JameeForever

Bibs are also good for wiping crass comments from the corners of your mouth, Joy

2008-07-04T14:08:00.007-05:00

Holding up a baby bib that was part of the Republican party's promotional items (they were showing both Democratic and Republican items on their show, The View, today), Joy Behar wondered if this was for John McCain. You know, so he can 'drool' on it.

Just remember this statement when you next hear another actress on The View complaining about ageism. Remember this when next we raise the question of racism, sexism, any 'ism' we've grown so accustomed to. Why is this okay? Why does this go unnoticed and why did the audience break into uncontrollable laughter at such a stupid remark? It can't be both ways--not fair here, fair there, not fair here. I don't see how. Irregardless of who you support in the upcoming election. That's not right.

Wordless Wednesdy Debacle (big word, debacle)

2008-07-02T22:06:00.003-05:00

I'm such a lazy poster, I couldn't figure out how to get the coding that kept popping up on my blog from overtaking my post that I just--poof! Went on without. It's okay, I'll post it again next Wednesday.

Today--Cody came home, hooray. He had a great time in Virginia, though, I know he hated to leave his best friend behind. At the same time, his new laptop awaited, so he was excited to open the box. He's saved his money from his job just long enough to get one. I bought his old one from him for Alex and his classroom (let's face it, Webkinz too). It's only two years old, actually better than mine, so he's excited.

Speaking of classroom, I'm painting it this week. I got about 1/4 done last night when it was time for our walk, and today with the airport run, a few trips to the store and a rained out swim meet, I didn't get back up again. Tomorrow I meet a friend and we head over to the used home school book store, so after that, I'll need to get to it!

And while we're talking about Jiffy Pop popcorn, I have an Alex funny. We were at the store and he had to have it (we all have to have the Jiffy Pop at least once, right?) when I standing at the deli counter and he started acting like he was popping the corn over my arm. He said "Mom, look! You're so hot the popcorn's popping!" Uhhh, Alex, I'm your mom.... Too funny! He meant hot in the literal sense. Love that he still thinks like that!

Prayers, Cody, Piercings and The 08 Profile Picture Castaway

2008-07-01T11:18:00.005-05:00

It's been a particularly difficult week for so many of my friends, which always gets me down too. If you haven't heard, JenGi's amazing brother, Hulkman, is in the hospital. I hope she knows how many of us love her and are praying right along with her for Hulkman's complete recovery. I haven't yet called her, but will do this today. You'd think after all the tragedy in my life I'd know what to say to folks who are hurting--but I really don't. I just try and say I'm here, I'm sorry, I'm praying. And more importantly, I follow up with actually praying! I didn't used to do that, I used to intend to pray for my friends, but I forgot that all important facet of the whole thing! But when my sister needed it most, I definitely knew I was grateful to all who prayed with her and for her. So, humbled by that, I understand now how wrong I was.

I also met with a friend from church yesterday, we had a long lunch. She's been dealing with a ton of stress for a long time now. And it was so hard to hear her say she doesn't ask for help from anyone because she feels she's taken their time long enough. Have we gotten to be a society of 'fast-food-empathy'? That someone is allotted a certain amount of time to hurt, then move along please, NEXT!? I hope not. I don't think so, really. But I think we perceive we become a burden to others sometimes and we stop asking for support. In my thinking, those are the days when we MOST need support, when we feel so alone and so overwhelmed and we quit.

There have been a few people on the MiracleWord forums who have been dealing with some serious issues and have asked for prayer too. I guess we're all needing prayer at some point in our lives, and I think Internet is a good tool to reach out to others when we otherwise would not/could not.

Oh! And I missed my BFF, Kelly's 40th Birthday. How uncool is that? It only confirms how caught up in myself I can get sometimes and that has got to stop. So Kelly, if you read this anymore,

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY BFF KELLY!!!!!

Okay, enough down and out, I've done a lot of that lately! On the lighter side, Cody will be home tomorrow--I kind of miss him. Niki came by yesterday for a package that arrived for her...she couldn't stay this time. Probably best--I'm not in love with her latest piercing. The middle of the ear thing, okay, don't love it, but okayyyyy. But now? I worry that she'll never get that booger out of her nose and maybe the booger will cause an infection and spread and she'll have to be hospitalized. What will I tell people? Booger-itis? Help me not be so 'old' about this. And give me hope that it stops there. I cannot do lip rings or those little bars over the eyebrow. Right now it's a very real possibility, so I'm shuddering. If nothing else, I have been humbled by this whole "Niki grows up but does it backwards" thing. I refuse to judge other parents or children because then I would have others judging me. I do enough of that myself.

Okay for SURE enough down and out. How about a picture? I haven't done one for awhile. It's from my Profile Pictures Gone Bad-- Summer 08 Collection. You have one too, right? Am I alone in this? Am I the only crazy who has one and owns it? I'd better log off now.

Keep Your Projectile Child Off My Child's Flight. Please?

2008-06-29T16:15:00.006-05:00

After weighing the extraordinarily high risk of getting thumped on my often less-than-adorable head, I've been mulling the story over for several days. In my wise older age, I'm learning to blog with delay--lest my 'you stupid Stacey, now I've gotta sprinkle 'the dust' on you tonight' fairy visits. Which always leaves me to cringe as I read what I wrote in the wee hours of that very morning. So this time, I waited.

About the American Airlines incident with the autistic child. I've read the blogs, heard the shock in the indignant mommies as they came together to discuss this. And I empathize--I haven't got anything against autistic children and I consider myself reasonable. In fact, I readily admit I know little to nothing about autism, and know that could change quickly as my children approach the age they will settle down and start families. I know I'm not immune, I really do.

But in going from news article to news article, one thing keeps running through my mind and I still can't shake it, so I'll just say it. The carry on? The one the mother begrudgingly finally allowed to be properly stowed overhead? The kid that wouldn't stay buckled in his seat belt and refused to sit still long enough to take off? As a mother who just last week put her 16 year old son on an airplane to fly halfway across America to visit friends, and will pray again this week that he returns in a few days safely, I take great offense with this mother. I happen to love my child dearly too--and would not take kindly to finding out the airline didn't do it's job to KEEP PROJECTILE BAGS AND CHILDREN FROM FLYING ACROSS THE PLANE ON TAKEOFF FROM SERIOUSLY INJURING MY CHILD.

There! I said it, I believe it, and I will not take it back!

On a less life-threatening note, but a very valid one nonetheless, Cody had a 40 minute layover in Detroit. In that time, he had to get off the plane, find someone to verify where he needed to be, get directions, and walk the 5000 gates down to where he would walk up just in time to whip out his ticket, ID, and board the flight to his destination. No time left to spare (on my way to better days...no time left to spare...I found myself some wings!--replaces the music I'd usually insert her). I'm not sure it's right to expect everyone to sit patiently on the runway and wait for your kid's meltdown to subside before it was clear to secure items/child before takeoff. It's not about ignorance, intolerance, meanie-ness, lack of compassion and or understanding. I'm not like that.

There are many facets to this story, and this is one I wanted to throw out there. Because I'm not okay with vilifying the airline for following procedure when my kid could be inadvertently at risk. There! I said it, that felt mighty fine!

Memphis Shots for JenGi

2008-06-26T16:52:00.008-05:00

Okay okay I'm done giving JenGi a difficult time. She was, after all, very nice to her garage salers this weekend, that's got to be worth something!

I'm not sure what, but I haven't felt 100% all week long, I think just fatigue. I don't sleep well away from home, I'm sure that's part of it. Here are a few of the Memphis photos I wanted to share. Our booth took first prize in the decorating category, I'm tickled with that. We had a last minute change up in the decorations, so I had Cody make some musical notes on canvas and we attached some instruments, added a Beale Street sign and voila! Of course, the chocolate chip cookies probably had something to do with it, I concede. I only wanted mints (which we had as well) and Chuck, our pastor/friend wanted the cookies. We were dubbed the cookie booth and folks from all over came by to grab ~~ridiculously huge fistfuls of cookies that were for sure just for them, despite protests~~ a cookie to munch on!

Booth--cookies on your left, mints on your right!

We heard we needed to dine at Rendezvous--here's Chuck, clearly happy I'm taking his photo right after dinner, can you tell? Personally I think I'm about to be fired from the promotion team, but I can argue this is promotion, right?
Me and Alex in front of Elvis' car (I came home with a scarf touched by Elvis, btw).

John looking adorable in front of a gift shop.

We had a few surprises...while at the rivers edge one night, Alex picked up a piece of driftwood and carried it around a bit. Until he suddenly dropped it, shrieking snake snake! He was about to put the wood on his head (don't ask, I didn't) when he saw it...it was a little copperhead something something something. He seriously dodged a bullet there, thank goodness!

Our feet at the river:

Standard bathroom convention photo, clearly 2nd day because I wore pink on Day 1 (see Columbia convention for reference):
We had a SWAT bust on the eighth floor of our hotel, the hotel our pastor booked not realizing there were paintings of naked women on the walls, on the ceiling, all over the lobby. What floor were we on you ask? Eight, of course! Several hours later we emerged from our rooms to get to the convention and I was able to snap these photos as I left.

And THAT is what I've been up to. I'm fixin to finish up the PowerPoint for Sunday, but then....then....let the summertime fun begin! Swimming, being with my friends (including a trip to Springfield to see JenGi and Ms. Aunt Bea---Mist, wanna come?).

PS--it's just the right time to jump into MiracleWord.net, we're in Psalms and it's kind of laid back right now. I'll send you a pickle WITH a Pringle if you sign up in the forums and say hey. And I'll also thrown in a guarantee--these folks will bless your socks right off, really they will. If they don't, I'll send you two pickles to that one Pringle.

PPS--it's Misty's birthday today...HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Help Wanted

2008-06-21T21:43:00.000-05:00

Will I Kill JenGi? Or Won't I?..

2008-06-20T23:53:00.004-05:00

I sneaked a peak at the convention center computer (shhh!) and about knocked over an Elvi laughing and smiling so big! JenGi, because I've been conventioning and rubbing elbows with the Baptists all week long, let me tell you your post was a fantastic surprise and I've missed all y'all more than you can possibly imagine!

I'm in the hotel and believe it or not, have had no access to internet except to the MiracleWord forums, which I was encouraged to post on from the convention. I couldn't blog because everything entered into the laptop was shot out onto a big monitor for everyone to see....and the church we were at had no internet. So I'm in a hotel. With questionable art covering every surface of the lobby, including the ceiling. The hotel provides entertainment, do not worry that I've been bored. There was the Memphis SWAT team drug bust on our floor, including a battering ram and a door being busted in, cuffs, cursing and shouting and some room searching. I'll have some pictures of the carnege when I get home, I stuck my camera clad hand into the door on the way to the convention this morning, lol.

I'm going to bed now, I'm heading home tomorrow. I'm going to try to track down my classmate Ruth, I wrote about her last year but I'm too tired to link her. She's got cancer and lives in a small town we passed right through Sunday. If I can't find my address book, I won't...she doesn't have phone or internet access in the home. Alrighty, I'm off to bed. I adore all y'all (that's Mephis, right, D?) and am so humbled and excited to find all those sweet comments you left me. Thank.You. I do believe Miracle Word was successful, by the way. We won 1st prize in the decorating contest too...that's worth something! I'll be around this weekend to visit all of you this weekend.

Here's JenGi's favorite picture, btw--I owe that to her. Oh! And I think I'll be needing JenGi's password, don't you think? I won't kill her, btw. I love her too dang much to do that.

I'm kidnapping this blog!

2008-06-19T15:39:00.003-05:00

Hi!
In case you don't know me, I'm Jenny (aka JenGi) and I'm kidnapping Stacey's blog. She doesn't even know I'm doing this! (I feel like such a convict...it's kinda cool!)

See, she's off sweating Miracle Wording it in Memphis and I miss her something horrible.

The day she left, she called me just outside of Springfield to say that she was driving by and wanted to see me waving as she drove by.

I missed the call.

Those of you that know me, know I would've grabbed my fam with poster boards in hand that say "We love Stacey, Yes we do, We love Stacey, How about you!!!!!", and headed off to the highway to yell our heads off like a bunch of idiots.

And you can bet your sweet bibby I'm going to try it on their way back!

But until she gets back and shows us all her head shots I was thinking we could give her some extra love to come home to. She's been a pretty good leaning post to a bunch of us and I'm hoping you guys are in the mood to dish some back to her.

So.....?

How much have you missed Stacey? (She's SO going to kill me for this, so please make it worth my while...please?)

Memphis Time--and Prayer Requests

2008-06-15T11:17:00.004-05:00

I'm supposed to be in church right now, but they discovered a word in the PowerPoint, so I had to come home and fix it quickly. So....it appears I've got a few minutes to kill before heading back to church, having lunch with the group that's going and hitting the road. So of course that makes me happy, I've been running around and not able to post updates. But I will hopefully have access to your blogs while I'm there, so if I do, I'll drop in. It'll be so nice to catch up and feel part of home, weird, I know.

Pray for us if you will, I'd appreciate that. Also a few prayer requests if you think of it--

My friend's son has Rocky Mountian Spotted Fever--pray for recovery
My dear friend's brother is experiencing heart issues, pray for wisdom of his doctors and for good health for many many many years to come (love ya, bff)
My friend's husband is having difficulty recovering from heart surgery
I had a dream about Niki last night it was so real--please pray she comes around soon, ready to get her diploma and get on track again. For good. And that she realizes we've always loved her dearly and always wanted what's best for her.
Pray MiracleWord.net is received well and can grow to be the amazing gift that I so deeply believe it is....living our lives IN Scripture rather than pulling pieces of Scripture to fit into our lives. Sign onto the forums this week, introduce yourself and pm me (I'm Nicoal) and I'll take four of those names (you should do it, you never know if only four people do it, you'll win for sure!) and send you a Miracle Word Bag--very cool bags, not gonna lie.

Thank you, my friends. I'll be praying for each of you as always--and now I leave you with Alex's photo from last week's swim meet:

The Jerky Women Rule --Read At Risk Of Ruining Your Jerky Treat Love

2008-06-12T09:26:00.009-05:00

Alrighty a few days later, if you read the other days' post, you've probably been sleepless wondering what in the world I have to show you! Here it is, my grandest purchase of the day, my baby, my new favorite find. I'm the owner of a fine avocado green West Bend electric percolator. I've wanted one for the longest time-I read on a blog somewhere coffee is better in a percolator, and I couldn't shake the thought until I found one! So when my friend Kelly (new blog up) came for a visit last week, we first hit our favorite thrift store (where I found goodies, but not this one). Making our way back home with the loot, we stopped into an estate sale where I saw it...my heart skipped a few, I went to the shelf it sat on, picked it up, held it over my head so I could see the price tag on the bottom, and knew when I saw $1 I'd found my percolator. It does make fantastic coffee! We took it home (along with my new giant mondo huge vintage electric stand mixer/grinder/ice crusher/blender) and made Kelly and myself coffee. Not any coffee, mind you, but DD coffee. Kelly, being the bff she is, brought down a dozen DD and a bag of coffee.

Here's my new bff, my avocado green percolator:

Yeah yeah I burned again, I know. Sunscreen. I almost never burn twice. But I was at the pool for three hours Tuesday, that'll probably do it. If only my friend Pam hadn't brought cold grapes...but she did. And now I'm certain my chest is going to look like a piece of jerky before the summer is out. I'll be a jerky woman.

There's a group of women who congregate and hoard one end of our neighborhood pool. They're exclusive, and have probably been there since the beginning of the neighborhood. They've got matching towels, matching towel clips (I want some but can't justify them) and imo, shouldn't be wearing the two pieces they wear. Think jerky glistening from an oil rubdown hanging over and out and sagging from behind.

It's likely the QT cups they tote along aren't filled with water or tea, but I can't be certain, so I refuse to infer anything otherwise. They buy the same type of raft, whichever is the newest 'style' is that year and when they overheat, they congregate in the deep end, holding the group together by grabbing each other's raft edges. They clog up the end of the pool and block entrance to the ladder. If you're lucky enough to get by the group, you'd be brave to attempt exit from that ladder--it's kind of like climbing a dipstick--you'll need suction cups to get a grip. They're the jerky women--their kids are grown, they have a lot of time on their hands and live some of the more gigantic homes in the neighborhood. I fear by the looks of me, I could be mistaken for a member of the jerky women. I'm off to buy some sunscreen today.

Random shot of the three cats--they hang out here most of the day. GiGi top, then Jack, then Scat (I think I'll call him Scat now).

I took this test I saw on another blog I don't read (a high cuss-o-meter rating--I think she hangs out with JenGi) and here's my cuss-o-meter result:

OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets

Sunday we take off for Memphis--it's finally time to get to the Baptist Convention and talk Miracle Word. I was at the church yesterday being brought up to speed and looks as if I've got some PowerPoint revisions to spend my day with today. I'd be extremely excited, except one of the activities we're signed up to do is garden. Gardening in the middle of summer in Memphis sounds fantastic, I'm not sure why I didn't think of this before!

Happy Blog, Happy Smiles, Happy Coffee

2008-06-09T19:58:00.005-05:00

Wow. You guys are amazing! I was telling JenGi today I didn't mean to cause a ruckus. And I'm not not blogging. Nope. I thought about it, but no way. I just need to adjust my priorities, and sometimes that means if I don't have anything, I don't have anything!

But right now, I happen to have something. Terence, my longtime blog friend who has developed the Happiest Blog In The World (Smile My Day)! has made headlines. I'm not surprised, really, his blog truly is innovative and all about joy, so of course it's bound to be noticed. So I was excited to go over and read all about the writeup at Happy News.com. What I didn't expect to see was the extremely kind words he had for me. Terence, you gave me reason to smile (even though I don't really deserve any mention), thanks my friend.

And guys, stay tuned. Because tomorrow, I have a percolator find that's gonna knock your socks off. I do! I'm not saying if it's vintage or not, but I'll give a hint:

Be jealous.

Rethinking JameeForever

2008-06-06T09:58:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago I started seriously throwing around the idea of putting JameeForever on a shelf for a few months, a year, maybe indefinitely. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with everything I have to do I'm not able to keep up with my blog friends like I should....wait. Should. That's where I'm sitting right now. How much blogging should I do? And do I have a point? I kept mulling that around...what's the point what's the point?!

So I rewind and remember why I began this blog in the first place--I'd been admiring some sewing, thrifting, housekeeping blogs and really wanted to join in. Then quickly realized I had some things to say, which snowballed into the dear friends I've made. But it's not a sewing, housekeeping blog anymore.

And I've been feeling the pressure to add all these things to my bloglife that are sure to keep me abreast the latest greatest and assure I won't be left eating dust if I don't get with it. I Twitter, I AIM, I Facebook, I Adoptic, I BlogHer, StatCounter, What's Your State Numba, Loser....I'm subscribed to anything and everything that remotely speaks to me, and I'm seriously considering a driving to Plurkland, I'm curious.

In the end, I think about this, think about the digi blog where I add freebies, and I think about what direction my life is headed. I've gotten so chained to this desk (I don't have a notebook, sigh) that some days my LEGS hurt as I got up out of the chair. That's not right. I'll never lose weight if I don't move, I'll never have the home I want if I don't take care of it, and I'll never be satisfied with more more more. Nope. I'm not going to hang up JameeForever just yet, no. Not that many of you would notice of late, I've been kind of laid back with the blog posts.

I'm releasing myself from the pressure of 'doing it all' and posting every day and I'm just not going to worry about my stats just now, I'm not going to fret when I find comments from my friends on my other friends blogs and nothing on mine that day (come ON am I the ONLY one who admits it?...I'm not, am I? Uh oh. See what I mean?!). It's okay. I don't have something interesting every single day. Heck I rarely have something interesting each week anymore, I'm so busy working with the digi stuff.

I'm still here, just not worrying about how many posts I must make to stay on top of the blog rolls, how funny will I need to be to win an award, how clever can I write to keep up with book reviews. I'm still brilliantly funny, clever and creative, no worries. Just not every day! I struggled with how to word this post, I don't want to appear as if I'm quitting nor do I want to sound as if I'm frustrated and petty. I'm none of those. So I asked God for the words, and like He always does, He gave them to me. I think this is just how I needed to say it. I love you, my blog friends, dearly, I'm never going to not want to come see you all the time, I didn't want you to feel that way either. I've felt incredibly guilty that I haven't gotten over every day..heck not even every week. I'm making changes in my life to allow more time to just come be your friend, not worry about being your friend, networking, hyperlinking and all the 'junk' I get bogged down in. It's good stuff, all of it is. But I'm an addictive personality, I need to find a good balance.

JameeForever is too near and dear to me to turn it into anything other than the initial reason I started blogging--it is my life shared. And it's my way of sharing my family, including Jamee, with others. It's where I come to be a friend. But I don't think there's anything wrong with making a blog work for you, please don't take that away from this post....my digi blog was formed purely for that reason, so it's a good thing!

AND now because my bff Kelly is on her way, the house is a wreck and I'm in PJs still, I'll need to dash. But not before leaving you with a good tip--after all that IS why I started this blog in the first place. I don't use expensive shaving creme on my legs, I don't want them to smell like a tropical flower dipped in chocolate anyway. THAT's what my beaded, exfoliating and coconut shards body soap is for. Instead, try some inexpensive (I use the mondo Suave for $.97) shaving cream instead. It really works and it lasts forever! No rusty cans either.

Yeah...What IS a Boo? I Want In On This...

2008-06-04T23:04:00.004-05:00

It's got me booofuddled, not gonna lie....I've gotten dozens of hits of late from all over the country, and the Google search is "what's a boo?". And, of course, my post about of cat, Boo, who died after getting into the lily plant, comes up. The title? What's a Boo Worth?

And something tells me my new friends aren't coming by because they really want to know what a Boo is worth...(priceless, he was priceless). So why? I'd be very indebted to you if you took a second and told me what's the hoolaboo all about...because I really need to know what a boo is too!

Here's my definition of a Boo:
Miss him terribly. So...now that you know what a Boo is, talk to me!! What's the boo-rush all about?

**Cody made it to GA just fine...I got an entire thirty seconds of catch up from him today. I think he misses me so much he can't even verbalize it. It's just too hard, so he 'feigns' that he's having fun and has to get going.

Alex had a swim meet tonight (those wear me out!) and did such a good job! He bumped his little baby head on the edge because he was cruising so quickly on the backstroke..he really needs to learn to count when he sees the flags. So he didn't finish that race (it was a 50). I'm off to bed now, I have to get team donuts for the morning practice. AND I have a perm tomorrow with the lovely niece. Root perm? Maybe...what goes best with leather, JenGi, Cinderella and the county fair? Oh there's a story there, you know there is.

I'm Still Breathing

2008-06-03T10:49:00.007-05:00

Okay I was taking the pictures ^^, working on a new profile for my digi Etsy (same day I took the ones below with Alex) and decided upon looking at 'em I was too pale. It's summertime, I need me a tan. I tan easily, shouldn't be a problem to get one in a week or so. So....we have a neighborhood pool, my bff Pam lives in the hood, we'll take the boys up and we'll try to get something. It was a little overcast, but warm. I even swam (I'm a child, I can't just lay there, I have to dive in and do my flips and stuff). So after an hour, when it was time to go home, I was disappointed when I stepped into the shower to find it didn't look like I'd gotten much sun.

And a few hour later...ewww! But you can clearly see I wore my shades (is my skin really THA yellow?!).

Later that night, John had his first church men's ballgame. Alex too the pictures, so this is the best one I have. But you can still see he's adorable in his little ballcap! He got on base his first hit, he even scored a run. And pulled something in his leg. So Thursday, not so sure he'll be playing...will keep you updated. My sinuses are quite clear, however, the Ben Gay overdose I'm getting each night is ensuring that much, lol.

Tonight--my dear friend, Celia, has invited me to join in at Legacy (where Cody guards now) for a water aerobics class. I'm doing it! Cody's actually sad he won't be there to guard it, I dropped him off at church today for his Georgia Student Life Mission trip. I'm going to miss him, he's one of the most amazingly honest examples of living as Jesus. I cannot take an ounce of credit for that, no more than I can take all the blame for the way our daughter is living at the moment. But I am proud of him nonetheless. I gave him my camera to take along, so no pictures of this week's ballgame. I'll definitely find time to ~~poke serious fun of~~ brag about John's ballgame accomplishments, should he play.

I'm off to the sewing room....I haven't been down there in months, but this is a good day to get my new bag made up...and maybe some pj bottoms for Alex. I was supposed meet halfway and have lunch with my bff JenGi, but she's busy holding a thermometer to the lit end of a cigarrette (not hers).

My bff, Kelly, from St. Joseph, is coming down Friday (the beautiful blonde in the middle). I cannot wait! Haven't seen her in ages (new fiances will do that). We're doing the Lee's Summit Downtown Days for a few hours, maybe some swimming. I miss her terribly, I have so much to catch up with. Shoot! No camera, I just realized this! Not.good. I'll somehow find a way to get camera phone photos for you. I can do this, I think I can I think I can.......how long does camera withdrawal last anyway?

Wow.

2008-05-30T10:50:00.003-05:00

Bittersweet Symphony--But I CAN Change

2008-05-29T11:13:00.005-05:00

I'm going to take a leave from my data entry work--maybe for a few months, maybe forever. I'm not sure how it'll go, but I do know while I don't work terribly hard at it, it's turned into 'my straw' most nights. I've lost a lot of sleep because I tend to put everything else ahead of my work. I'm pretty excited just thinking about this summer--I won't be teaching much and I won't be keying all night long. I'm still doing the digi work, but that's not work for me, lol.

Miracle Word is still going well, I'm finally getting caught up with reading. The CBF assembly in Memphis is quickly approaching (click it, click it! I'm there--that'll never happen again!). I went to the meeting at church last night (30 minutes late, that looked very good for me, the promotion girl, to have no clue!). I'm so excited about this trip--it's just Alex and myself going...we leave the 15th of June and stay six nights. Three of those nights will be spent doing some missional work, and I'm hoping we get to go to the nursing home event, that'd be me where I'm most comfortable.

I called JenGi and asked her to come with, hopefully she and the boys can get away. She'd be an amazing advocate for MW, not to mention the trouble she, Debbie, (not I) will find. John's not able to go because he'll fly to Virginia that next week for my niece's wedding. So I'm bringing Alex and we're calling it a little after-school breakaway! Can you tell we need one?

Reading through Job over the past several weeks, one tends to think about things. Lots of things. And it brings me around to this--trials. I don't know why we have trials in our lives...and I don't know why some people tend to have bigger trials than others. It doesn't make much sense to me now, but does it need to? Honestly, it's easier for me if I don't think about it terribly much. If I zoned in a little more narrowly, spoke about trials, it brings me to this: I've wronged others and I've been wronged. Terribly wronged in some instances. To focus on those specific wrongs would tear my life apart at the seams. To focus on the people I've hurt would do the same, even more so.

I know people who have gone through far more than I have. I know people who have made unthinkable choices, and I know people who may never want to see what they've done has hurt someone else. And sometimes it's not intentional, it just is. I know I'm straying a little from what the book of Job taught me, but I never said my thought process made sense, lol. But I was thinking a lot about it lately. If I'm nothing else, I'm definitely loyal. If I love you once, I love you forever, you'll be my friend for life. And when I see a friend hurting, when I see a friend has been hurt, whose life maybe isn't on track because of someone else's actions, my instinct is to get angry and lash out at whoever hurt my friend. But I'm commanded to forgive others who wrong me, so why do I do this? It's not my place to hold onto anger when someone else has been hurt, when someone has deceived my friends, when someone physically hurts my friends.

There's a point, I'm working on it. I need to practice walking a fine line--being a good and supportive friend and not being a judgmental person. And I will pray for others first--that they do the right thing, that they make things right. I'm not speaking from any specific circumstance, it's just something I've been running through my head these past few weeks. I think reading the bible like this has put perspective on things I hadn't been able to perspectivise myself. (I know it's not a word, but it should be!)

Greatest News Possible

2008-05-27T18:25:00.005-05:00

Oh heck yes! This might sway my vote. But I have to be very careful, I'm not sure I can say it without offending anyone. Can I say Fidel Castro? Shh! I'm keeping it on the very down low here. I'm hip to the new can't-say-the-middle-name-it's-Hussein-can't-say-the-first-name-it-sounds-like-Iraq-can't-say-the-last-name-sounds-like-Osama-can't-say-black-I'm-not-black-can't-say-Michelle-she's-off-limits-but-she-can-talk-if-she-wants-to-can't-talk-about-historical-facts-it-could-be-offensive. So I'm not sure I can say Fidel...but I just heard he's hitting the pavement for Barack. He's says he's the 'most advanced candidate'. But I'm not sure I can say that, so I'm going to stop with that.

PS--If Bill was playing this correctly, he'll push for the VP. I see lots of stogies in his future, I really really do! But if you took that to be offensive in any way, I didn't mean it to be. I like stogies, I think stogies are good. I think a pack of Marlboro Ultra Light 100s sounds pretty good about now too....I'm wavering on that. But stogies are great and I would NEVER say anything offensive about a stogie. Especially a stogie. Never.

Zoooooooooooooo

2008-05-24T17:32:00.002-05:00

Gosh the days just seem to fly by lately! I'd better get the zoo pictures up before Alex starts driving! In NO particular order.

Here we've just arrived in Omaha--have to say John did a much better job finding a hotel than the last time. I'm sure my friend, Debbie, will agree that this is much nicer than the icky icky hotel room we shared in Columbia! John got a suite almost identical to the one we got five years ago when we took the kids to Disneyland. Can you tell Alex is happy to be out of the car?

This is the end of the zoo day and we're in the fantastic jungle building...the waterfalls were very cool. The air? Not so much, they kept the weather...well, jungle-ish. But still very impressive.+
Of course he had to sit on the gorilla--it was almost calling his name!
John shaving before the zoo. You're welcome, honey.
A little more of Alex's tour of the hotel--this was his 'room'--the pullout couch.

The first place we went into was the desert dome--I think we wound around that giant dome building for over an hour--the basement had an incredible area where they kept the gators--we walked around in the dark on plankboard, praying one didn't jump up and grab a foot for lunch. And vampire bats, we saw vampire bats feeding on blood. That was my favorite part of the day!

After a long long day, the boys are down for a movie. Alex is hanging out with his new penguin buddy. THAT was very fun, the penguin area. We saw something similar at Sea World, so I was very surprised to see it in a regular old zoo! At the end of the penguin feature you can sit in a glass dome that makes it appear as if you're in the water with the penguins. You had to wait a little bit for your kids' turn to climb in for the photo op--to the lady who mistakenly thought her five children were ahead of Alex--you're still wrong, Alex was next. If you were nicer about it, I'd have let you go ahead of us, I really would have! But, sigh, you were a meanie mommy, and I don't like meanie mommies at the tail end of a very long day at the zoo. So...yeah.

On the road again.....I seriously could move to Omaha. It's one very cool city. Who knew?!

What're You Doing This Weekend?

2008-05-22T23:42:00.001-05:00

I'm not a video lover either, but I love me my Glenn Beck in the morning and on CNN in the evening. This video seriously brought tears to my eyes I was laughing so hard!

AND if you're not a vid person, no worries, I'll be back soon to post some of the 'much awaited, I am sure' photos of last week's zoo trip. Have a blessed Friday, I know I'm ready for a good one. Doing NOTHING I don't wanna do. Okay, that's not realistic. But no plans laid out for me. I can't remember the last time I've said that!

The Girlie Garage Is Ready For You

2008-05-20T22:10:00.005-05:00

All I have to say is....I have the best blog friends in the whole blogosphere. I'm coming around to each of you tonight, but still wanted to thank you for your caring right now. It was absolutely amazing to know I have such genuinely caring friends. So thank you. This, too, shall pass.

And, because I hole up and get creative when I'm down and out, I put together a QP of the Girlie Garage Kit....head over to the digi if you want it. For FREE. I figured Niki's first car photo fit in here nicely...I'd show you mine if I had photos...and if I thought an orange Pinto would look sassy up there! Mom, do you have any orange Pinto photos for my friends? Or the red Pinto Wagon?

You know, when the evil not-the-step-momma insisted we three Poirier girls were too spoiled, she wasn't kidding...all the kids coveted our Pintos...all of them. One had to learn to be quick with the elbow and able to continue lighthearted conversation with one's friends while walking down the halls. At least until one finally got a red Chevette. Oh I have me some red Chevette stories.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((you)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig! And a CT Call.

2008-05-19T02:11:00.004-05:00

I'm back--I had a fantabulistic time at the zoo with John and Alex....don't worry tons of photos! And tons of catching up with all y'all to do. It was a tough day today. This would have been graduation day for Nicole. We drove in from Omaha hoping we wouldn't run into the parties, but the neighbor boy was having his party today rather than yesterday. So....I stayed inside as much as possible, trying unsuccessfully to forget about the mess before us.

I've always been upfront with you about not wanting to blog much about Niki's personal life, because it isn't my story to tell, really. But I think it's okay to share she's taken off again, nearly three weeks ago. And left her online courses incomplete. It's so hard to make sense out of what doesn't make sense at all....and she is apparently engaged now. Something apparently some of the family knew about, but we (John and I) were left in the dark. I'm still working on this 'let me try to be your daughter's friend' game people play. It stuns me when I hear about it. As if they would be able to do what we clearly were not able to.

Only John and I know the truth, that we were good parents and our daughter is a good girl....who isn't where she needs to be right now. This will only come with time and by the amazing graces of God, who can absolutely set this right, and I know He will...I just need to let it be in His time. Sadly, we very much like her boyfriend and we would have been thrilled about this...after she finished school. She would have been done after summer school and then we would have supported her completely.

Anyway, that's the down low, and in part that's why I've been a little detached lately. Alex suffers the most, he breaks down out of the blue sometimes.

Alright, enough negative, I know this will all be okay one day, don't feel sorry for me, just pray with me, that's all. AND if you're a digi scrapper, one of the stores I'm in is looking for a CT member. If you're looking for access to some very cool designs and if you're wanting to find a laid back, no hassles CT to be involved with, this is there place to go! Just let me know you're interested, I'll shoot you all the details asap.

Here's an example of a primo kit you'd be working with (how cool are the fuzzy die I ask you?):

Pictures Of My New Mop--Oh, And My Baby Sister Too!

2008-05-15T11:24:00.005-05:00

I had the nicest surprise happen upon my front door yesterday--my baby sister, Antoinette, was in the city and stopped in unexpected (and all the embarrassing very dirty house that goes along with that!). It's far too long and far too much water under the bridge to go into, but I haven't seen my sister in three and a half years. We only live an hour away, and over the past several months we've been emailing and a few phone calls. So three years means I've never met my two nephews, 2 and 1. She brought them along, her daughter is in school. I don't have her permission to post their photos, but if she gives it to me later, I'll show ya, they're extremely adorable.

The visit was far too short for me, hopefully she'll come again and I'll have the house better prepared (and baby proof!). I do have a few photos of us (It's very hard for me to post photos of me with NO eye makeup, but Antoinette looks beautiful, so here you go):

She was making fun of my photos on my blog, so we're posing for a blog shot up there--I don't know if she understood I'm not serious when I take those shots!

And here is where I see how ginormous my head is, I inherited my father's head. She didn't. BUT I did get the good nose, no doubt about it.

Y'all have been cracking me up with the mop comments. I really did get a mop! For Christmas too, but John broke it and bought me a replacement. What I didn't tell you (oops) is that I also got the ENTIRE series of I Love Lucy DVDs (OMGoodness I'm in heaven!) and flowers were delivered the Friday before. So don't hit him just yet, wait and see what he gets me for my birthday!

See? How happy am I? I've yet to mop anything. I will, but first I need to find the floor.

PS--I've been AWOL so much this is getting old, I know, but it really truly is going to get better. I'm taking several weeks off typing (if I even do go back, I don't know yet). That combined with school almost out, will give me plenty of time for BOTH digi and Jamee blogs.

I'll be over....and won't likely post again for a few days. John, Alex and I are going to the Omaha Zoo for some R and R...and room service and relaxation. JenGi, she'll be camping out with Ms. Aunt Bea. Have fun with that, ladies. Muahahahahahahahahah!

It's Getting A Little Steamy In Here

2008-05-13T20:24:00.004-05:00

I never thought the day would come when I'd do this, but go Hillary! I want her to win...I really really do! Because I'd much rather smoke a stogie while running, glancing behind, running, running, going airborn and hitting the ground for cover than hang out in the chicken coop. It's just how I am.

And if she does win and nomination (oh please please please)? I'm not giving away any obvious secrets when I say I think I know who her running mate will be...

Alrighty I'm off to use my new steam mop I got for Mother's Day. The one John gave me to replace the one he broke. The one he broke is the one he gave me for Christmas. Hey, wait...there's something very wrong here...John! Johnnnnnnnn! GET IN HERE!!!!

You Won't Soon Forget This One......

2008-05-12T09:04:00.001-05:00

I've been given the honor of sharing a fascinating book with you--and I jumped at the chance to be part of this blog tour. If you're an avid reader like myself and you heart fiction that doesn't forget God's hand in our lives, then you've probably heard of Tricia Goyer already. Maybe you've read some of her books, Life Interrupted, My Life Unscripted, From Ashes to Dust, and so many more. She's got a clear grasp on hunting down historical details, adding characters that are intertwined and drenched with energy and hope, then placing those characters into a plot that's going to keep you turning pages all night long!

A Whisper of Freedom is the third book in her Spanish Civil War Series. Here, you'll catch up with Sophie's heart and her hair raising adventure right from the beginning. It's hard to imagine how heart-wrenching it it was to be caught up in the Spanish Civil War, but Tricia's attention to detail combined with her story telling talent gives us a glimpse. Not only that, here she writes far more than a book, but captures a story of faith not to be forgotten.

If you're feeling as drawn into the series as I am, you can win the entire three book series in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War Series. And in entering, you get a fun meme to post on your own blog. This meme gives you an opening to share missions and/or charities you have a heart for. Oh...and to sweeten the pot just a little, they're throwing in gourmet chocolate coins too. You know.... reading chocolate. I read better with chocolate in one hand and a book in the other!

Copy the meme questions below and answer the questions, then head over to Tricia's place and let her know your meme is up. That's it! It's almost as easy as getting lost in an amazing Christian novel while popping gourmet chocolate coins into your mouth. Click HERE to grab the questions off Tricia's blog and let her know you're playing.

1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!)

Update the nursing home my friend John resides in and hire employees worthy of working with the beautiful aging residents.
Bring Gervasio to the US to study medicine.
Pay our debts and the debts of all our friends and family (assuming it's a big chest).

2. List three charities/missions/organizations you support (and why).

Cornerstone Church....they are my family.
MiracleWord.net because the concept is so simple yet so incredible...read Scripture and come to know the miracle within those pages.
Compassion International...we sponsor two beautiful children, Catherine and Gervasio.

3. List three ways you have volunteered your time/services

I used to be a candy striper (loved loved loved the jumpers, lol)
Visiting elderly at the nursing home.
Church--wherever I'm told to go.

4. List three things you keep "hidden" when company comes over.

My kids! (Okay I'm kidding, but sometimes I wish I could)
My sewing room--it's downright dangerous if you don't know what you're doing!
That's about it, honestly, my friends know I'm not pulled together all the time. And when I finally decided to let them see the real me, suddenly I was free to welcome my friends anytime!

5. List the last three things you've lost.

My bank card.
My gold nugget necklace.
Is my mind too cliche?

6. List the last three things you've found.

My bank card (car).
My gold nugget necklace (where it belongs, pshh last place I look!)
$5.00 in my jacket--love that!

*There's MORE! Tricia has set aside five signed copies of A Whisper of Freedom for you, my friends, to win. If you want to win your own signed copy (and I know you do), just sign up for her newsletter HERE!

Camera Critters Go Cherry Pie

2008-05-11T14:58:00.003-05:00

I cannot have Misty Dawn's eyes getting all teared up (with allergies). No way! So Mist, because I love you so much, not only am I participating in Camera Critters, the best darn meme there ever was, but girlfriend, Louie says hello and he wuvvvs you!

* If ya like the page, go over to the digi and get it, it's free!