2012

Love more.
Find joy in more places.
Spend less on me.
Cruise {yes, above and this possible.}
Thrift more.
Give away last {you matter} band.
Give more.
Try harder.
Push farther.
Say no to sweets more often than yes.Workout with Allison more.
Bike trip Troy to Dayton.
Cook more.
More patience.
Church more.
Pray more.
Cleaning routine.
Reconnect with another.
Walk dogs freq.
Increase professional involvement.
Dance it up.
Less negativity.
See Batman.
Drive in.
Girl's trip.
Print digi photos.
scrap.
More rescue.
Never stop having or craving fun.
.....tbc

Watch "One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful (Boyce Avenue cover) on iTunes (X Factor)" on YouTube

Go here.

http://beinamovie.smugmug.com/Movies/All-Dark-Knight-Rises-Pics/18601278_3s3BJc#1438432223_LJTLKBR

and here

http://beinamovie.smugmug.com/Movies/Dark-Knight-Rises-Check-In/18663407_dgS8Rf#1442911071_nBfcQdQ

Testing..1..2..3..

I'm going to be working on a project and decided to test this program out. The flower in my hair is what I made on my last creative whim. The cute pups? God made them! {the brown, white, and black one mostly to teach us patience, I think!}

tired

If you strike the match...You're bound to feel the flame

I did something odd today...

To say that today was a whirlwind would be an extreme understatement. I think I had every emotion possible rolled into a matter of about 6 hours.

I woke up early with energy that had to only be something of God I was up incredibly late cleaning/emailing a perspective employer. Received an email back that changed the follow up (offer or no offer) date, and I panicked. I had another strong offer on the table and was due to let them know yesterday. The fact alone that I was going to possible have to tell one that it wasn't going to work out with their company had my stomach turning.

6 months i have been seeking and applying for employment within 2 weeks I had three calls/strong leads to interviews. We have big plans for this weekend. These two latest leads were scheduled to have me begin orientation on Monday, our 3rd anniversary. I completely felt like my life was out of control.

God told me to just breathe, he had this. But, me, being me. just couldn't let that happen. If I don't get back to company B, I will no longer have the offer. If I take Company B's offer, I am giving up on a where I feel God calling me. Just breathe. Just be honest.- God

If only, I would just listen. So I prayed...sent the email and left to go hold a newborn. Within 20 30 minutes...had the job offer for company A. Humbled. Everyone kept getting insanely excited, and the word had spread faster than I had planned. I am still taking it all in. It's still overwhelming...I know that the work is going to be rough...every aspect...but so worth it! The experience I will gain, will be unmatchable.

The crazy part?

I let go of an offer...that I knew I was getting great pay, what my benefits were, that I would be working one less weekend a month...and committed to an offer that...I could have 0 benefits, get paid $5/hour, work harder, and miss more of my families life...because I feel like that's where I am supposed to be. It doesn't matter to me where I am, or what I am getting paid, as long as I know God is there with me.

Some call that stupid. I call that faith.

Today I am hoping to find out the details!

I'm a little excited, but mostly completely humbled by God's grace, and scared to death about everything ahead. It will be so w o r t h it!

Because the facebook audience is not appropriate...I'll share here...

On the way home from Cincinnati last weekend I tried to have an open minded discussion about something that struck me... I have known about this blog for a long while and it always captivates me...This post says exactly what I was trying to say.

So I'll let him tell you!

Please read!

Warning: There is a bit of language on the site, and you may not agree with everything he says (shocker!). What he says is worth tuning more than your eyes to though...Please read!

I am thrifty gitty lately...

I can't wait to upload all my recent finds!

Here's some of our recent finds:

Huge rug for the office- $80 Lowes

Old Crate- Free (curb side) which is currently being painted red for the boys outdoor toys.

Hubby's Truck

Picking up our table tonight - with 6 chairs- $35

$5 on my new favorite auction site as well as the following

$22

$50

$1

$2

$1

$2

And...almost thrifted...

About 150ish plants, shrubs, and trees from our local nursery, Wal * Mart, and Lowe's. Most were a $1 or less. We bought a wide variety including: butterfly bushes, phlox, rose bushes, winter creeper, Pussy Willow, Dogwoods, crab apple, hosta, and many many more that currently escape my mind. This leads me to a ranting blog post coming up soon, but for now we will stay on the sunny side.

Oh, and I planted a variety of the succulent type in an old coke caddy and love it on my front porch!

I also found some great deals last week:

many long sleeve shirts $1 @ Walmart

3 HUGE frames @ hobby lobby all under $10

some storage containers there all under $10

desk fountain $8 (for bathroom)

$6 wire bust/dress with hanger which I am using for my necklaces

3 candles $2.50 and less

A cute "W" framed monogram for my soon to be niece (friend's baby) Willow

Bottle topper "Hope" for $1

At the mall I found:

Jersey grey skirt $5 so comfy

and 3 B&BW soaps @ $1.25/ea

I call that WINNING!

Just for fun- my day in faces!

But sometimes she falls down...

iStruggle.

I am in one of the oddest places of my life. At a point of my life where I should be glowing with happiness and a sense of achievement, I am feeling more lifeless than I ever have. It all began with a slap in the face from a lady I spent 36 hours + of my time volunteering for. Though my instructor defended me, and made it clear that I should not let it get to me, I did. For a week it complete weighed on me almost every waking hour. I just could not stop being mad at myself, and being so frustrated with her.

Then I graduated. I honestly didn't want to be there for the most of it. I have just felt sooo aloof and overwhelmed with the lack of challenge and structure in my life post graduation. The job market has been tough, and disappointing.

I have caught myself being so numb and detached from what matters in life lately. It is beginning to break me a bit. I have caught myself thinking heartless replies to things. For a random example. I nearly said to someone the other day "Yeah, because clearly, continuing to use her is the best solution..." After thinking it I couldn't believe myself. Who have I become? Who did I think I was? I clearly have failed my mission to love and be the light of Christ to the world the past few weeks. The last thing I needed to be doing was harshly judging someone else's circumstance.

I need to buck up. I need to face the music of my negativity. I need to get it together. I need to re-focus, re-prioritize. Clean up the baggage. De-clutter. And STUDY!

Psalm 51 has truly challenged my heart this week. My best friend from high school, that recently (within the past few years) has decided to follow Christ, and I are starting an online Bible discussion. I need it badly. Yesterday we dissected James 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.

Wow. Do I need work!

Paradoxical Period of Life

I should be gleaming with excitement and be overjoyed I just got pinned, right? Well one would think...but for me it's actually been a little opposite...{cleaning and running to our local animal shelter to pick out our foster..more later!}

Tonights Going to Be a Good Night!!

Tonight....

Mercy Me

Jars of Clay

Thousand Foot Krutch

Matt Maher

The Afters

Lecrae

The 24th?

Toby Mac

Brandon Health

House of Heroes

B Stoked.

Stunned.

I don't have words for what I saw today. I've burst into tears a least 3 times tonight, after holding back the whole drive home.

I hope I find strength and vitality for the remainder of the week. I will see it all again Friday. God be all I need to be for them.

A wise woman's status.

don't expect things to happen. it's better to feel surprised, than to be disappointed.

Out of a Rut {I didn't even know I was in} [& A Little Love Note to the Lady Readers]

Last week someone told me I was pretty. I just replied that I wasn't feeling it lately. Actually- to be honest it's been years since I've "felt pretty". They replied "just because you don't feel it doesn't make it untrue." I have pondered this many times over. The weird thing? I felt a little pretty after that. I remembered that it wasn't what I felt inside, but that God made me to be pretty~even if I wasn't feeling it and if no one noticed. And. Ready for this.....???

HE DESIGNED YOU, too ~ TO be PRETTY & BEAUTIFUL & You ARE!! I hope you feel pretty inside today! I hope it sparks a part of your soul to come alive again- I hope you feel amazing, even for a day!! I didn't even realize how blah I had been, but that little reminder refueled me. I hope it does for you as well!

I had amazing energy all weekend, and can't help but give God a little wink and smile for the reminder! I just wanted to share this message with you!

To Tweeter or NOT to Tweeter?? That is the question!

I am soon to be purchasing a new car (post 3.18.11) and am on a Treasure Hunt to find my next B-mobile! I LOVE my car. It's reliability and cost effectiveness is questionable these days. It makes me sad. I will always have pieces of me that will be "BTL BABE"! I'm having a hard time finding a car that's me...

For some reason I keep thinking of this:

But I'm just not sure it's me. Usually (besides with my family/at my brothers games) I'm a quiet person. But I love a LOUD or at least somewhat eye catching car. I'd say this would do it! It's a bit older than I plan to purchase though! I was in love with the new Saturn Vue, but I think for the space~ sports wagons provide a much better gas milage! Who knows what I'll end up with...The possibilities are {seeminly} endless!

Ever wonder what procrastination looks like?

I have a paper to write. But yesterday I cleaned house, cuddled Koda, and played with the burst feature on the webcam. If your a nursing student " You know what it is...." ;)

I hate photos of myself. Infact more photo burst were deleted then kept! I need to update my fb pic. I have a challenge I set for myself to take a pic at least once a week. These past few years I have done a terrible job of photographing our life...So one of these will be part of the weekly challenge. For the most part I have stayed with it, but most are of Koda, Dozer, or Smokey&Sam. Updates to our remodel to be posted to OUR blog soon! The background of most of these are the walls I dewallpapered in an hour- To be painted soon~when the paper is done!

WIN!!

Some photos and a video for the previous post!

Dozer's B-day party that his sibling(s) tried to crash!

The kittens have begun to have trial periods to life down stairs (out of their kittie condo - they have a walk in closet to themselves- I'm jealous- oh wait I guess I am storing a little in there still!! ;)). All goes well until Koda thanks it's chase time. He gets time out. I'll take more photos of them today! They have grown soo much.

Dozer has gotten a hair cut again, I thought I found his dematting secret- but that failed. So experimenting we go again to find a solution!

My Goals for 2011

Oh my....gracious! I sit here and clear my desk of crafts and prepare for class tomorrow and feel compelled while I technically have a moment to jot down my goals.

Scrapbook

Actually make our honeymoon and wedding photobooks

X drink more coffee- I know most have the opposite!

Laugh more

X Paint the office/sitting room

find new desk

find and refinish a dining room table

X find pretty and huge mirror for bathroom door

craft more- i had a blast Christmas crafting

X Get pinned March 18th :) :) :) :)

X Pass NCLEX!!

Find a job!!!!

Get a new car

Refinish my window seat to make it beautiful and comfy

design the kitchen remodel for 2012

Take photos of Kenny and I together

Be more spontaneous

Go camping

Cook one new meal a week

X Enjoy my last quarter of school

snuggle with the furbabies more

X hang out with the girls next door and across the street

Smile more, crab less

be less judgemental.

show more compassion..

take at least 1 photo a week

X See Macey Marie and "Baby" C

Organize, Organize, Organize- oh, and schedule/plan more

Last but certainly not least- Be the hands and feet of Christ, pray more, actually do devotions.