random things from the weekend

*There are beautiful babies in my family! And I LOVE being with them.
*The lady who did my pedicure is pregnant with her first child, a baby boy due on January 31st!!
*I find myself going into the baby's room and looking at her clothes or peeking into her crib.
*My feet have begun to swell a little and my legs are beginning to cramp some...back to walking and drinking lots of water!
*Lindsey's wedding was absolutely beautiful and I am very impressed it started at 7!!!
*I'm missing Tuesday nights and can't wait 'til they start back after the new year!
*Mike and I are really getting ready to meet our little lady!

Happy Holidays!!

ha ha ha! just kidding... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I hope everyone has had and is having a wonderful time with family and friends! Its a tradition in my family to have Christmas Eve at my Paw Paw's. We eat tamales, read the Christmas Story in Luke and then pass out the gifts.
Mike and I did our Christmas last night when we got home! He did GOOD!!! We had a nice time sharing and being together...Mikenna even had a small something in her stocking from her daddy!!
Today we had lunch over there; we all bring a dish or 2 to help with the preparation. After lunch the ladies chat at the kitchen table and the guys watch the game in the living room (which means that they all nap!!!).
This afternoon Mike put the baby bed together while I napped!!! I kinda sorta helped at the end!!! It looks so good in her room, now just need that cute little thing to put in it!
We will have Christmas with my mom Saturday at noon, we'll all be there except for my brother and his family (of 8) which makes up almost half of our family (there are 20 of us in all)!!!
tomorrow Mom and I will get up EARLY and hit the after Christmas sales at Target and Walmart...We're leaving our house at 5:30!!!
I pray you all have a fun and safe Christmas that's filled with love and laughter!

Australia

Such a good movie! It is set in 1939 and ends right after the US get involved in WWII. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman were so good ,and she's not normally one of my favorites. It was about 20 minutes shy of 3 hours but totally worth it (of course I had to be excused a few times during the show) :)
The story line was good, the acting was wonderful, I don't remember any cursing and no nudity! It had a some action for the guys and some romance for the girls!
A REALLY good show! Am so glad momma invited me to go!
have a good weekend every one!

and the rest...

...of the weekend was just as good as Friday!

I LOVE Saturday mornings when we have nothing to do! We laid in bed until we absolutely HAD TO GET UP!!! it was so nice just to be lazy and hang out talking and cuddling and watching t.v.! Then I got dressed, Mom came over and we headed to San Antonio for shower #2! WE ate at Chick-Filet ~YUM~ our favorite!!! and went to Target for a little bit---well, actually too long, we left later than we should have and then got into traffic and were 30 minutes late!!! oops, but we knew they couldn't start without us:) Actually most people were late and Kayla was glad because she wasn't quite ready!
There was a little Christmas tree with pink and white ornaments and pink and white markers to decorate for Miss Mikenna!!! It was a small group and loads of fun!! I got a bottle sanitizer lots of cute clothes and blankets AND a gift card for my travel system (which I couldn't find that night (not fun st all). Mom and I went shopping afterwards and then ate at Alamo Cafe ~another YUM!!!
Sunday rolled around and class was GREAT, as usual and worship was...well, a little wild with Logan and Presley but good! Then we had a fellowship meal and we remembered!! YUM one more time!!! We took a lllooonnngg nap that afternoon and went to worship! Great song service, Jamie!!! Then to grocery and home!

Then it was back to work today! ...already looking forward to Friday!!!

SURPRISE

What a great weekend it has turned out to be. and its not quite over yet!

My mom had asked me to come over Friday evening and help her wrap gifts, YEAH I get to spend time with Mom!!! Then Friday morning she called and asked if I wanted to go to Sister's after work, I told her to call me when she was on her way and I'd let her know because I had a get-together right after work.
One of the speeches (we girls at work that are speech therapists) planned a "stress relief" party for after work on Friday (4:30ish). We have these a few times throughout the year just to unwind and hang out; they usually involve snacks and everyone brings their favorite drink. But she didn't ask anyone to bring anything, but my office mate, Roxie, had stuff for cheese dip... okay so I have meetings in Jourdanton ALL afternoon and then I ran by AT&T to get Jamie's wonderful present; a framed sonogram picture with Mikenna's name on it in a wide mat for people to sign. BEAUTIFUL. He called a lot to make sure I had it before I left work for the day! So I get back about 3:30 and like no one is there but a few of us. I showed Roxie and she loved it too. Right before she left her husband called and she told him that she just finished interrupting at the high school (sign language) then she told him she was going to the shower, i mean party. I am finishing up my reports to turn in and getting ready to go to the party and am the ONLY one there so I leave a little early! I had my frame that I wanted to show the girls and I ran by the house to get the baby book that I am scrapbooking to show everyone what I have so far!
There are only a few cars there so I take my stuff in at the beginning since the ones I wanted to share with were the only ones there!
...It was NOT a stres relief... It was a SHOWER!!! for me!!!! and it was a SURPRISE!!! and a secret! and both mom's were there and Kara too! I could have put the pieces together if my brain and body were not so tired here lately!!! the normal, nosey me would have figured it out but the pregnant me missed all the clues, including a couple of weeks ago when I was talking about the shower yesterday and Jamie said "oh is that the one you're not suppose to know about?"! WHAT A FUN TIME!
Later, i'll write about the shower we had yesterday.

Christmas Party

...and so it begins, last night we went to our first Christmas party for the year. And it was a BLAST!!! I have been in Pleasanton for 8 years, and every year the church plans a Christmas party. And I have never attended, for some reason; last year I was going to go but something else came up. But finally, we went. Mike Mom, Don and I rode up together. We left early to do a little shopping/returning and took Broc home too, then to the Riverwalk! It took us a crazy amount of tme to figure out where we were going but we found Lee, Darla, Linda and Doug and Doug led the way! We rented out an upstairs room from Casa Rio on the River and it was decorated for Christmas so nicely. There were round tables around the room (I LOVE round tables) filled with our friends and family. We wandered around telling everyone hello and then found our table. Vernon and Melissa sat with us and then James and Linnie Bee sat with us too! The food was way yummy and way too much, but I ate almost all of it and then we were all miserable! We had to be out of the room at 8:30 and at 8:30 they started turning the lights out on us!!! Caleb, Daniel, James and Lin and mike and I decided to go to a coffee shop to hang out, drink coffee and play games! We went to Candlelight Cafe on St. Mary's. James and Lin went last week with jamie and Dana, so we went there too.
It was a really neat little place and smelt so so so good inside:) We had drinks and cake and played pictionary until almost midnight! We played guys against girls but Lin and I had to steal a guy, Caleb was sitting on the couch with us so he agreed to play with us!!! The guys beat us pretty badly the 1st game. The 2nd game we started in the middle of the board and we barely beat them!!! It was such fun and was totally worth staying up wwwwAAAAyyyy past my bed time!
Now, the next Christmas party we have definitely has a lot to live up to!!!

a bundle of JOY!!!

I so love this pregnancy! Everything about it, despite the hurting back, quick tiredness and the running to the bathroom a million times a day!!! I LOVE being pregnant; experiencing the bumps and kicks. Just being excited about this child and waiting to meet her and hold her. I know that those close to me; Mike, Mom and other family and close friends are excited about this kiddo too and the day when we get to meet, but others that I'm not really close to, just aquanauts are also excited and happy for us! And seeing everyone else excited about my little bundle just makes me even more excited about her!!! Everytime Lindsey sees me, she kisses my belly, my sister in law rubs my belly and "talks" to Mikenna beofre I get a hello and today a teacher that I work with almost ran up to me to rub my belly and ask how we are doing... and she was truly excited and couldn't stop smiling as she talked to me. My kids ask about her and are already asking me to bring her to school after she's born!
I think it is so amazing to be able to feel all that I am feeling, both physically and emotionally. It just makes it so much more wonderful to know that so many others are also so excited!!!

praying hands

For the last few weeks we got to sit with Kristy Brown and her kiddos on Sunday Morning for worship services. This is a treat to me, I remember sitting with Kristy when she was pregnant with Logan and watching him move around. I have always enjoyed her children and of course being with her as well. Well, she is teaching Logan and Presley to sit quietly and to have quiet "praying hands" during the prayers. Logan has had this down for a while (although sometimes he would prefer not to) but Presley has just started folding her hands during the prayers. It is so cute to watch both of them pray. If Presley has a bag of munchies though, they are a part of her praying hands too. She's in no way, shape or form going to put her snacks down. Nope, the bag just dangles as she holds it tightly between her sweet little hands as her fingers are intertwined and her head is bowed.

This past Sunday Logan stood on the pew in front of us with me during the last song and prayer. I think he was really ready to go, through-out the prayer he would say "and amen" "and amen". As I whispered "praying hands" into his ear, he took one of my hands and folded his fingers in with mine, then he added hi other hand into the mix! Folding my hand in with his. It was all I could do to keep the tears from rolling down my face! What sweet children! What a good example their mommy is setting for them! What a wonderful thing I have to look forward to as Mikenna grows and begins participating in worship!

random moments of the week

okay, just a little to catch up from the blog-vacation i recently took---SORRY!!!

So It Begins
I know that once the baby gets here, everyone will not care about your/my presence as much as the baby's. No more "Hello Jenn, Hey Mike" it will now be, "Where's the baby?" I know this will happen, I have done it to so many new moms and dads!!!! And I will be okay with it.
Well, last Sunday, Lin and James were in town and we were waiting for them to get back to the church building parking lot so we could eat. When they got there Lin and I ran to each other for a hello and our very special hug. We were SO SO SO excited to see each other...When we close enough to hug she stopped, touched my belly and kissed Mikenna!!!! Sweet, she's already getting the first hello!!!! IT was really really sweet!!!!

Yummy Bumps
I've noticed in the past couple of weeks that Mikenna is really moving in the early evenings and a little after I eat. Last Tuesday we had Fried chicken at jackie's before Bible study...YUMMY!!!! When we got home and I lied down ready for bed, Mikenna was really moving around a lot and her kicks felt harder than they have before. So we turned on the lights and watched my belly...AND IT MOVED!!!! for between 5 and 10 minutes we watched my belly bubble with each little movement she would make! Of course we weren't able to see legs or elbows or anything, but definitely bumbs and bubbles. This is just the coolest thing ever!!!

have a great weekend

Whispers

Whispers

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang.

But, the man did not hear.


So the man yelled, "God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky.

But, the man did not listen.


The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.

But the man did not see.


And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle." And, a life was born.

But, the man did not notice.


So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here."

Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.


I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted ... even in our electronic age.
So I would like to add one more:


The man cried, "God, I need your help!" And an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.

But, the man deleted it and continued crying .


Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

This was in an email I received this morning and thought it was good enough to share. So many times we ask for God to be present in our life and then don't notice that He's there because its not what we expect or the way we think he should appear.
I pray you notice God in every aspect of your day!

if you're gonna do, do it completely

I know this is something that I haven't totally gotten over and need to...BUT just let me say...
... it bugs the FIRE out of me when someone judges someones behavior and at the same time laughs about it, and behaves in such a away that is not any better than the behavior that was criticized.

Tonight at church someone made a comment about the content on another person's shirt and appropriateness of that shirt at church. You really have to dig deep to find the obscenity in what was worn...REALLY DEEP. Then later, the person with a problem with the shirt was laughing about the content in which he thought was foul. There were other things going on that I won't get into.

I know that as Christians we are called to estimate behavior of one another and call each other on it. When there is behavior worth mentioning, it should be taken seriously and not jokingly, and should be an evident wrong, not something that is not there. (that would be injust condemnation, right) BUT if you are going to estimate behavior, then estimate ALL behavior, including your own!!

rested

I have been so tired lately. A few weeks ago we spent most evenings out pretty late (9:45-10:30) and it was late getting to bed. The next few weeks and now even it seems that we are just busy ... a lot! And I can not seem to get into bed before 10:45 or 11:00, 10:00 would be great!!!! I am usually able to catch up with naps on the weekends, but that has happened recently either.
Monday we were home with no plans!!!!YEAH!!!! and I was ready for bed a little after 8:00. Mike and Jamie went to get a movie as I finished laundry and picked one that we all could watch...they wouldn't let me got to bed:( BUT i did enjoy the movie. Yesterday I was so so so tired at work and knowing that Bible Study would keep us busy for a while was all that I could think about.
I LOVE Bible Study and wouldn't want to miss it for the world, so skipping out was out of the questions AND sleeping wouldn't have been a good enough reason anyhow! Jamie and Kara were really sick yesterday and we decided to postpone the study as to not miss part of our group... Okay, this was a total bummer for me...It's Tuesday, we're suppose to be together!!!
But since we didn't have the study; We had supper, cleaned the kitchen, and then did everything I needed to do before getting ready for bed!!!! I was there at 8:30!!!! What I great feeling I had today!! plus a few laughs too, I woke up at 5 for a little while and that did not make my hunny happy:) Neither did being awake and ready to visit at 6:30!!! "we didn't all get to go to bed at 6:30 last night" is what he kept telling me!
I think I could like this going to bed early thing, I'll try to get there before 10:00 tonight, you know, just to keep it up!!!

just a little bump!!

The ladies retreat was AWESOME!!! This blog does take place there but I will post about that a little later.

Yesterday, I was sitting on the floor at our campsite at the Ladies retreat and my little bundle of arms and legs was moving around inside of me. I had my hands over my belly and could swear that I felt her movements from the outside. But it is so hard to judge, because I could feel her on the inside. So I didn't say anything to anybody and just carried on about the evening.

I got home this afternoon and was cuddling up with Mike (this was our first weekend apart). I could feel her moving around so i told him to put his hand where mine were, and she quit moving! (already acting like her stubborn mommy) He kept his hand there and after a few minutes I felt her move, just a little and I looked at Mike. He didn't say anything and I was about to be sad; I REALLY want him to be able to feel her too!!! When he saw me look at him, he smiled. He said, "did you tighten your stomach?" HE FELT HER! HE FELT HER!!! I am a happy momma:) He's kinda excited too!!!

what a great weekend!!!!

ug!

I should have already left the office... i don;t want to work today, i didn't want to yesterday either... I just want to go to bed, and stay there all day!!!
nothing's wrong, i am just tired and it seems that i have no time to go to bed early:) oh well, yesterday turned out pretty good; bible study was GREAT, and it started the same way as today feels, so there's a good chance that once I get started, it will get better! and I need to finish today so i will be 1 day closer to the ladies re-treat!!!!
so here i go, praying for goodness for us all!

isn't God cool...

Wow! God is so cool and His timing is so awesome!
I'm not going in to details but some of you will know and the details aren't the important part of the work taking place in my heart.

God places things in on my heart and then so wonderfully starts His plan. We've been discussing in Tuesday night Bible Study how to get over people that have wronged you and building or re-building relationships. So for a few months now a few particular things have been in the process of being worked out within me and this week, God has laid ground work for the next stage. WOW! and Okay, God, I get it, I'm moving on it.
He is so great to not only lay these plans on plain sight, but to give us friends and family that know us well enough to know how to help us through the things we need to work out. Maybe its just that God knows I'm stubborn and a little slow at things, this time I have a very close example of getting through this. My dear Jackie is taking God's lead to get past hurt and build relationships because she "gets to" and can see how things are better now. She's following God and I will follow suit.

I know God well enough to know that he was magnificent plans for our lives and that coincidences don't happen. I know there is a reason things happen "when" they happen, in my case!

great men

I was sitting at my Grandma B's funeral on Saturday and found myself in a truly great place! To my right was my Paw-paw, at my left was my hubby, Jamie was next to him, My uncle Bubba and on my lap was my nephew Broc! I am so very blessed!
and that's just a few of them :)

just a thought...?

A couple of weeks ago in our Sunday morning class, we were talking about praying for people and doing things for them. The main topic of discuss was "how do we know when someone needs us?" We talked a lot about how we think about certain people and then call them or visit or do something for that person. and usually the results make a remarkable impact on that person that was thought about.

Jackie blogged about an small thing I did for her last week and how great it made her feel. and while I did know that she wanted that picture and I do know some about her. ME doing that little act (i don't think) had anything to do with me or me knowing her.

I think that those thoughts are much more than thoughts...I think its God reminding you that there is someone who may need an encouraging word or a kind deed. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and It guides us and moves us.
When we act upon those "thoughts" that pop into our head, great things happen and emotions are stirred... Because we are allowing God to move through us and He is glorified because His work is being accomplished!

so is it just a thought, just a little action, OR much much more?

singing praises

I love singing church songs and camp/devo songs, especially when I'm not singing them by myself. It always fills my heart to really get into a song about God or Christ!

This Saturday evening we went to Mike's parents to visit. On the way home, we were listening to a praise cd mike had made me some time ago. I was really enjoying it and singing my heart out, then I could hear Mike singing too (usually he sings loud to be funny or he makes up his own words... to be funny) but this night he was singing. And even though I have heard him singing praises before, this for some reason, it just absolutely touched me. My heart was full and it spilled out over my face.

I also like to sing at church, and it makes me smile when I hear certain voices; Jamie, Jackie, Amy, Howard Bellotte, and any child. This Sunday was my Paw-paw's birthday and we worshiped with him at the baptist church. I was so bummed when I found out Jamie was leading singing:( because that uplifts me so so much. But we went, and I was not disappointed by the singing. We sat with my paw and uncle and aunts and cousin and mom was there too. And hearing the voices of my family lifting up songs of worship to our Father made my heart happy. I was really into singing and worshiping God in the song service.

Then last night we were back where we belong...being led by Jamie. AND I was close enough to hear Jackie's voice! Man what a great weekend of praising our Lord!!!

a night on the town

it has been A LLLLOOOONNNNGGG TIME since we hung in San Antonio with friends and I have really missed it!

Kara's birthday was Thursday and in honor of her, we went out last night. Kare, Ajane, Jamie, Caleb, Daniel, and Mike and I. We had a blast just getting up there... lots of laughter, the radio blaring...A FUN RIDE!!!! We ended up at Joe's Crab Shack where the laughter, good conversation and music continued with yummy yummy food added into the mix:) We told them that it was Kara's birthday; they wrapped paper towel around her like a beauty queen and as we sang to her, she paraded around waving!!! GREAT FUN and a great video caught on camera:)
From Joe's we walked our full tummies to Amy's for delicious ice cream. We all got something different and it was all lip smackin good, but Kara's oatmeal raisin cookie was the best!!
After that Caleb and Kara and I went to Borders while the others made it to the arcade, where we all ended up later! It was almost midnight when we left and we were all pretty tired. We got back to Caleb's to get in our cars and head home. I laid down in the back seat and got very still...Mikenna was still fired up! I think she had a good time too and enjoyed me being loud and wild...singing, dancing, laughing! Or she didn't like it and was protesting ( i think the first) She moved and kicked and turned or whatever until after I went to bed!

I'm glad that we still have a great group of friends that still like to go out and have fun! and I'm really glad Kara gave us a reason to go out!!! What a good time we had! While we were thinking of our friends and family in Ike's path (Dana, Erin, Gregg, Carl, Lisa, Brian, Julie, Bear...) It was good to hear from some of them and about some of them this morning.

sugar & spice...

we have a name!!!
Okay, well we've had a name since before there was a baby!:) but now that we know its a girl we've been thinking about the name and variations of it. We both like this one (that means mike said yes) =P And this weekend we talked about spelling and decided on the way we like it written. Our Baby Girl...
Mikenna Rose Maxwell

a little preview

Saturday night we had birthday dinner at my Paw's house. Aunt Patty fixed a feast for us in honor of Jessica, Mike and Mom. Jessica's family came. Her and Jon and the kids; Manuel, Bradly and Gabby. Bradly turned four in May and has exhibited a delay in many areas of his development. While living in New Mexico, he was seeing a speech therapist and has gone from 20 unintelligible words to speaking in 2 and 3 word phrases.
Well, the Speech therapist in me (who likes to play) couldn't miss an opportunity to play and use the skills that have been packed away this summer. I sat down to play with this cute little man and started asking questions. He answered!!! or if he didn't know I would answer and he would repeat it to me! This guy has come such a long way. And then they brought out the play dough and the real "speech" if you will, began.
Brad would give me the container and say "stuck, it's stuck", "what do you want me to do?" I'd asked. and he'd tell me it's stuck again. I would say "open it please" and brad would say"open it please" and i would open the lid a little so he could take it off! this went on for 2 or 3 interactions each time he switched colors. Each time he would tell me its stuck, I would ask him what he wanted me to do, then I would model "open it please" and he would repeat it. The 4th time, he handed the play dough container to me and said "it's stuck" I asked what I needed to do, and without a prompt he told me to "open it please". YES!!! The next time Bradly switched colors, he handed it to me and said "open it please"!!!!!! In the little time that he played, his phrases went from 2 word phrases to 4 and a few 5!
This guy has surely made a lot of success. and as i dread starting my week seeing kids this next week, he has reminded me how much I love my job and rewarding it is to celebrate the little successes that my guys celebrate each week!

I am officially ready for speech to begin!!! Thanks Bradly:)

Faitful Perseverance

a faithful women once told me her story...

She got married at 16 and all she wanted next was to have babies. They tried and tried and then about 10 years later they adopted a son. This women constantly talked to God and knew in her heart that He would bless her with pregnancy and children of her own. After waiting 14 years and all those days talking to God and trusting in His promises this women became pregnant with a child of her own. She thanked God and continued to pray and believe in Him.
During the pregnancy, this women became really sick and the doctors became very concerned. Their advice was to abort the pregnancy and care for the woman's health. The faithful women would hear nothing of it! She had asked God for a child and was not going to say no thank you after receiving the the blessing of pregnancy. The doctors continued to warn her of the effects on her health and the consequences that could occur during labor and on the child after birth. this women knew God would bless her and her children; she hushed the doctor's and continued with the promise God extended to her.

After 9 months of pregnancy, my mother in law gave birth to the most healthy baby boy. And today I will help my husband celebrate his 32nd birthday! God is so good and very faithful!

my hubby is the best!!!

well, we went to the doctor today and had a sonogram:) the technician was really great; she explained everything that she was looking at and said that everything looked good! The heart rate was 158bpm. and the baby is about 8 ounces.
okay, so then we get to the good part, and for some reason this child is bit stubborn... the technician said that it was a guess. My doctor said that the techs are really good and will never say that they are 100% but are generally correct.

the guess was a girl!!!

ok, so mike didn't get the news he was hoping for but was such a good sport about it. We went to Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory, to look at bedding. I had seen some REALLY cute girl bedding. Mike doesn't like pink and would prefer to not have a room full of it but said that it is about the baby and not about him! He is so great!! I think that must have been the moment that he became okay with being a daddy to a girl:) We looked at the clothes and "daddy" picked out the most adorable PINK outfit!!! he's the best daddy ever!!!

exceptional news AND a great reminder of how blessed i am!

not quite a flutter...

Okay, i'm pretty sure i felt the baby move this weekend. But it didn't feel like what everyone described it as or like the books say... yesterday i felt this little tug, like a pulling muscle below my belly butt'n. and i felt it again this morning right where i thought i could feel the baby was...in the shower i turned the water to the massage setting and let it hit that spot on my belly and then i really felt that little tug!!! i THINK it was my baby, but either way, it made me smile!!!

...AND...
in less than 15 hours we get to see what flavor it is:)

here's to you, chickie

I LOVE, i mean LOVE l-o-v-e LOVE Jackie Hutton!!!!!
We didn't get off the the best start all those years ago, but God had something so amazing planned for me. So He used her as a way to work on my heart. And boy have I been blessed through that work. She is one of my best friends, I look up to her in so many ways and draw strength from her so often.
And, Jackie I miss you so much! She's only been gone a little while but my heart is sad to know that I won't be able to see her face, hug her neck or hear her voice tomorrow morning. I know she is with her babies, but she is sorely missed!

No big stories to tell about her or our relationship; just that I LOVE HER so dearly and thank God for blessing me with her!

around the kitchen sink

Some of my favorite memories of growing up have taken place in the kitchen. Specifically, my Granny's kitchen and usually during holidays. Still to this day the best times with my family, or the women in my family have been shared in the kitchen. It doesn't matter whose house we are at or what's going on. Either preparing a meal or cleaning up after a meal, there has been and is still a group of us in there. We are visiting, sharing in our days and important details of our lives or just silly things that have happened recently all while we are helping one another and taking part in the collaborative task at hand. There is not one moment i can remember or one picture i have seen that is of 1 person in the kitchen alone!
When we bought this house, my biggest concern was that the kitchen is not very big and a bit closed off from the rest of that part of the house. I want and need a kitchen that can carry lots of hands, lots of laughter and lots of hugs...
Tonight before, but especially after Bible study I realized how i love a crowded kitchen and how my family has grown. These women that shared their lives and love and load tonight are wonderful and I can't imagine a time when they were not a part of my family. A time before we knew each other and before we talked to each other, before we had anything in common and before they meant so much to me does not even exist in my heart! A woman who is usually a follower, lead us in to do the dinner dishes together. A new woman to the group jumped into the room and conversation like she has always been with us. A previously awkward and immature woman offered very knowledgeable input to the conversation. And a generally independent woman who would rather do it herself than think about putting someone else out not only let us help clean her kitchen but began to ask for our help.
We may not solve the world's problems in that kitchen BUT we did clear the sink and we did form accountability toward each other and for others in our family. And the prayers that go up in that room...WOW!!! God is amazing and works is great ways, even in the place originally held for servants...and that in itself is lesson!

a "jump" to something different

ok, i was so totally planning to write about the first day back at school but as i was waiting for the page to load, the trampoline event came on...BOUNCE...

WOW!!! ok, i haven't seen this event before and was disgusted when i first heard about it. I mean oh my word, why is jumping and flipping an Olympic event, GIVE ME A BREAK!

statement retracted, words eaten!!!! this is amazing!!!! these girls get so high and the acrobatic elements come so quickly one right after another.

...and the girl from Russia, WOW!!! she was so right in the middle until the very end...i can't wait to watch the others compete!!!

getting ready...i think

ook, so just a one more day and the weekend and its back to work!!! i THINK i'm ready. i went to the office for a little while to check email. and i spoke to the counselor at one of my schools and she was so cheerful, it made me feel ready to get going!!! my district assignments are the same as last year, Poteet and Jourdanton but all ages at both schools.

So this afternoon JT and Coop are hanging out with me and then a get together this evening with the folks at work.
Tomorrow we leave for Teague!!! my brother is getting married on Saturday and we are going to celebrate them and... their celebration. AND we get to visit with friends and family. I have a new friend in Teague, Stephanie (janina's new sister in law) and hopefully we get to spend some time together:) We will head back sometime Sunday afternoon and then it's BACK TO WORK!!

oh oh, today i went to a few daycare centers to check out their infant rooms...it made me sad:( i have a few more to visit tomorrow.

ok, i know, that was random...AND i have a new hair cut...its short!!! Sorry:)

very random

...
Jamie, dude, i miss reading your thoughts!!!
Jackie, you have been in my heart and on my mind all day... I SO missed you guys VERY badly tonight!
Jaci, i agree with you about the gymnastic scoring and the craziness in allowing judges to review the events in slow motion...and the girls made me sad tonight:(

oh yeah, we re-arranged the living room tonight before Bible Study, it's not really that big of a difference, but...I SO TOTALLY LOVE IT!!! and it worked so well for communication AND for watching our new BIG t.v. (thanks my dear friends) without having to move things around a lot!and it does a nice job separating the living and dining areas:) NOW i think i'm ready to put pictures on the wall, i just need current photos printed out:P

Ok, that is all!

feeling better

okay so sorry for the graphic details about the house of yuck! we are both feeling better today!!!! I went to the office for a little while this afternoon, i needed to get 1 thing done and visit with Jo, but mostly I had to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! i just am tired of being in bed or sitting in the chair or laying on the couch. i hope we have seen the end of this cruddy stuff because i don't think we can just lie around and feel bad anymore. if only we could "will" our way better! sorry to be so whiny! was trying to be positive, i just really want to be better!!!! ok, going to spray Lysol around the house now:)

YUCK!!!

Warning, we are SICK...

so this Friday I took a short nap at my mom's house and woke up around 4pm with really hard cramps in my lower back and low abdomon... OUCH and uh-oh, what's this mean?!? I talked to mom on the phone about an hour later and she wasn't really worried, we went to the beach the day before (FUN FUN FUN) and maybe i was sore from the waves and the stairs. a little after that i picked Mike up from work, he had had a tummy ache since about 4:( went home for a second and then had to throw-up we were both in the rest room, for different reasons ;p well it only got worse for me... about 8 i had a stressed muscle (it was from moving something---i know, i shouldn't have done that--- then i got chills. Continued with a stomache virus and flu stuff all night, not fun, mike took good care of me when he was available:) end 1 BAD night, begin 1 BAD day. On Saturday, i had less cramps and more flu. called the doctor, he agreed with the flue diagnosis and told me what to do, not too concerned. Mike was gone most of the afternoon but felt the same as Friday:( I had chills REAL BAD that night then felt better around 7, no more vomit, no more chills. a better night! a better morning! until middle of worship, lunch i ate a little, Mike was able to eat. We got home and gpt worse:( No go to services. talk to doctor again, this time my dr was on call :) :) :) i now also have direah... he told me what i could take and so the 2 sickies headed to the store...fun trip!!! now just waiting to get over it.

you know I love doing things with my husband just as well as the next gal, but this is ridiculous!!! hope your weekend was full of joy and health! Happy Monday!!!

random stuff and some TOTALLY GOOD NEWS

We got a kitty a couple of weeks ago! she came up to the house one afternoon and bonded with us and then didn't leave! She's a very pretty calico, her name is Machiato which means spotted in Italian.

JT and Cooper are here for a few weeks! they've been with Mike and I since Mom and I picked them up on Thursday night:) Friday evening we went to a missions game with folks from church, had a good time. Saturday we went to Schlitterbaun with the boys and friends of ours visiting from Houston! Sunday they spent the afternoon with mom and then came home with us after supper! Today we kept Gabby, my cousins 5 month old. We went to Caleb's shop and then to the park, that was a fun time! We're still enjoying Gabby being here and just hanging at the house!!!

I called Janina (my step-mom) this afternoon to tell her about last night, she and dad were having a bad day. They have been keeping Kevin (almost 3 years old) since he was 10 weeks old; and he has been their child... His mother comes to get him a few days a week but mostly he stays with Janina and dad. well his mom has been working on getting custody of an older son and things are looking good for her, she thinks she ready to take care of Kevin full time now. Which means Janina and dad no longer need to. This is so sad for them, and it breaks my heart. please keep them in your prayers.

Last night Mike and I went forward after services to officially place membership as a family, announce the pregnancy and all that good stuff. Well, Mike told Robert that he wanted to be baptized:) I knew that Mike was thinking about it and I have been praying about it. He was baptized as a child but couldn't remember the reason he did it, he wanted to be sure it was for the right reason and that he was ok. So he did!!!! I'm so thrilled at that decision, it was really cool to have such a part in a decision so big!!!

So far, it's a great week, and it's only Monday!!!

it sounds like a washing machine!

I had an appointment with my OB today and got to hear the heart beat! It was so amazing!!! The dr says that the baby has a good strong beat! My cell phone has an audio recorder so i recorded it so "daddy" could hear too, he wasn't able to come with me. when i got home and let Mike listen to the heart beat he smiled and said, "it sounds like a washing machine"! He was excited to hear it too. Mike will go with me to the next appointment, in 4 weeks, we will find out if the baby is "pink" or "blue"!!!
after the appointment i went shopping, all my pants are too tight and i have to wear them unbuttoned. so i got a few pair of maternity pants and shorts...MUCH BETTER!!! :)
Can't wait to see him or her!

The House!!!

I know this has been a lllooonnnggg time coming, but i couldn't figure it out! I have put together slideshows of the house in three stages... UGLY, work in process, and its ours! When it's all decorated we, I get it decorated, there will be another, Our home! But lets do this one first...

UGLY...
When we bought the house the walls were pink, not a cute pink. The first time I saw it, we immediately started thining about our colors for the house.

A Work in Progress...
We had some AMAZING friends that helped us in the process of transfering this from someone elses house to our house!!! Thanks to all that helped and those that offered conversation and support!

It's Ours...
Well, after 2 evenings and half a day of painting, another FANTASTC group of friends helped us move in! I told Dana before we finshed painting on Friday that I felt like a hired painter instead of a homeowner. But after the move on Saturday, I felt like a home owner and this is definately OUR HOUSE!!! not quite done, mind you; I have no idea what I will put on which wall!:) so here are pictures of the painted walls and placed furniture!

We love our home and all the things we have already begin to do in this house that God provided for us! Thanks to all those that have helped us put it together and all those that have come and shared in it with us so far. We look forward having many more shared moments here!

and now it's Monday

~ok, WOW, this one is lllooonnnggg!
We had such a great weekend!!! I thought about posting on Saturday about the wonderful Friday evening that we had but I decided to wait on how the rest of the weekend went; and I'm glad I did!

Friday evening I picked Mike up from work and he started mowing the grass. We haven't mowed since we've had the house (3 weeks) and it rained 8 days straight since then, so our grass was PRETTY tall! The mower we used has a bag on it which was good, so we can begin to get rid of the lovely stickers we have been blessed with, but with the grass so tall we had to empty the bag every few minutes. So while I was trying to get dinner ready, I would go outside and help Mike empty the cut grass into trash bags. I finally got to a stopping point in the kitchen and was able to sit on the back porch while he cut. There was such a nice breeze that evening and working together (although my work was minimal) was so nice! We had 7 bags of grass!!! Then I finished dinner, we ate and used fancy napkins:) then cleaned the kitchen together and sat on the couch for a few hours. No TV, just us! IT was so so so good!

Saturday was very nice as well; I cooked a BIG breakfast that we shared together then we were lazy for a little while. Jessica and I went to get pedicures and then shopped some! That was fun, I'm glad she's back in town! We were together a couple of hours and then it was back to being lazy at home. Mom and her friend Chris came later to pick me up and we all went to the park. There was a benefit for some girls in town and we picked up plates for dinner and some dessert! They had a great turn out and a lot of things to do and see. We came back to the house, Don came over then and we all ate together. Don connected the water to the freezer so our ice maker and water works now! we all had a good visit. Mike finished the yard work and then cleaned leaves off the roof! I went for a walk around the neighborhood and Jamie was here when I got back! Great day #2!!!

Sunday morning I woke up early (highly unusual for me) and decided I would go to Wal-Mart and get the things on my list! When I got back home, Mike was dressed and cooking breakfast!! YUMMY! We cleaned the kitchen and headed for church. Our really dear friends, the Rutlands, (who we've been trying to get to come to class) were in class when we got there!!! Church was very good! We ate lunch at Aunt Pat-pat's; Jessica made the best lasagna ever!!! the Rutlands joined us and went with us to Charlotte to get the riding mower, for their yard and then back at home we put up a few things on the walls. After evening service, some of our best friends came over and Mike grilled fajitas. Food was GOOD and the company was even better! the last few friends left at around 11:30 and we closed the book on a fabulous weekend!

It was so nice to have 3 very busy days that didn't seem very busy at all! but very full of family and friends! I needed that!!! Can't wait til everyone is here on Tuesday!!! I LOVE having room to have people over!

el chaparral

...is our new home!!! we signed on the house last Monday! we began painting on Tuesday, with the help of some pretty amazing people! most of them and a couple more came back on Thursday with a few new additions, and Mike and i finished up on Friday. We still need 1 more coat in the baby's room, but that was not needed to start moving in! Friday Dana asked if i felt like a home-owner, i felt like a hired painter. NOW i feel like a home owner. We had more pretty amazing people out on Saturday loading and moving and unloading in the new house! it looks like we belong here!!!
We learned something this week. We are very blessed! We have wonderful friends and family that each have a servant's heart. many of those that came to help had been working all day, some even brought work to finish and then began serving as soon as that was completed! and oh my soul, my mom is a WORK HORSE, i knew she was a determined hard worker, but WOW!!! she did so much! We deifnately have a lot to be thankful for and no room to complain. God is good for sitting us among such wonderful people!

*i'll post pictures soon, i have to find the cord first:)

7w3d

Well, we had our first Dr. appointment today! Yesterday I was very nervous, scared almost; but i'm not sure why. I think the appointment makes it very REAL and i'm nervous about the pregnancy, while I am excited about it! Maybe i was nevrous about he appointment because 2 men, very close to me, think its funny to tease about the "twins" or the "triplets"! Anyway, it all went fine!
We saw the heartbeat (singular, 1, solotary, alone)it was soo fast and just flickering on the screen! COOL!!! I got a lot of information to read over and gave lab work. We go back in 2 weeks. The sonogram showed that I am 7 weeks, 3 days along and everything is in its right place, doing what it should! My due date is Jan. 27th!!!
YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!! now we can decide on a theme for the nursery and bedding and such!

*And... we close on the house on Monday, the 23rd!!! We'll start painting next week and will hopefully be moved in by the end of the month!

We're back!!!

...and i'm TIRED!!!
just a short update, will write more with pictures later. We left this morning just after 11, mike and i stayed to eat then took a detour through Bandina to say hi. and then home!
we had a WONDERFUL time! all of us kids were there with spouses (and almost spouse) and ALL mom and don's grankids! there were 20 of us all together in 2 cabins!
the river was low this year so we didn't float and i wouldn't have even if the others did:P but we still had lots of fun swimming, chillin and jumping off rocks (not me though) at the swimming hole and chillin at the cabins!

i will write more later! i'm off to bed now!

Frio River, HERE WE COME!!!!

well, my car is all loaded up and ready to go! I'll go later to get the truck and help load mom and Don's stuff! We won't be leaving until 1:30 0r 2:00 BUT we will be ready!!!

this weekend is our annual Jones-Bridwell river trip!!! 10 years ago mom and don got married in Port Aransas and each summer since then we have celebrated their marriage and our ties as family at the Frio River one weekend in June (originally the 1st weekend because it was aroung their anniversary) we rent cabins at neal's and just hang. we go to the swimming hole and other parts of the river, walk, read, play games, just relax and be with one another! usually we will take the float trip(s) on Saturday! and this will be Mike's first time to go with us! i'm so excited that he gets to be apart of this well anticipated trip!

we have heard that the river is very low this summer, so i seriously doubt that i will do the tubing thing this year...i don't wanna walk the river. the level and speed of the river will not, however, dampen the enjoyment that we will get out of this time spent together!! i thin wanna tie up under a tree and just chill! i will do my best to do that (chill) as best and as often as i can this weekend!

wish you could join us, it will be AMAZING!!! and i'm off to be a river rat!

it's all about what?

...RELATIONSHIPS!!!
yeah, WOW!!! For what seems like years our Sunday morning class has been connecting everything we do in a our christian walk back to relationships. Our relationship with God, yes. But also, our relationship with each other and how the two intermingle with the other person's relationship with God. One can not be accomplished with out the other two. All three make an individual complete. I know sometimes I am a slow learner because I am stubborn. I have known for years that to be right with God you have to be right with his children; when you are not right with his children, you can not be right with him. OR when you are not right with him, you can not be right with his children.

This is something that I have been struggling with for about 15 months. And really the past six month have been the most difficult for me. Recently Jackie and Darla blogged about the desk toys that we use to see in a doctor's office with the barings; you would release the one on the end to crash into the next and it would set the whole contraption into motion. Well, my second baring has been crashed into this weekend, a few times. And I moved!!!! I was not stubborn to God's efforts, I did not stand in my anger and hurt feelings (that should have been given to God a long time ago), I did not turn and run from it. I gave in to my submission to God and it was good! Atleast twice in the last few weeks my barings have been set into motion and I lowered my wall to let them move, it feels great! Then last night i tried my hand at setting the barings in motion, it was like we were in sync. Like we didn't have lost time between us. I thought that this would be like the beginning of the healling process since I am just now allowing God to work on my heart, but it was more like the healling is already complete. I have realize that God has been working on me, I just needed to get out of the "shop" and "on the road"!

Wow, God! thanks for showing yourself to me in such a remarkable way. And thank you for the relationships that we have, continue to be in the center of them and all we do. Thanks you for your unending, powerful presence in our lives!

Laminin

this is something that i received a few weeks ago and is just amazing to me. it's a little over 8 minutes long, and is so cool!



Isn't God amzing?

it can now be news!

just wanted all to know that Mike and I are in the process of buying a house!!! It's on Chaparral in Pleasanton and has just seemed to have been calling to us. Since March we have driven by this house atleast once a week and talked about it almost everyday. Mike saw it in febuary and really liked it! just a few weeks ago we decided it was the right time to get hooked on a house that we were able think about buying now. I saw it not too long ago and just fell in love and the ball started rolling!!!

We have been apporved and contract has been signed; inspection has been complete (thanks Robert) and now we just wait. Our mortage broker is lining up all other things necesary and searching for a lender with the best rate! Our closing date is at the end of June!

AND then...
we didn't know this at the time that "almost news-worthy" was posted last week, but when we move into the house and start painting rooms we will need to paint and set up the nursery too!!!! i have a doctor's appointment in the middle of June, but we're guessing i'm a couple to 4 weeks along!!!! will keep you all updated as we are updated!

is it Tuesday yet?

i just need to say 1 thing; I LOVE BIBLE STUDY! for those of you who don't know, we are in a bible study with the huttons, jamie, and kara; sometimes ajane' and stacy join the discussion. i think karen f is going to become a regular and last night brad and misty were there! it is such a great study and we have such a dinamic miss of personalities that it's like we have all always been doing things together our entire lives, it's so great!! The huttons lead us and have a general idea of where we are going, but each night is usually self-directed. we discuss how we feel about scriptures/docrtine as well as why; with scripture to back it up and we chase rabbit trails when the need arises. We began our study in October and have really come such a long way with, of course, such a long way to go. Our topic is Christianity 101 (the study robert and jackie took when they were first baptized) and is teaching us to use our Bible as a source and tool. I know, duh, right? but yeah, DUH! the scriptures and sections studied are broken down into groups and meomory verses are taken apart for understanding and easier explaination useful when studying with others.
robert just began this study for our sunday morning class! yeah! i know some will think that this is a lot offered and may be overwhelmed, but i think we all were when we we first started. i'm excited to have a refresher and reinforcement of what i am learning and am really looking forward to this class.

is it summer yet?

oh just 2 or 3 more weeks left!!!! i know i have to be at work some or a few days the week after kids get out, but i haven't looked yet, i'm not quite sure when i'm done. ~i'm kinda scared to look, it may be all week~ i'm finishing up the last week with the kids i see (YEAH!) and then will begin my end of the year paper work. I definately do not envy you precious population that are in the class room all day for the next few weeks; i have been so totally married since right before spring break! it has been a long semester! i can't wait to be off and at the river!!!
Good luck, prayers and blessings to you as you finish up the school year in any capacity you may be in!

almost news-worthy

just a little sneak peak, maybe a mean peak, but not intentially mean. Good news on our horizon. i'm not quiet ready to let it out cause it's not a done deal; be looking for news within the next few weeks!

no hiding spot

I've been meaning to blog this for at least a week, just haven't found time.

my favorite verse at the moment is Psalm 139:1-18 (especially the first 13 verses)
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as
light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know
that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was
woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still
with you.
I have really liked that verse for some time now, i was in a Bible study that discussed that verse one lesson and how there is nothing that you can do to make God stop chasing after you (kinda like Jonah)
A couple of monthes ago i saw Rush of Fools in concert and Really feel in love with their song "Can't get away"
v.1 I am an arrow, I am a rocket I am a river and nothing can stop it Cause You are the target and You are the atmosphere You are the ocean that keeps pulling me, You're pulling me here
*chorus*And I, can't get away, can't get awayCan't get away, can't get awayI can't get away, can't get away...I keep running into You(repeat)
v.2 I am a beggar, You are the tableI am so helpless, God You are so ableAnd when I get turned around You change my direction You're so perfect, I'm so broken, here You come with arms wide open Chasing after me down every road You're always waiting there
*chorus*
bridge:Even when I close my eyes, I can't help but see There's no place that I can hide, You're such a part of meI can't get away cause I keep running into YouI can't get away...
*chorus*
One morning a couple of weeks ago, i heard this song on my way to work and it hit me as to how the song and the Psalm go together. It stayed with me for a while as a very happy thought, how God is always there, waiting for me to decide everyday to be HIS and he's fulfilling every need and every space in my life.
Well, it hit me yesterday in Class that even though, He is there waiting to take care of me and I can't get away from His care, and protection and power, He is also there waiting on me to mature and be the Christian i need to be and i can't get away from His awesome commands. and He's waiting, and even if i decide to be like Jonah and run away from Him; Psalm 139: 7-13 tells me that He is still there, even on the other side of the ocean. DUH!
okay i knew this but the last few weeks in Sunday morning class and Tuesday night class, God has kinda been trying to knock it into my head (ypu know like the "should've had a V8" moments!

getting it off my chest

have you ever been mad at yourself but you shift the anger and blame to someone else. you are mad at yourself or the cause of your anger, you have to make a change so you will no longer feel this way. But. if you can push it to someone else (usually someone close to you that has done nothing wrong) it is now their responsibility and you no longer have to change, it is now that person's problem. RIGHT! WRONG! Okay, so you're already mad at yourself for something, then shirk it off on to someone very dear to your heart. Now you're mad, mad more AND in the wrong. You have to appologize, and that is hard too. The longer you wait the more difficult it is, and the more mad you get at yourself and at the other person (for no realistic reasoning).

i was so there! followed by a gloomy day in my world

can you tell?

there are not very many people who work in the schools that would not be able to tell you what the moon will look like tonight and what the weather-man will say about the pressure.

It is definately the time of the month for a full moon. if you didn't see the magnificent display of it on saturday night, just walk abround the halls of the school for a little while. I don't know what it is about a full mon and the pull of the tide, but man it sure does do a number on the kiddos, especially the ones that we see at work!

My office mate came in this afternoon wound up and worn out! she is usually very calm, cool and collective, the one who calms me down when i'm crazy; but oh boy not today! she saw WILD kids today and whiney teachers and she is ready to scream:) things that usually don't bother her are driving her up the wall!
it's kinda funny to me that for a change our rolls are switched in our office and i'm the sounding board---it's difinately her time!
so bless you this week for dealing with kids, teachers and anyone or anything else that is effected by the moon and barometric pressure!

a wish list

I have wanted to blog for several days now but can not think of anything to write about. I've been thinking of where i am in my life and the things that i would like to happen in the very near future and some things that should have happened already but didn't because i have no energy any more. This is just my little wish list... some things are desired more than others, some are not that very important. things i would like to have and things i need to do

i would like..
*the clutter in my living room and spare room put away
*space to put things away so it will not be cluttel
*time and energy simultaneously so i can throw away old stuff no longer needed on wanted
(clutter)
*a house, with room for lots of clutter (okay enough with the clutter)
*a book shelf- i have lots of new frames and figurines and albums but no where to put them...
~i need to get that shelf from my dad~
*i would like to have all my frames needed to redo and move the collage of pictures already on
a wall (my family) AND to make a new one (mike and i and wedding stuff)
*motherhood
*more time i need to set aside to pray and study; by myself and with mike
*summer -- i am so ready!!!
*a rivier trip
*a day at six flags

okay, i'm feeling a bit greedy, but these would make me happy! most of it though aquires me to get up and take action for it to be acclompished. i guess i need to not sit so much. i think i'll work on that this week!

hope you have a day of things that make you happy!

dreams

have you ever had a dream so real that you are afraid to go back to sleep? it will just continue to play out ... and then... it may happen!

ok, i KNOW that it wouldn't happen but last night i had one of thos dreams, that it COULD happen. so you sit up, awake at 3am doing all that you can do to make those thoughts go away; in bed because you're too afraid to get out of bed, the bad people in the dream just might be in the other room of your house.

ok i know that's kinda morbid and i'm kinda dorky, but i seriously thought this morning (at 3am) I need to blog about this! so i did!

jackie, i know that was random, but you're on board with that, right (being random that is)