25 questions

I came across this while playing with the "random blog" button and thought it looked fun...reminds me of those old YM quizzes...

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
moved halfway across the country- away from everyone we knew!2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more fornext year?
I honestly don't remember. I could make more but I will have forgotten them by January 21st.3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
not technically but some friends of ours adopted a baby boy from Russia which is just as awesome!4. Did anyone close to you die?
my grandmama (end of 05 but seems like yesterday)
5. What countries did you visit?
countries? how about states...Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia real quick like
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
ceramic tile in the kitchen!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
moving here and learning my way around
9. What was your biggest failure?
not mending a close friendship before the move10. What was the best thing you bought?!
our house!
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
my husbands
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?
??
13. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Home
14. What do you wish you'd done more of?
enjoying the right now
15. What do you wish you'd done less of?
whining
16. Did you fall in love in 2006?
yes, with the Carolinas
17. What was your favorite TV program?
Lost
18. What was the best book you read?
I really should read more...
19. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?
spending more time in the Word
20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
one day I will buy clothes for myself again...when the kids are grown and married...
21. What kept you sane?
my husband, talking to my mom on the phone, and my first Carolina friends.
22. Who did you miss?
my grandmama, my mom, my friend and assistant back home, a friend I lost contact with, my church back home...theres a lot to miss when you move.23. Who was the best new person you met?
Man, I've met alot of people this year...Teresa, Bonnie, Michelle, Erin, Cheryl, AnneMarie, Debra, and Laura have all been just the right friends at just the right times
24. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2006.
1-It's good to not burn any bridges. 2-Its ok to be "the new one" even though you never truly get used to it. 3-Change is inevitable, it's what you make of it that counts.
25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
You are God alone from before time began You were on your throne. You were God alone. And right now in the good times and bad You are on Your throne. You are God alone. You're unchangeable. You're unshakeable. Your're unstoppable. That's what You are.
-Billy and Cindy Foote

Going to figure this out

I've thought about dumping blogger and trying something else but I think I am going to tough it out and keep working here for now. I looked over at MySpace- love the music you can do there, and all the pictures, and background but I think I am a little old for that crowd. I don't know anyone over there and not having many friends listed on my page would be too embarassing! I think this is more the place for the 30somethings like me.

My new years resolution is to post more often here. To keep using it like a journal- mostly anonymous since I haven't passed the address out to friends (except one- you know who you are) I have the official family website that I keep up with but it's kinda fun to have one that you can post whats REALLY going on. Frustrations, fears, hopes, dreams, prayers. All of it. That's what I'm going to do here. Will it be exciting reading? Probably not. Will it be real. Most definately. That's what I'm all about- being real. I wish everyone was.

One other thing, I have decided to not stress so much about adding "just the right picture" to each post. I will keep adding pictures but they will be random. Just whatever catches my eye when I open the picture folder will go on here. This may not be a big deal to some of you but to a "matchy match" person like me, this random picture thing is going to be a big deal!

Blogger!

I can't figure out if I am on the new blogger or the old one. Sometimes when I come to edit, it wants me to create a blog instead. I think I may have a couple user names going on. I must be in blogger hell somehow! Someone HELP!

Everything Changes

That's the song I am listening to right now...from Little Big Town. I like that song. I really like their other big song...Bring it on Home. But Everything Changes is relevant for now. I was reading my last entry and it honestly took me quite ahile to remember what I was so upset about when I wrote that! Funny how it was SO important at the time that I needed to vent on this annonymous forum but a few weeks later I barely remember the incident. A bad memory can be a good thing.

It's almost Christmas. I am so excited. We have family coming in and can't wait to show off our new city with all the holiday trimmings.

We also have some COOL things happening at church this holiday season. Our church rocks. It isn't some little quiet thing that you get dressed up to go to and then sit quietly while you wait for your time there to be over...Not at all. It's LOUD, cool, outreaching, and relevant! Our pastor is annointed. He's so young...if you saw him, you'd say he is too young. You have to hear him. He is a man of God and pulls no punches with us. I can't wait to get there this morning and hear what he has for us. No doubt it will be straight from the Word and full of life and practical application. He waters down nothing- People left their jobs and homes to move here and get this church planted. Less than a year ago they started with a plant of 19. Last week we ran 973- and that is the conservative count!!! Awesome blessings. 55 showed us how their lives have been changed through the picture of baptism last week. Yes, 55! It's the ride of a lifetime. If you are in the Charlotte area, check us out! www.elevationchurch.org

Pet Peeves

My top Pet Peeves- for the moment--
1- Unprofessional people
2- 2 faced people
3- People unqualified for their professional position
4- Stupid people
5- People that cater to stupid people

So why the pretty picture at the top of a pet peeves post? Because it's still pretty. God is still good. Annoyances are just that- annoyances. I will get over them---eventually.

Never forget

As September 11th rolls around again, please take the time to watch the specials on tv. Watch those hard to watch scences. Remember what it felt like that day. Remember the vulnerability we felt. Pray for the families. Proudly display your patriotism. Instill it into your children that we love our country and freedom was not and is not free. Never forget.

That time of year

It's that time of year again...school time. A new crop comes in. Makes me miss the old one. But I know in time this crew will squirm their ways into my heart too...deeper than I ever thought they could. They always seem so young at the beginning of the year- babies really. Parenting styles SHINE through on these first few weeks too. It's easy to spot what moms smother and what moms are totally detached. There must be a happy medium but you don't see that very often. My head hurts...it's that time of year...

Cricket!

We have an unwanted house guest. A cricket has invaded our house or walls or something. He starts everynight about 11 and continues til 6 am. We have searched and searched. The annoying chirping seems to come from behind the cabinet in the kitchen. We took out the drawer below the stove, certain he was there. He was not. We emptied all the baking sheets from the lower cabinet, certain he was there. He was not. Last night I started thinking maybe he is stuck. He has been in the same spot night after night and doesn't seem to even care that we are looking for him. He continues to chirp as if he is directing us in that old "hot and cold" game. After giving it our best efforts and the better part of an hour to find him we have decided to go to plan B- bug spray! Since this is truly "must read blogging" I'll keep you posted...

Nine days

Nine days. That's how long it takes a penney to pass through a 2 year old little boy. You know how many poopy diapers I had to dig through in 9 days? I lost count. We were of course trying to speed up the process by giving him raisins and juice and all kinds of "poopy food." That made the digging even more enjoyable.

Now I suppose there are those Mary Poppins moms out there that would have cleaned the penney and saved it for the kids wedding or to use in some other Marth Stewart crafty sentimental project. Good for you. You are supermom and we all wish we had your coordinating placemat, curtain, kitchen rug set. However, I just tossed the penney out with the poop. So sue me. His future wife won't have that lucky penney to put in her shoe on her wedding day. Not that it wouldn't have been kinda cool...except there really isn't a way to tell the story without saying "poop" which isn't appropriate talk for a wedding.

Admissions

This morning has been full of cleaning and music. Anytime I need to do some work I don't like or have to sweep (which I hate!) I crank the music to make it go by faster. I can get lost in songs. I have a playlist full on my pc and it is a very eclectic list. There is some Michael Buble right at the top- a bunch of his songs right together because sometimes a girl just needs a little of that sexy Frank Sinatra sound. Under that I go into the Nick Lachey grouping. Man, I feel so bad for him. He loved Jessica so much. I really think she's going to wake up one day and realize what she has done. Its so sad. When that day comes part of me hopes they get back together and part of me hopes he sends her off to her next "public affair." The worst part is Jessica is so dang likeable herself...like Nick, I just can't hate her anymore. Then I move into a girl section of songs. You know songs like "This Ones for the Girls," "Wide Open Spaces," etc. etc. One day I got into Lonestar and downloaded a bunch of theirs...I actually have more country on my playlist than I care to admit. I've never considered myself a country fan... yet...maybe I am? Uncle Kracker and Kenney Chesney are up next. Sometimes a girl needs a Kracker in her life. One of my new favorites is "Don't Ask Me How I Know" by Bobby Pinson. Go to aol music and add that one to your playlist (yes, its free) That is just a good song. I went to high school with Bobby and his sister Amy. I didn't know them very well. Stillcool to hear him on the radio now. But thats just a good song everyone can relate to. Finally I have my nostalgia section...I'm a child of the 80s so nostalgia means BOY BANDS! Every now and then you just have to go back to the 80s. It's ok...you can admit that...we all do it...theres not a girl out there than can honestly deny those junior high boy band crushes. So, whats on your playlist?

Random thoughts

Day # 4 still no penney.

I read a blog this morning from a stay at home mom that wants to change the world. Good for her. Really. I mean that. But I don't have such desires today. I think the McDonald's cheeseburgers I fed my kids for lunch are just fine. I think they will survive if they watch some tv and eat some junk food. They aren't fat. They aren't even close to fat. In fact, if watching tv and eating some junk will add a little weight to them- even better. I buy most my vegetables in the can form. I don't know where my meat was before it showed up at the grocery store. That's ok with me. I don't recycle. Sure we have the crates. Sure sometimes we put stuff in them and set them out but as far as really truly recycling...no, we don't do it. I like styrofoam cups- they keep my drink cool. I'd rather drive to the pool than sweat the 6 blocks and walk it. Yeah, gas is too high and we should all protest. We won't though. Someone won the lottery- over 200 million. I wish it was me. Money probably would change me. I'd wear better clothes. I'd travel more. I wouldn't quit my job though. I like to have somewhere to be every day. I guess I'm not a treehugger. I don't think I ever pretended to be. I highlight my hair and tan my skin. Why doesn't anyone ever blog about these things? Too honest maybe? Not politically correct? I don't care today. I'm not in a bad mood or anything. Actually I'm in a good mood- just an honest one. I think that's ok.

This too shall pass...

Child #3- the one that has been to the ER twice, loves adventure, and always seems to have a scrape, bump, or bruise can now add "swallowing a penney" to his resume! He has recently become quite impressed with money. Any piece of change will do...he loves it all and has started a collection. Well this morning he came running to me saying, "Dat penney in my mouf- it went bye bye! Can you get it for me?" I said, "what?" He said, "dat penney in my mouf went bye bye- can you get it for me?" This time he had his little fingers in his mouth trying to retrieve that coin that is completely nonretrievable at this point. By now I have the jist of what's just happened and say, "gee buddy, did you swallow the penney--did you eat it?" He says "uh-huh. I did. Can you get it?" Calling the doctors office is now added to the list of things to get done this morning. In pure "Supermom" form I decide we can multitask and call while on the way to Great Clips. Getting both boys a haircut was also on the list. After all I know they are going to tell me he is fine and just "let it pass." Right? The nurse said the first thing I should do is get him something to eat and drink right away. Oh ok...didn't think of that...let me quickly swerve into Hardees. "He should eat?" I ask. She says, "yes that will tell of for certain that he can swallow and hasn't gotten it stuck somewhere." Why didn't I think of that? As I pull up to the drivethru the other kids start spouting off orders like this was a planned lunch stop! I said, " NO! This is just to make sure the penney isn't stuck- get me small fries and a sprite." This time being smart, I gave him the Sprite first. I don't want to be driving if he chokes on the fries. Sprite goes down fine. No problems....except that he spills a good portion of it on his shorts. "I pilled it Mom. Mom, I pilled it." Those are exciting words to hear coming from the back seat. I pull into Great Clips and examine the damage...it's not too bad..I'll just tell them it's Sprite so they don't freak out. By the way I gave him the fries and he seems to be just fine. We head into the Great Clips and the ladies start working on my 2 boys haircuts. The one asks about the penney situation...
"Where's the penney? Is it in your stomache?"
"Nope."
"I bet it is."
"I bet its not."
"I bet it is."
"I bet its not."
That went on for awhile longer. Lady, don't argue with the kid. He ate a penney. Do you think he has the knowledge to know where it went from there? However, I am quite sure they got the last laugh as I herded my circus crew out of there after the haircuts.

Tuesdays Top Ten

Top ten things I've learned about Carolina living so far.

10-Sweet tea is everywhere but some places really don't know how to make it.

9-There are more trees here than most people will ever see in their lives!

8-They don't have too many railroad tracks- just enough to keep it fun when you see one.

7-Staying up til 11 to see the news is overrated...you can get it at 10 on another channel.

6-This is probably one of the few places you can get rear ended, invited to church, AND to an antique auction all in the same incident!

5-There must be a law that every road has at least 2 names- three or more is preferred.

6- Street names must include the town you are in and the town you could get to if you stayed on the road long enough.

5-It genearlly takes 15 minutes to go 4 miles because there are no straight shots.

4-Panther stadium really is pretty.

3-That whole NASCAR thing is way more fun than it looks!

2-When you get lost, stop and ask for directions. People here love to offer directions.

1-There's no place I'd rather be!

Weinermobile!

Yes! We saw the REAL weinermobile today. It was in Walmarts parking lot taking auditions for a new commercial. So....after we practiced in the car, I drug the kids--I mean happily escorted the kids up there to try out. They each sang the little song and got some applause and we were done. That's all there is to it. Now we just wait for the Weinermobile to roll up to the house and let us know we are in the top 20 finalists! Oh yeah, we can also see a little video of their audition online starting next week. Great thing for Grandparents to see! To me, it's all about the memories....even if the kids don't win...(can't imagine why they wouldn't though?!) they will ALWAYS remember me dragging--I mean escorting them up there to try out! ;)

Just a pretty

Ok, crafty strangers browsing the blogs-- I have a project I need to work on. But I don't know what to do. This is what I have--It's Mary Englebreit fabric. I love it! I used to have it covering the ugly side of a file cabinet at work. Now what should I do with it? It's about 2 yards or so- nice and wide too. I don't own a sewing maching so it'll have to be some non sewing idea. Suggestions?

This blogger thing

So, I'm still not sure how this all works. Is anyone reading this? I love the idea of the blog though. I so wish this had been around when I was in high school. Man, I bet the kids have so much fun with blogs---what a way to flirt. We just had notes folded up like triangle shoved through those little slots in locker doors. No IMing back in my day. Sounds like I'm 100 but this was just back in the 90s! Times change fast. Can blogging be a real hobby these days? I like to click that "next blog" link and take a peak to see who pops up next. What is going on in this random strangers head. Hey, if you read this, will you leave a comment? Just something so I know I'm not like the invisible man here. I think all posts should have a picture--just because. So here is my just because picture--take on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.

Toesies

I have been taking alot of pictures since we moved here. This is one of my favorites.
One of our first trips to the beach here I caught this shot of my little man's toesies in the sand. Doesn't it say so much? He appears to be oblivious to the fact that he is covered in sand. He sits and plays paying no attention to what could be a messy inconvenience. Don't you wish we didn't notice things like sand between our toes? What if we could just keep keepin on even when inconveniences come our way? What if we ignored "set backs" to keep on plugging away at our dreams. What if we were still so into play that we learned from it and let it be a part of our daily lives? How would things be different if we forgot our adult hang ups and spent some more time enjoying life and just playing in the sand?

A new way

One of the first things we learned here is the roads are crazy. They are crooked and never run straight north or south. If you feel like you should go left, chances are you better turn right. Forget about "going up a block and cutting over" it just doesn't happen here. So today, I was a little concerned when I hit a "road closed" sign on the way to the bank. I only know *one* way to get to the bank. How could they close a road and not offer an alternate route? As we started to reroute the kids were already doubting my abilities, "turn around Mom, we better just go back, are we lost?" But I kept on going. I was determined to get to the bank without a single U turn. We kept on and on and on until we made it. I was so happy I thought about grabbing my cell phone and calling someone to rejoice. But who do you call to say, "I made it to the bank!" Somehow it loses something in translation. As we headed back to the roads I'm more familiar with I had a sense of accomplishment. Pride. After 5 long months maybe I am finally getting the hang of these crazy Carolina roads.