Friday, January 25, 2008

On my mind...

Here are some random things that I've been kind of mulling over...

1. I always thought that people who want to take care of the Earth were weird, new age-y people who didn't really have a good reason to believe what they do. But recently, I have been really convicted of how I treat this beautiful planet. Even if we don't necessarily go as far as "environmental extremists," we have a responsibility.

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" Genesis 1:26, New International Version

"God spoke: 'Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature, so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.'" Genesis 1:26, The Message

...Doesn't that say that we need to be taking care of the Earth simply because it's one of the things we were CREATED to do?! It should just be in our nature to do so. But maybe I'm way off. Any thoughts?

2. I have been wondering what I am supposed to DO with my life. Right now I am babysitting. I am 26 years old, have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (and spent a ridiculous amount of money to get that!), and I am babysitting for about $5.50 an hour (2 kids). I also occasionally babysit my very sweet little cousin. I keep praying that God would show me something that I am good at, something that I can do that is "meaningful." Today it hit me when I was driving home...maybe that IS what I am good at. Maybe I'm babysitting and taking care of people's children because that is what I am good at, and it is meaningful. It is huge for people to know that when they can't be with their kids, there is someone who loves them to pieces and will do everything in their power to keep them safe and happy. I am so glad that I can be that person for some people. I absolutely ADORE all of the kids in my life. Darwin, Alex, Isaac, Emery, Dakota, Ethan, Ainsley, and Audrey, just to name a few, have been such big blessings in my life. Thank you Lord that I am good at loving them and being one of their biggest fans.

3. I am still SO needing to create something, but SO at a loss of where to start. Very frustrating. I actually am almost to the point of being stressed out by the fact that I have all of this "creative energy" inside of me, but no way to get it out! So, I am "stuck" with making scarves! Luckily, Michaels had a FABULOUS sale on yarn and I got a few really cool skeins that were normally $6.99 or $8.99 for $2 a piece!!! Woo hoo!!

4. I love my husband. God has blessed me beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

That's all for now :)

Thursday, January 17, 2008

WOO HOO!!!

I'm outta here for a bit...COLORADO, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!

So excited. :-D

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Frustration and Thankfulness

So today I finished my Sort Things out organizer thing. It looks terrible...but I kind of love it! It was the first thing that I sewed that I didn't have any help on, not one little bit! The only thing is that I am frustrated with myself. Frustrated that it is not perfect, not even close to straight, the bias tape isn't even sewn down all the way around! But, of course it's not going to be perfect! I have to work on this need for things to be "just right" the very first time I try. I do have to say, straight or not, it felt great to see that I had made something!!!

And now for the list (and yes, I realize that I skipped yesterday...crazy day...)

1. New glasses so that I can finally watch TV without either squinting or wearing my prescription sunglasses (which is even MORE cool since they have 2 flippin' different colored lenses!)
2. Going to Colorado with the hubs to see my best friend from high school (who I haven't seen in 5 years!!)
3. Great prices for tickets to Colorado
4. My husband thinking that I am beautiful, even on days when that is the last word I would use to describe myself
5. Biggest Loser
6. Waking up early to clean...and actually doing it!
7. Reading
8. My whole family...they each bring a special-ness and wonderful-ness to my life
9. God putting certain people in my life, just at the right time
10. I love that James and I have been able to travel quite a bit in our relationship. We have so much fun when we are traveling, and I think we are at our best in a new place. Though we're pretty good at home too ;)

Monday, January 14, 2008

10 things, Monday

1. Watching Amazing Race with Jamesay
2. Making lists
3. Finishing a project
4. An extra 2 hours in my day, just from cutting out Friends and Frasier in the morning while getting ready
5. Eating healthy meals...but ESPECIALLY eating yummy healthy meals that James enjoys too! We've already noticed a difference!
6. Libraries and bookstores
7. My mom and pops
8. That my body, though it is tired right now, works
9. Going to bed early!
10. A warm home

It's been a stressful month, especially financially, but my goodness, we are so very blessed! Thank you Jesus for your provision.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Peer pressure, everyone's doing it!

Alright, so a few important people in my life have started to write down 10 things a day that they are thankful. And because I have been blessed by seeing what THEY are thankful for, I thought it would help me to see what I am thankful for as well. Here goes:

1. Blankets
2. God providing, lots of times at just the right time
3. The feeling of clean teeth
4. Snuggling in bed with James...waking up, watching tv, whatever it is, just feeling safe and loved by an amazing man
5. Knitting
6. Really soft angel hair yarn
7. Sew-n-Such, a sweet little store in Franktown Corners, which is in the space that used to be my favorite little bridal shop too
8. Looking at fabric...I'm currently LOVING Loralie Designs and Amy Butler!
9. FINALLY being able to read my Bible and not feel like it is homework (thanks PBC! :-/)
10. Snow

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

A few months ago I had seen a a pattern for an organizer at Ben Franklin. I had decided at that point that because I was spending so much on craft supplies, I would wait it out and if I thought about it again (meaning that I liked it so much that I would remember it!) I would go back and get it. I actually COULD NOT stop thinking about it, so I went back a few weeks ago to look for it, proud of myself that I had really thought about this purchase. But OF COURSE it wasn't there any more! I asked the lady and she helped me find this Sort Things Out! organizer, which was very similar.

So far, it's um, well, less than successful! I did everything exactly as it said to do, but it just did not look quite right. I think that some of the measurements were wrong, because it said that the pocket flap should be 5 inches wide and the pocket itself should be 8 1/2 inches wide. Now, if I was an experienced sewer, or maybe even if I had just thought about it for 2 seconds, I probably would have caught on to this! But I figured they knew better than I!! It looks fairly ridiculous as it is now, but I'm hoping to fix it tomorrow or the next day. Unfortunately, in this case, "fixing" it pretty much means redoing the entire thing.....ahhh well, asi es la vida! And it was a good learning experience! ;)

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Content...

I am cuddled up in an electric blanket, sitting just a few feet away from my very hot and wonderful husband, watching what they are saying is the biggest storm here for 50 years, and waiting for a cup of tea to sit down and cross-stitch with. I am, to say the least, content.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

My First Meme

Here's my first meme...hopefully I did it right! I got it from Tip Junkie



1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
 GEOCACHING!!!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't think that I made any last year....but I made some this year, mostly to do with keeping fit, eating better, praying more, reading my Bible, etc.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My best friend, sister-in-law and my cousin did.
4. Did anyone close to you die? I lost my baby on March 25th. So, yes.
5. What countries did you visit? Hmm, in 2007, only the good ol' US. But in 2006 I was in US, England, Austria, Australia, England again, and Germany.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? A baby.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Sewing 12 pairs of pajama pants with my mom...she hasn't sewn for 25 years and I had made 2 aprons in the month before this feat...we were pretty proud!
8. What was your biggest failure? Failure to fill out a little paper that said that we had car insurance, which then resulted in a $250 fine :(
9. Did you suffer illness or injury? Lots of different colds from the kids I babysit.
10. What was the best thing you bought? An iPod nano for my hubby!
11. Where did most of your money go? To our new Camry. And rent. Bleh.
12. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Being a mommy.
13. Compared to this time last year, are you:
About the same for all.
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
14. What do you wish you’d done more of? Enjoying what I had instead of focusing on what I didn't have.
15. What do you wish you’d done less of? Spending frivolously.
16. What was the best book you read? Ooooh, too many good ones. Shopaholic and Baby. The first 4 Yada Yada Prayer Group books. Numerous miscarriage books. The Bible.
17. What did you want and get? An even better relationship with my husband. I have seen what a true treasure I have.
18. What did you want and not get? My Avery.
19. What kept you sane? Keeping my house semi-clean and organized. And watching Food Network and HGTV!!! Also my family.
20. Who did you miss? Avery, Chelsea, everyone in Australia.