Simply Life

On December 23, 2005 my mom, hubby, and I went to see the V.V. Lakes Christmas Lights display. It was so nice. Of course, we took bunches of pictures! There are waterfalls and lakes all around. It wasn't a huge display. But, they had a WHOLE bunch of lights in the little bit of ground they have.
Last year, we went looking at Christmas lights. It was memorable too. At the time, my hubby worked for a transportation company and he borrowed the limo. He chauvered us around looking at lights the whole night. Our whole gang of family went. Marty (his brother), Shelly, their children, his dad, my mom, and Betty (who ended up being our mother-in-law) That was a good surprise for 2005. There are a lot of things I am thankful for. So, here's my list.

Jesus--
Always He is with me. Guiding me when I am more fearful than faithful. He truly is the reason I live. The reason I am free.

My husband--
He loves me without question. I never quite understand it fully. He truly has been my best friend since I was a teenager. I am so blessed that God has given us each other. What a gift! 9 years of marriage have flown by...

My mom--
Not many people can say that they are this close to a parent. But, I am. Maybe it comes from the fact that I am her only (and favorite, I might add) daughter. She has been there for me for, oh about, 29 years now. We've been through a bunch of stuff together, both good and not so good. I love her with all my heart!

My friends (both offline and online)--
As you know, I am a little kooky sometimes. You stick with me through it all! I love your humor and friendship more than you may know. Thank you!

My job--
Even though I complain sometimes, I know that I am blessed to even have a job. There are so many who desperately want one.

Freedom from debt--
Selling our house has enabled us to pay off so much debt; our cars, and more. What an enormous relief it's been.

And so many more...but I am sleepy and must go to bed. NOW or else I will be up until 1 am. Oh wait, it's 1:30 am already. Um. I mean 2 am!! Hee hee!!  :o)

1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Leah remembered the question her pastor had asked, 'What do you think God wants you to eat?' At first, it had seemed like a silly question, but the more Leah thought about it, the more she realized there really wasn't any food God didn't want to let her have. It was the quantities and frequency of consumption that Leah realized God would disapprove of. Moderation in everything was the rule she needed to follow. She felt so much better. Her diet didn't need to be a lot of heavy sacrifices. All she needed to do was develop some self-control, and with God's help, she would. Today's thought: Let my eating and drinking offend no one, especially God!

1. Seven things to do before I die:

- Have children
- Re-connect with my friend from school
- Write a book
- Get down to a healthy weight
- Travel the US with my husband
- Visit Ireland, France, and Italy
- Grow old with my husband

2. Seven things I cannot do:

- stop writing
- stop singing
- stop reading
- whistle
- watch horror movies
- climb a ladder too high
- eat lobster

3. Seven things that attract me to my husband:

- the smiley look he gets in his eyes when I say or do something funny
- his integrity
- the fact that he loves me unconditionally
- the way he encourages me
- his outgoing nature
- he holds my hand for no reason

4. Seven things I say most often:

- What?!
- Just a sec
- I love you.
- No way
- Shut up (in a goofy way)
- Mom!
- ha ha ha

5. Seven books (or series) I love: (only seven?)

- Harry Potter
- Little House on the Prairie
- The Notebook
- The Guardian
- Where the Heart Is
- Coast Road
- Small Town Girl

6. Seven movies I watch over and over again (or would watch over and over if I had the time):

- Back to the Future I, II, III
- Oceans 11
- Pretty in Pink
- The Goonies
- Can't Buy Me Love
- Grease
- Dirty Dancing

7. Seven people I want to join in, too:

Anyone who wants to!

--Hope your Christmas is wonderful!!--

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Presents are wrapped, but sometimes just in the white boxes! :)
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White this year, but usually multi-colored
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, but it sounds nice :)
5. When do you put your decorations up? Between Thanksgiving & Christmas!
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Stuffing
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Can’t think of one
8. When did you learn the truth about Santa? When I was about 10 years old
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? yes just one
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? cookies? if there were any left out it would be chocolate chip.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love to visit it, wouldn’t love to drive in it.
12. Can you ice skate? not well, but yes
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? so many to choose from...
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being at home with family
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Cookies
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? singing Christmas music
17. What tops your tree? An angel
18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? Giving
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Fresh ones are yummy!

1. Stalker:: Crazy
   
2. Outrageous:: Dumb
   
3. Carrying:: Love
   
4. Spirited:: Drink
   
5. Oh!:: My
   
6. Grid::  Map
   
7. Country:: Kitchen
   
8. Karen:: Bennett
   
9. Candles:: Light
   
10. Relationship:: Love
    

Remember a few posts ago I mentioned my frustration with my current job? I was going to go find myself another job FINALLY after 5 years here. Well, now that I've put in apps, and online resumes, things are picking up. I've gotten a letter from the State of AZ saying I have a job interview to be a Clerk Typist 2 in a nearby city. I also got a phone call from a computer repair place asking if I was still interested in a job.
AAAH! I want a new job. NOT the interviews. I hate them. I feel like such a...dork during interviews. Maybe I need some confidence.
Maybe what I really need is some "God"-fidence. I haven't been praying too much lately.
How can I want what God wants for my life, if I am not even talking to Him?

Betty, my bus driver, dresses up every Friday. Today, she is an octopus. Uh huh. A blue and green octopus. It's a hat with big, long, dangly legs. She looks too cute for words!
My life is interesting being on her bus. To say the least! :)

My mom seems to be getting better. She's had a nasty infection from what we believe to be a spider bite. Ick. Finally, and I'm not trying to be gross here, it's draining a bit. That should be a good thing.

Oh, and yea for me! I won tickets to a local Holiday Acoustic Concert this Saturday. Liz Phair, and Vertical Horizon will be playing. I am excited! Now, I just need to get way down in the middle of the city to pick up the tickets.

Ok. I will write more later. Hope ya'll have an awesome day! :) Hugs!