CHEESE

CHEESE
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

So it's year 11 for the annual Christmas movie Party, no movie was even attempted this year. The kids watched while playing Polar Express many times. We however drank wine and coffee, ate and played Apples to Apples. My gosh we get so loud. I often wonder if the loud people weren't there or if we'd all just quiet down for a while, would we actually have meaningful conversations and get a chance to catch up and hear about each others lives? Maybe someday when the kids are grown and we go back to drinking coffee. I love my friends, but my goodness you people can get rather loud. Always a blast...love my peeps no matter how different they are. More photo's of the festivities if you click on the cheese.

The countdown Begins

What is it like 9 more days till Christmas. Geez, I wish I was still in the Smokey Mountains, because that would mean it was still October, and I had a ton of time. I could go back and do some better planning and better budgetting. Why is it when you need money the most you budgetting skills fail you every year at the same time. Someday I'll get it right and we'll live within our means. From what I am hearing from my peeps, for some reason this holiday season has got a ton of folks overwhelmed and everyone is behind on their Holiday shopping and projects. Christmas cards are going out in stages, hopefully all will be sent before Christmas. So if you normally get one, and it's Christmas and you haven't got one yet, be patient! Steven Curtis Chapman, looks good for a dude in his 40's. Admittedly I've not been his biggest fan, but that's a dang good video, and song. Rock on SCC! I must say again Narnia was an awesome flick, and good to see even a non-christian can enjoy it and even call it beautiful. Oh yes cousin you may not see it, but some kind of seed has been planted in that Athiest heart of yours! CS Lewis is good for that, because he too was once an Athiest as well until the author of the Lord of the Rings got a hold of him.

Christmas Label Curse!

So I have all the address's placed nice and neatly in their individual boxes, prepared to be printed, so how come they don't print in the nice boxes for the labels? Why is that....I refuse to hand write 68 address's.

NARNIA.....

So much other stuff went on this weekend, I neglected to mention I saw Narnia on Friday! Beautiful, is the best I can describe it. Could be that I've been a fan of the books since I was a child, and to see them come to life so perfectly right before my eyes was awesome. As Lucy touched the snowy branches through the wardrobe, I wanted to cry, it was just how I imagined it would be. The symbolism is way cool if you actually know what's going on. But my question is would non-christians who know nothing of the bible even get it? Maybe not, but I do think that subconsciously the seed is planted, they may not even realize it.

God job's a no go, and I feel good about it. Last thing I want to do is be stuck in another mind numbingly boring job of data entry. I am sure I could have done it, but it probably would have gotten boring after a while just as my current position has. I venture to think that probably not as boring as life insurance since I would have some element of interest in the work I would have been doing, but they didn't think I'd be a good fit, and I trust they know what they are doing. They certainly didn't come to the decision quickly it was well thought through so it's all good. So in thinking through the process when they came to the decision that they did not want to hire me for the paying position, here they have all this information on me, of what I've done over my 20+ years as a christian and where my spiritual journey has taken me, which is quite a lot. They then offer me a coaching position, which is a huge deal, and flattering. Since for the most part volunteers are valued at VCC, big time. They probably run the majority of most ministries, as you will find in most successfully ran churches. So right now every ounce of my being is telling me not to do it, that I'm not there yet, and that it would take up more time than I am able to give. But I haven't given it the respectible amount of prayer that, that kind of decision needs, so I shall pray before I make my final decision. God knows what he's doing better than I. Kind of bummed I didn't get the job, but I'm ok.

Fancy To-do....

Heres a photo of us from the fancy to-do. Sorry the batteries were dead at the wedding reception so no photo's of the wedding party....I know you are all sad.

Is it over yet?

The weekend that is? Nope one more day, tomorrow, and then it will be over with. What a freakin busy day! Started with picking up P's basketball uniform. He's going to look so dang cute in purple and gold, lets just hope he learns to dribble and not slap the ball. Lets hope he learns what direction to run, and all sorts of cool teamwork type stuff. It'll be good for him.....I think. We then went to walgreens and began our Christmas shopping....well I did begin, day after thanksgiving, but had only purchased gifts for Ron and P, but had nothing for anyone else, so we got some filler gifts at the Walgreens, which I'd highly reccomend for one of kind inexpensive yet appealing gifts. Ok now time to attempt to blog about todays festivities. Honestly you'd have to be there to get the full experience, but I will make an attempt at doing it justice. It was almost as if my husband and I were attempting to "one-up" each other at who could come up with the most "out of my comfort zone experience", and guess what I WON!

Ron: "Honey would you call that a non-traditional wedding?"
Yes dear I believe you would. Rewind 2 weeks ago, on a thursday evening around 8pm, I answer the phone to an unfamiliar number on the caller ID, and was greeted with an unfamiliar voice on the other end. He tells me his name...and still I'm like "who?" Then he said your husbands brother, still nothing is registering, because you see, yes my husband has a brother, however we've not seen or heard from him in over 4 years. I then apologized and we began to talk. He tells me he's getting married.......IN TWO WEEKS.......right no better time than the PRESENT! I suppose there was a bit of prior planning and we were just an afterthought after all he hadn't talked to us in 4 years. Theres not an actual wedding though, just a reception. Apparently something about friends and a justice of the peace, then a fancy to-do at STORMIN NORMINS SPORTS BAR. Ok when I read sports bar, I think of a place with big screen TV's, chicken wings and those cool tall glass's they fill with beer. Usually a large facility, with your typical smoking and NON-SMOKING areas. Commonly they'll have sports on the big screen TV's. I mean map-quest went so far as to give Stormin Normin's 5 stars, and we felt safe. Until we walked in through the steel backdoor with a sign directing us to the reception we were about to attend. Do you ever have one of those surreal moments where you feel like you've just entered a dream sequence.....like Wayne and Garth in Waynes World? That was us, after we walked through the door. Me in my nice festive green argyle cardign, cords, and sketcher hiking boots. Ron who had changed into some cargo pants from jeans, because he felt he might be too casual in jeans and a plaid long sleeve button up abercrombie shirt. Most of the guest appeared to be dressed in usual bar attire, mostly black, many in LEATHER. We felt a bit out of place to say the least. The only thing that would have made me feel more uncomfortable is if the music had come to a screeching halt when we walked through the door. Thank God it didn't. Because you see it was blaring as loud as it possibly could the whole hour we were there. Apparently they don't really like to talk to each other in these places, and if they need to they like to be as close to your ear as possible so you can hear them. Everyone appeared to be looking at us, almost the entire time we were there, I don't think they had seen anything like us. I felt like the humans on planet of the apes. And yes we did take the small human with us. He at least was some comic releaf that eliminated a tiny bit of the fact that we wanted to run right back out the door. He had a blast dancing, and talking to folks. At one point Ron was asked to dance by the bride, and he respectfully declined. I was then asked to dance by the best man, who happened to be a man in his 40's with long hair, and he happened to be wearing leather, pants and I believe a studded belt. Far be it for me to decline a dance with this nice gentlemen when Lionel Richey was playing.....so I danced.....for just a moment, since apparently another lady, who was intoxicated wanted him more than I, so I had my out. I don't think I am a snob by any means. I can go to a bar and have a beer or a glass of wine and feel perfectly comfortable. But this was a very small bar, with lots of smoke, and quite a few people I had never encountered before. It was what one would refer to as a "dive", "hole in the wall" bar. I guess his brother was very comfortable there, since these people have become his family at the absense of his own family, which is great. This was one of those weddings where the party was for the people who got married, not for the guests. And I am sure they had the time of their lives. We however were rather smelly upon our escape from the dream sequence. We both got in the car, first let out a good theraputic yell for what we had just encountered and then were like ewwwww...you smell really bad, like an ashtray soaked in beer. We both but all our clothes in the wash when we got home along with our coats. And then showered, and still feel like I smell. I am sure the party goers had a good laugh at our expence once we left.
Once we left there, I was really looking forward to the FANCY ARMY CHRISTMAS DINING OUT. This event I usually either avoid and have some lame excuse why I can't go, or I go and dread it. But after the "reception", this Fancy to-do felt like it could be a day at the beach! And it was. We had a lovely time, a few of the guys I've known and "dined out" with many times over 12 years. I've been to their weddings, got to know some of the wives, so much of the uncomfortable feel is tolerable. Completely tolerable after what I forced my husband to endure this afternoon. I wore my Austin Powers/ George Washington fancy outfit and was completely comfortable. Even though most of the ladies were wearing as I expected, dresses with no sleeves, or spaghetti strapped sequenced dress's. Barf.....it's dang cold out, aren't you people freezin? I think that tomorrows play will be rather uneventful compared to todays festivities, tough to top any of that. I am just happy to be the big winner of the "OUT OF YOU COMFORT ZONE" challenge. I challenge all of you to top me!

SNOWDAY!

It took me 3 hours to get home from work last night. Perry's got no school, and I got no childcare.....so we got to play in the snow, and I'll got to work when Ron wakes up. Such is life.  

DTMT...

That's "Do too Much Tuesday", it's back! Just incase you were concerned you'd never see it again, it has resurfaced it's ugly little head! Much needed prayer that I make it through today and that all things go well. I have no doubt today will be a good day.....busy but good.

Outfit for fancy to-do...done.
Christmas cards.....in progress
Christmas letter....NOT
Christmas shopping.....plenty of time

Still could use a life assistant if anyones offering their services for free!

Fancy "to-do" Outfit....

I couldn't get the desire to dress like Austin Powers out of my head while shopping. I saw this shirt and kept going back to it. Tried on a few things that were less than flattering, and just took the plunge got the shirt, w/o trying on, got the jacket, had the goucho's, hooked it up with some FISHNET stocking, (I've never owned a pair I swear, who knew these were such a turn on to men???), and some super cool boots. All the sudden I am totally comfortable and I look oddly like I should be kicking it whe Thomas Jefferson and his peeps signing the declaration of independence. And as you see thanks to Harold and his mad skills I could totally fit in!
I think Harold and Ron were plotting against me after the photo I posted of Ron....but ha....I am proud of the versitility of my outfit, that could be worn in many different eras.

By the way anyone know where I can find directions on how to make these as gifts?

Yeah Ok....

Is it too much to ask these folks to smile?? Always messin' with me....just freakin smile would ya?.....And look my husbands got the kid acting like a nut too. Geez!
All I got to say about that is....it's now on the blog for the world to see, and not only this picture but the one I'm about to show, the one you were begging to be deleted. Now next time maybe you'll smile!

Yeah um don't mess with me!

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!!!!

Apparently all sorts of folks are begging for your attention around the holiday season. I being all about the boundries, and not putting too much on my plate try very hard to avoid doing too much but even when you limit you activities things get a bit overwhelming. Suddenly I am very behind on EVERYTHING! I have 3.....out of 80 Christmas cards done. Not even started my christmas letter, have sent no invites to the annual to-do thats in 2 weeks, and I still need to finish purchasing parts of my fancy outfit for a formal I am going to next weekend. CAN I GET A LIFE ASSISTANT PLEASE? And then my sister in law had to have a baby last year in December so add a baby's first birthday to the mix and you have holiday madness! Oh and christmas shopping, don't go there.

I did purchse P a super cool old school big wheel for christmas, that is in my husbands trunk....which I forgot so when we were shopping for the baby's present, and we go to put it in the trunk with P standing right there....trunk lid went up and quickly came back down....very funny! I think he saw but might forget cause he didn't get a good look at it, and he's not expecting it.

Things seem to be looking up on the ADD front. We unloaded the "insensitive, this is just my job what kind of drugs do you need" psychiatrist, and we saw our family physician, what a breath of fresh air, Dr. Lichter rocks, when I voiced my concern about Concerta and if it's working when it needs to he went so far as to get out the ginormous book of drugs to show me what it does and how it does it. It had cool graphs and everything. Love that he sensed that I was an intelligent person who would get that kind of stuff. I totally got it and feel much better about Conceta and it's effectiveness the goal is to medicate P as little as possible to get the most focus factor, and not take away his personality. So far we are getting there. First appointment with Childrens is tuesday, looking forward to them figuring out why he is the way he is, so that we can effectively treat him so that he can function better at school, or they just need to figure out how to teach him in away he can learn best. I think the latter is what needs to happen, since Perry is Perry and I don't want to change that. Nuff said. Off to the birthday party!

Hugs

This is probably my all time favorite video. Not to mention it's Dave Matthews, and he's dang cute. I am the least likely person to plant a hug on ya. But if you come at me with a hug, I usually welcome it, most of the time will grumble, but sometimes in need of one but wouldn't dare tell nobody. Not sure why I am like that, just am, and I am ok with it, unless I need a hug then I'll usually just ask Ron or Perry.



Ok so heres a photo of me, on Thanksgiving. My head above my beautiful turkey, only it's the turkey's arse! At least you can see my lovely atire for the day......nice.....it was my cooking outfit, and since the electric was out for 45 min. I was in a rush. Therefor there was no getting dressed time in between cooking and eating time....so...I have on this memorable outfit when the guests arrive.

U2

Forgot to mention what I did on monday night I watched, Bono, with Abby, and man he is just way cool that's all I am saying. They are so much better with age. Except Larry, he looks greasy. But Adam, Bono and The Edge.....very distinguished.

Turkey Respect!

The turkey seems to be losing so much respect as the years go by. What happened to Pilgrams and indians, and cornacopias? All I see is Christmas trees, santa, and snowmen. All I hear is Christmas music. Why can't we celebrate Thanksgiving first? Why must we be thrust into Christmas before we've even put the bird in the oven. Why can't it be the month Christmas is actually in before we drag out the tree, or the music? I went to Michaels to see if they had any fun foam craft for P to make for the centerpiece....what did I end up with? A gingerbread house...went for the real deal instead of foam. I would have liked a turkey made of foam, but none to be found, why because the Turkeys' got no respect. So I am procrastinating in the worst way, I am suppose to be preparing for the feast and making my home presentable to guests........I am doing this again this year, it'll be divine I am sure. Happy Turkey day people, and please wait till next week for the freakin tree!

Sunday.....

Feeling so much better today. I scrapped like a maniac yesterday all over town. Love that. Thanks Ron for giving my much needed space. What do you call a Mega church, with all restrooms out of order, no coffee, no childrens ministry on Sunday, and no water in the Baptistry and it's All Worship Baptism weekend........You call that spiritual warfare is what you call that. Satan worked a little overtime, and VCC's watermain broke last night, which made for the shortest worship service in VCC history. I am striving to become a better writer someday I'll grow up and be just like. HEATHER.

No Good Very Bad Day.....gets Better!

I can think of many different things to do with $200. I mean a lot of things can be bought for $200. No price is ever too much to pay for help for my kid the way I see it. However if you've been recommended to me by a respected Psychologist, and a friend.....I do not anticipate you to disappoint me....but you did. And it cost me $200 to be disappointed, which makes me feel rather sickly. So what am I speaking of? Mine and Perry's initial coaching session at The Affinity Center, it was an hour and a half of stuff I already knew, a lesson on the brain and how it works, going over the stupid questionairs I had to fill out, of which I've filled our on numerous occasions, her looking over the evaluation done at school baffled by the scores...."how can he be high and above average here, and below average here.....blah blah blah blah....." To which she responds with "yeah according to the accessment Perry is clearly classic ADHD....." Whoa....and you went to school for that? Tell me something I don't know! Some other crap about the brain being asleep and the brain being awake and what causes that. At no point during the session did she tell me what they could do for us, or what the possibilities were in plain folks I'm not a clinical psychologist language. She was also kind enough to strategically tell me waking up 45 min before Perry has to get on the bus isn't logical for him, if I expect him to dress himself, yeah ok tell me something I don't know. I am a women ruled by chaos, don't mess with that it works for me. One thing she did tell me was Concerta (the medication Perry takes) is a time released medication that lasts 12 hours. Knew that. But what I did not know, was it reaches it's peak or it's best 6 HOURS AFTER IT'S TAKEN!!!! Wow......well no wonder he seems to be all together and somewhat focused by the time HE GETS HOME FROM SCHOOL...and his teachers are reporting they are unable to get him to focus and he can't sit still. Ahhhhhhhhhh.........Ok so I've been going to a psychiatrist (whom I don't care for) who prescribes this medication, who I've voiced this information to, and he didn't tell me anything like that. Who the hell am I suppose to believe??? The psychiatrist I don't like or the know it all....."how about a lesson on the brain" smarty pants women I just met?? Or the lovely, very helpful, nothing but respect for psychologist who suggested I check out the Affinity Center in the first place, yet didn't inform me of the peak performance of Concerta.....did he not know this?? OMG.....so frustrated.....so I leave the Affinity Center with MORE QUESTIONAIRS, a couple for me and one for each of his teachers. Shelled out 200 bucks, signed a release form, recieved a privacy act paper....(CAUSE I NEED MORE OF THOSE).....took Perry to school, once he was out of sight I cried! Went to work, and did a little discreet cube crying, vowing not to return to The Affinity Center, and giving a shout out to Stacie to pray for me since I was on the verge of losing it. She told me I shouldn't be made to feel this way and to wait for Childrens to call. She just finished a round of assessments for her son, and she was totally pleased with how she was treated by childrens from the moment the started the rather lengthy process. And she lives in Maryland! While pursuing the help of The Affinity Center, I purposefully did not cancel anything with Childrens Hospital, in the event things didn't work out.........THANK GOD...........Feeling extremely overwhelmed and pretty much useless at work, I turned my late arrival into a half day and left early. I had called Ron to inform him of my frustration, and said we need to decide what to do. WE meaning I can't keep feeling like I am the only one dealing with this. So while I was waiting for some pictures to be processed Ron calls me on my cellphone with a "guess who just called......?" Gasp.....Childrens hospital, our first appointment is Dec 6th!!!!! Not only did they call when I was at the peak of my frustration, but my husband who never wants to take responsibility for important stuff, took it upon himself to schedule the appointment, and felt rather confident in doing so! God is so good, why would ever think anything less? Thanks for your prayers folks they work, don't ever think that they don't.

Creativity....

I sure could use some of that. I am a creative person, so therefor, I must make all my christmas cards. Yep I need to make 80 cards, and for me to feel fullfilled they must be done at least 3 weeks before christmas, that leaves me with very little time. I was informed today that this years Army National Guard Christmas party is a dress up affair. I am praying it's not a formal. Back in the day I was all about the formal attire, but now that I am in my mid 30's I am so over it. Doesn't help I've been in 8 weddings including my own.....yowza, I've done my fair share of fancy dressin up. I am sure my husband would be rather disappointed if I didn't attend as I have in years past. I've been to some that were fun, but for the most part they are rather boring and snooty. Not down with it!

Have I mentioned lately how incredibly BORING my job is? I do it well and effeciently for the most part, but GOOD LORD it's amazingly boring. Thank God for the occasional personal e-mail that breaks up the day or it's quite possible I would lose my freakin mind. Oh and Jesus Jams, Coldplay, Green Day and Jack Johnson......save me from losing it as well. My pink ipod, I could not live without. Oh and having good conversations with my co-workers helps also. Thank goodness they all aren't crazy. I mean there are a few that are a little off, but for the most part they are all interesting and intelligent people.

Ok so it's 11pm, Perry's still awake talking to himself and I feel this overwhelming desire to go be creative. So hopefully the kid will fall asleep and I won't be up until the wee hours creating some sort of master piece....I really feel the need to alter something......look out nothing is safe! Seriously considering making my Christmas cards out of Giant Altered playing cards. Oh you think I am joking......don't challenge me, cause I will make it happen.

Mean Reds....

I am under attack! I swear, I don't have anything to be bumbed out about honestly, except maybe a extremely messy house, and a less than helpful husband. He takes a few hours to clean 1/4 of the basement, and has to stop because he's tired. That's great! I mean I am greatful for whatever help I get, but come on, there are some women who clean other people houses all day long, the entire house and they go home and have to take care of a family.

So why can't I just hand my kid his homework, guide him in the instructions and he just does it? Like sits there completes the homework, and he's done. Cause I am under attack that is why some force larger than myself is trying to beat me down. The precious angel is in there writing his spelling words 4 times each and it's 11 pm, some would find that to be abusive......He's got 5 more minutes and then I am surrendering to the unfinished homework gods. So can someone tell me why and intelligent man like my husband not see that "do to much" tuesdays would be less stressful if homework was done after school, and not late in the evening when normal folks are in bed. Why can't this just happen? Is it just that men don't think about those things, cause that's a lame excuse way over used.

So completely bumbed that this Alpha session has come to an end. We do evaluations on the last night and half my table split after the evaluations, and didn't say good-bye. Wow....does that reflect poorly on me as a leader? Did I completely freak them out? I am probably the least threatening or intimidating of any of the leaders. Did I not say enough? Not call enough? I mean granted I did have a head-ache this evening so I may have been a little unpleasant. Ahhh.....I did the best I could with the skills I have. Ok so half of 4 people is only 2, so that's not all bad I suppose. But I hate that I didn't get to say good bye, and thanks for sticking it out for 10 weeks, and find a small group....all that kind of stuff. So as if having the mean reds and a head-ache on the last night of Alpha wasn't enough. I am just not good at the hospitality thing. Like I plan on taking peoples plates, getting drinks for folks and all that stuff, but inevitably someone else jumps up and does it before I get a chance. I'm just slow. So thought I'd pump up my hospitality skills and I made cookies last night for my table. So what happens, one of the people at my table stops at Perkins and gets giant eclairs and the largest brownies you've ever seen. So my cookies looked all generic, stale and lame compared to that. It was very nice of her don't get me wrong, and I am sure my cookies were tastey, but I wouldn't know cause I was eating a ginormous eclair! Yes, yes, mean reds indeed.....must go be sad and cry a bit, and then maybe I'll feel better.

Light

This quote was given to me by a co-worker I am getting to know better through our common interest in all things paper. I shared with her some of the struggles I am being faced with lately. And although she doesn't know me very well, she seems to sense what my hearts desire is in alot of things. Just the fact she thought of me when she read this quote means so much to me.

Light

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light.
Not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
Theres nothing enlightened about shrinking.
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not in some of us.
It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine.
We unconsciously give other people
Permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear;
Our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson, used by Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech.

Name it!

I am all about seeing spiritual warfare and naming it when it happens. That may seem a bit freaky to some folks. It's so freakin obvious when satan shows up in your life. Ecspecially when things are going good, and you feel good about where your relationship with God is headed. It happens a lot, and it's gotten to the point where I expect it. See it for what it is and get rid of it. Like this morning, on the way to church Ron and I are trying to have a conversation that was innocent, but serious, and it turned ugly and it didn't need to. He said some things that weren't nesessary, and so did I. At which point I said, "so how's it feel letting satan creep up on you like that and take over." Ron just laughs, he sees it, I know he does. He is so used to me just telling it like it is and not holding anything back. Satan doesn't like it when we are all snuggly tight with God, so he messes with us. Dang he's such a butthead.

In other news. The alpha leaders got to have dinner at Dave and Anita's tonight. Having dinner at the senior pastors house makes a ginormous church seem a little bit smaller. Also makes me proud to be part of a super cool team, cool enough to be invited. They are all truly servants of God.

I am kind of looking forward to the Holidays, and kind of not. I haven't a clue what I am doing for christmas cards. I have the pictures for them, but don't know what those pictures are going to go into. Oh the pressure. Ok life is officially boring......All I talk about is church and scrappin, and lately mostly church. I mean I suppose that's a good thing, my priorities are right, but I've got nothing else interesting to say? My completely boring and mundane worklife has trickled over into my regular life, and even my extra curricular activities sound insanely boring. Something needs to happen here people. I don't want drama, or something horrible to happen. I want excitment, something super cool and exciting to spice up my life a bit. If nothing exciting happens this week, I am going to pop open a bottle of Riesling, and make Ron watch Jane Austin chic flicks all weekend. OMG........he'd so hate me!