His Grace is Sufficient

Another Year but Nothing New. :-)

2010-01-02T21:04:00.005-06:00

The tradition is to make a new year's resolution. I don't want to do that because who actually sticks to those. I mean, I have ONE time, that's all. I want to declare my heart and desires. I guess some would call it a resolution but these are things that I have been working on and want to continue. Spiritual and Physical here they are:

1. Physically I want to continue my working out with my trainer/aunt Robin. I go to her place twice a week. She's help me to beyond that wall I had hit and been stuck out for so long. She does my strength training. And recommends cardio for me to do during the rest of the week. I am weighing around 132-137. It fluctuates. I would like to be a consistent 130. I would like to not desire the bad food around me. At home I am very safe and even at most restaurants I am pretty good. But when I am at work or other places I can't help myself. I would like pants to fit me in the hips and legs, not just my waist. When shopping for food, I would like to do it more naturally, organic and less canned food.

2. Spiritually, I would like to be more faithful. I love my God but there any many days my actions and heart don't reflect it one single bit. I would like to read the Bible and biblical studies more then I do other books and watch TV online. I want to pray more. I want to journal my thoughts and prayers often. I journal all the time in my head but it never makes it to paper or blog. Some of it is laziness and some of it is time and the rest, I just forget what I wrote down in my head. I desire for my relationship with God to be less selfish. I want to be the prayer warrior for others I once was. I want to have an open heart and eyes for anything and everything God is trying to show me. Doesn't matter what about- to talk to a stranger or a friend, with our finances, in our house hunt, having a baby, my job, vacations/get-a-ways, where and how I spend the time God has blessed me with, ect...

3. I want to be a better wife, friend, daughter, granddaughter... you name it. I want my relationships to be deep, God centered, even if the other party doesn't know God. I want to love my husband better then I already do.

These are some of my hopes and desires. They have been and they will continue to be.

Kauai, Hawaii day 1

2009-11-23T23:36:00.007-06:00

Hello Ladies and Gents!

For Thanksgiving this year we have been invited to spend t

he week in Kauai, Hawaii with my in-laws at their timeshare condo thingy. :-) So, my goal is to update daily. We'll see how it goes.

Day 1:

Well, day 1 could technically be yesterday but I don't

really count it because we spent most of the day on a plane or waiting for a plane. I got about 200 pages read in my book, watched The Time Travelers Wife and listened to some music. I also took a benadryl to help my ears. Descending planes are torture. I spent a lot of time praying during the 34000 ft drop. I can't de-pressurize my ears. I never have been able to. We finally got to Kauai around 6pm Hawaiian time (that's 10pm Dallas time). Pam & Tim had gotten here a few hours before us, so they had already come to the condo to check in, unl

oad their things and get back just in time to pick us up! On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Bubba's Burger to eat dinner. I didn't get a burger though. I had a chicken sandwich, no fries or onion rings though. I was quickly reminded that I am on vacation so it's okay to get a burger. lol. My thoughts were, well my body doesn't go on vacation though. haha. Anyway, we got he

re, showered and I passed out by like 8:30 or something because of my lack of sleep, long day, and benadryl. James apparently got in bed, watched TV, tossed

and turned, pretty much slept on my side of the bed and I had no idea.

I slept on the right and he slept on the little travel pillow... good thing I don't turn much in my sleep. Pam & Tim got up at like 5 am to get down to the south shore for some scuba diving. We decided that sleeping in would be worth while. I woke up at like 6:30 ready for the day. I put on my workout clothes and went for a run by myself. It is so beautiful here. So breath taking. When I got back, I sat on the back porch that stares out on the ocean and read the Word. It was so awesome.

Then we go to have a informational breakfast at the resort and got lots of information about things to do on the island. Gina, our hostess, told us about a trail to the beach that was close enough to walk to. So, we did. Here are some of the pictures we took along the way:

Chickens are literally EVERYWHERE! And crowing at 5:30am.

After the beach, we hiked back, got ready and went to dinner at a "mexican" food place. We all got a brazilian meal. hehe. It was surrounded by all these shops so we did some shopping. :-)

James hates this face. :-)

Today was a great day.

Tomorrow we're taking surfing lessons and going to a luau.

Monday the 16th but felt like Friday the 13th (if I actually believed in all that mumbo-jumbo)

2009-11-16T20:20:00.002-06:00

So, first off, I'm exhausted. I stayed up last night reading till midnight. So not complaining about it though. I really enjoy reading. I wish I did it more often. Hopefully this all make sense...

Yesterday was Davis Deep Clean day! I really didn't deep clean but I got rid of all our 'piles'. James was very thankful, he hates them. We moved our desk so that we could have more room to put up our fun little Christmas tree. In doing so, I found some picture frames that I'm not using at home right now (I'm out of places to put them). So, I took it to school. This morning I took it out of my bag to put a picture in and have up in my classroom. It was dusty and so I took the glass out of the frame and started to wipe it off and sliced the inside of my right index & middle finger right above a joint.. ouch! I don't have a sink in my classroom so I went to the nurse's office to wash and bandage. I get all doctored up and head back to class. Lately, I've really been beating up my hands. It's like I don't know where they are exactly and they get hit on everything.

So right after lunch I go to stop by the nurse's office again to see if one of my students stopped by to get his meds (it's his first day and I have a student teacher). As I go to walk out of her office into the school office, I walk out of the door, shut it normally behind me and BAM! What in the world... something hit me in the head. I was in shock. A clock fell off the wall and freaking hit me in the top of my head. I didn't know what to do. I just kind of stood there in silence holding my head with one hand, the other on the counter, just trying to figure out what just happened. The nurse came out and checked my head, no blood but an automatic red spot and bump. She gave me some ice and i got to have a headache all day long. Pretty crazy say. Cheri, in the office was impressed that I didn't use any profanity or cry. I didn't say anything because i didn't know what to say, i was in shock and I didn't cry because it took everything in me not to... and I was using everything. it really hurt. Anyway, all is well. I didn't go workout tonight, at the advice of the nurse and I'm just laying on the couch now. it was a weird day. :-)

old but posting anyway

2009-07-10T14:10:00.007-05:00

I'm just going to jump right on in:

In March, James and I decided that I should get LASIK eye surgery. I am so happy we made this decision. It has been fabulous. I did not realize what a blessing it was though till we got out on the lake. Just amazing that I can jump in the water, wake board, tube- whatever and not worry about contacts. I highly recommend it if you are considering updating your eyeballs. :-) Here is the video James took of the computer screen, from behind a glass window in the waiting room:

During Spring Break I got to drive with Granny out to Mt. Pleasant to meet Sarah Katelynn Hamilton for the first time. Who is she you might ask? Well, she is my cousin Kristin and her husband Mike's sweet baby girl. It was just a day trip. I hadn't been out to their house yet either so that was nice as well. Sarah is so beautiful and I actually get to spend some quality time with her this month too! Yea!

April and May were busy but nothing really important going on. Jam

es turned 27. I gave him the ESV Study Bible and a new pair of white board shorts for our lake adventures. We celebrated at his Aunt Robin's house as well.

April 9, I cut off my hair for Locks of Love. Here are some pictures.

A big decision was made at work. My principal called me into her office

one day and notified me that my services would not be needed next year. Just kidding. She asked me how I felt about teaching first grade. I knew this conversation would be coming soon, just didn't think it would be this year. I was dreading it to tell you the truth, But as she was talking to me about moving I just felt this peace with it. My only real concern was having to add grading papers and the general stress of it feeling like a first year teaching new curriculum. So, after talking to James and taking the weekend, I told Mackie yes. I am excited about the move. I get another year with my kids. This class this year has been quite the experience, a blessing. My students are so amazing and my parents are right up there with them. End of year 2010 will be very difficult for me. I love these kids. I think I would take just about all of them as my own if I could. I pray for qualities they have for my own unborn children. I am going to miss working so closely with Denise and Alexis as well as looking forward to working closely with Emily and Penni in first grade. I also found out that I will have a student teacher in the fall. That should be interesting since I am teaching a grade I've never taught before. But I am just hoping that she sees what it is really like. :-)

Ummm, the end of the school year was busy and now it's summer. I am watching two little girls who attend a private christian school near me. They are Maggie, 7, and Rachel, 9. Sweet, sweet girls. I am at their place 3 days a week which equates to about 20 hours a week- give or take some. We make food, draw, read, write, watch TV/movies, swim with Mrs. Barnes and Braxton, go to places. It is very laid back and rewarding. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect summer job. The money we get to put towards the house downpayment is great too! :-)

We've gotten to spend a lot of weekends at the lake with friends and family:

James and I met with a fabulous Realtor, named Jeannette Escutia. She has taught us so much and just really knows her stuff. We don't feel pressure from her to buy and buy now. She does not want us to have buyers remorse. She knows we don't plan on buying for a while but that we are learning about what it is that we want exactly (location, amenities, money, ect..). That has been fun.

A few of my favorite things

2009-02-28T09:56:00.004-06:00

Favorites (in no particular order):

Williams-Sonoma

I love to cook and any gadget that makes it easier or more fun is awesome. This store has so many interesting things!

Lululemon Athletica

I just love the way their clothes look. My only complaint is how expensive they've made it. Boooo!

Banana Republic

Allen Outlet Mall is all I have to say! Their sales are phenomenal!

Old Navy

Cheap & Cute!

Yoga

This activity has made me feel so much more calm, relaxed and given me physical strength.

Cooking & Cookbooks

Goes alone with my fun in the kitchen!

Lipton Iced Tea To Go

I don't like room temperature water but flavor makes me like it and I will drink a lot more water through out the day! Plus, if you buy ones with anitoxidents it helps your body!

Tom Thumb

(Forrest & Preston location)

I went there for the first time yesterday. James commented how he didn't want me to go to the Wal-Mart close to our home because of safety so I decided to try TT. I walked in and everyone was SOOO nice and SOOO helpful. A lot of times, with the recipies I cook, WallyWorld doesn't have it all and I end up either never making it or making it without what I needed. Needless to say, I probably won't go anywhere else for my major trips. :-)

love field

2009-02-23T13:41:00.001-06:00

I had to drop James off at the airport at 6:15 this morning and won't get to see him till Frodsy night.

I was tagged 25 times on Facebook for this...

2009-02-22T08:57:00.002-06:00

1. I really love ice cream and I don't think that I could ever give it up. Good thing I can make my own, with splenda instead of sugar, skim milk instead of whole milk, and fat free half & half instead of heavy whipping cream. :-)

2. I am a better driver when other people are in my car.

3. I really, really love my job. My school, my kids, my parents, my coworkers, my boss... is there anything else? Spring time is best- the kids just start to get it about this time and we teach the most fun things in the spring: USA/Presidents, Dinos, Farm Animals, Texas.... It's just so much fun! :-)

4. James and I have a queen size bed but we sleep so close we really only use half the bed most of the time.

5. Other then my parents house, I have never lived in one place for more then a year without moving. Because of this, I feel like I have to rearrange out apartment since we singed another year long lease.

6. I really want to have a baby but I know right now is not the right time. God will tells when it is though so I have peace in knowing that. I do bug James daily anyway.

7. James and I have never spent more then 2 nights apart, which sucked, until this coming week and it may be up to 2 months in a row.

8. I really, really love HOT YOGA. It's the best workout ever. it's quiet, peaceful, hot, and challenging. I don't fall for all the "gods" "feel the earth" "spiritual" stuff but it is a good time for me to spend in prayer with the Lord as well as relying on him for strength.

9. I take forever to get ready in the morning when I could be up and out in 30 minutes... it's just a preference of mine.

10. I have become so attached/dependent on my iPhone, I don't think I could function for a while.

11. I have a love/hate relationship with the gym.

12. I like my clothes to match my activity. i.e. working out- the gym v. yoga, golf, tennis, ect....

13. I turn my hangers backwards in the closet and anything I haven't worn for an entire season (like a sweater through the winter) is given away to donations. This is really hard but good... and it makes room for new things.

14. Having my toenails painted makes me feel pretty but when I try to paint my nails, I wipe it off long before it can even dry because it drives me crazy.

15. I love being crafty but usually don't know where to start. I often copy others and always make a big mess.

16. I am scared to death of giving birth to a child. The same fear I had with my surgery, I am scared of the unknown pain it can cause.

17. I wish my mac had microsoft office programs.

18. I produce more gas then my husband does and it could get worse with my new diet. Good thing he loves me so much.

19. I'm excited about learning to wakeboard.

20. I want to see the world. I've seen a beach in Mexico but I want to go see ruins and things, Ive seen Jamaica... wouldn't mind going back someday. I've been to Hong Kong and Xian, China and want to go back.... I want to fill my passport up as well as see the United States. I was about an hours distance from the Terracotta Warriors in China and didn't see them... I am crazy.

21. I check fb constantly throughout the day from my phone just to see if I have any updates that actually apply to me.

22. I love to read but it usually only gets done in the summer when I am by the pool. That is my happy place.

23. I am quite double jointed in my elbows. I even think it looks gross.

24. I secretly love it when James tickles me (now that he learned how to do it in a gentle, girl way) but will never say that when he is doing it. :-)

25. I hate doing laundry more then any other house hold chore. :-)

On and on and on

2009-02-21T21:05:00.004-06:00

I don't want to begin this blog with "it's been a while" again so I am just going to begin...

James and I decided to resign our lease for another year here. They offered us the same price we're paying now and a $100 visa gift card. Can't be that. We'll be paying the same but it will feel like so much less monthly because when we first moved in, we took all our discounts off the front end and did not pay rent for 2 and a half months. Our hope is to save a lot and be in a house by the end of April 2010. :-)

I had a doctors appointment a couple of weeks ago, another post-op check up. I am blessed to tell you that everything came back NEGATIVE! This is fabulous news. I don't have another appointment till June to, hopefully, find the same results.

Last April, I had a physical at my family doctor. Everything came back great except my thyroid results. He ordered more test done and decided that we would just watch it to see if there were any changes in 6 months. Well, 6 months went by and I hadn't gone in. Lately I have been so tired. Usually, I just think, oh well... I work with 5 year olds, of course I am tired. But even on the weekends or extended breaks, I have still been tired. I get rest. I work out. I am not a perfect healthy eater but I am definitely a healthier eater. The only fried food we ever eat is Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets, no fries. We buy low carb, low cal, low fat, fat free, organic.... you name it. I work out. I do Yoga around 3 times a week and cardio other days in the morning... not to mention I am up and down ALL day long at work. I usually get 6-8 hours of sleep a night. That varies depending on what day of the week it is. On the weekends I get even more. I have dark circles under my eyes for the first time in my life. I know I am getting older but it shouldn't happen when I am getting rest. I have dry skin, water retention, among other signs I don't feel like mentioning to everyone. :-) The last one that bothers me just about as much as feeling tired all the time is that if I skip working out like 2 days in a row, I can physically see a difference in my body. It grows. I should not see something like that in just 2 days. It's frustrating. So anyway, I went yesterday and talk to the doctor and had more blood taken. The Nurse practitioner looked at my blood work done a year ago and went ahead and put me on hypothyroid meds. The prescription insert says that it will take a few weeks to feel any results. I hope and pray this answers some questions. The doc said I will definitely feel better. I sure hope so. One thing I did today was look up hypothyroidism and food. I want to help this as much as I can. In the past couple of years, I have worked hard to make changes in my diet and I have a few more to make now that I have looked into this. One of my favorite foods is pasta... for the past year or more, I have switched to wheat pasta, now I need to cutback completely as well as some other great things the Lord has blessed us with. :-/ I have to train my brain (and taste buds) to not like or care for foods that can reverse the effects of my medicine. I also have to eat 5-6 times a day instead of 3. Each meal should be around 300 calories. Here are some things I have to begin eating or eat more of:
Foods with Iodine:

Cow's milk (does this mean skim milk because that's what we drink)
Eggs (not often, but we can add more)
Salmon (I am going to have to find ways to cook this and like... bleh)
Seaweed (sushi!)
Strawberries (no problem in the summer, I have a strawberry-banana smoothie almost everyday!)
Tuna (can I put mayo in it???!!!???)
Yogurt (I burned myself out on this... maybe by summer)

Foods with Selenium:

Brazil nuts (new to me. I hope they are good.)
Cod (it just sounds gross)
Crimini mushrooms (in almost every meal I can put them in)
Egg
Garlic (again, in almost every meal I can... fresh, not powder)
Halibut (have to learn some recipes... I'm not a big fish person, this is going to be hard)
Salmon
Shrimp (now this is a seafood I'll eat any day!)
Snapper (??)
Sunflower seeds (no salt please)
Tuna
Turkey (we use turkey instead of beef!)

Foods with High Polyphenols (Acts as an anti-fungal):

Apples (yum and I have a slicer)
Blackberries (eeeh)
Blueberries (eeeh)
Broccoli (Goitrogenic Food - Limit consumption to 1 or 2 servings a week) (YUM)
Cabbage (Goitrogenic Food - Limit consumption to 1 or 2 servings a week) (yuck)
Cantaloupe (all summer long!)
Celery (gross- this is a texture thing)
Cherries (dipped in sugar? lol- jk)
Cranberries (eeeh)
Eggplant (no thank you)
Extra virgin olive oil (Rachel Ray uses it in everything)
Grapes (does the color matter... I eat both!)
Green tea (I put a mix in my water!)
Legumes (what?)
Onion (I cook with it but I don't eat it, the texture makes me gag)
Parsley (in my cooking)
Pears (I can do this)
Plums (not to fond of this one)
Raspberries (in my green tea mix)
Strawberries

Foods with Niacin (Is required for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone):

Chicken
Lamb
Pomegranates
Rice, brown
Tuna
Turkey
Wheat

Foods with Riboflavin (Vitamin b2) (Is essential for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone):

Avocados
Clams
Duck
Lamb
Milk
Mushrooms
Pork, fresh
Yogurt

Foods with Selenium (Helps to convert T-4 to T-3):

Brazil nuts
Cod
Crimini mushrooms
Egg
Garlic
Halibut
Salmon
Shrimp
Snapper
Sunflower seeds
Tuna
Turkey

Foods with Vitamin B6 (Is required for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone):

Avocados
Bananas
Barley
Bok Choy
Chicken
Chickpeas
Mangoes
Pork, fresh
Potatoes
Rice, brown
Salmon
Sunflower seeds
Sweet potatoes
Tuna
Turkey

Foods with Vitamin C (Boosts thyroid gland function):

Cabbage, red (Goitrogenic Food - Limit consumption to 1 or 2 servings a week)
Kiwi fruit
Oranges
Peppers, bell,red
Pineapples
Potatoes
Strawberries
Tangerines and other mandarins

Food with Vitamin E (Works with zinc and vitamin A to produce thyroid hormone):

Almonds
Avocados
Brazil nuts
Broccoli (Goitrogenic Food - Limit consumption to 1 or 2 servings a week)
Mangoes
Peanuts
Sunflower seeds

Foods with Zinc (Boosts thyroid function):

Barley
Beef
Chicken
Crab
Lamb
Oysters
Turkey
Wheat

So there is some of the information I have found. I quit making comments next to them all because they start to repeat themselves. :-)

Other news, not related to my physical health, James has been put on a project in Houston for at least 2 weeks and could be as long as 2 months. He was told Friday before lunch and he has to be there Monday morning, totally NOT cool for so many different reasons.
1. They gave him NO notice to prepare. Not mentally - away from me, our home, church, friends, ect.
2. They did not ask him. He picked this company for many reason, one being that travel was not required. They believe in networking where you LIVE!
3. There's more but I just can't think of them right now. Besides the above is enough.
Here is an example of our week:
Sunday- Church & usually dinner with friends
Monday- a night to us
Tuesday Morning- Men's Bible study
Tuesday Night- I have girls bible study so he goes to meet with some of the husbands for accountability.
Wednesday Morning- Meet with a close friend.
Wednesday Night- We have home group.
Thursday- counseling (we have it every other week)
Friday- whatever we plan or do not plan
Saturday- laundry and laziness
His whole personal life is shot for at least 2 weeks. Please pray for him and fellas, check up on him! Call him, text him, whatever.
He got Twitter so that we could chat throughout the day... or at the very least, we will know what each other is doing- like we're there but not really.
We will get through this. We will have to rely on the strength of the Lord. It is going to be hard. Dinner alone, shower alone, sleep alone, workout alone... no fun. I pray we get to spend a lot of personal time in conversation with the Lord.

There's my update. I am sorry it is so long. :-)
God Bless!!!!!!!!!

PS- I have some really cool news I am not allowed to share yet but I had to say something. :-P

Randomness...

2008-12-30T19:25:00.005-06:00

Happy post Christmas! I hope everyone is gearing up for the new year! :-)

We had a good one. Went out to James' grandparents house in Sipe Springs, TX. It's in the middle of no where if you were wondering. His mom and step dad were present along with his grandparents and his 2 cousins. It's very quiet out there. We just stayed a couple of days and came home. We kind of like home. For Christmas I gave James Fable 2 on Xbox and we have no Xbox. I also told his grandmother and mom to go ahead and get him GameStop gift cards so he could buy an Xbox. Kind of my way of saying- "Go ahead, I don't mind." James and his mom gave me a sewing machine. Exciting. I asked for one. Kind of nervous about it though. I haven't sewed in some time and we don't really have room for me to set it up and leave it out. I have sewed enough to know that it's not something you can usually start and finish in one sitting without making a massive mess. James doesn't like a mess or any type of pile- organized or not organized. We'll see how this goes... or I just might wait to see if we stay in our apartment or move to a new one later in the spring. I don't want to wait though. Mom is bringing me scrap fabric and getting me some other goodies for my birthday so I can play and get to know the machine. It does all kinds of stuff. Fun. Fun. Fun.

I don't know if you can actually see what this says but these are pictures that say all the things this machine can do. Good Luck- it's the best I got! :-)

Today we went on a little shopping spree and didn't spend a penny from our budget! YIPPIE! how did we do that you might ask? Well, I've been saving some of our wedding returns and gift cards for a rainy day and well- that was today. I think we're down to like 23$ or something, which if you knew what we started with you might be in shock! Here is what we got:

I have Pyrex but no casserole dishes so I got one for tomorrow. Mom & Dad are coming down for lunch.

We have the professional hd mixer and now I can slice my veggies effortlessly- why did we get new knives (also purchased on gift card) a while back? hehe. And we were going to get this 3 set attachment box but James found the next item and I had cut back... what a good compromiser I am...

A Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker... oohh lala... come to our house and we'll make ya something cold... but give us plenty of notice, once we opened it and read the instructions we realized it takes a long time to make everything- it may go back just for that reason! lol. (Then I'll get the other 2 attachments!)

So tomorrow we're spending New Year's with Brenna & Mason! We're excited. A little Dave & Busters and just hanging out! This is all after Mom & Dad leave of course. :-) We'll take some pictures! Yeah!

And for my birthday on Sunday, we're going to go to Blue Mesa's Sunday Brunch with friends. I am looking forward to that one. We got a "Birthday Brunch on Us" coupon in the e-mail. I've never been but I have heard fabulous things.

May God Bless your new year and all to come! :-)

Happy Anniversary & Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T15:46:00.006-06:00

Our Christmas Card

Movies with Brenna & Mason on Sunday
James driving

James made me get all bundled up because it is TOO cold.

At the Margarita Bar after our massages

Our dessert... after we ate it. hehe.

Our drnks kissing!

Life size Gingerbread House

After our couple massage

All the beautiful lights

At dinner

My plate. YUMMY!

James still working on his when I was already finished.... he takes his time.

On our way to the Gaylord and dinner!

Pumpkin Curry Soup

2008-12-22T14:10:00.002-06:00

My mother-in-law, Beverly made this soup for our Christmas Dinner on the Davis side. It is soooo good. Thank you Bev for sending this to me. I made it today for Brenna for lunch and she approves as well. Here ya go- try it!

Pumpkin Curry Soup (makes 6 servings)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup (small) chopped onion
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 cups chicken broth
1 can (15 oz) Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin*
1 can (12 oz) Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk*

MELT butter in large sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook, stirring frequentl, 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in curry powder, salt and pepper, cook 1 minute.
ADD broth and pumpkin, bringing to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cook, stirring occasionally, 15-20 minutes. Stir in evaporated milk. Transfer mixture to food processor or blend (in batches, if necessary); cover. Blend until smooth. Serve warm.

This is really good. I didn't buy the brands it called for because they didn't have them at Whole Foods and what I got worked just fine. I think, if I remember correctly, this is from Martha Stuart and she, I am guessing, would back certain brands. :-) Also, remember when you put your lid on your blender to mix, the steam needs somewhere to go- it can explode. Mine did. :-) I had fun cleaning! haha.

Weather

2008-12-22T14:03:00.002-06:00

So I am a big fan of Texas weather: the ups and downs, hot and cold, cold being in the 50s, not the 30s, ect... This past week has been awful though. 30 is too cold! I am tired of it! This is what the last week or so has looked like:
12.14 76
12.15 35
12.16 33
12.17 46
12.18 69
12.19 70
12.20 69
12.21 36
12.22 33

Okay, so that range is too big. I'm thinking December should be in the 40-50 degree range. And maybe it can, maybe, dip into the 30s at night. My allergies suck when it's up and down and it's just plain cold right now. Blah. :-) If it is going to be this cold, I wish it would just snow.

How long till summer? That's my true calling- summer year round- the water (pool or lake I don't really have a preference), a book, my iphone(pod), and the sun. What else is needed???

PS

2008-12-17T21:31:00.003-06:00

This is story is funny and sad at the same time. I choose to see the funny side of it because we are already addressing the sad side of it.

So today, a little girl came up to me just barely holding the end of her eraser with a look on her face like I don't know how to explain without making it myself. (This little girl is really cute- she could be my daughter easy- looks and everything. lol.) And she says, "Mrs. Davis, Edward (name changed to protect the innocent) touched my pencil with the hand he sticks in his pants." LOL. I about fell over. I had her to sanitize it and get on with her work. hehe. So funny. This little boy's hands live in his pants. It a habit we are frantically trying to break. It's gross and the other kids are really starting to take notice.

The Light of a New Day

2008-12-17T20:47:00.003-06:00

Today was definitely much better. Woke up... after sleeping in with James. Not too long though- just like 40 minutes which basically means we didn't go work out. lol. James dropped me off at work. That was a nice surprise. Got a kiss goodbye at work and not at home. That was a blessed send off for me day. Denise was back at work. That was nice too. I enjoy the people I work with so I miss them when they are gone. :-) We went to Richardson HS this morning to watch a student play. The kids did wonderfully on the bus. This was their first field trip. We didn't take any parents either. Props to my kiddies. The bus was on time, if not early and heated! I was a bit nervous about the cold. We watched "Charlotte's Web". Last year we saw a version of The Big Bad Wolf's version of what happened in the 3 Little Pigs. That was much better. Shhh... don't tell anyone I said that. Since we didn't get back to the school till around 11, we missed lunch and had to eat in our classroom. Again, my kids did pretty good. They didn't destroy my floor or the tables. I was pleasantly surprised and I'll put money on it the janitor appreciates it... but I don't think she appreciated snack time... ooops. Then we had a much needed computer lab time. :-D 45 minutes of peace and quiet! Then back to class to learn for the first time today. We read The Gingerbread Boy, The Cookie Girl, and The Gingerbread Man. After all 3 stories, we talked about the order and the kids did an sequencing activity while eating a gingerbread cookie. :-) The middle school came over for a choir performance to end our day early and it was all over. I am in much need of a break. I always come back so refreshed, and not to mention running full force in January. Alexis and I stood around talking for a bit and she brought me home. James heard from the shop today about the truck. They said it wasn't shaking anymore and the light when off by the time they got to it... they are going to drive it again tomorrow and double check but that's some good news. That can only come from Jesus. I guess we both needed some humbling and a little shaking. Life can't be good all the time can it?!? lol. Then I took a long nap till James got home. :-) What a nice day of nothings. No excitement in either direction. ;-)

God bless you all!

Torturous Tuesday

2008-12-16T18:34:00.007-06:00

Is this week really still just beginning? Is it really only just Tuesday? I hope today was not an indicator for our last 3 days before Christmas break.

This morning James and I got in a fight at 6am... let me tell you, fights are no fun anyway but at 6am and on less sleep then normal... HORRID!

Then I was running late in getting ready for the above reason, so my hair is in a knot, I have the least amount of make up on then I've gone in with all year, and I am in jeans and a sweatshirt. There isn't anything cute about me today.

Then I go to get in the truck and it's freaking starts vibrating WAY more then it should. And about half way out of the parking garage I see engine light flashing... again HORRID. This is when I pulled over and called James, not in a very good mood mind you. He requested that I not drive it to work and park it back in the garage. I of course was like how am I going to get to work and sarcastically I responded, "I am not in the mood for sarcasm, please do not use it with me." This should tell you exactly what kind of place I was in. :-/ He offered to leave work (in Uptown) and come pick me up. I asked him not to leave yet. I called 4 people and no one answered- including the school office. Finally Alexis called me back but we were thinking it probably was not a good idea for her to come get me- that would mean all 3 kinder classes would be without a teacher. Then Mackie (my principal) beeped in- she was to the school already but graciously turned around and came to pick me up. [Side note: This is very common of anyone at my school- drop exactly what they are doing and helping someone else. I mean who can call their boss to come pick them up last minute?!? I am so blessed!] So we roll up after the 7:50 bell and as we are walking in, Mackie slips on the ice. It looked like she hit hard but she said she was okay. I wish I could have caught her but I am much too slow. She said she was okay. I hope she isn't hurting now. I feel bad, like if I hadn't of called her to come get me, she might now have fallen. So after she got up in good spirits and okay, I pick up my broken purse. :-( Not a big deal, it cost me a whole 10 bucks, but bummer. I guess I get to go buy a new one now. That is the only good thing that came out of pre-10am. We walk by some parents drinking their coffee in the freezing cold... burr... and I go to class. Alexis is doing her best (which is dang good) to hold down all 3 forts! hehe. I try to talk to her to tell her about all that had happened so far just to say it all out loud but the kids were to crazy. :-( Then a parent comes to have a serious chat in the hall (20 students running a muck unsupervised in the class) about what had happened the day before. Those conversations are always hard to have but man, when you're in a mood like I was in... awful! hehe. But all was squared away and good to go. Then I get to chat with 2 students about stealing and lying. This took a bit because I really wanted to get my point across. One of the kiddos shocked me. I couldn't believe it. Then my computer lab time had been jacked... with my permission but I really could have used those 45 minutes of peace & quiet. I am not a fan of SRI week. I have to get my times too--- also required by the district.

.....anything else? I'm sure there was more I just don't remember. So that is why my Tuesday was so bad. It did get a bit better. James got off work to look at the truck and ended up taking it in to get professionally looked up. This also meant we got to spend some time together that usually doesn't happen. And I got a little time with Brenna & Allison! Secrets Secrets there. Shhh!! ;-)

Tomorrow has to be better. Prayers were much needed and I thank those of you that did pray today and those of you that pray often for us. :-)

365 Soon and Counting

2008-12-12T21:05:00.003-06:00

So, it's been a while... wow, I think I have started too many blogs that way. :-)

I have so down time tonight and I've been checking out different websites and I honestly think I have forgotten about this one but only when I am actually on the Internet. hehe. :-) As I looked at my blog, I notice it says James and I have been together for 11 months and 3 weeks. Wow- one more week and it's been a year. It's been a roller coaster of a year but worth each and every twist and turn. James is sweet and planned a nice weekend at the Gaylord Hotel next weekend. He got us a couples massage, we're going to eat and to ICE, and have breakfast planned for the morning. What a wonderful way to spend out time together.

Anyway, to sum up my very short blog- I am blessed to have been lucky enough to marry James Aaron Davis. He is challenging and I know God did that on purpose... Iron sharpens Iron. :-) And man do we get some frictions going... lol.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and not Happy Holidays! ;-)

Test Results and more Information

2008-10-09T21:02:00.002-05:00

I heard from the doctor on Tuesday. Here is a copy of the email I sent to some close friends and family:
Hey Everyone, After 3 days of phone tag with the nurse at my doctors office (**very frustrating**) I finally talked to my nurse. As many of you know already, my well woman pap came back abnormal- nothing new. This is why I've gone in like 4 times in the last year. Each time they have pinched off my insides and tested them further, which always came back negative. Until now. It came back positive for pre-cancer cells and I have to go in for out patient surgery. We don't have a date yet, I now have to wait on the surgery scheduler to call me. The surgery takes an hour and I can choose to be awake or be put out. If Insurance covers it, you can assure yourself I will be asleep for this. The surgery clears out all the areas that have showed up positive (which is all the ones tested). It does not assure that this will not happen again but hopefully, and God willing, my immune system will fight it and it won't happen again. Only time can tell us. I will update y'all as I get information. Love you all!

Well, I got more information so here it is:

First, I must say thank you from the depths of my heart for all the encouragement and support each and every one of you has already extended to me. Love, prayers, encouraging words, foot massages, food... you name it! :-) Thank you! The Lord has reminded me how loved and cared for I really am and I thankful for this and for each of you.

Second, I have more information:

James and I go in for our Pre-Op appointment with the doctor Thursday, October 16th at 3:40. This was wonderful because it was basically their last open appointment for the week and it does not require me to leave work early enough to make a difference to the kids, if early at all. So praise Him in that. I stress out some when I have to miss work. I feel like it takes more work to miss work then just being there myself. The actual surgery will be Tuesday, October 21 at 9:15 in the morning. At first I was thinking- 9:15, not bad. I can sleep in a little... like a whole 2-2 1/2 hours- SWEET! No such luck :-/ I have to be there 1 1/2 before surgery time. I obviously don't go in for surgery very often, bc I was like why in the heckola do I have to be there that early?!?! But whatever the reason, I am sure it is important and we will be there at 7:45 in the morning. There are 2 parts to the surgery from my understanding (please keep in mind the only time I have talked to anyone is during class while I am trying to listen and maintain the calmness of 22 hyperactive 5 year olds. lol.) One part is cauterization and the other part is CO2. It should take an hour, maybe a little longer. If I choose to go under anesthesia, I then have to stay until I wake and use the restroom or something. I feel like I missed something when the scheduler talked about this part... I did hear another hour to hour and a half. Whichever, I'd be there longer. I've heard that this doesn't hurt but I am not really wanting to be awake for this. We're looking into if the anesthesiologist is in network or out and how much it cost if he/she is out. I have already met the insurance deductible for the year so if he/she is in network we're using it!

Third, many of you have asked how I am feeling about this. I left the emotion out of the first email on purpose. In a lot of ways, I am such a transparent person and others I am so reserved it's scary. I don't really know what brings out what but for some reason in the first email, I chose to not show any. I like to present a strong face but I am weak. If I recall, I was teary eyed when I wrote the other email. :-) Welcome to the wonderful world of Casey Davis. I am scared. James asked of what exactly (him and his logical thinking- he sure does keep my feet on the ground). I am scared of all of it, the procedure, the pain, healing, bleeding. It's a complex feeling though. At the exact same time, I KNOW God has me in His hands and pressed up against HIS heart keeping me safe, whatever it is that safe looks like for me. His will and plan are better then any idea I could ever create in my head. So, I am thankful for my salvation and that I have Truth to hold dear and near to my heart to get me through this. He keeps James strong and grounded for me. He is here supporting me and loving me through this. He encourages and reminds me that the result of my past do not effect his feelings towards me or his love for me. I am thankful each and every day for the husband God has blessed me with... as well as all of you!

Thank you so much again for everything. Please keep praying. I will never pretend that I don't need them.

I love all of you,

Casey

Northwood Hills Elementary

2008-10-02T22:05:00.001-05:00

I love my job.

I love my kids.

I have great parents.

I love my team (new & old).

I love my entire staff.

I love my boss.

I love my district.

How did I get so blessed?

Doctors are STUPID... no really, they are!

2008-10-02T21:53:00.002-05:00

Don't get me wrong. They are smart. I couldn't make it through medical school but I have something very typical right now and I was even good and went to the doctor sooner rather then later like normally. I was totally trying to PREVENT bronchitis, was give FOUR types of medicine and my cough has progressed to worse and is probably bronchitis now. HORRID. The day I went in, I didn't get to actually see MY Doctor. I was sick, couldn't talk, and my throat was really hurting and I was told they had NOTHING that day but the earliest was at 2:15 the next day. Freaking no way was what I was thinking.... well honestly.... I was probably thinking something is many many curse words I really wanted to yell at the woman on the phone, but since I was standing in front of 22 kindergartners I felt it would be better not to- and I had no voice and couldn't. haha. Anyway, I questioned her and basically was like "You seriously don't have ANYTHING before 2:15 tomorrow? How do y'all not leave "last minute" spots open in the day for emergency visits? And so on... She then all of a sudden was like, "Oh, I have one for 9am tomorrow?" Okay, now I am really not a happy camper... I have an IT person in my room telling me I have to remove stuff to get Microsoft 07, I can't teach my kids because I can't talk (which by the way, they were really good for being out of routine and me not being able to talk), and I couldn't get an appointment for the day and I already called a sub to come in early... SERIOUSLY?!? And I asked the receptionist now, if someone cancels can I please be on a list to get moved up?!?! And I she acted as if that was a silly question or something. WTF!?!? She asked if I want the 9am appointment and I say yes and me being in probably one of the worst moods of the year, asked AGAIN... can you please call me if anyone cancels..... she said I yes... I had little hope with that happening. 30 minutes later I got a phone call and was at the doctors within the house. Praise His name... again, I did not see my doctor. I saw the nurse practitioner or something. She prescribed me an inhaler, a nasal spray, an allergy medicine, and an antibiotic... THEY ALL SUCKS. My cough is just as bad and worse. I am going to have to go back again.... STUPID DOCTORS. I hope this time I get to see MY doctor and he can give me some real medicine. :-)

Kiddos

2008-09-28T15:42:00.002-05:00

James is going to be a good dad. He was never around kids growing up. He's an only child. Has 1 cousin that is much older and he wasn't around him much, 1 cousin his age, and 1 cousin that is like 11 or something- so way younger then him. He is in the business world so no kids there. Then he met me. I worked in the Preschool at church, taught kindergarten, worked as a day camp counselor, and babysit some- oh and my best friend and roommate prior to marriage has a son who is 5 1/2 now. Over the last couple of years, as he has been exposed more and more- he grows softer and softer, in a wonderful way. He came to my classroom 2 weeks ago and he did such a great job. He "learned" how to do calendar- the kids taught him, he did marker boards with them and read a story. They were so excited and so engaged. When he got up to leave, he told them "how proud he was of them for their hard work" and gave then high 5's. I of course raced across the room to be ready with the antibacterial lotion because I figured he'd be grossed out by the germs but he hadn't even thought of it. He still put some on since I had it out. :-) We have also been babysitting a couple of little girls 4 & 6... he does so well with them too. I am just excited for when the Lord does put it in our hearts to start the next stage of family! We're not ready yet and we are both very happy where we are but 3 instead of 2 will be good too! :-) (Maybe we'll jump from 2 to 4- I ask God for twins in prayers from time to time when I think about... When we do decide to have kids... NOT NOW!!! LOL)

Insurance, Deductible, HSA Spending Accounts and unGodly amounts of money

2008-09-22T21:13:00.003-05:00

So, I went to the doctor today, upon the advice of many. I wasn't told anything new... all viral, nothing can be done.... blah blah blah. :-) The nurse practitioner was really nice though. She gave me drugs that would make me feel better and not like crap so that I can function at work. Praise the Lord for her! :-) Let's pray it all actually works and I get my voice back, my throat stops hurting, and I can go a night without coughing! :-)
So anyway- to the subject. I am on James' insurance. Sometimes I wonder if this was a good decision. We decided to take me off RISD's BlueCross/BlueShield plan because I had co pays and had bills being sent to me because they didn't cover this or cover that... whatever. James' company pays 100%. Or at least this is what we thought. James doesn't go to the doctor and when he does it is always just preventative. So, yes, 100% of that IS covered. Then there is me. I go to the doctor multiple times a year because I work in a germ infested building with kiddos (I still love my job!), I get sick anyway, regardless of those germs I am exposed to, I wear glasses/contacts, I like my teeth so I get them cleaned, and I go to the OB/GYN regularly... and now 4x a year regular. I get stupid amounts of test run on various body parts. They usually come back negative but in the mean time cost us horrible amounts of money. We have an HSA Account so it doesn't feel like it take a part of our budget. It's money that is taken out of James' paycheck pretax. But it's still our money. Today, I went to pick up my 2 prescriptions and it cost me $0. I was like wow, we met our deductible. SWEET! No more out of pocket... at least not till January. :-) But this means we've spent at least $2500 so far on MY health. (James hasn't been to the doc.) I got on our HSA website and looked it up... it shows, year to date, that we've actually spent more then $3000 ....I don't know a lot about health insurance but it looks as if we're getting screwed... so now, I have to add to my list of things to do- Call BCBS! AHHHHH!!!! And they probably have some explanation for me that means something where they are right and we're not owed any money back... BLAH BLAH BLAH... I know "whatever" isn't an intelligent word but WHATEVER. It's money we save solely for the purpose of our health. If our deductible IS met, then this is a good thing. I go in on Wednesday for EXPENSIVE test and if we don't have to pay for any of it... GREAT! That is wonderful news. Anyway... health care is too expensive. No wonder a lot people don't go to the doctor, or if they do, they have to go into debt to pay it off... Or we pay for it twice... in taxes for those who get it for free... not very Godly of me, I know we are to provide for the less fortunate... and I we do that... but it's just frustrating. :-) So, anyway- unGodly amounts of money is spent on Doctors by the Davis'. :-)

It's been a while....

2008-09-21T11:53:00.004-05:00

I don't even know what to write about, it's been such a long time. :-) I am actually opening up my blog to see what was last.... WOW... lots has happened and I guess not happened. I'll do a quick update...
We bought a boat. We went to Arkansas for our summer vacation for a week. I didn't get into my classroom untill our first official staff development day back to work... talk about some stress and an 80 hour work week. We had about 3 weeks of total work- no play, no time together. Praise the Lord that is OVER! I have a wonderful class! YEA. One the first day of school, I was told by a student I looked like Barbie. :-) She obviously wanted to be my favorite from day 1. lol. My team is amazing, my kids and parents are amazing, my school is amazing, and my boss is amazing as always. So no work complaints obviously. haha. I've been sick on and off. I don't think I've gotten back to 100% at all- I just have really good days and really bad days. :-) My principal made me team leader (disclaimer- in our school we're all leaders, it's just a go to person on each team basically!), I am the PTA Teacher rep which means I not only go to all the PTA Meetings, which we're required to go to anyway, but I go to the Board meetings. It's fun and a wonderful opportunity to really see what these women and men put into our school and how much they do and want to support the teachers and students. I also get to know more kids. I've been praised at work for my work with such depth and meaning that I feel really good about what I am doing. I've also been told I am seen as a leader and it would be good for me to work in other grades at some point so that I can move into roles such as IS or Counselor so that I can reach more then 22 each year. It all feels good and so scary at the same time. wow. That was a wonderful conversation but so heavy at the same time. I like babies. I've never been one to Ooooo over babies. I've always prefered 4 or 5 year olds to babies. Like within the last month, I've really just gone google when I see a baby. LOL. No, it's not baby fever yet. I do feel a bit closer though. I am really enjoying time with my husband and we would like to keep it that way for a while. I had yet another gyno appointment with bad news. I have to go in next week again, for the 3rd time to have bits and pieces of my insides pinched out for testing... which I might just point out cost us an arm and a leg each and every time.... all past test have shown negative results. Part of me kind of wishes it would so positive results so that we can cut it out and get it over with.... if thats how it even works.... whatever... So we're praying for Gods will in it and my friend Kate, whom I am very thankful for is taking me to my appointment so I don't have to go alone. James would go but I told him he didn't have to go. I am very comfortable with Kate taking me. :-) At home group, we have been sharing our testimonies. James and I are this week. I've been working on it a bit this weekend. I am excited and nervous to share. I am also thinking of posting it... but not sure if I will because family and friends read my blog. It gets dirty and honest and I am not sure I am ready to share ALL that with EVERYONE. lol. :-) Maybe an edited version... I don't know.
James and I have both been sick on and off all weekend. I'm in bed now. It's nice but it's the last thing I wanted to do today. I am really wanting to move our bedroom furniture around. I can't stand the way we have it now. It stinks. Not like smelly but like just sucks. Oh yeah- with James deciding not to go back to school (at the point anyway, it could always change) we are saving for a house. :-D www.ebby.com is fun. We will not seriously even begin looking until we have 30% of what we want to spend saved. :-) So, there's us in a nutshell. Maybe more exciting things will come soon. :-)

My School Website Bio

2008-07-21T16:03:00.004-05:00

Our school has a website and the teachers get to write a bio about themselves... Last year I never did it because I didn't know what to write- that isn't going to happen this year... So, here is what I have so far... Please tell me what you think... I don't want to sound dumb! Potential & current parents read this thing! hehe.

Casey Davis
Kindergarten

Good day!
My name is Casey Davis and it is a pleasure and blessing to begin my third year of teaching kindergarten and second to be here at Northwood Hills. The loving, supportive family like atmosphere here at NHE comes from the teachers, parents and children. I just love it and look forward to each day of work!

I was born in Denton, TX and moved to Wichita Falls, TX in elementary school. I graduated December 2005 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Early Childhood Education), certified general studies EC-4th grade and recently became certified in English as a Second Language. I also plan to become certified in a Gifted Talented program.

Last December (2007), I married my most fabulous husband, James Davis. He is a Texas A&M graduate and works as an IT Consultant. Together, we live here in north Dallas living life to the fullest child and pet free for a while! J

When we’re not working, we enjoy hanging out with friends, going to and serving at The Village Church, short traveling to visit family as well as long distance traveling (China, Jamaica, Mexico, and Las Vegas so far!), working out, Wii, watching movies, reading, and just living life serving our Lord, as He pleases.

I am looking forward to the 2008-2009 school year, my coworkers, the parents and most of all my new students! I have full faith and confidence that this will be the best year yet!

God Bless!!

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

2008-07-18T08:23:00.004-05:00

So, I've been writing a different blog, it's taking me a few days to finish and of course I am still pondering and praying about it all. So, in the mean time, I am going to write on another topic. I've done it before. I think it was for a college class but here and now, I am going to do it again because it is important to me.

My Granny: George Ann Haswell

She has been in my life since before the day I was born. As many of you know, my parents did not get married before I came along. They dated for a while and stuff (you can determine the stuff for yourself). So, somewhere in the beginning of my life, they, my parents decided to live together to raise me. They picked out a house and bought it together in Corinth, TX. It was close to their work and close enough to my granny and other family members. So, through the years I many hours, days, and weeks at Granny & Gramps' house. In the 4th grade we moved to Wichita Falls, TX. Hard move for me but I would like to say I got through it alright. It brought me to where I am now and I am pretty dang happy with that. My parents would take lots of time driving my sister and I down to Duncanville to see my granny- spend the day, a weekend, a week or more- however long she would put up with us. In the 7th grade Gramps went on home to be with Jesus. So, it was just Granny and Hope (her little dog that thought she was human!). We still continued to visit all the same.

Through my life, Granny and I have always had this special connection. She's always gotten me. She's been there for me, encouraged me, supported me, and disciplined me... and she took me to church while in town. Even living 2 hours away, I could get a phone call from Granny and she'd ask me, "Casey, is everything okay? I just had this feeling..." and most of the time, I was upset about something. She always just knew.

By the way, my Granny's Chocolate Chip Cookies trump your granny's chochips! I just had to throw that one in there- I know anyone in my family will stand behind me if you wanna take it outside. hehe. :-)

She is the center of our family. No one dare mess with her, or you're going to hear about it from someone if not everyone... not that she needs anyone to stand up for her- she's been around over a quarter of a century, has seen 2 husbands go to Jesus, raised 3 sons and help with 2 step daughters, be there for 4 grandsons, and 9 granddaughters... there is more, I guess I shall continue- 2 double step grandsons their wives and their kids, 1 great granddaughter with 2 more on the way (not from me- remember I'm EPT -). :-) My point- she can stand up for herself and she does.

At some point in college, I got caught up with myself. I didn't call her or go see her as much. As you will see in another blog I am working on, I'm selfish. Shortly after I moved down this way, I moved into an apt in Lewisville. My friend was over one morning, I decided not to take a subjob that day- praise His name- because my mom called. I answered, not wanting to for only the Lord knows why, and my mom told me dad was leaving work, stopping by the house only to get a sandwich to eat on the way to the hospital... Hospital?!!? WHY!?! Granny had a heart attack. She was in pain that morning and had called her friend Virgina to come get her and take her to the hospital because she was scared that if she called an ambulance they would let Hope out and she didn't want to have to worry about her dog while she was laying in the hospital bed. So, I left and turned a 45 minute drive probably into a 25 minute drive- I dared any officer to pull me over and see what happens. Virgina had Grannys cell phone and called my uncle Randy, who in turn called a few of the family members, my dad and their brother Lin. Everyone was on their way from Houston, Marshall, & Wichita Falls. Once I arrived at the hospital I got her phone called my 2 aunts Muriel and her family in Norman,OK- they're on their way now, and my cousin Lindsey who lives right there in Duncanville- I couldn't get a hold of her mom bc she was at work but I knew Lindsey would know how and did. Within a few hours, we were all there. Just waiting. I think Dad got there before anyone- he of course was talking to doctors and finding out everything he could. He can be pretty good at taking charge- and I think he feels pretty comfortable in hospital situations (prob not his favorite when he's there for his own mom though!) Anyway, she came through surgery fine, sore, but fine and recovered. That was about 3 years ago. For a really long time she wasn't herself fully. She seemed weak and in pain, and sick a lot. This year she had another surgery, not on her heart, and is much better. I think she feels better then she has in a long time. Anyway, when she had her heart attack I promised myself I would be more intentional. I wasn't though. Even for the year that I lived with her, I wasn't intentional. I feel like I kind of took it for granted. Granny is close to ALL of her grandkids, blood and step. But the Lord put me in her home for a year. How lucky am I? And I wasted a lot of that time with her. I love her. I love her a lot. Last week, I went down there, Andrew and all, and spent part of the day with her. It was wonderful. And yesterday, she came up to see our apartment, hang out on the couch and do nothing but take and sit. James came home and we had dinner and hung out. Granny doesn't feel safe driving in the dark, so she left a little before 7- after most of the traffic and home before dark- this is when she would have liked to see me home while I was living with her- but I am not sure if that happened even once. lol- Home before dark- that was difficult. James and I watched a movie. It made me cry because an older woman died and it made me think of Granny. I am not ready to miss her yet. I haven't had my time with her. I am ready to not take her for granted. I love her and I want to be the granddaughter she has helped raise. Not a selfish one but one that is loving and kind and giving. Did you know that without even looking she can tell you anyones birthday/anniversary from memory. She may go check herself but I've never seen her get it wrong... and she remembers to send a card. She is smart. She is beautiful. She has lived life. We don't always see eye to eye on religion but she loves Jesus. She has supported me in all my endeavours. And I want to be there for her. I want to love her and support her. I want to spend more time. Gas and time are NO excuse for me not to get in the car and drive my butt down there. So, this is my promise to my Granny- I will be the granddaughter you have raised. I want to be better at my job. I love you.

“The only reason why we ask other people how their weekend was is so we can tell them about our own weekend.” -Chuck Palahniuk

2008-07-14T06:50:00.008-05:00

Our weekend was fun and continuous. Here are some pictorial updates:

I had Friday off so my weekend began early. I started with the gym of course and then hung some things on the walls. Well, to tell the truth, I hung some things on Thursday but my opinionated husband didn't like my work, so I was re-hanging things. :-) This is what it takes sometimes to make sure things are straight on the wall. Then I met up with my friend Amy at Northpark for some light shopping and a chat but before I got there, I had to sit in traffic. Dallasites don't know how to drive. At least in Houston traffic everyone is trying to drive fast and no one is just going slow because they suck at driving...

Friday night we went to see Hancock and then to dinner at BJ's in Addison. We don't have any pictures of those activities.

Saturday we went to transform and I'm trying to get a friend that was there taking pictures for the church to send me a couple that he took of us! So, hopefully I'll be able to post that soon! :-)

Then on the way home, James had the boat bug and so we stopped at West Marine. Here's our purchase:

James pretending to be behind a boat on the water. Next summer baby, I promise!

I put it to good use and took a quick nap, I really did fall asleep!
Saturday night James and I babysat for a family, 2 little girls to be exact. They are smart, cute, and full of spunk! :-) It was fun!

On Sunday we tried to sleep in. This is a difficult task though because a couple of weeks ago our curtains started to fall down so we just took them down and haven't put them back up. It's bright in the AM. We went to Wally World and for some reason J was just super tired so he rested while I worked out and stuff. Then it was church time. It was an excellent sermon. I'll be blogging about that itself later on. Afshin is such a good speaker. The Lord uses him in wonderful ways. After church we went to dinner with Brent, Dan, Jordan, and D. Here's what dinner produced:

If I get WiiFit, will I be able to move like that Brent???

Moldy Garlic

2008-07-10T13:34:00.002-05:00

YEEEEEEEAAAAH!!!!!!!

For the past month or so there has been this smell in my kitchen, which if you've been here means a nasty smell in my kitchen, dining room, and living room! Ugh! And I feel this smell was causing gnats to sworm our home. We have tried EVERYTHING to get rid of the smell and the soon to be dead stupid annoying flying things. I took every single thing off the counter scrubbed it, windexed it, and then used a lysol wipe to disinfect it. Put ALL the fruit away, so that non of it out in the open. I would run HOT water down the disposal with a lemon cleaner. We bought a gnat killer thingy from Lowes and burned about a million candles trying to mask the small. Anyway, finally Sara was over yesterday and I used my sniffer to sniff around again and it wasn't from the sink, the dishwasher, oven, stove, but finally I felt like I knew it was coming from a certain cabinet so I began pulling out spice after spice. A plastic ziploc back with 2 garlic cloves sealed shut but with an awful stinch. Apparently you shouldn't seal a bag with garlic in it. It holds moisture and creats mold that smells! It now has been trashed and the smell is gone! The gnats are diminishing!

YEEEEEEEAAAAH!!!!!!!

We're Ready... or at least we look like it!

2008-07-09T22:09:00.005-05:00

The DAVIS DUET

BRING IT!

Since I've never played a day of soccer in my life and James hasn't played since elementary school we had NO soccer equiptment. So, here we are 100 bucks later ready for practice! As you can see we don't have our team shirts yet so we just threw on some black ones... oh and my tennis shoes look STUPID (I know super trivial but that's what flex spending is for in our budget!) so I am going to get some black and white ones. :-) That way if I totally make a fool of myself, I'll look good doing it! haha. Hope we have a photographer! :-P

James dressing for his close up.

He's falling as I am taking the picture.

The business-professional soccer player.

He's ready for INDOOR soccer!

I think I look like a soccer player...
Not really. lol.
Shin guards and everything... go ahead try and kick me!

Random 4th of July Weekend Pictures

2008-07-07T08:58:00.004-05:00

These first ones are from a wedding on Friday, July 4th! :-)

James with the groom, Kent!

These are from July 3- watching the Addison fireworks from the roof of our apartment parking garage with most of our home group!

My Celebrity Morph

2008-07-06T11:07:00.002-05:00

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs

I got this from Brandi's page! How funny! :-) Who creates these things?!?!

I Kissed a Girl...

2008-07-04T23:57:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I must admit I like dumb songs. I like good ones too but the ones I get stuck on and want to repeat over and over and over on my ipod are really dumb ones. The current one is Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl." I totally am not into kissing girls, I love kissing my husband but I really like the beat and voice of this song! It totally just gets stuck in my head!

Anway- enjoy the song:

A Circle Has No End...

2008-07-04T11:22:00.002-05:00

I have a friend, I would say one of the best friends I've ever had- and I've had some good ones. She has this love for the Lord, is fun, energetic, honest, goofy most of the time, but serious when it is needed. I love being around her and just talking to her. She is the reason, mostly, why I keep AT&T instead of going to Verizon, what my husband has. (I talk to her on the phone way more then him.) About a year ago, she had a friend, a guy friend, that started to become more then that. He is a great guy, in fact James and I love him! He pursued her and was always honest with her about his intentions for their relationship. A few months after they officially began dating, his job would require him to leave the country for a number of months. My friend, has never met someone she would even consider saying the "L" word with let alone say the "M" word. She had met her match- as we sat on our couch giggling about our boys, we were both dropping the words left and right! Of course at the time, I was engaged to be Married to the one I will Love forever! He requested for her to look at some rings! She was nervous but so excited. Her nerves true to form because, wow, they had only been dating for a couple of months. I would be scared too, hell, I had been dating James for almost a year and a half and I was nervous! hehe. :-) Anyway, time came for him to actually leave and she couldn't do it. Seven to eight months is a long time. Could she do it? Was he really the one? How would she know if he's gone this whole time and they get married pretty dang close to the time he got back? So, she ended things. It was difficult. Very sad. But freeing. As time went by she went on dates. No one caught her attention really. A few "maybes" but no one was worth it. She kept going back to him in her mind. And they started talking online.... on the phone.... and her heart strings were pulling at her. It's been him all along. The Lord used this time apart to confirm everything. He is the one! He feels it, she feels it. She gets those silly butterflies when he calls... she gets upset when he doesn't...not like mad but ya know! We've been praying for him and them together! He has requested us to help him. One of my request has been to take her ring shopping. My first thought is "I've never been ring shopping! James did it all on his own. I was freaking out because I thought he hadn't been and he had the dang ring for a month and a half before he even proposed because he didn't know how to stinking do it!" Anyway, Robbin's Brothers is by our house and so yesterday my friend and I ventured on over that way. She doesn't know what she wants, what to look for, or have a clue as to where to begin. On top of all that- she is nervous as can me, scared to even try a ring on her finger (her excuse the whole time was "I think it's too small, I'm scared it's going to get stuck!") Drew, our fabulous salesman (James and I both bought our rings from him) wouldn't have it. He demanded she put out her hand and slipped several rings on her finger trying to find one that was just "okay". Drew says, "Okay isn't forever." My friend and I have very different taste. We respect the others likes and it's funny how one ring looks so fabulous on one girls hand and so blah on anothers. Who knew?!? She found one that she likes... and that's it. Drew and boyfriend have to take it from there. She wants to know nothing else from this point forward. Which is exciting! I will get to see her and be with her through this whole process. She was so goofy in the store starting with pulling into the parking garage. "where do I go? I park here? Oh my gosh, I can't believe I am doing this?" Walking up 2 flights of stairs to the actual store, she's joking about passing out, running back to the car and leaving me there, ect... Like I said, she had a hard time putting a ring on her finger just to see. I loved it all. Drew did a good job of diffusing her and calming her down and making her feel okay about everything. So anyway, please pray for my friends. Pray for a safe return home for our friend overseas. For my friend here, her family, and just for God to continue to bless and show His way for her. And for them, together. That it all be sanctioned by Him and they do have many blessings! Or if they are not meant to be together that He end it RIGHT NOW! That it be as obvious as the nose on their faces that they should not pursue another day! I will keep you all updated! :-)

"step out of the car ms..."

2008-06-30T16:28:00.004-05:00

This weekend James and I motored on down to the Woodlands. His dad, BJ, and step-mom, Beverly, live down there. James lead a training for his company, BJ was on his way back from a bike ride in Colorado- so Saturday it was just Beverly and me. It was a fun day. We sat around in the morning sipping coffee and just talking. Then it was scooter time! Beverly lives very close to her work so she drives a scooter to save gas- SMART! I think it would be great to have one. :-) So anyway, we took it to Market Street, a shopping center similar to the new one in Highland Village by the church. I am a finicky passenger so at first I was quite nervous about this motorcycle ride. hehe. Upon arriving at Market Street, our first stop was Anthropology. This is such a wonderful store. It was my first time in one- they are very proud of their stuff ($$$) but it is SOOO cute! I hit the sales room and found this fabulous white dress with POCKETS (this always brings a smile to my face). I officially made my first purchase in the store and signed up for a discount card thing that came in this cute little pouch I can use for other stuff. It was seriously the best find- and James loves it so that makes it all the better. :-) Beverly was looking for new bedding for the guest bedroom. Something taulie (spelling?!?) like in black and whitish. She found 2 things- one at Anthropology and the other at Pottery Barn. When I signed my credit card slip, my hand was shaking... at first I was kind of like whoa- my body must be reacting to the fact that I am spending $40 (sale price) on a dress and I was like my cheapness is getting BAD! Then I realized I'm not a freak, I am super hungry. So we ventured on to PF Changs- spring rolls and moo moo gu pan! yummy. About 2/3 through lunch- we hear this loud BOOM! It's pouring rain and thundering outside- great... we rode a stinking scooter out there, what now?!? lol. It's Houston though- so typical 10 minute pour and it was all over and steamy humid. :-) We looked at the time and had just enough to check out pottery barn and Dillard's for a return. Back to the scooter to drive across the street to the movie theater. The road was all wet and of course my nervousness came right back and I tried to pay it off though. We waited at the light and it turned yellow just as we actually got up to it- split decision- stop and chance sliding and falling? or gun and go for it- we're Davis's, of course we went for it. haha... the cop at the light didn't much care for that idea though. haha. He pulled in behind us and followed us around without his lights or motioning us to pull over somewhere at all. So we thought "maybe he is just cruising the shopping center!?!" Nope, Beverly pulls up to the movies to let me out to get the tickets and there he is "License and registration please." Keep in mind, this is my first time to just hang out with my mother-in-law by myself. So, I am so nervous for her and us and the whole situation. So, after scuffling away quickly and attempting to get tickets numerous times and different kiosk (who needs people when you can get a machine to do their job...) wondering why in the world the dang things won't take my American Express, I see the sign that says "AMERICAN EXPRESS USERS MUST PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE BOX OFFICE" Horrid- I have to talk to somebody. lol. So, I do it and am sitting and text James as little info as I can, just enough to make him interested and feel shocked, and Beverly walks up and says we have to return the tickets and the officer is going to give us a ride home... WHAT?!?! So, basically my mother-in-law and I were taken home in the back of a cop car... how embarrassing for all of us getting in and getting out. lol. The ride home was interesting, the situation was uncomfortable enough in itself so I thought I would make small talk with the sheriff. "Do you always have to that when you radio in?" "What are those blue things on your laptop?" "You're not from here are you? I can tell." "Can you pull up my information on your computer? Office: I have to have a reason. My response in my head: Well, aren't I an accomplice?" <--my filter kicked in on that one! "How long have you been in Texas" And so many more... And we were home before we knew it. He said he loved people from Dallas when they visit the Woodlands. They like people there. haha. Kind of awkward! lol. But now I know you are on the edge of your seat (or falling asleep lol) wondering why in the world we couldn't stay for our movie and had to be taken home by the police! Well, Beverly never got her motorcycle license and we weren't wearing helmets. He could have given like 2 or 3 different tickets but was nice enough not to because his daughter is a teacher and so he liked the fact that Bev and I were as well. We were so frazzled when we got home we each got out a beer and laughed! By the way, the movie we were going to see: Sex in the City. I've seen it once but Beverly had not and didn't want to suggest it in the beginning because it might be "too much." But I asked if she'd seen it and she said no, and so of course in true form I insisted we go see and it wouldn't be weird! lol. Since we didn't get to see the movie we got out season 1 of her 6 complete seasons (a wonderful gift from BJ!) and started watching! James came home asking all kinds of questions and we all went to load the scooter in the back of his truck and brought it home. :-) What a fun day! I had an absolute blast hanging out and getting to know Beverly! What a crazy story to tell our kids! "Remember the time the cops had to bring us home...." LOL. That was my 3rd ride in the back of a police cruiser.
If only we had pictures to prove it...

"Clean up on ISLE 7"

2008-06-26T07:55:00.003-05:00

As many of you know James and I go to The Village Church and are part of a young marrieds group that meets on Wednesday nights. It was a rocky start for US in the beginning of the group. I think we had our expectations set too high- especially for a totally new group- not just new to us. So we sucked for a while, not going, going with a negative attitude, blah blah blah... James and the husband leader went to breakfast one day the Lord broke James' heart for the group. He came home with a whole new attitude... a good one. It took me a day or so to get on board with this idea of being positive- this was a new one for James and I- I am the positive one and he's the it's going to be bad one... again, it took me a while to swallow it down. :-) But I did and it taste good. I woke up and the Lord had just flipped my heart and I have it in me to pursue these women and men. There are 8 couples in our group and I look forward to getting to know so much! Our group is diligently working to do things to bring us closer together and getting to know one another on many different levels. People are trying to get together throughout the weeks, we are playing on an indoor soccer team, Isle 7 (I will speak of this in a minute), we will float the river in August, people are opening up their homes, ect... I am excited!!!

ISLE 7... this is the name we decided on last night to call or soccer team. Side note- I don't play soccer and never have a day in my life but I will now! We all sat around last night after eating, talking, and helping a couple prepare for their mission trip, and we tried to come up with a team name. Of course being true villagers, we started with The Village People, Villagites and so on... then animal names- Sea Cows, Octopuses, ect... Transformers, Dinosaurs, some Monty Python reference I didn't get but I laughed anyway, The Princess Brides things... you name it. Mason declared that NO ONE WAS LEAVING TILL WE CAME UP WITH A NAME... so we decided on The Toiletries! haha and on the back of our shirts we were going to put toiletries instead of our names... Cotton Balls, Q-Tips, Veet, Super Absorbent, Hair Spray, Depends, ect... Then we thought we should change it up just a little because these things were not really "toiletries"... The Medicine Cabinet? No... we came up with ISLE 7. Like in a grocery store. hehe. James is depends and I am E.P.T. and instead of a number on my back I'll just be a - sign (negative). There are some good names- I don't remember them all bc we threw out so many but it's funny and people are going to laugh- we sure did. I am curious to plug in my body bugg and see if all the laughing burned some extra calories... or if it's even enough to show up. Anyway, we'll be playing indoor soccer on Friday nights wearing black shirts with white writing... clean up on ISLE 7 please! ....wait- James says it's okay- he's wearing his depends.

Strawberry Cupcakes, Stadium Carrot Cake, Wii Boxing and such...

2008-06-25T15:04:00.006-05:00

I made them wash their hands before decorating but you know what happens when little kids get frosting on their hands... the same thing as when an adult gets frosting on their hands.. hehe :-P I feel everything is safe to eat! :-) (Sara H.!)Theboys working on decorating! Carrot Cake for James- his favorite!

I made the ones with letters! One for all the girls.

Boys love playing on the WIi!

Jacob's Fictional Blogging:

(age 6)
Suinging on a chralin. Slids are piple. Piple are slids. Are we bugs? Do we have tvs?
(translation: Swinging on a trampoling. Slides are people. People are slides. Are we bugs? Do we have TVs?)

Andrew's Dictated Blogging:
(age 5)
I am going to sleep. I am driving a car. I am talking on the phone. I am typing something that I am going to school next year. I went to Jacob's house and I went to school.

Random Thoughts

2008-06-24T14:29:00.003-05:00

Summer is a great time. Being a teacher I getting to take full advantage of the weather and summer time activites. For summer, I have agreed to take on a babysitting/nanny position working for my best friend Sara. So far, so good. She has a really flexible schedule so my schedule has become quite flexible as well. There are days I watch Andrew 10 hours and others I have him for 2 hours and some- none! :-) There are also a couple of weeks where I am watching a student that was in my class. Of all my students, this is the one that I came really close to approaching his mom to see if she needed summer care for him. I think there are only 2 weeks though that she does. So, life this summer has been fun. I nannied for a family last summer and it just wasn't what I felt like a summer should be and I just didn't enjoy my work.

Watching Andrew has some benefits. He's a really good, smart kid and can be taken pretty much anywhere. He is respectful and he knows his place a child and not an adult. Sara has taken really good care of him and taught him well. So, with him, I can make plans with other people- friends, co-workers, family, ect... It's nice. I would never take advantage and fully just do that but once a week or so it's awesome.

Marriage- nice.... difficult. Two becoming one... two very different, stubborn people becoming one... that's a concept. lol. James and I have had our ups and downs. I know all is for the glory of God. But man, some days it's like WHAT ARE WE THINKING?!?! lol. We are both crap at times. We love (I mean we hate but we do it all the time!) to jab at one another. I am horrible at forgivness and I don't apoligze the way that works for him and vise versa. I bought a book, The Five Languages of Apology: How to Experience Healing in All Your Relationships by Gary Chapman. I've read a whole part of a chapter so far but I think it will be good for me. :-) I also bought a Song of Songs devo for James and I. I like it because it's not like a daily thing where you feel guilty if you didn't do it- it's just whenever but do it as much as you can kind of thing. :-) I've been reading The Time Traveler's Wife. This is an execellent book to ready for pure enjoyment. I am almost finished with it. There is a movie coming out in December and I am excited to see what they do with it. Yea! Now if only they would make a movie from Redeeming Love! :-)
This summer James and I are going on a light, week long vacation to Arkansas. His mom has a timeshare that she is not using this year so she has offerred it to us. It will be nice to get out of town right before I go back to work. We don't have to pay for the lodging- just our food and anything we do or rent. James and I have become such penny pinchers that we don't want to go on any vacation or go do some things because "it just cost so much." lol. I guess we'll just have lots of money when it comes time to retire. hehe. But I think we are going to rent a boat one day (the palce is on Lake Hamilton), get a massage/go to bathhouse row, eat some good food and look at some pottery James likes a lot. We can have up to 4 others there with us- we just don't know who to ask to go with us?!? I know one couple we would love to have there can't go.. dumb internships get in the way! hehe ;-)
Our apartment has come a long way. I have sucked it up at getting pictures posted- sorry- guess you'll just have to come over and hang out some time! hehe. :-)
Anyway- back to watching Iron Man (the cartoon) with Jacob! Hope you're having a blessed week!

The Many Faces of Sabra

2008-06-17T17:06:00.002-05:00

Hi all!
I know all 3 of you have been waiting on toes for my latest blog. I don't have much to say right now but I did create a kind of funny blog about a good friend of mine from back home! Her name is Sabra! She's a good and loyal friend and I am blessed to have her in my life. :-)

My Deepest, Darkest Secret

2008-05-15T19:54:00.003-05:00

is no longer a secret. It's out there for all to know. Well, I guess to those I tell. I told James Sunday night at church. I listened to/watched a Village Life video and she mentioned "a deep, dark secret" and I thought, if I had one, what would it be???? Well, it hit me like a ton of bricks and I just broke down crying. Like it was bad. And I know that if I did not write it down right then and there I would have continued to not tell James about it all. So, I did it. And he kissed me and said I love you. We are working through it. It is a big deal and it is going to take a lot of time for me to regain James's trust. So it's just been heavy. We will work hard on it and get through it and deal with all the crap I've put us in. His love is more the I could ever ask for... what a blessing from Him. Confession is though... but praise His name for obedience.

my memory

2008-05-12T20:44:00.002-05:00

I often say I am going to do things, and have full intentions in doing these things but don't remember to do them. I knew this about myself before I was married and in this relationship but now that I am married, it's worse then I thought. How can my husband trust me if I don't do the things I say I will. I don't do it on purpose. I just flat out forget. Sometimes I am distracted and others I just honestly do not remember at all. Why does this happen???

Upsidasiy

2008-05-08T22:00:00.003-05:00

As most of you know... well, I think there's like 3 people that read this.... anyway, James and I recently moved into a new place. We love it here- pictures will not be posted till the couch arrives (Saturday) and things are set up worthy enough of pictures. I mean, I know you're all just dying to see them. hehe.
Anyway, the point of this blog- I do have pictures of my husbands fabulous truck. The past couple of months, with gas prices sky rocketing, James and I have basically traded cars. Now, his is a big truck and I have a SUV. So there isn't much difference but definately enough for us to switch. James drives much further then I do. Well, his truck is the biggest thing I've ever driven and I try to be as careful with it as I can... a week ago today, we, the truck and I, got in a fight with our parking garage. One of it's big non moving cement pillars beat the snikies out of us. We've gotten 2 estimates so far and it ranges from 1700 - 3200 dollars. All depending on what we choose to fix... so here it is, the damage:

So, anyway, James has been great about it. He just wants me to take responsibility and pay for it. My first reaction was to think Ugh!!! Isn't this what daddies and husbands are for??!!?? But nope, I've, by myself, gone out and gotten 2 estimates and I am working on others!!! We'll see how it goes.

Ladies Night

2008-04-13T09:08:00.003-05:00

Saturday was a good day. I woke up and kissed my husband goodbye as he went on his men only camping trip. I walked out the door and began my day of estrogen. It started bright and early at the RISD job fair. I went along to help out my principal and instructional specialist. It was a lot of fun talking to all these new ladies and some gentlemen. I remember being there last year. Nervous and anxious to find a new teaching job... and I did. Another bonus of the job fair was that it got Jennifer "Bernard" Ellison into town and in my bubble! :-) After the fair we ventured on over to Mi Cocina for some delicious brisket tacos and talked about newlywed things! It puts a smile on my face and in my heart to know that soon, she will be back in Dallas! :-)
Then for me it was to the Galleria for some new powder! Yea! Always exciting. It was quite tempting to go into the mall to walk around and see all the things I would want to buy but won't ever... so I didn't. On the way home, I stopped at Target. I have been wanting (what else is new) a new "BIG" purse. I was told that Target is where I can find one at a good price. I like all these purses I see out and when I get to the store- I can't seem to find one that fits me. So no purchases for me. Then I came home to charge my phone... it died- as usual.
With James being gone it meant ladies night! Sara bailed (I would too for the lake) so it was just Christina and I. Which isn't a "just Christina" but a "YEA JUST CHRISTINA!" haha. She came over and helped me pick out an outfit because I never go out and in Dallas sometimes it can be so pretentious. We both ended up in jeans and black... very classic. :-) We started with getting gas... haha neither of had any. I'm sure our husbands would be oh so proud to know that we let it get so low... It's bad when you know that once the light goes on, you've got 60 miles to go... :-) Dinner was held at Da Tapas. I never would have found this marvelous dining local if Xtina hadn't of shown me. :-) It's wonderful. They have half and full pitchers of Sangria and all the food is in small portions. So you order some here and then some more there and have a little wine and desert, all with live music in the background. It was just great. I think we spent like 2 hours there and it was no big deal- you're supposed to. Neat-O! Then we drove by "The Stcck's" soon to be house. Our next event was left up to me- Dancing at Gloria's or home for some Wii action with our Miis. We Wiied. Tennis was first. Christina's first time and she killed. My head hung low many times. Then it was on to boxing! How much fun was that?!? We both won a match. We left it at that and called it a night.
I must say, I always have a wonderful time with Mrs. Stock. This has been a long process of actually trying to get together and following through on us saying "let's hang out" but it's worth it... we've got something beautiful here. hehe. :-)

Here is a video of our intense Wii Workout:

Does this ever end???

2008-04-10T08:56:00.002-05:00

Well, I got some test results back from the doctor and good news: no hypothyroidism. But I do have to go in once every 6 months to get more test. Then the eye doctor gave me some new medicine to take that is stronger. She said that she thinks my pink eye just never fully healed. The symptoms just went away. That makes me feel much less dirty- haha.

Now you ask about my title: My health seems okay for now but this morning I called my Granny to check and see if she had power after those crazy storms last night. She's good on power but she had double surgery like 3 weeks ago on her hernia and she is now running a higher fever and is in a lot of pain. So, I called into work and am down here waiting to take her to the doctor. Please pray for her, her doctors, and for me to be strong in all of this. I feel weak and scared right now. She is getting older, more sick and more often. It is really scary. I'll keep ya updated. Thank you!

Medical Issues... again

2008-04-07T20:43:00.003-05:00

Yeah Yeah Yeah- I know- 3 post in one day... well, it's been a while.

So, medically. I can't seem to catch a break. It's kind of depressing really. So, I went to our family doctor for a routine (my first ever) physical. Doc said all looked good. Keep up the good habits and to send my husband in for his next physical as well. :-) Well, my bloodwork came back funky. My thyroid levels were high (possible hypothyroidism). So, last Thursday I went back in for a whole panel of test to be done just for my thyroid. Dr. Brehm said everything was PERFECT! Keep up my eating habits (I'm thinking, welllll... for the most part) and how I'm working out. BUT my thyroid levels were so here James and I are, once again,waiting on test results. I feel like I'm living at the doctors office: gyno, dentist, eye, family... It's getting old and expensive. I know the Lord has me here for this season for a reason, but it is just hard. Oh, by the way- I have pink eye for the 3rd time in like 6 weeks... I'm telling ya, this is getting ridiculous.

James's Birthday

2008-04-07T18:04:00.006-05:00

James is now older then 15. On Friday, he turned 26. He's so old. hehe. jk. I'm right behind him. On Friday, we took it pretty easy and went to see 21. We really liked it. James has had the itch to go back to Vegas for a while now and after seeing this movie, I am ready to go back too. But we don't want to go by ourselves. I know the economy is going into a recession BUT... anyone want to go?!?! If James and I go by ourselves- we'll be boring and stay in our little boring bubble (we're not really borning all the time, I promise!). So who's up for it?!? Christina and Kyle... I know you want to!! haha. Anyway back to the birthday night! Then we went to Uncle Julio's for dinner. We sat at the bar and shared a nice meal and each had 2 margaritas. That's a lot for us but they sure were yummy! James got a FREE dessert- we always enjoy those. :-)

Saturday we went golfing at LB Houston with Brent Bell and Sebastian French. It was 5 hours of fun and excitement. We played scramble... but we really didn't keep score. There was the Marshall... I should have gotten some pictures of him... he stayed on our backs the whole time. I can't even begin to describe his being an ace... but he didn't ruin our fun! :-) See:

Brent & Sebastian fighting at hole 16, I think.James joining in. Still fighting. Boys will be boys.
Right after Brent accidently kneed Sebastian in the crotch
He's hurting a bit... whoops!
Isn't he dang HOT!
Brent & Sebastian being them and running the carts into each other and running it up on each other.
trying to pull them off each other

Hiding from flying balls
swing
Who's turn is it?

Watching... what I did best all day... I'm not much of a golfer... but's fun for about 14 or 15 holes.

Houston Rodeo (3.22.08)

2008-04-07T17:35:00.005-05:00

James and I decided to mosey on down to the great city of Houston. His mom bought tickets to the rodeo (last day/Brooks & Dunn concert) but then was given tickets as well... so of course she gave them to us. She's good. :-) So, we had a lot of fun. I seriously think we were like the 3rd group of people there- I mean we got there EARLY! But worth it, parking was easy and we got to see all that we wanted to see. So, anyway, we were waiting on some people to get there and all of a sudden James's JR High/High school best friend, Brian and his dad walk by. James hasn't talked to these guys in a long time because they didn't know he was dating anyone let alone, MARRIED! haha. Their jaws kind of dropped. :-) So anyway- here are some pictures. :-)

Brooks & Dunn
Enjoynig our ICEEs!!
Bored and bugging my hubby
James's long lost friend Brian
Some crazy bunny hats they were selling since the next day was Easter.
Fireworks INSIDE... wow.

Making faces.

Spring Break

2008-03-20T13:29:00.003-05:00

Well, it's day 7 of my SB. Yea! The week so far has been pretty relaxing and productive. I went to the doctor on Friday, I don't remember what else.. .I"m sure I went to the gym. Then Saturday morning as you know was spent apt hunting and Joe T's. Sunday, we hung out and went to church. Once again at dinner after church, I got the worst gas you could ever imagine (I don't mean like stinky butt but like the pain in your stomach and you think you need to go to the hospital pain). Monday, I took James's truck to Wichita Falls to get his lightbar installed (pic coming soon) and to hang out with Sabra. She's fabulous. We went to lunch with Brittany, her 1 ear old Cameron, and my mom. Let me tell you about some good food- Samari of Tokyo is so awesome and so affordable at lunch!!! Sometimes I miss Wichita Falls... but then I come home and that all goes away. :-) I spent the night at Sabra's. It was hard, James and I had our first night apart from one another. Let me tell you- it's not cool! Neither of us slept very well. Then Tuesday, Sab and I went to IHOP for brunch and did my hair. If anyone in Wichita Falls needs someone totally awesome to do their hair, call Sabra! :-) Then I waited for mom to get off work, I hugged her and headed home, in the rain all the way. James had home group that night so he didn't home till around 930 or so. It was good to feel him and his wonderful hugs. Yesterday I worked out, got wedding pictures developed finally and placed them in frames. Then today I went to the doc for a physical- he said besides knowing the blood test, I'm healthy and I need to keep up the good work. :-) He is requiring me to read 10-15 minutes of healthy whatever each day. lol. I like him... check out Dr. Brehm. He's nice and seems to know what he is talking about. I've also taken care of a couple of "family business" things for James, started laundry, finished the grocery list James started. Now I just need to execute the grocery list, finish laundry- the hardest part- I hate it!, workout, and feed the cats! Can it be done? I do believe so. So, this blog isn't very interesting but it gave me something to do while I am waiting on the clothes to finish drying before I leave the house- wrinkles are the enemy! If you read previous blogs you would remember this weekend is the Houston weekend & the rodeo. :-) This will be our first time to spend the night together somewhere other then our very own bed. Is this going to be comfortable or uncomfortable... it's his parents house- I'll have to tell you later. :-)
Good Day!!!

Productive Day

2008-03-15T16:57:00.010-05:00

Today has been quite productive!!! Yea!!!

1. We searched for an apartment. We were finished looking and ready to discuss our decision by lunch time! So, since we were by North Park Mall, we sat at the bar at PF Changs ate our yummy, not so good for you, lunch and talked over all the places.

James's Hot White Tea and him drinking it. :-)

Our likes and dislikes... and of course, the dreaded money! :-) We visited 4 properties: Saxony, Broadstone Parkway, Ansley at Park Central, and Northbridge in The Village. We eliminated Ansley and Northbridge right away because I didn't like Ansley and James didn't like Northbridge. So, we had super cheap and older versus brand spanking new (we will be the first to live in the apt) and a little more expensive. Saxony had older appliances and was just kind of boxy. The parking where we would live was kind of not the best. We loved the leasing girl, Katie. She is getting her masters to be a teacher and is a believer. :-) We invited her to the Village and I told her she could come volunteer in my classroom any time she wanted! Hopefully one or both will happen. She said she would call even if we don't lease. :-) Then there's the Broadstone! This place is nice. It's brand new. Only 60% leased as of now and just fancy. :-) There's an accent wall in the living/dining room that is painted- who knew there was color in an apartment. haha. And one wall painted in the bedroom. They had 2 to choose from, a blue and a light goldish color. We picked the gold. Then the kitchen. It's open to the dining and living room. The fridge is stainless steal, the stove is a flat/glass top, the microwave is also a convection over (both black), granet counter tops with a good size bar, wood floors (no stains), and stone backwash walls. We would get to pick from a variety of apartments... basically choose what location we wanted. So we did! After lunch we went and saw Skip and put a deposit down. They are running really, really good specials right now since they aren't at full occupency. Like, we don't pay FULL rent till August. July is a partial rent and May and June are free. It's amazing. Here are a couple of pictures:

Here is our fun and different floor plan!

Here is the kitchen except we'll decorate differently of course and it's on the other side... it'll be on our right when we walk in and not the left. :-) Also, the I am trying to show the wall color... I don't know if it is accurate in the picture but it does give you an idea. :-)

2. We went to Joe T Garcia's in Fort Worth for John Adam's birthday celebration with his family, in from Austin. It was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures from dinner.

I Was Tagged

2008-03-14T21:47:00.003-05:00

10 years ago:
I was a freshman in high school and just starting to get into trouble. I don't remember what I did for spring break that year... Hmmm... the good ol days.
Things on my to-do list today:
Well, my day is pretty much finished so I'll tell ya about tomorrow's list: 1. wake up early enough to go to the gym (this actually depends on what time we go to sleep tonight.) 2. Drop my car off at the shop. It didn't pass it's inspection today because my emergency break isn't working properly... good thing the great, money hungry state of Texas requires yearly inspections. I just don't know what I'd do without my parking break. (I hope you can read that last sentence with some sarcasm.) I also need new window wipers, like they don't tell me that every single year! Oh and the guy "informed" me that he makes the call on window tint. Legal is 20% (I know this law very well) and mine is 18%. Yes, I know that is 2 whole % illegal. But he tells me he gets to make the call and is going to do me a favor by allowing it to slide.... anyway, my mini rant is finished. 3. Go apartment hunting with James beginning at 10 am. We hope this doesn't last too long and that we find something we are both happy with. 4. John Adams is having a birthday dinner at Joe T's in Fort Worth. For those of you that don't know Joe T's, you need to meet him and his Margarita (take cash- it's all they accept!). 5. I don't know.

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
1. At least 10%, and I mean this is the bare min... I would probably give a lot more.... goes to The Village. Whatever they needed... renovations, missions, pay raise- whatever!!! 2. Pay all debts that are left (this is getting MUCH smaller each month by the way). 3. Buy James whatever boat he wanted...maybe even 2 if he couldn't make up his mind. 4. Buy a nice house, not big, just cute and cozy. 5. Shop like crazy!!! I don't' do this very often as I have said before but wow, what kind of damage could I do without a budget and that kind of cash. :-) 6. Give the rest to James to invest for our EARLY retirement. :-)
Three of my bad habits:
1. PROCRASTINATION... for example, I was going to fill this thing out a few days ago and haven't till now. That's just a small example- I'm not very good with bills. 2. LAZINESS- James gave me this one. He says it's my worst. I agree. I have to be in the mood for something. 3. Dishes and Laundry- they suck!
Five jobs I have had: What job haven't I had? lol 1. Snoball maker 2. Lifeguard 3. Gymnastics Instructor 4. Dental Assistant 5. Kindergarten Teacher (my favorite and current) ...I could go on by the way. I've held a lot of jobs and lots of the time, I had more then one at a time.
Five things people don’t know about me:

1. I have a long tongue- I can stick it in my nose (some people do know this one) 2. I do not like hair. Like my own hair is okay sometimes... I am talking about unattached hair. lol. And if I know you and you have a hair that has fallen out and is resting on your back, I can pick that off you and drop it on the ground quickly without feeling grossed out. But man, if I am walking barefoot and one gets tangled in my toes... YUCK.. talk about some gaging coming on. Or like at the gym in the locker room... hair on the floor, and wet... UGH! I'm getting sick thinking about it. 3. Drains- they are gross, especially shower drains. Nasty. I wear shoes in any shower that is just a shower. Like on our honeymoon in Jamaica. I wore shoes in the shower... James loved it. haha. I have some OCD things going on here don't I. :-) 4. If I could, I think I would be a stay at home wife. I get overwhelmed a lot with all things I should have done as a wife, teacher, friend, ect... 5. I broke my arm when I was 5 and 6 weeks into the summer, they had to rebrake it because it healed crooked. Wonderful doctors I must of had. Who has to re break an arm!?! and on a 5 year old.
I’m supposed to tag people to do this too. So… James (he wont), Sara (if she ever reads this), and Amy!! GO! :-)

Updates and Nonsense

2008-03-10T20:28:00.003-05:00

Well, I finally heard back from the doctor today. Good news... EVERYTHING CAME BACK NORMAL ON my Cell Biopsy. YEA! They took whole weeks to get back to me becasue when they got that result, they wanted more test run or something like that to be sure but the lab assured them everything is normal. So praise HIS name!!!! I have a feeling James and I will go through this every 4 months when I go in for another check up! But, He is faithful and His will is better no matter what!!!! :-)

Got to go shopping on Saturday- that was FUN! I haven't gone on a shopping trip like that in I don't know how long. Now, if it would just get warm and stay warm, I'd be good! :-)

I got to have pink eye this weekend... that was fun!

James and I have started "Apartment Search 2008." Sunday morning we layed in bed searching all kinds of apartments. We are looking in 3 different locations, some more desirable then others. Here are some of our options... so if you know anything about any of these places, please let us know! In no order:

Ansley at Park Central (Formerlly Jefferson ...)
Churchill on the Parkway
Marquis at Park Central
La Costa Villas
Westside in The Village
Northbridge in The Village
The Lakes in The Village
San Rafael
Saxony
Dorchester
Prestonbridge

Again- let us know if you anything about these places or anything around these places. :-)

Spring Break is nearing and I feel (as I am sure every other teacher on the planet) that it couldn't come fast enough! James and I don't have any super big plans... we're pretty busy these next couple of months. Here's a sneak peak:

March 15- Birthday Day Dinner for a friend @ Joe T's

17-18- Wichita Falls

22-23- Houston/Rodeo

27- Kindergarten Round Up (this is a BIG deal!!!)

29-30- James's Gparents in middle of no where Texas

April 4-5- James' Birthday

8- Kinder Field Trip

12- RISD Job Fair (I'm volunteering to help recruit)

12-13- James goes camping with the guys in Tyler

25- Northwood Hills PTA Auction

26-27- College station for the Norton BBQ

28- We have to be out of our apartment

This is just some to give you an idea. We haven't gone out of town since our honeymoon and this is a lot of out of towning! :-) We'll see how it all goes. :-) It's time for bed... more updates and info later. Love and prayers to all! :-) OH YEAH: James is up for his yearly review (basically a promotion and raise!) Please pray for all to go well! He's word really hard this past year. Hopefully they recognize it and see that he is ready for the next level! :-) I sure did marry one smart and handsom man!

Working on a Saturday

2008-02-23T23:14:00.004-06:00

LOL... Let me room and work. James was on the computer and this is what I created in a matter of minutes... what I had created. I was in the middle of crafts and filing months of papers. Oh, and I was watching a movie on my laptop. :) Most of it is cleaned up now. I'll get the rest tomorrow. So, we did this quiet thing all afternoon into the evening. It was good. I liked it. I tell you how excited James was to look over and see James and I feel like we try to entertain ourselves too much. We never sit and just be in our 653 sg ft apartment.... so today we did. I mean we didn't just sit and stare at each other all day long but we did both sit in the living didn't feel like I was trying to do anything or have to be anywhere... Just hanging out at home with my husband, no pressures.

So around 7 we decided to go Wally World for dinner supplies and a game James wanted to buy for our Wii. They didn't have it, thank goodness! We went to GameStop and they had a used one for 20 bucks. And that was the end of our entertainment free day. Haha... I cooked dinner and James has been praying this game since 8:30 (it's now 11:30) and I am playing on the internet. Here we are on our Saturday night eating homemade pizza, oreo and mint oreo shakes, Wii and the internet:

Expectations, Community, & Life Update

2008-02-02T21:41:00.005-06:00

Expectations:

Lately I have felt a lot of pressure, pressure from a variety of sources and different kinds of pressure. For example- the pressure of being a good wife. I create them myself mostly. But I do get them from James. His are pretty reasonable and I want to fulfill them all, sometimes though I feel like that is impossible because there are just not enough hours in the day (I know there really are- I just have to prioritize...). Then, there is the call of being a Godly wife. This is the most important. I so desire to be a good, Godly wife. What in the crap-o-la does this look like? I did not grow up in that environment- I have not seen that played out in any detail. I mean, I have met some really godly women in the past few years but I just see snip its of their life and their role as a wife. So, my question and prayer is how do I do this?

I also have these expectations as a teacher. Sometimes there is just so much that I need or have to do that I cannot, and I mean cannot do it all. I tried explaining to James the other day of how I could litterally stay at work all night long and be busy constantly in my room doing things for my kiddos to prepare for them, clean, organize, ect... I mean, I feel like my job is never ending. I love my job, so I am not sitting here complaining or thinking of changing my profession but it can be so much. When I don't stay late or don't bring my work home (which I try to never do) I feel bad or guilty.

Then I feel like I have friends and family pressure. "come see us" "I'm too busy to talk to you" (<- someone said this to me) "We do need to hang, let me check with James on our schedule" That's all for that one. I don't actually feel a lot of pull on this one but this does bring me to my next topic with some major heart strings being pulled....

Community:

Sara since James and I have gotten married Sara has almost been my only community. James has been continuing to go to his singles small group (with all my blessing of course!) so Tuesday night has been Casey & Sara date night. We usually go watch Andrew practice skating for ice hockey, then hit the gym, and then dinner. This is a typical Tuesday for us. I look forward to Tuesdays because Sara has been so good about continuing our friendship. I have randomly talked to some people here and there but not much, just Sara. A friend of mine that has been a really good friend for a long time hasn't even bothered to call me... I have tried to call her several times. Her response was a myspace message (by the way for my birthday I got a myspace & facebook comment too) saying "Hey! I feel bad I have not responded back to your phone calls. I spend all freaking day on the phone listening to people's stories that its really hard when I get home to think about having to speak with someone on the phone; I barely even talk to Kyle in person. I am just drained. Do not get me wrong, I LOVE my jobs. I have to force myself to speak to my mom. We'll chat one of these days. Hope things are fab!" It's whatever is all I've got to say to that. And I would tell her whatever but that would require some type of communication. My girls at work have been amazing. Part of the reason I love going to work is because of the people I get to hang out with all day long. They definately help me stay normal. haha. :-) Sometimes teaching in the spring, when the weather is getting warmer- or we're wanting it to get warmer- it's like stinkin hard to get through a day without having to step out of the room. SIDENOTE: Look at the awesome FREEHAND picture I drew for my kids, infront of my kids: Then here's my Abe Lincoln:

His hat is a little messed up the kiddos loved it... It's not as good as George. :-)
Anyway, back to what I was really talking about. James and I have been going to a new home group for the past 3 weeks or so. It's been alright. It's only been 3 weeks again so I can't expect a whole lot yet. We just don't know them nor them know us and that takes time. It's going to take being transparent to see some community there. We are praying, please feel free to join us in that. :-)

Life Update:

James and I are doing well. We've now been married for 2 whole months. We're learning and loving more each and every day. I love being married and so does he. We make mistakes but we try to learn and grow and change.

Work is good. Again, the kids can be trying but I love them all dearly and I love watching them grow and learn more and more each day! Today was class picture day. :-) I scored a PERFECT score on my evaluation... this is AWESOME news!

Couch update- we decided not to buy the couch as well as waiting on the kitchen table. I have a student loan and car loan. God lead me in making the decision of if we were to buy now or wait till we are debt free. He told me very clearly to pay our debts first. So, that is what we are doing. And we plan on doing it as quickly as we can. So, this month we knocked out almost 1/3 of both loans combined!!! New couch here we come! haha. :-)

Now for the really rough stuff. I feel like I need to lay it all out there. In August I went to the doctor for my "well woman" exam and test results came back low risk of servical cancer. Well, further test showed that I did not have cancer but it was made very clear that I need to come in multiple times a year to be retested. So, I recently went back and had the same test done. This time my results came back high risk of cancer. So, James and I go in on Tuesday afternoon to have further test run. They have to take cells and do a biopsy on them. It'll probably take another week or so to get those results back. Best case senario- I don't have cancer and will do this all over again in 3-4 months. Worst case senario- I have cancer, it's bad and I have to have all my babymaking parts removed and go through cemo. We are obviously pray for me to have no cancer. But likely I am feeling like I am going to have cancer- not so badly that I can't have babies but where the do the outpatient procedure and just cut the end of my cervics off and I go home and will still be able to have a baby. Honestly, this is an answered pray for James and I. Not that I might have cancer but that I feel I need the Lord. Lately I have been feeling SO dry and distant from God. We've been praying for something or someway for me to get back into the word and talking to the Lord.... we'll He answered that pray. It's just not in the most ideal way. He will provide all that is needed and is in everything. He makes no mistakes and His way is far more perfect then I could ever dream up.

So, here it all is. It has taken me a few weeks to write and finish all of this... but hope you enjoyed reading! Love to all & God bless!

To couch or not to couch?

2008-01-23T20:23:00.001-06:00

This is our question!

Right now James and I are living in a small 1 bedroom apartment finishing out a lease where Sara and I were living. I'm not complaining about the size or anything like that so please don't take that the wrong way. But right now we don't have a whole lot of furniture. Our bedroom is pretty equipt. I had some stuff and he had some stuff and we're making that all work and will keep it for a while. But there are a couple pieces of funiture that I would like to own some time in the next year or so... preforably sooner if it is possible.

As of right now, we have a futon on loan from Sara for out couch. It serves it's purpose and it is so much better then the patio swing James and Devin had in the apartment... which by the way I totally think James would prefer that over the futon anyway. Such a guy! :-) We also do not have any place for us to sit and eat other then the floor or our couch. My idea situation does not include shoveling food into my mouth from my hand. Again, I am not complaining but it's just not the ideal. My third and very unimportant and last thing on my mind thing that I am bringing up only because I am blogging about this stuff is an entertainment center. Right now my 5 year old SANSUI TV sits on Sara's borrowed coffee table. And my and James' good size blockbuster collection and Wii stuff all have not place to really be other then just there.

So, we are furniture challenged- again we make do and do just fine. But on Saturday we went window/research shopping for a dinning room table and a couch. This is always entertaining because James and I very different taste in these things. He likes a little mre detail (gody) things then I do. I like a classic just simple and smooth kind of stuff. BUT we found a table we both really like with a pretty good price and a brown leather couch that was what we figured we would probably be paying for one... but it hurts the ol pocket book just a bit. So, o Saturday we had to make a decision... which is more important- which one are we going to aim at buying first and we decided couch. So, we found our couch and neither of us dislikes anything about it, which is amazing... and we don't know if we should buy it. We're praying about it but it seems kind of hard... God give me an answer please- do we buy or not buy? I know He always answers... in His own time and in His own way but this is still hard. :-)

So- to couch or not to couch? What is the answer?

THE PICTURES ARE IN...

2008-01-21T17:00:00.000-06:00

Here are some of the wedding pictures. Daniel Davis Photography did the most amazing job. All the photos I post from the wedding are by DDP! I'm going to post a few each time I think about it... it takes TOO LONG to do more then a few at time. :-) Enjoy.

Our Wedding Party

So formal...

Jump for Joy- We're married!!!!!!

My Dress... what so I do with this now?!?

He loves me sooo!

We took pictures before the ceremony so this was the first time we saw each other! He is so handsome!

Time Ticks On

2008-01-13T11:01:00.000-06:00

It's been about 2 weeks since we've returned from our honeymoon and we've made some major progress in our humble abode we call home. :-) We finally got rid of all the "piles" as James likes to call them. We've returned all but 2 items and have begun purchasing things we decided we would like to have more. Most everyone purchased things from our registry but by the time we got them we did not want that particular item anymore or we got some duplicates. So, I am in charge of all the gift/exchange cards. It's hard to go buy things with them. This is like "free money" and it doesn't come out of our budget so I don't want it to be gone. That and we are only in this apartment for like 3 1/2 months and who knows what we'll need for the next apartment. Thank you cards... whoa! We are bad. We have not started them just yet. Our goal was to start this weekend but we did all that cleaning yesterday- it 5pm before we finished and I have report cards due on Monday (tomorrow). I am so thankful I only have to enter in "grades" (we really don't grade in kinder but we do have our observations) and it's something like 3000 clicks (in the computer) per student so it's pretty time consuming.

James and I are doing well. We hit our little bumps but that is expected when you bring 2 flawed people into one house to live. I like our bumps. They are very very small and pretty harmless. :-) He is enjoying the client he is working at and doesn't hate going in. He also loves coming home. I had several opportunities to cook for him and make his lunch- it's fun being his;. wife. :-)

Does anyone know what to do with a wedding gown? lol. Mine is hanging in my dinning room/office...

My Life

2007-12-30T13:47:00.000-06:00

Welp... we're married! YIPPIE!!!!!!!!!

We've spend our first few days home cleaning, organizing, and putting things together.

I love my husband!

the first day of the rest of my life

2007-12-20T09:10:00.000-06:00

Well, it's finally here. I'm ready! Tomorrow is the big day. James and I will finally get to call each other husband and wife. And we'll live together and forever be one.

Everyone keeps asking me if I am nervous. I have my moments but no, I'm not nervous. Not about getting married. The Lord put peace in me a long time ago and it's just been a waiting game with God... not really a game but I've just been waiting on His timing and not mine or James'. He's been good to us. Things continue to go our way, even when they go wrong, they get fixed.

So, anyway... I'm not nervous about getting or being married. I do have my little freakout on the inside about the actual wedding. Just that everything is going to go alright... but even if it doesn't go okay, that's still okay becasue that is part of His plan... anyway, next time I'll be Mrs. James A. Davis... or Mrs. Casey Davis!

whoops!

2007-11-18T02:28:00.001-06:00

I wrote the title of the last blog before I wrote the actual blog. The title doesn't match what I wrote at all so obviously I had some intentions to write about a certain topic but in my writing non of that came out. I am taking it as a sign that I am not to vent about any of that stuff to you at this time! Maybe later....

Best of Times & Worst of Times

2007-11-18T01:56:00.000-06:00

Hello Ladies & Gents!

It's been 20 days since my last post... so sorry to keep you all hanging as I know not many of you actually even read this thing. haha.

Well, just to begin- there are only 34 days till James and I finally get to get married! It is very exciting but man, all these people have all these questions and I just don't have answers for them. There are so many different points to cover that it is just unbelievable. Kristin Woods- I do not know how you do it daily! Oh well, everything will go however God has it planned so I am not too worried about things... that and my cousin (I guess that is what you call her) Jennifer and my aunt will be in charge of everything at the wedding.

Then there is my bachelorette party! YAHOO!! This is going to be a fun night! First we are meeting with the guys for dinner. That should be very interesting but most defiantly a fun time. Then we are going to the W hotel in downtown Dallas to have a little lingerie part (this is james' favorite part) and then on to Ghost bar for a little more fun! :-) What a wonderful time. Back to the lingerie... James and I went to VS today. He picked out another bra for me. Not that he gets to see anything yet but we sure do have fun picking the stuff out! We also looked at some of that lingerie stuff. I tried a couple on. I've never done that before. Wowza- it's weird to put something like that on but kind of fun at the same time. hehe...

With 34 days left before james and I get to do some of that wonderful pillow action - it's hard. Physically we are doing okay. We have our weak moments where we want to take a little too far and to literally stop right then and there and pray and ask God to help us because we can't do it on our own.... of course though that is true with everything. So, I will ask for your prayers in that.

Work is going great. I love everything about my job. What I do, the kids (even my little toots), my team, my boss , and everyone else on staff! It is getting close to the holidays though . You can always tell in an Elementary school. The teachers are going crazy and driving the kids crazy, the kids are going crazy, driving the teachers crazy and everyone is ready to shut down! But there's only 2 days this week and then it's Thanksgiving and then like 3 weeks and it's Christmas break and of course our wedding! :-)

James and I do not know where we are going to live yet. It could be in a 1 bedroom here @ AMLI or we could get to go pick an apartment! My vote is obviously for the second choice. I would love for james and I to actually get to pick where we will live for the 1st time. But that may have to wait till this summer. It's a little frustrating not knowing. I mean, I can't blame Sara. I know she is frustrated as well. I really need to pray about it more... It's all God's timing. He will work out all the little details in His own way! :-)

I've rambled enough.... Good night/day to all!!!!!!!!!!

54 Days

2007-10-28T23:01:00.000-05:00

WOW!
Can believe we're getting married in 54 days! It's been almost a month since James proposed and we've got less then 2 months. It's been exciting, easy and hard all at the same time. There are so many decisions to be made... it's crazy how many things that have to happen at one time. It seems like everything keeps falling into place. Now, that is what makes me nervous. Something bad has to happen some time soon... what is it going to be? :-) lol. Anyway, here the updated checklist:

1. Dress
2. Cakes
3. DJ
4. Pastor
5. Location
6. Tux
7. Rings
8. Honeymoon
9. Chairs
10. Linens
11. Favors
12. Table Decorations
13. Chocolate fountain
14. Wedding Showers planned
15. Date for Bachelor Parties
16. Invitations Ordered and being addressed
17. Pre-Marital Counseling begun

I am not sure if there is more or not but a lot is finished. :-)

The Lord is good! And I am excited about getting to marry and live with James. WHOOO HOO!

I'm just so sick & tired of....

2007-10-18T06:23:00.000-05:00

being sick & tired, literally! I'm sick with this stupid annoying cough that won't go away. And I am so stinkin' tired it's a bit ridiculous.

On top of those 2 things, I'm busy as crap. It's like there aren't enough hours in the day to get all the things completed that I need to complete. I just need a BREAK! I mean I take some but when I do, other things like work suffers! This weekend we will be in James' company trip in San Antonio (by the way, we are staying in separate hotel rooms- so close to being able to yet SO FAR AWAY! One of these days...) and it's still a pretty busy weekend. Hopefully, I can just sleep in the nonscheduled times... We'll see.

Wish me luck!

Check

2007-10-11T06:23:00.000-05:00

Location
DJ
Honeymoon booked
Wedding Night Hotel booked
Photographer
Ordained Minister: Geoff Ashley
Cakes: Elizabeth Engelhadt ....not confirmed but hopefully! :-)

...all finished... now on to and small details..... oh my!

The Knot.com

2007-10-08T23:46:00.000-05:00

We have officially created a wedding website! It is still a work in progress but we have enough information to post it! :-)

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/CaseyA.Risner&JamesA.Davis

Wow

2007-10-02T06:15:00.000-05:00

I love hugs! :-)

Okay, this time I am for real...

2007-09-30T22:43:00.000-05:00

We are officially engaged! Yup, I said it. He has said it... I have a "fiance" ...pretty exciting!!!!

He is so sweet. Yesterday (Saturday) James suggested we go play soccer at the park... I was like ummm- No! (I'm sick and that just wasn't going to happen!) So, today he was kind of quiet all day. I thought something was wrong. And so anyway- John Adams called James twice (or so I thought because that is who he told me was calling)... and he ignored it both times. I was like "Go call him back- it could be important" So he said he would and went outside?!? I was like whatever- he is up to something. BUT I didn't want to think that way so I prayed to Jesus and asked for Him to remove the very thoughts from my brain and for me to remember that God has the most perfect plan for James and I and that I need to to worry about it.... it will happen when it happens. And so He blessed me with the answers to my pray and it was gone from my brain! James came back and we got ready to go to a picnic. But James being funny- looking at his phone for the time constantly. But again, God protected me and I thought nothing of it at the time. By the way- somewhere in there, James suggest we go on a picnic and then to dinner before church. This is a typical James thing- not so much going on a picnic but not knowing that your supposed to eat on a picnic. He's never been on one before so again I thought nothing of it. :-) We go to the park and picked out a spot in the shade and laid out our blanket. He sat down and I laid my head in his lap and ate some string cheese... I hadn't eaten all day long (I was too busy reading to think about food.) Once I finished, he asked me if I were finished and he then asked me if we had been dating for 15 month or 16 months. I said 16 and he went on with a bunch of sweet nothings... like how much he loved me, how he has loved every minute of our 16 months and how he wants to love me forever.... you know- all those things! It was great. But just a little background info- we say those things all the time. So at this point and I wondering... Is this just him talking or is this where he is going to ask me to marry him?!? I had no clue. Oh yeah by the way- the park we were at was where we met!!!! So anyway, he then kind of hinted for me to sit up and turn around to look at him, so I did. And he told me he loved me and asked me to marry him and of course I said yes! He was so nervous, it was so cute. I have never seen him like that before. Craziness. So, then he prayed for us and our future. He had also planned for us to meet with some of our friends that had been praying for us for pizza at Palio's before church. That was awesome as well!

So that's our story! I love it and love God for writing it... He makes NO mistakes!!!!

Engaged

2007-09-28T06:30:00.000-05:00

Well, not really but for real soon! lol. I no longer feel frustrated or torn.... I mean there are still some struggles but nothing like before. I promise I'm not fickle. haha. I just have some more peace then I had previously! God is so good to me and He uses James and others in great ways. Thank you Jesus! :-)

I truly am blessed!

More Frustrations

2007-09-26T06:23:00.000-05:00

"SOON" This very word tortures the sides of my soul! Why did I ever have to get excited about?!? I love him and I am so excited about how we are going to be used to glorify the Lord. I just hate how Satan is attacking me and our relationship right now. My nights have been very very rough!

Raindrops keep falling on your head ...or not...

2007-09-25T20:12:00.001-05:00

For the past couple of days it has been raining all around Dallas! Not here in Dallas but all around it. WHY? I would like come cooler (NOT COLD) temperatures and a nice hard thunderstorm during the night!!!!

2007-09-23T22:33:00.000-05:00

Well, next week marks another anniversary... this one will make 16 months. :-) That's exciting as well as frustrating. I honestly have really days/moments and some not so good. Tonight has been kind of a battle inside of me... it's like rumbling going on in the heart. I keep making and wanting to make all these comments about being married or engaged already... why do I do this? I know this just frustrates James as well as myself. Why do I fixate on it so much? I love him so much and cannot wait to be Mrs. James A. Davis. Like, wow- that is exciting and scary at the same time! I am excited because I know that's what I called to do... to be his wife and no one else's, to respect him, to love him better then anyone else ever could. As he is called to be the one that is supposed to love me more and better then anyone, to show me affection, protect me, and be a leader for me. He will be the father of my child/children. (we'll cross that road whenwe get there.)

I have been researching wedding stuff and it's tough when you really can't make any decisions on a date, place, if it will be here in the states or a destination.... what to do? I do not know but we can't really talk too many details because we are not engaged, he has not bent down on one knee and so on.... What do I do? How do I be patient. I am trying but this is pretty difficult... Please pray for me. I don't want to frustrate James anymore, I don't want to sin against him an God both by not trusting them...

Teacher Truths

2007-09-23T10:41:00.000-05:00

Honestly, I can say that is truth in each and every one of these:

1. You can hear 20 voices behind you and know exactly
which one belongs to the child out of line.
2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.
3. You walk into a store and hear the words "It's
Miss Risner!!" and know you have been spotted.
4. You have 20 little people that accidentally call you mommy/ mom at one time or another.
5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under fifteen
minutes. 30 minute duty free lunch...YEAH RIGHT!
6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two
distinct times of the school day: lunch and conference
period (UNLESS you're fortunate enough to have a potty in your room).
7. You start saving other people's trash, because most
likely, you can use that toilet paper/paper towel tube
or the plastic butter tub for something in the classroom
or for "creative art".
8. You believe the teachers lounge should be equipped with
a margarita machine.
9. You want to hurt the person who says "Must be
nice to work 7:15am to 3:15pm, enjoy all those holidays,
teachers' conferences and still have summers off". If only they could walk a week in my shoes!
10. You believe chocolate is actually a food group.
11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside!
12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if
anyone says "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today."
13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and
correct their behavior when you are out in public.
14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.
15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on yourself.
17. You have an ample supply of 'seasonal' clothing
(Christmas sweaters, Valentines shirts, etc.)
18. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting
at least one thing!
19. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just
made was a "good choice or a bad choice."
20. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly
sharpened pencils (WITH erasers intact!)
21. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.
and finally,
22. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves
a certain way after meeting his/her parents!

"But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion." I Cor. 7:9

2007-09-09T11:57:00.000-05:00

For 15 months now James and I have been dating. We are not perfect but we certainly try to seek the Lord in all that we do. We fail and succeed daily. I feel that our relationship is healthy and God centered. But we have gone through seasons of really struggling with sexual sin as well as seasons of it not even being close to an issue of any kind. If I am going to be honest with you right here and right now, we are struggling. If you pray and you are reading this, please pray for us! We need it right here and right now. :-) Thank you.

We had a season of struggle towards the beginning of our relationship (like in the first 6 months somewhere) where we were introduced to the term/verse "burn with passion." At the time, it was just something we needed to conquer, and we did. We have now entered another season of this struggle and at 15 months we ponder... is it time for us to move forward and take the next step... and my question is "soon?" If so, what is soon? What does this look like? Are we failing God because we can't seem to keep our hand off one another? Or is this what He has in store for us? I have a friend that when talking about this topic says "Shit or get off the pot." Is this the time? Hmmm... I don't know. I know our time is soon. I know this because he, as in James, tells me it will be soon. And I trust God and in Him I can trust James and what he says. Then, there is another question to that... my definition of soon and James' definition of soon. My soon would be something like by the end of the month and his may be like "You know... Christmas is soon... like just around the corner" HAHA.... he is sitting right here reading this as I type it... so we're having a good ol laugh about now. :-) We love each other but our brains think very differently! hehe. I want to ask myself is this Satan attacking us or is this God breaking us?!? Is God trying to tell us something? Is it the same thing I quoted my friend on? :-) Either way He makes NO MISTAKES and I am okay with that. He takes care of me and will continue to take care of me. I just have to fight this battle, we have to fight this battle together and we'll make it through! I truly believe these words! So please pray for us and hold us accountable! I love you all! :-)

Here is some stuff I found as I was researching this verse:

Psalms 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of your heart."

Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths."

The Apostle Paul uses the word “fornication” when describing sexual sin. Fornication is defined as any sexual activity outside of marriage. The Message translates Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 6:18 “There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another.

God intended sex for two reasons: (1) procreation; and, (2) the ongoing connection of two become one flesh in marriage.

Recreational sex only serves a selfish purpose. It is not about valuing the other person as a whole person but as an object of desire.

c. If they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry: Paul’s recommendation to marry in such cases is not based on marriage being more or less spiritual, but on very practical concerns, especially relevant to his day (as explained in 1 Corinthians 7:26, 29, 32). A godly sexual relationship within the covenant of marriage is God’s plan for meeting our sexual needs.

i. Though Paul preferred the unmarried state for himself, he doesn’t want anyone to think that being married was less spiritual, or more spiritual. It is all according to an individual’s gifting. Remember that Paul told Timothy that forbidding to marry was a doctrine of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

ii. Paul “was aware how powerfully a counterfeit show of purity deceives the godly.” (Calvin)

d. It is better to marry than to burn with passion: Paul recognizes marriage as a legitimate refuge from pressures of sexual immorality. One should not feel they are immature or unspiritual because they desire to get married so as to not burn with passion.

i. Paul is not speaking about what we might consider “normal” sexual temptation. “It is one thing to burn, another to feel heat . . . what Paul calls burning here, is not merely a slight sensation, but being so aflame with passion that you cannot stand up against it.” (Calvin)

ii. At the same time, if someone has a problem with lust or sexual sin, they should not think that getting married will automatically solve their problems. Many a Christian man has been grieved to find that his lust for other women did not magically “go away” when he got married.

2007-09-04T21:42:00.000-05:00

So here it is. It's on the inside of my my right ankle. :-) It looks like there is some redish color in there but that's just my skin... I think it's irritated from the actual needle and so it's my blood under my skin. I could be wrong though. :-) It will fade some after it peels and flakes off. :-)

S&S Tattoo in Carrollton! :-) Good job Jason!

TATTOO!!!!

2007-09-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

Last night I got a tattoo. Yippie!! I went in with a bulletin from church of what I wanted and he got pretty close and it turned out better then I could have imagined! The only thing I am bummed about is that james is something with me... he doesn't know but he is ___________.... I don't know if it is mad, disappointed, hurt, angry.... I don't know???? He was supposed to go with me to my Granny's for her 76th birthday and last night he said he didn't know if he was going to go with me and he couldn't exactly tell me why... So, this makes me sad. I got the tattoo for me... I want to be able to glorify God with it. If it strikes up a convo with someone, I look at it and remember Him, whatever... It's for Him and not for him. Sara and I had an amazing time together getting it bonding and praying together and for each other... we now know 3 men @ S&S tattoo that we can pray for. We had some really good conversations with them about Jesus and we can only pray and hope that the Lord used us to plant or water some seeds!

Anyway, I so happy and so sad at the same time....

2007-08-25T10:15:00.000-05:00

Good News came from the doctor! Yea! I go back on Thursday...

_______________________________________

I don't understand how I can know something is wrong and sinful but not feel convicted about it? Like I know while I am doing something that is it wrong... that God is looking down on me shaking His head and in my mind I am thinking these thoughts but I continue on anyway.... And when I look back and reflect I think I should not have done that and I pray to God to convict me but I still don't feel convicted... I don't get it... Part of me thinks... so was it really all that wrong??? Maybe it's time that we make it right???? I don't know... I'm going to pray some more...

2007-08-21T00:07:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the day. My boss was super okay with letting me leave work early. He is getting off work early as well to go along with me... He's there to support me, hold my hand, to ask his own questions and mine, as well as to be my ears. I don't know what His purpose is in all this but I don't know His plan is more perfect then anything I could ever dream up. I have prayed and prayed, harder then I ever have before for this to all be a mistake... for a miracle. I believe deep in my hear that is possible and I pray. But why would He do that? I don't deserve it in any way. I don't deserve His love at all.
Lord, I beg you here tonight Father... heal my body, make me well... my sins have been washed clean but I feel like there is a sinful residue covering my body that is keeping me from being fully clean... I know this is not true Lord but I want to be honest and confess that this is how I am feeling right now... I pray for you to cure, heal, take away all that is wrong with my body. I pray for James' ears Lord. I pray that he hear and understand all that is spoken in the room tomorrow. I pray for his heart Lord. That he be able to love me through all of this Lord.
I am humbled but I am scared to death. I feel faithless and full of all this hope at the same time- I don't know how that is possible.... it's tiresome and confusing. This whole week I have struggled with hearing the Lord and hearing Satan.... what is truth and what is lies? Sometimes I don't know and other times it's just easier to believe the lies because they make more sense... I don't deserve His love but again, He continues to unconditionally.

WOW.... I am overwhelmed....

hard times

2007-08-17T06:57:00.000-05:00

I feel lonely, broken, kind of disgusting, dirty, angry, sad, hopeless.... but at the same time thankful, full hope, washed, and loved..... is this possible to feel all these things at the exact same time? How does one handle all these emotions?

Monthly Update and pics

2007-03-08T23:24:00.000-06:00

Measurement Chart

the many faces of james

2007-03-08T17:53:00.000-06:00

This came from no where

2007-02-22T23:53:00.000-06:00

So, I'm totally not a poet and have never written anything and I don't know if this is anything but it just all kind of came to my head...

He, I

He walks in the room,
I melt
He kisses me,
I get butterflies
He runs through my mind,
I lose my breath
He touches my skin,
I get chills
He looks in my eyes,
I get lost
He holds me,
I am safe
He is patient,
I am thankful
He speaks,
I listen
He leaves,
I can't wait for the moment he returns
He knows my heart,
I know his
He is good to me,
I get tears in my eyes
He loves me
I love him

there ya go...

February Update

2007-02-06T22:43:00.001-06:00

Measurement Chart

Okay, so if you check out the updated chart- there are a few small improvements and in some instances, no change at all. I am satisfied with the results so far. Everything isn't going to happen all at once. My body is a work in progress. :-) I am making it to the gym 4 - 5 times a week. This is good. I am watching what I put in my body. This no caffeine thing is doing me good. I have maybe 1 or 2 7ups/sprites a week. And actually I am out of them here at the house so I prob won't be having any at all now. For breakfast I have a bowl of cereal and some juice or milk. Then for lunch I am eating like 300 calories and that's it. And for dinner, it varies. Granny usually cooks or I do or we do, sometimes I go out to eat. When I go out to eat, I try to be careful about what I choose to eat. There was one week in January I didn't make it to the gym but like once or maybe twice. It was the week I went to Vegas with James. It was just a busy week. And of course the food in Vegas is GOOD! Upon our return, I felt so gross.

So, with all this said- I will keep on treckin!

i suck but it's not all my fault...

2007-01-30T23:21:00.000-06:00

I haven't been blogging... but I didn't have internet at my house for almost 2 whole weeks, and in that I also spent a weekend in Vegas (a very bad eating and workout weekend).

Other then that one week, I have been pretty good on eating and working out. :-)

I'll get back to blogging. Promise. And measurement time comes up this weekend.

ME: right here & now

2007-01-02T23:17:00.000-06:00

Measurement Chart

in double 07

2007-01-02T23:12:00.000-06:00

First off- HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I pray that for those of you that know Jesus, learn to love Him even more then you already do and for those of you that do not know Him, know that He loves you no matter what!

Ok, so I am writing this thing to share my resolution with all to know... in this, you guys get to keep me accountable!
I am writing a resolution this year in hopes of growing closer to God, my father. I want it all to be laid down at the foot of His cross and it is an attempt to be done in His name as a form of praise and love. With that said, I am going to jump right on in!

1. I am giving up all caffine... yes, this does include chocolate. For those of you that know me- know that this is going to be very difficult. But, I have faith with God on my side, I can disipline myself to not even think about it nor desire to even eat or drinking it (I absolutely adore Starbuck's hot chocolate...) I do not need to energy from anything but the Lord. He is my strength.
2. I am working out... on a daily basis. I know this is so typical and in everyone's resolution. haha... I know, I know!!! But it is different. I don't have just one goal with this one. Of course I want to be in shape, feel good and look good. I will be and have a rock star body!!! Just kidding... kind of. And I know you're asking, "and how is this any different from every other ameriacan on the planet?!?" It is, I promise. So, my other goal. It is to train, learn, and discipline myself and my body. I am training myself to do something and want to do something because I have a desire. I am going to do it because I do not want to be lazy anymore. I do not want it to be a habit to go to the gym, I want to want to go and I am going to get it done and look back and say, "I DID IT!" I don't like having all these want to's and I wish I would have's. I want "I did that."
3. I also want to live right here and right now. I am in no way promised tomorrows breath. That is a good chance I will go to bed tonight and not wake up tomororw as well as there is a good chance I will go to bed tonight and wake up tomorrow and continue. But I don't want to look at tomorrow, I am sitting right here and right now on this computer in my Granny's living room typing this blog and that is exactly where my brain should be. I don't want to dream of tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, ect... you get the point. I have a bad habit of looking and dreaming of the future- but how is that living??? That's not living at all- that's dreaming. I am commanded to be satisfied in right now, what the Lord has given to me. Side note: Don't get me wrong, I am not going to forget of tomorrow or yesterday. I will still plan things and pray for the desires of my heart- which sometimes involves the future. And some things I do have to wait for because the Lord has His will, HIs plan, His story for me. It's all been written and I will be right here and right now.

All of these are things I desire of myself. I desire to be disiplined and a person of my word. I want to be like Christ. I don't want to fall into habit, which is what I do on a daily basis. I want this discipline I am and will continue to learn to fall into all aspects of my life: work, relationships, finances, and most important of all, my relationship with God. I want to pray everyday all day long. I don't want it to just be on my way to work because it's convient for me. And then when vacation or the weekend rolls around, I just don't do it because I didn't have my 30 minute drive to work. I want do pray because that is my special time I get to spend with God.

I love Jesus... that's all I got.

growth

2006-11-21T00:49:00.001-06:00

I am learning things about myself. God is teaching me. He is constantly opening my eyes and making me more aware of myself. Some of these things I don't really care to know and other things it's been fabulous learning. He shows me a lot of things through other people: my family, my kids at work, my friends, my past, and mostly- James.

My heavenly father uses James constantly so show me myself: flaws and gifts. I have seen some of my selfish ways come out with him (my past shows me a lot as well- but I usually don't see things in my past until James has shown me so). My manipulations, my worldliness, my obsession of money, my unchanging ways, my laziness, my reasons for anything... I could continue on but I think my pride (another one) will stop me here. :-) The Lord is growing me through all this though. I have asked the Lord on several occations to show me my heart and to show me the things in my heart that harden me. And I don't do this on a daily basis because it is hard. No one really wants to face these things. No one really wants to take the hard, dirty road. But those who love Christ want to become more Christ like and desire obedience in God and this includes listening to Him and asking forgiveness of yours sins, all sins no matter how big or how small we may think they are. I have issues trusting God. I keep a graps on things pretty tightly and don't like to let go- when I do let go, I often grab back quite quickly. ...I have totally derailed from my original purpose of this blog...

Back to James- this Man of God that I am in a dating relationship with. James and I have been dating for almost 6 months now. I can honestly say, my heart began stirring June 3rd. The Lord placed that in me and grew a love for him quickly. He is this amazing man. Don't get me wrong, I don't have him on a petistool because he is flesh and is flawed with sin. BUT, he is good to me. He's not some neat Christian guy that I am dating. He is a God seeking man that loves Jesus. He loves me. He treats me with respect and kindness. He honors me and values me. He listens to what I have to say and does his best to remember. He is learning me. And by that, I mean he is trying and working to understand who I am, how I feel, and why I think the way I do. He is honest and not fake. He tells me what he is thinking (even when I don't want to hear it and I want him to be fake and tell me everything will be alright! lol). He is smart, he is funny, and he is so handsom. He argues with me. He asks me "why" even when I don't want him to. He has this look with his eyes and his smile that makes my eyes water because I can see his heart and I can see his feelings for me and it overwhelms me with joy and love. He tries and doesn't give up. He will not go to bed mad at me nor will he allow me to do it either. He tells me his feelings for me and shows me through his everyday and out of the ordinary day actions. He is so good to me. I am truely blessed by my Father to have him in my life. I do not know if James is forever because I do not know the will of God but I do know the desires of my heart and that is for James to always be my beloved until I go home to Jesus. James is worth every second of heartache I have gone through with past boys and I see now why God gave me all that pain. I asked for the Lord to prepare my heart for my future and I feel all that heartache was on purpose. I feel the Lord is still growing my heart, but growing it for James. I love him and I am excited about every second I have with him.

Thank you Father for your grace.

growth

2006-11-21T00:49:00.000-06:00

my heart

2006-07-25T14:08:00.001-05:00

I'm in love. Not only am I in love, but he is in love with me. God has blessed my life, at least for the time being, with a Godly man. He is all that I have been asking for. I don't know what I did to deserve him but I've got him and I don't want to let him go. I ask my Father in prayer to take him away if this isn't what He wants because I wouldn't ever be able to let him go... So far so good. He has his reasons for all and I am not sure what His purpose is but I am open to His will and cannot wait to see where this goes- heartache or euphoria. He is good!

Some people in our lives have expressed concern for our verbal and outword expression of our love... We are in love and we tell each other how we feel! We are in no rush to go get married or anything of the sort... But our hearts desire one another. I love him, I love being around him, I love his kisses, the sound of his voice, the way he looks at me, all the things he does for me... you name it... He is a servant to the Lord and through that serves me... I just pray that I am doing the same for him...

My wish- everyone get off our backs and just pray for us and support us... When we make mistakes- yeah call us out but for saying we love each other because we are not engagged... come on... I think you should say how you feel if you feel like it is appropriate!! Anyway... enough venting and confessing my feelings...

Jesus loves us all... and I love Him

just something

2006-06-06T23:04:00.000-05:00

god is good. He makes me smile.