I feel like crap!

I know I don't usually come here to whine, but I need to whine today- so ignore me if you're tired of reading whiny blogs.

I woke up at 2am feeling like I could throw up - you know when you have that rock in your stomach, and it is cramping? Ick- go to the bathroom but couldn't thrown up, so I went back to bed but was too uncomfortable to sleep. So I finally get up my usual 6:30am and get ready for work. We're on a short week this week with the 4th on Friday, and my work has to get done no matter how many days off we have. Plus I had a 2:30 meeting with a guy flying into town- couldn't  reschedule. So I go to work, and they all tell me I look like crap. Good- I feel like crap. I did start to go home and take a nap and come back, but I was afraid I'd never make it back. So I stayed.

Then of course I get home and Scott comes over to measure for my patio and I walk outside and point and figure with him. Brandon comes in and wants to put our new office chair together- with the cordless drill. And now, I just dozed off an a telemarketer calls! Heck, I might as well just get up and whine!

Actually, I might feel a little better- although I have only eaten 3 eggo waffles and a rice cake today- and I don't want to think about supper. Guess I'll let the kids order a pizza tonight. Brandon has a softball game anyway.

Can Guys and Girls Really be "Just" Friends?

Madi went home tonight- we're already missing the sweet girl and she has only been gone about 30 minutes. But I'm starting to wonder why I'm missing her- I think it is because I know I had a little piece of Scott with me while he was gone.

So I'm thinking (dangerous, I know) - he and I are such good friends, and others already think we're dating, that I'm wondering if we're both just kidding ourselves. Can girls and guys be best friends without there being more to it?

He did ask me to go to breakfast with him in the morning. That's new- we've had lunch and dinner before, but never breakfast (unless you count the day we went skiing and left really early that we ate on the way.) Savannah made him a Father's Day card- it was really more of a "thank you for making me feel special" card, but he nearly teared up when he read it. He just fits into our lives so easily. He made a comment to Brandon about a month ago that went something like "I think your mom just needs a best friend right now, and that's what I intend to be." So he is respectful of the fact that my divorce has been final only about 3 months (although we've been separated nearly two years.)

I guess I am asking- am I reading more into this, or am I hiding my head in the sand?

Savannah's picture Frame

Welcome to the Weekend!

This has been a fun but busy week. We had VBS at the church where I work with over 100 children each day. It was so great getting to sing and dance with the kids. They're so much smarter than we think they're going to be! I took my niece and Savannah and, even with the 5 year age difference, both had a blast! I like that they offer things that appeal to different ages.



Savannah made this picture frame in crafts. I'm glad she is getting old enough to make things I really want to keep! Some of those construction paper creations get old after a bit.

Scott gets back this afternoon. I've only heard from him once this week, but it sounds like they got a lot of work done on his mission trip. He likes to build things, so I'm excited to hear his stories, especially since I'm not taking a trip myself this year.

That also means Madi goes home today. I've had a lot of fun with her this week. She is one smart dog- and even knows how to hide the fact that she knows how to do things thinking I won't make her! Example: I can get her to sit and lie down easy, although she really wants to jump up on me. I CANNOT get her to heel. I had her out last night, and Scott's best friend showed me how to make her heel- she had pretended all week she didn't know how just so she could pull on the leash!

Both kids are gone tonight. Savannah is with her best friend on their houseboat (I really need to make a best friend with a houseboat- that sounds like fun, doesn't it?) Brandon is at Duke University at Coach K's basketball camp. So tonight will be nice and quiet again!

June 19, 2008

This is the posting for today in my Bible Study group- Life Journal Bible Study. If you are interesting in joining, let me know- it is a private group but I'd love to add anyone who is interested.

Scriptures to read today:

2 Kings 1; 2 Kings 2; 2 Kings 3; Psalm 82; 1 Timothy 1

Scripture that spoke to me today:
1 Timothy 1:8-11
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

Observation:
Lately, it seems that laws affect everyone. We don't have the choice about whether to wear seat belts or not; whether to vaccinate our children or not; even what types of light bulbs to use! Paul clearly states that the laws are made for those who are doing wrong, not for those who are right.

Application:
I started out to think that this means that our legislators have run amok, trying to control areas of our lives that don't need controlling. While I still think that, it hit me that we all do wrong. If I think a law doesn't apply to me, who am I to make that determination? It still feels as if I'm being treated like a child- told what to do because I may not know what is right. Bit I have to realize that God says He put the rulers in place- that he gives power to the powerful. And although I don't trust those in power a lot of the time (well, OK, most of the time) I do trust in the power of God.

Prayer:
Lord, you are mighty, awesome, and the most powerful God. Help me to see that the laws we have are for the good of the people, not to oppress, but to protect. Use Your divine wisdom to see that we have the best laws possible, that our lawmakers are right and just, and that those who uphold these laws are honorable in Your sight. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Picture Perfect- Industry

These women get together all year long to make crafts to sell at our church's annual craft sale. They usually raise over $10,000! What an industry!

Welcome to

P I C T U R E   P E R F E C T

 

~ Each week a theme will be posted up on Wednesday, and you are invited to put up your best picture with that theme in mind, it should be

only ONE  picture please and it should be YOURS

 not off the internet, not a friends picture but your very own

No slide shows please, and no automatic music on the page

Picture Perfect- Industry

These women get together all year long to make crafts to sell at our church's annual craft sale. They usually raise over $10,000! What an industry!

Pool Party At The Baron's Palace

Start:	Jun 28, '08 9:30p
Location:	http://zebaron.multiply.com/

I'm 'Baby' Sitting This Week

We have a new "addition" to the family this week. Scott is on a mission trip with the youth of our church and Savannah and I are taking care of Madison (aka Madi, aka Mad Dog.) She is a German shorthair pointer and is the sweetest dog! She is also strong as an ox on the leash- she took me for a walk already!



It is almost dark but I snapped this picture of her anyway- I will try to take a better one of her tomorrow.

I told him to watch out- he is going to get an incredibly spoiled dog back. I tried to bring her in the house but my little ankle biter went after her- forget she has him by at least 30 lbs! So she is outside (which she likes anyway) and he is in the house sulking. He could have so much fun if he'd  just play nice!

Starting a New Group

If you had asked me last week if I wanted to start a group, I'd have said "why?" "for what?" or maybe just "no." I hadn't considered it- hadn't really thought that I had anything worth putting in a group. Until last Sunday- I was asked to participate in this new Bible study at my church. We were going to read the Bible in a year. Yeah, well, I'm 3/4 of the way through it this year already.  BUT this will be different. We will all read the same passages each day, pull out the verse(s) that spoke to us, write our obsertations of it, tell how it applies to our lives, and write a prayer. They're even getting us journals.

I don't like to write with a pen. I can't write as fast as I can type and it makes me a little crazy to have to write slower. So I thought I would do it in a blog, but I don't want my blog here to totally be about the Bible. Then on my last blog, several people were talking about a Bible Study group.... hmmmm... if I'm writing it anyway... and someone else can see it.... and benefit from it.... and add to it.... why not! So, welcome to Life Journal Bible Study group. I invited all my contacts- even those I knew weren't Christians, because you never know who might be interested. It is a private group- I don't want people passing through and being negative about what I'm doing, but if you want an invite I'll be happy to include you.

Thanks to Dave and Abby, too, who agreed to be admins. Since I really don't know what I'm doing, help is appreciated!

 

Life Journal Bible Study

http://lifebiblestudy.multiply.com/

The Floods from Jamie's House

Here is a video Jamie (iowamom) sent Kat (**Kat**) from her home in Iowa. Let's all pray for Jamie and her neighbors as they are threatened by these flood waters.

Chris' Wedding

Cake

Naked pictures, Blooms, and Rainbows

Yes, this is my naked dog. He got a good haircut yesterday!

Biblical Truths

I am officially 2/3 of the way through the Bible. I read the passage for the last day of August last night. I am still going to finish the entire reading I have started (it is actually a whole lot easier than I thought it would be) but my church is starting something new that I'm really excited about! Following a model used by a church in Hawaii, all our church leaders are going to participate in the Life Journal Reading. You can find the link here if you're interested. You read the passage, pull out the verse(s) that spoke the most to you, write in your journal what God is telling you through the verse, then write a prayer. If you do this every day, you will read the entire old testament once and the new testament twice in a year. Plus, in our planning meetings we can share our thoughts and prayers with each other, and will all be reading the same place at the same time.

Since I'm a Republican, and I know many of my friends are, I can't resist sharing one of the verses from the passage today:

"The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left." Ecc. 10:2

And who says the Bible isn't relevant?

Oh, and by the way, if you follow that link and then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, that is my pastor in the yellow shirt. He is about to baptize someone in the Pacific Ocean!

Pictures around the house

Here's what I'm working so hard on while the kids are gone!

Seriously, what do I do with it?

I'm getting my new craft room all organized and I have a problem. What do I do with my wedding album? I don't think I can get rid of it- no matter how the marriage ended it was a part of my life- but I really don't want to keep it, either. Will it mean something to the kids later on? Has anyone else been through this? What did you do?

Productive Saturday

I got up early this morning because the weatherman said we would flirt with 100 degree temperatures this afternoon and I had a lot to get done. I mowed the back corner of the yard where I had to stop the other day when it stormed. I watered my plants in the bed here behind the garage and went to mom's house and watered for her. You can see where Scott has his work cut out for him making me a patio. When he is done, there will be a 20 x 20 paver patio and a fire pit. He claims he will get up the above ground pool that has been sitting in the side yard for at least two years, too! I want one of those canvas and iron canopies to go back here, too- as you can see there is no shade and this view is looking south.


I could only work until about 11:00am- it was 92 when I came inside. So I spent the rest of the day turning Chris' old bedroom upstairs into a craft room. Unpacked a lot of the boxes of stuff that was in the laundry room- mostly scrapbooking materials. I still have some things to move in but it is starting to look like an organized place. Now I just need some shelves. *sigh* That is a project for another day- and another paycheck.

The Empty Moments

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company you keep,
in the empty moments. ~Oriah
thanks Sea!

The kids left for the beach this morning without me. They went with a friend's family- both got invited to go along. I knew Brandon was going all along. He is almost 18 and is pretty responsible. I didn't know Savannah was going to go until last week. I wasn't sure I wanted her to go- she is 11, she is a girl, and I wouldn't be there to make sure she was safe.

Scott told me Sunday to let her go. Of course every cell in my body was screaming "no" but he said, "you don't want her to get to be 18 and not want to leave your side." He was right and he was wrong, too. I want her to be independent and strong. But she isn't the one having a problem with this- it is me! She was ready and excited to go. I'm alone and feeling very "empty-nest" -ish right now. I'm not ready to let her go! But I did.

So I am going to have a quiet house until next Friday. They made it there safely and have already had fun in the sand. I'm glad for them- I am still not sure what kind of vacation we would have had this year and this way I don't have to feel like they didn't get one. I will still do some weekend things here and there, but this will be their big thing.

So when I'm on here way more than normal, you'll know why!

Yes, I Stole it From Sea!

Walked right out of her blog with it tucked under my arm! Tee Hee!

Ok guys, it is another of those question things... play along if you want!

1. Did you have a nickname growing up? Not really- got the name shortened to 'Neen some, but that was it.

2. Where were your parents born? Right here in the town I grew up in and still live in!

3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? Probably a word doc for work

4. What's your favorite restaurant? Hmmm.. I love our local Italian place!

5. Last time you swam in a pool? Yesterday- it was almost 100 here!

6. Have you ever been in a play? Actually went last Friday night!

7. How many children do you want? I have three- one of my own and two step-sons. Think I'm done!

8. Type of music you dislike most? Rap- which is not music at all- so if that doesn't count, I'd say bluegrass (only some of that isn't quite so bad!)

9. Are you registered to vote? yes, and I do!

10. Do you have cable? 77 channels- and that is too many.

11. Have you ever ridden on a moped? Moped, no. Motorcycle, yes .

12. Ever prank call anybody? No

13. Ever get a parking ticket? In college- my college was downtown- everyone got a ticket at some point! (We learned how to erase the chalk lines, though!)

14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? I think I'll find my thrills another way, thank you!

15. Furthest place you ever traveled? Distance-wise? I don't know if Canada (Calgary) or California (LA) is further from here?

16. Do you have a garden? Not a huge one- I do have a raised bed!

17. What's your favorite comic strip? Garfield!

18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? Yes.

19. Bath or Shower, morning or night? Bath at night- shower in morning (or shower after working in the yard!

20. Best movie you've seen in the past month? I haven't seen a movie in the last month.

21. Favorite pizza topping? Veggies! Lots of Veggies!

22. Chips or popcorn? Popcorn

23. What color lipstick do you usually wear? A brandy wine color

24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? No but I have smoked.... oh, never mind- I didn't inhale.

25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? No, but I have been in several musicals and concerts!

26. Orange Juice or apple? Both!

27. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with and where did you dine? Scott and I went on Sunday to my favorite Italian place!

28. Favorite type chocolate bar? Snickers!

29. When was the last time you voted at the polls? This last May in our primaries

30. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? Last year- my vines this year are just getting the first blooms on them!

31. Have you ever won a trophy? For band in High School!

32. Are you a good cook? My kids think so!

33. Do you know how to pump your own gas? Heaven help the person who doesn't these days!

34. Ever order an article from an infomercial? Space Bags- does that count?

35. Sprite or 7-up? Diet Sprite if I must. I prefer water or tea!

36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work? Yeah, when I worked for UPS! (Great color BTW)

37. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy? Tea Tree/Mint Shampoo

38. Ever throw up in public? Not that I remember.

39. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love? I'll take the true love. There would be too many people just loving me for my money if I was a millionaire.

40. Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes, but I don't know if I believe that it lasts.

41. Ever call a 1-900 number? What for? no

42. Can ex's be friends? Not in my experience. I have seen it happen with others, though.

43. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital? My son when he had his apppendix out a couple of years ago.

44. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby? No.

45. What message is on your answering machine? Turned off the answering machine- it was broken. My cell phone just says something like "Hi, you've reached Janeen- leave a message."

46. What's your all time favorite Saturday Night Live Character? Wow- so many to choose from! I loved Church Lady- and Buckwheat- and anything John Belishi did!

47. What was the name of your first pet? Herman - he was a small shorthaired dog.

48. What is in your purse/wallet that is unusual? A $20 bill- that is very unusual to find in my wallet!

49. Favorite thing to do before bedtime? Read my Bible and pray.

50. What is one thing you are grateful for today? The love of my family and friends.

Picture Perfect- Curves

~click the picture to see it larger~

This picture was taken in 2006 in Havana, Cuba. The government is relaxing its view on Protestantism and is allowing churches to re-open there. This is an old church that work teams are trying to restore. You can still see the curves where the old stained-glass windows used to be.

P I C T U R E  P E R F E C T

theme this week is

 

~ CURVES ~

 

This is week 3 of our 10 week competition

Each week Ten of The Best photo's will be selected by the host. On Saturday a poll will go up and you all get to vote for 24 hrs... for who you think was the best/most effective for that theme. The winner will be announced once the POLL closes.

 The one with the most votes (by you) will receive a special icon which they can proudly post on their site as Best PP Photographer in The World..for the rest of the competition

only ONE  picture please and it should be YOURS

 not off the internet, not a friends picture but your very own

No slide shows please, and no automatic music on the page

Then come back and post a comment on this page
so that everyone can link to your blog and see your pic.

Pictures to Words- Week 5

My Prayer

Send your light to warm me,
A ray of sun on my face.
Light up my world, caress the earth
And let me know of your love.

Bathe me in the light of you,
Majestic in all that you are;
Lend your light to my soul,
So that I might live for you.

For I am cold and hungry,
Alone in a world so dark,
I need your light to help me see,
To light my dreary path.

Lord, show me heaven
In your brightest sunbeam.
So that even in the dark,
I can remember the light.


This is my entry for "Pictures to Words- Week 5."