Nothing else to post

Sara posted some questions yesterday, and though she didn't tag me, I thought I'd play along anyway. I've been lacking in the idea department lately.

Feel free to answer the questions too on your blog or even in the comments.

1. What are you fixing for dinner tonight?

Since the weather man says it will only be in the mid 50s today, I'm making vegetable soup.

2. What is your favorite dish at Thanksgiving?

I honestly can not pick ONE. It's the combination of everything. Just thinking about last year's meal with our families starts my mouth to watering. It would be easier to say what is my least favorite and that would be the cranberry sauce. I really don't care for it, but I try it every year anyway.

3. What are you most thankful for right at this moment?

I am thankful for my sweet husband who loves me despite my failures. My children who keep me on my toes. And for all the big and little things I overlook everyday like electricity and clean water and laughter.

4. Do you think 50 is the new 40?

Well, I have a ways to go until 50, but I'm realizing that every year goes faster and faster, just like Grandma always told me. I just hope when I get there that I'll still feel young, even if I'm a grandma -- which is quite likely since M will be almost 30 when I turn 50.

5. What age do you dread the most?

I don't dread any age. I only dread feeling old. (Grandma told me about that too.)

6. If you could have/do anything for your birthday, what would it be?

Wow. That's a hard question. I think I'd like to be on an extended vacation with my husband and girls. I dream about staying in a cabin near or on a mountain. I wouldn't even need a cake if I was in the mountains. But since my birthday is in March and that would mean a very cold vacation, I'll have to re-think this one.... Just some flowers and a chai latte from Chicory (one of our local cafes) would make me a happy girl on any given day.

7. What kind of cake do you choose for your birthday?

When I was younger I mostly chose angel food cake. These days my favorite is lemon. I love anything lemon. Lemon bars, lemon cookies, lemon cake. Yum. I think it's weird that I would not pick chocolate, because though I love chocolate itself, I'm not a big fan of chocolate cake.

Speaking of birthdays and time passing too quickly, our M turns 12 in exactly one month. Twelve. Crazy!! I guess I'll be 50 pretty soon, Sara. Happy (early) birthday to you!!

Well...

...I'd really love to blog. I'd love to share all the photos I took last week. We had some amazing skies! I would love to share my half-written Gift List. And our nephew's first birthday party!

But honestly, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything! And it's not all bad! There has been a lot of good! But because of it, I am behind on laundry and cleaning and schoolwork. And my real paying job. Oh yeah! I have one of those?!

But tomorrow is another day. Maybe I'll be back. But maybe I'll be gone forever. :)

Lots of love to you, my friends!
Christine

Haircut

Before and after pictures taken by C.
I like this angle a little better though.

4 months between haircuts saves money. And that's why I do it. And also the fact that my favorite stylist moved to Missouri and the last 2 girls I went to didn't do what I wanted. Anyway, I think this one is a keeper. She did exactly what I asked.

On the other side

I don't find myself on this side of the camera very often.
But I was thinking about this post from Miz Booshay and decided to get in the frame... for them. Someday they might want to remember what I looked like when I was 31. Maybe.

Friday, October 9, 2009

My dad is a graphic designer. And a really good one, who doesn't get paid enough for his talent and dedication.
Sometimes at my job I get to pretend I'm a graphic designer. And it's fun--most of the time. (It's NOT fun when I can't come up with something I like.)

Anyway, this is a photo of the posters I made and picked up today. They'll hang on one of the walls at church.

Yes, that's my eyeball

This picture makes a couple things official.

One--I'm wearing contacts. I was "trying them out" for the last week. Doctor said today that everything looks good and gave his blessing to order a year supply. Yippee!!

Two--M thinks I've lost my mind. She caught me taking this picture of my eyeball.

Well, admittedly, taking an interesting picture everyday is a tough assignment. I love the challenge of Project 365--but some days are definitely easier to capture than others.

Gifts Made with Love and Yarn

I feel a little silly posting a picture of just me - but this is for my mom. She made me this scarf and I've worn it all day. It's so pretty, not to mention warm and cozy. Thanks, Mom. I love it. You're the best. xo
And I made this pom-pom heart out of the left over yarn for C today because she was on time for school everyday this week. (M almost made it - I'm sure I'll be making hers for next week.)
I got the idea for the heart here.
BTW - C took both of these photos. Pretty good, huh?

Yes, it's true

I still can't believe it's mine. I borrowed one just like it a year ago. So it kind of feels like I have to give it back to the rightful owner. But, it's mine!

I've wanted a digital SLR for a long, long time. I've been waiting and wondering if it would ever happen. But I knew all the time that John wanted me to have one too. He's such a wonderful husband and best friend. We've just been waiting for the perfect time - God's time.
A great deal came along that he couldn't pass up. He tells me it cost less than a lower model Nikon, so he snatched it up used on ebay. Now, we've been down that road before and been disappointed, but this camera/seller was different. And this time it works and I get to KEEP it!! I'm so happy. And I'm having SO much fun.

I agree with you Jayme, it's so thoughtful of him to give it to me early! Being the holidays, we have many fun things going on. Today we went to see The Nutcracker.

I have much to learn and this shot is not a good example of what this camera is capable of, BUT I still love it. That's our little Chloe, being the little lady she is, waiting for the ballet to start.

Thanks for your sweet comments! I knew all of you, sweet friends, would be excited with me. We have much to look forward to, don't we?!
Happy weekend, everyone! You know what I'll be doing! See you Monday!

For me?!

My sweet husband and children gave my Christmas present to me last night 14 days early. I am on cloud 9 today!
Can you guess what it is?


ok. I won't make you guess.
It's a new camera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3 things

Sara tagged me so I thought I'd oblige. But I have to tell you - I don't like talking about myself very much. I'd rather tell you about my kids or give you a run down of the day or just show you a silly picture....but it's probably a good exercise SO -

Here are the rules:

Tell everyone three things you like about yourself.
Tag three people to play along.
Go on in peace.

OK. Here goes. Three things I like about myself.

1. I'm very optimistic. It's almost sickening how I can find the good in the worst of situations.

2. I'm not easily throw by surprises. I take life as it comes. I like to plan out my day, but I'm rarely upset if things don't go the way I plan. Sometime the surprises make the day even better!

3. I love to see others succeed. Does that sound weird? I just love listening to others and helping them talk through their struggles. I don't usually have a solution, but I love to find ways to encourage them to not give up. The strength test I took last month for work said I was a "Developer". It said, "You see the potential in others. Very often, in fact, potential is all you see. In your view no individual is fully formed. On the contrary, each individual is a work in progress, alive with possibilities." I think that says it pretty well.

That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. So now I will tag:

Danette
Rita
Emily L.

Mom, don't look

I did something crazy.
I cut off all my hair.
Madelyn and Chloe were upset with me.
John loves it.
I'm still deciding.
Don't feel obligated to respond and say you like it.
It's ok if you don't.
And yes, I'm from the Midwest but I cheer for the Boston Red Sox.
Mainly because I've been to Boston and I made some great memories there.
And because I have some loved ones who live there now.
But I still would love to see the Cubs win the World Series.
Did you know they haven't won the World Series since 1908?
Maybe this will be the year.
Exactly 100 years later. That would be pretty cool.
Ok, enough pointless babble.
Here's my pic:

30

So this is what 30 looks like. I've lived 3 lovely decades. I seem really old to my girls. Madelyn didn't want me to turn 30. She was in denial more than I was. But, it happened and it's ok. It's really ok. I am a blessed woman of 30. And I am thankful.
I am thankful for my beautiful daughters who were more anxious than I was to open my present first thing in the morning.
I am thankful for this beautiful card from my sweet Chloe. (Isn't her handwriting beautiful for a 6 year old?)
I am thankful for my darling husband who's first words as he was awakening were "happy birthday". Who took me out to a delicious lunch and brought home flowers to finish off my wonderful day.
And I'm thankful to God who shines His face upon me everyday. After a cloudy, blustery March day, He gave me a beautiful display of clouds and color as the sun was setting.

And I could go on and on about all the things I was blessed with yesterday.
Phone calls from family and friends...
sweet treats from those who know how much I enjoy sugar...
happy birthday signs all around the office to let EVERYONE know that it was my birthday...
the thoughtful gifts...
the precious cards....it was all too much.
Thank you.

Oh yes. 30 is fine.

7 random things

So I was tagged by Melissa to list 7 random things about myself. So here they are, in no particular order:

1. Next month I will turn 30 and I'm totally fine with it. Happy even.

2. Almost every night before bed, I drink a cup of this tea with sugar and milk.

3. I prefer baking over cooking.

4. I adore my husband. I think he is one of the coolest people in the world.

5. My right pinkie finger is deformed because it broke in 2nd grade and the doctor didn't set it right. I'm sure I'll have arthritis in it someday.

6. I like my eggs over easy.

7. Things I aspire to be but probably never will: organized, a traveler, an expert at gardening, a historian, stylish, musically skilled, outgoing

Now I'm supposed to post the rules and tag 7 more people, but I'm not going to. (That might tell you something about me. And it's not that I'm a rule breaker.) If you want to join in, go to Melissa's post and read the rules!

Happy weekend, everyone! Stand in the sunshine.

Here I Am

Eternity and time. Here I am. God has allowed me this moment. It is a gift. I start this blog today because I don't want to forget-- the moments God has given and the moments He will give. This is His gift. And I give this moment to Him.

Written as if God is speaking to you:
"My ageless purposes are set in Eternity. Time is like a little wheel set within the big wheel of Eternity. The little wheel turns swiftly and shall one day cease. The big wheel turns not but goes straightforward. Time is your responsibility--Eternity is Mine! you will move into your place in the big wheel when the little wheel is left behind. See that now you redeem the time, making use of it for the purposes of My eternal kingdom, thus investing it with something of the quality of the big wheel. As you do this, your days will not be part of that which turns and dies, but of that which goes straight forward and becomes one with My great universe." - Come Away My Beloved