining of her brain, however, thankfully it is not malignant. They will be doing some radiation treatment that they have had huge success rates with. She won't loose her hair, as the type of treatment they are doing has very low side effects if any.

- School is crazy.

- There is way too much homework.

- Woke up the morning feeling icky, apparently I used my "get out of writing an actual blog post post" a day too soon.

- I could use a nap, but I don't think my boss would approve. Although he is currently snoring in his office, so perhaps what he doesn't know won't hurt him.

- I'm working on a couple of ideas for some weekly recurring themes around here.

- I have the worst luck with giveaways on my blog, sometimes they just won't go away.

- My niece is doing ok. She is seeing a counselor that is helping her to deal with everything going on in her life right now. So is her brother. We still are worried for her and about her, but she seems to be more resilient than we are.

- February is turning out to be a busy month between school and other obligations, that I'm thinking of officially starting a Spring Break countdown.

Well, I think that about sums it up. There wasn't a whole lot that went on around here, but I always hate when bloggers mention something and then never update about it. That's always the stuff that keeps me up at night. Well that and homework.

These are a few of my favorite things

I swore that I would try not to neglect this little blog anymore, simply because I wasn't in the mood. Well, today, I'm not in the mood. I'm tired, I'm grouchy, and I'm most certainly not in the mood to write a sarcastic blog post. Especially when most of what I want to do involves a nap.

So, because that's the case, and because I don't have much other excitement going on right now. I'm going to share a few of my most visited places on the world wide web.

FOOD
Tasty Kitchen - I use this when I just want ideas. There are tons of recipes for just about every single thing that you can imagine. I have made tons of recipes off this site and they are always wonderful and mouthwatering and leave us begging for more.

Pinterest - I have found some amazing recipes and amazing blogs through this handy little time waster. Not only can your friends help you find amazing recipes, pictures, tutorials, even crochet patterns, but you can repin your favorites and help your friends find things that you love to cook, bake, or even make!

Taste of Home - What can I say, I subscribe to a couple of the magazines because they just have some amazing recipes.

Picky Palate - Three words. Oh Em Gee! She has the weirdest recipes, probably known to man. But I don't care. They are amazing. They are rich. They are so hard to not hoard them from your husband and not tell him where you hid the leftovers. Not that I've done that.  Much.

BLOGS
The Pioneer Woman - She is funny. She can cook some amazingly, decadent, wonderful food. She lives on a farm. It's like my childhood with humor.

Kevin and Amanda - She can cook some amazing stuff. She gives great blog tutorials, photography tutorials, and heck, even cooking tutorials. She shares amazing finds and just neat little gadgets. She is funny, yet, sweet and personable at the same time. She is my go-to person for blog questions.

Lauren - She shares her life and her beautiful daughter Taylor, as well as her green beans. When I'm having a day where all I want to do is feel sorry for myself for not having a baby, I read Lauren's blog. Her faith, her life, her daughter are all an inspiration.

Amanda - She is an infertility survivor. Her story is amazing. She and her husband adopted a beautiful little girl. Her story is full of hope and joy.

Kit - She blogs about sex in the real married world. Well, the mostly real married world. She's snarky and funny and sarcastic. And if it were possible, I would like to borrow half of her self confidence and audacity, and I might be cool after all of that.


Enjoy! Hopefully I'll be more up to the task of an actual post tomorrow.

5 Question Friday

Thank goodness for weekends! It's been a very long week, so I'm thankful that for the next two days I don't have to go to work or to school.

Things are still crazy around here. Hubs still has no job (prayers would be appreciated). He is branching out next week, so hopefully something will pop up soon.

Granny is doing better. More updates on her next week

Things are going better, I just keep repeating that. But if you would still say some prayers for us, I would most certainly appreciate it. I'll give better updates next week!


1. What have you done recently that you are proud of?

Last semester I only did what I had to do in order to maintain my grades. I didn't do the things suggested, like reading chapters that we covered in lectures. This semester, I have actually put forth the effort.

The second thing is trying harder to watch what I eat. It's not optional. And I've put forth more effort the last week than I have before, and I'm really hoping to try harder the next week.

2. What is your favorite way to work out? Or if you don't workout, what are you wanting to try?

Does napping count as a workout? Actually my girlfriend does the Beach Body stuff, and she has gotten me addicted to kickboxing. At least when I do it. I usually manage to get a few workouts in then I get sick. So I'm not real consistent, but I do love it. It's such a great stress reliever, especially when you imagine that you are kicking their butt into oblivion.

3. If you knew you best friend was cheating on spouse would you tell?

Yes. It would kill me, but yes. It's going to hurt them anyway, but I wouldn't want to be the last one to find out. I would be as angry at my friends as I would be at my spouse. So if your my friend take note, if you cheat on your spouse, I will tell on you. There are a few exceptions, but they are few and far between.

4. If you could afford a live-in maid or nanny, would you have one?

A maid. Oh yes. Someone who cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, maybe even some homework every now and then. Probably not live in. You know, unless they had their own wing. But otherwise, sign me up. Send the bill somewhere else.

5. Do you stress out about birthdays (specifically the age) or do you enjoy them?

I didn't used too, but the older I get the more I try to forget how old I actually am. Some days I have to used the calculator, because I can't remember if I'm still 27 or not. Thanks to Mama for pointing out that 35 is halfway to 70. That means my life will be halfway over by the time I graduate from college. Thanks.

And, a bonus question from Scott, that I wasn't brave enough to put in as a regular question...answer at your own risk, or not at all! (Or something...)

Bonus: Lights off or on?

 

If your a parent, friend or someone else that doesn't want to answer the question this is the getting off point for you. Have a Happy Weekend.

 

If you keep reading your eyes are likely to be scarred for life.

 

Turn back now, before it's too late.

 

I'm in what we joke around our house as "summer session." My husband used to have a job that was very seasonal, during the hot, summer months he was very, very busy. One year I was dropping hints about some mattress action when he quickly informed me that this was his summer schedule to get used to the lack of mattress action.

 

Right now your wondering what point all of that serves.

 

Well, I'm busy with homework, work, school and other obligations that often times I'm ran pretty thin and here are some things that just aren't a priority, like mattress action.

 

So when I do find the time for some mattress action, it doesn't matter if the lights are on or off, or if the neighbors are home of if the dogs watch. It doesn't even matter if the neighbors are in are living room. Which is probably why they won't come to dinner anymore.

Wanted: Personal Assistant

Wanted: Personal Assistant

Job Duties: Approximately 4 loads of laundry per week; this includes gathering, washing, folding and putting away. Cleaning 1 bathroom. Cleaning of 1 smallish kitchen. Dusting. Vacuuming as well as mopping of said bathroom and kitchen. You must also have a job that currently pays you at least $200,000 per year that you contribute to our GDP. You must cook meals that I preapprove of. You must do all grocery shopping, using extreme couponing methods (gotta save money). If I don't feel like sitting through a class today, you should also be able to go in my absence. You should also always know all the material well enough to take exams and pass them with a minimum grade of a B. At night, when I've had a really hard day I would appreciate a massage and a hot bath. You should be flexible enough to be available to meet my every need, even if that need occurs at 2am and again at 4am.

Would like someone who doesn't mind watching Friends, CSI, Army Wives, and The Food Network. Must love dogs and be willing to housebreak any new additions to our family.

Cat and other rodent owners need not apply.

Please send your resume and references to my email. We have a smallish room that has a spare chair that will be your sleeping quarters (it also doubles as my office) but I will be courteous enough to try to not study while you sleep.

Thank you.

Finding Faith

Last Friday I posted the following post on Facebook: ""And I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands, For You are who You are no matter where I am, And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand, You never left my side and though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm." ~Casting Crowns. Send us a few extra prayers today, we have hit a bump in the road and could use some additional strength."

Then on Monday, well you can read about the tragedy that our family endured over the weekend.

Then yesterday, we got more news, that we could have lived without. John's grandmother, Granny, has a mass on her brain.

For about half a second I wanted to cry.

My husband's unemployed, my beautiful niece's heartache, and now Granny.

Yet, as I sat in the truck with my husband, this immense feeling of peace washed over me. It was as if I had taken a breath and blew all of that stuff out and everything was perfect again.

Then I wanted to laugh. Pure laughter, not sarcasm, not because it was the only thing going to keep me from having a meltdown in our driveway, but simply because the thought of that old saying that "God will never give you more than you can bear" popped into my head.

Apparently, I can handle all of this. It's no big deal. God has faith that I can handle this.

So that got the wheels turning and had me wondering, if His faith in me is great enough that I can handle, working full time, school full time, husband's unemployment, nieces situation, Granny, then shouldn't that faith in Him to get us through all of this be twice as large, if not larger?

Sure, I felt silly laughing and joking with my husband about "bringing it", not that I was asking God for more sorrow or heartache, but that I was just so impressed by God's faith in our strength, in my strength. So we laughed, and we both knew that no matter what, everything was still ok. If not even good.

We have a place to live, a car, we are both healthy, I'm still employed. We have so much, and there are some with so little, that it's not unreasonable to have these moments of joy in the midst of unhappiness and trials and life lessons, or whatever you want to call this.

Sure, I have moments where I panic, but they are moments. There are moments of worry, but it's not constant. Because every single time that those thoughts pop up, I have prayed. Some days there have been a lot, and other days, just a few. I've asked for my husband to find a job he loves, I've asked that my niece find peace, I've asked that Granny's mass be something simple and easy to fix. I've asked for the strength to wipe the worry out of my mind so that I can focus on homework.

I'm simply putting one foot in front of the other and hoping that we can learn something from this, that I can learn something from this. There is a blessing in here somewhere. I just have to find it.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11