MIL in town.

It's all in the title Ladies and Gentlemen.
This is our first visit since last May from the in-laws.
We are having a great visit so far.
My niece is beautiful beyond my wildest dreams.
Seriously.
I would have to say, that if I am being honest, she's way prettier than my babies were at the same age.
But at their current ages, my kids are hands down the most extravagantly beautiful kids around.

La - I did get your message but things have been so busy with the visit.
We have done restaurants, shopping, Christmas, etc. WHEW! It's been a whirlwind!
I promise I'll call you as soon as our company has gone home.

Letting Americans Keep more of their money.

I am not an overly political person, but I just read an article in which these words stood out to me: "Letting Americans keep more of their money should increase spending and revive the economy." (emphasis added)

Ya think?

I just got our W-2 for Chris's job last night. More than 12% of every dollar he made was reserved for Federal taxes. That's not including the Social security and other stuff. So let me guess, in addition to the 8.25% sales tax we pay on every dollar, and on top of the 'Lord only knows how much' we pay for every drop of petroleum product we use, someone in Washington thinks that "letting Americans keep more of what they make" is going to help us bolster the unstable economy.

Call me crazy. But if we all do, in fact, spend the money we earned by way of our newer, bigger tax returns, like they are hoping we will, they will get a good percentage of it back anyway in the form of some kind of tax.

In my world, this practice is commonly referred to as "regifting."

If that isn't a dog chasing its own tail, I don't know what is...

If you are, for some reason, still soaking in my uneducated rantings, Thank You!
My soap boxes are important to me. LOL!

P.S. Upon reflection, I wanted to add that although government in general tends to ruffle my feathers from time to time, I am strangely grateful and outraged at the same time. We sure could use the larger return!

Domestic goddess.

So I've been doing a lot of domestic engineering.
It's working okay.
Take tonight for instance - I made dinner.
I did not need any kind of extinguisher.
That's progress.

Warning: Basketcase ahead...

I have finally done that thing which has been hanging over my head for (Count them) over 5 years.

I have enrolled for my ExCet exams!!!

FAQs:

1. Have you been studying? Not really.


2. How long do you have before you take the exam? Less than 2 weeks.


3. Why have I procrastinated in this area for so long? I am terrified of failing. I can't afford to take it and re-take it. I can't afford not to take it either. I am crippled with irrational fear regarding these tests.

If you have any pointers, I am taking the PPR on Jan.30th and the Music EC-12 on Feb.6th.

Your prayers and advice are not only appreciated; they are needed.

I wish I had something.
I just simply do not.

Here.
Here's something....

I'M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT...

In the spirit of post titles best appreciated while being sung...

I have finally settled in on new master bedroom bedding.
Now we can begin the painting and hanging of things in our bedroom.
I am very excited!!

From the Inside Out.

I went back and re-read my recent posts.
Stale. Boring. Negative.
Why is that?

Why is it that when so much is going right, really all we can focus on is what isn't?

• My children are loved, provided for, bright, and healthy.
• My husband is gainfully employed and comes home every night. He loves me just because I'm me.
• I work a job that most people are jealous of and that still amazes me each time I cash a paycheck. I get to sing to little ones about Jesus. Are you kidding me? It's awesome!!
• I have a truly beautiful family. I have wonderful friendships with both of my parents, who incidentally are still married and madly in love with each other, and just celebrated 36 years of wedded bliss...
• My brother and sister both call me friend. And Dork. And Kid Rotten... I have valid lifelong relationships with both of my siblings. And those friendships grow stronger and more meaningful with the passage of time.
• I have a few really wonderful friends. And by a few, I mean more than most people accumulate in a lifetime. And they are true.
• I serve a fantastic God, Who blows my mind pretty regularly with His goodness.

It would be difficult to assess all the changes that have occurred in my life over a period of time during one brief encounter at the supermarket.
Add 10 years and 15 pounds, I pretty much look like the same ol' me.

So yeah, somebody from high school can't see the 'me' that God has taken back onto His Potter's Wheel and sculpted and made anew.
Fine.
That does not negate what has made me look so very different on the inside.
In the last year or so, I have experienced a Spiritual Extreme Makeover.
I love the person I am becoming in God.
For the first time in my adult life, I am able to say that my thoughts, for the most part, are likely pleasing to God.
I want to please God. (no_iffer's post spurred my thoughts tonight)

Some days I fall short, but with each passing day, I am more and more mindful of what it means to serve God. To be passionate about Him.

It's what is going on behind closed doors with my sweet, sweet Redeemer that makes the difference.

He has been shaping me. Molding. Purifying.

Trimming the excess. (What? A girl can dream...)

Someday, I will not be recognizable as that same girl.
Today, I am glad that He sees me as enough. Good enough to make Him smile.
Good enough for Him to call 'friend.'

I am so blessed.

ironic.

What time is it?
9:06 am?
Doesn't A. work?

Yes.

I walked into work this morning and what do you suppose came out of my mouth?
"Good morning!"
NO - I only wish...

So go back and look at the title of my last post....

you back yet?

'cyberbarf'

Uh-huh.

I walked through the doors, paused for a moment after telling my kids to be kind to one another, and in a flash - I was spewing all over the place. Repeatedly.

I'll spare you the details of color, consistency, and odor.

What in the world?

I know what you're thinking...
Not possible. Lay those ideas to rest...

Just plain ol' kick in the pants stomach bug mixed with a good amount of irony...

"C'est la vie."

cyberbarf.

if i read this tomorrow and hate what i said, i'll blame it on the medicine i'm taking.

i cannot shake high school.
there are so many things that happened back then that i cannot change.
(you're probably wondering, what? what happened?)

insignificant, petty high school junk happened.
so-and-so dated so-and-so.
so-and-so said this about so-and-so.
i hate so-and-so just because they are.
she's so annoying, i hate her... yada yada yada...

a person needs to be able to graduate and then move away.
if only a few hundred miles...
that's what high school reunions are for.
when you are perhaps the most hated person in your high school, as was the case for me, you should not be subjected to seeing people that hate you all the time.

it wears on you.

part of you hopes that they have grown up and seen high school for what it really was,
then you see the way they still look at you.
ten years later, you have not yet been forgiven for your frailties.

wal-mart isn't safe.
restaurants aren't safe.
no place is safe.

the worst part?
i don't hate anyone.
no one.
i don't even understand why exactly it has happened that so many people dislike me.
it makes me feel like a scab.
so much hate.

one thing i DO hate?

i hate it when people hate me.
i have always tried to make friends, be a friend, etc.
in the end, i have found it to be the case that some people are just hateful.

i guess i just wish i could go to target without being made aware of their hatefulness.
that is all.

Quickie.

I'm still reeling from returning to my part-time job this past Monday.
How in the world will I ever swing a full-time job?

My throat is so sore. Shredded and bleeding. So ouch.

Dinner was inedible. True to form.
I thought it would be wrong to throw my family a curve ball and cook something delicious.
That might rock their world. :)

La is vicious. She reminded me that I will turn 30 next year. In 2009 anyway...

Yes, think hard and long before you go down that road. You never know what evil may befall you once you have struck below the belt, my dear, dear friend.... ;}

I learned how to drive a stick shift today while test-driving a vehicle.
I am sure that was, at once, irresponsible and hilarious.
Ask Shan and Wendy. It had to have "story for my blog" written all over it.

Best thing that has happened all week:
My son read a book with very little prompting last night.
It was an early reader entitled, "Hot, hot, hot!"
He was so ecstatic and I was beyond proud!