Last night I drove around & took pictures...

Pirate parties...

Pirate parties are fun...but just remember, when it's 105 degrees outside & your air conditioner is broken, you are going to get sweaty. Just ask Jacob (the cute little one not looking to happy.)

Found the treasure!

Eye'n more treasure...

...oh yeah, don't forget the cool cake!

See, not so happy when it's hot!

Still hot, sweaty and not so happy!

I passed!

Going to school online has it's ups & downs, one of the things I like about going to an actual classroom is that you have that bit of competitive drive to try and do better than the people in your class; that drive to try and be the best at everything. Well, although that is missing, I still get good reviews from my mentor. I heard from my mentor that I passed my first final exam. It was really easy, but she said I passed with an excellent score & to keep up the good work! That's encouraging news! :) I am all set to take another final in a couple of weeks. If I could just complete all my math assignments I'd be set! I just need to stay focused...it's so hard! Oh well, I know I have to do it, so I will! :)

Those were the days...

Me & my daddy...

Writing #5

The preacher gives a message
And we all feel so elated,
But once I get back home,
My world is devastated.
While the horror grows I try to
Focus on the cross;
Never look to the past;
Try not to compare;
Change the complaints to love;
Grasp hold of His grace.

"Walking daily in His word,"
It's so much easier to say.
The hate and selfish feelings
Seem to surface every day.
I try to tell myself to
Focus on the cross;
Never look to the past;
Try not to compare;
Change the complaints to love;
Grasp hold of His grace.

We all just want the peace Christ freely gives -
Why is it so hard sometimes to just let go of all of life's troubles and
Focus on the cross;
Never look to the past;
Try not to compare;
Change the complaints to love;
Grasp hold of His grace.

GOT MILK?

I couldn't resist the cheesy title...this was Keira's first Oreo cookie. Her mommy wasn't around while she was eating it, so I had to take some pics for her. Man, Keira loved that cookie!

I'm alive...I really am!

So I haven't written in like a month...but I've been really busy. It seems like I have less time now than I did before, when I had a full time job?!?! It's really crazy?! Anyway, today I was able to attend the wedding of Sharon Wishard & Kevin Keeton. It's always nice to go to a wedding, but I think it's even better when you think the couple are made for eachother...and I think these two are perfect for eachother. It was a nice day to have a wedding too. The sun was shining, but there was a nice breeze; after the wedding there was yummy cake that everyone ate while standing & sitting around out on the church lawn. After that, a small group of family and friends went to the park to enjoy the beautiful day & to celebrate the wedding of Kevin & Sharon. It was a great day for a picnic in the park! The newlyweds are so happy! It's just so great to see them both so happy! Ok...well enough rambling! I'll have to post something about what's going in my life later...not too much of interest to post though?!

Smile

This song keeps going throught my head...it's from the movie My Girl...actually I think it's from My Girl 2...

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by, if you smile through your fears and sorrows
Smile and maybe tomorrow,
You'll see the sun come shining through if you
Light up your face with gladness, hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear, may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just, smile

...I like that song! :) Although, when you really think about the song, it's not too good of an idea to just hide your feelings and pretend to be happy all the time. It really is a bad thing to smile when you feel like crying and to hide every trace of sadness...but now that I think about it, I think lots of people are really like this...I know I am like that a lot to many people...but at least I'm not like that to Nick. I can never hide how I'm feeling from him, even if I try! :) He sees right through it!

New stuff...

Today I got a new laptop...or notebook, as they are mostly called nowadays. I can't wait to put it to some use, but I'm supposed to let it charge first.

Can't sleep...Writing #4...I think...

Perfect, what I thought it would be.
A dream-like place you can't get enough of.
An embrace that sends flutters to the center of your being.
The kiss that invites sweet songs to your mind.
It becomes comfortable; it becomes real.
It is what it is - the hope of what it can be.
It is beautiful in a warped view.
It is imperfect.

Secure with my life...

I feel a little like a housewife today, for the first time since I've been married. I don't have a job that I'm supposed to be at today, I'm supposed to be here, in my house. So I went to the gym, I'm going to wash clothes & I'm going to finally try to finish scrapbooking the pictures from our wedding. Oh & I also need to vacuum & wash a few dishes. I think I like feeling like a housewife...but I'm not sure if my checking account is going to like it? Oh well. I start my online classes tomorrow, June 1st. The first class that I have to take is a course which basically assesses how well you can use the internet & stuff. So it shouldn't be too difficult at all. After that course is finished, I can get into the courses I'm going to need for my teaching degree. I'm so excited! I can't wait to see what my life will be like in 5 years. But I am not going to put any ideas into my head...I'm going to just see where the Lord leads me. It's fun to see what adventures God places in our lives. It also gives me a sense of security, even though I don't know what's coming....that sounds a little weird, but it's so true. :)

The good ole days...

I found this picture on my dad's computer. I thought it was so cute. It's hard to believe we were all so small...it's my brother, Chris, my sister, Sonja & me...I'm the little baby with huge eyes. Every time I've ever seen this picture it always makes me giggle...look how hard Sonja is holding on to the carpet...it's like she's about to fall...I wonder what happened after the flash? :)

Aren't they cute!

The three little ones below are who I have spent the last several sunday mornings with...they are the three babies I have in the nursery during Sunday School and morning service. They are so adorable. I really feel blessed to spend the mornings with them. I'm thankful that God has brought so many new changes into my life. Who knows what will be next? I will be starting my classes toward becoming a teacher either June 1st or July 1st...it really depends on how the whole financial aid thing turns out. I am also going to really be done with Compex this week...friday is the last day! I'm glad that I will be done with it, but the pay check will definitely be missed. I know the Lord will provide, but it will be different for awhile. Oh well...again, aren't they so cute!!! :)

Keira

Elizabeth

Emilie

Last day as a CSR for Compex!

Today is my official last day working as a Customer Service Rep in the Special Services department at Compex! I am happy that it is finally over...but I have agreed to come back in for the next 2 weeks as a consultant. I will be coming in for only 4 hours a day to train the new hires. Of course when offered the opportunity, I said I'd think about it. They offered me more money, of course & said I could come in 4 or 5 hours a day. I came back with a response that I would work from 8:30am - 12:30pm & I asked for more money than they offered. They said, "It's a deal!" So now I'll be working here for 2 more weeks...but it will be different, cause I'll only be here for 4 hours a day. And I won't be doing the work, I'll be training & looking over other people's work. I'm still going to get my final paycheck today & I already signed all of the exit papers. Next step, I'm clearing my desk...then it will seem real, when I have an empty cubicle! :)

Happy Mom's day!!

Reflections...

Puddles make good mirrors.

Maya Angelou said this...

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."
"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."
"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."
"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."
"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both
hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."
"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."
"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."