School Friends

Here are some pictures of Staci and some of her classmates on Thursday, February 12, and Friday, the 13th, as they were getting ready to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Trip to RC Willey and HSM Disney on Ice Tickets from The Fish

Wednesday night before church, we drove out to RC Willey to see if we could win tickets for the girls to see Disney on Ice's High School Musical - The Ice Tour. The Fish was giving away tickets every 15 minutes between 5 and 7 pm. We arrived at RC Willey at 5:30, and won the 6:15 drawing. I was praying that we would not win a t-shirt, CD, or movie passes, because then we would have been out of the running for the Ice tickets. The girls were so jazzed, and my mom had wanted to take them anyway, for Valentine's. The girls went with my mom and sister the next evening. The group of 4 tickets was over $100 value. Yeah us!!! Thank you, to The Fish!
The girls had a blast exploring RC Willey - it's a beautiful home decorating store that we had never visited. Since we had to leave shortly as we didn't want to be late for work, I told the girls that we would come visit some other time. Here are some pics of the girls at RC Willey.

Organ Recital

After Brenda's birthday lunch, Shauna and I went to an "Organ Recital." Our landlady, Arlys, is the organist for her church, St. Matthew's Lutheran. They recently purchased a beautiful new organ, and invited Dr. Roger Nyquist to play for their organ dedication. This man is incredible! Shauna's comment was: "If there was Organ Olympics, he would definitely win first place."
Shauna was getting lulled to sleep by the beautiful classical music, so we left at intermission, but it was a great event to attend. I also liked the way they decorated the refreshment table with the black and white keys.

February Happenings

I think it's time that I start saving for a new camera (to replace the one I lost in October and am still sad about, boo hoo) and a new computer! "My computer at home" doesn't have internet access (too old, too many viruses, etc), so I have to wait until really late to use Matthew's laptop and get online. I also can't post without pictures...well, I don't like to, so I avoid it.
I've finally had a chance to upload some photos, and can share.
Sunday, February 8, met Brenda and her son Caleb for her birthday lunch. Shauna and Caleb are "best buddies." Here are some pictures of them sword-fighting with chopsticks and other random shots.

Not a favorite pic of Shauna, but I like the reflections of their faces. (unintentional shot)

Email from God

This has been around a while, but its message remains true...


To: YOU

Date: TODAY

From: GOD

Subject: YOURSELF

Reference: LIFE

Message: This is God. Today I will handle all of your problems. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day. I love you. And, remember... If life delivers a situation that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved in My time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, stop worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life. Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you. You may touch their life in ways you will never know!
Now, you have a nice day.

Love,

God

Valentine Games!

Valentine's day is just around the corner, and I still have so much to do! :) I want to take the girls to Picture People to take advantage of their current holiday special. I try to go each year around this time. Their current coupon is for a free portrait sheet and 12 valentine postcards for only $12. The great thing is this year they have a postcard where you can place two pics - this is great for when you have more than one kid, like me, but they want to have their pictures taken individually. Go here to print out the coupon.

I've also been working on some games for the church Valentine's banquet which has become an annual youth fundraiser. The cost is only $20 per couple, so it's a great deal. I've searched online, and so far my favorite ideas are: (1) have the couples wrap a present, but each spouse has one hand tied behind their back. First couple to complete the job wins a prize; (2) shoe relay where the husband removes his wife's shoe; they're all placed in a giant pile at the other end of the room, and first husband to get his wife's shoe back on her feet is the winner; and (3) Valentine mad libs... Let me know if you have any other ideas.

Hope you all have a super Friday, and a Happy Valentine's Day!

Emailed Prayer for Financial Blessing

FINANCIAL BLESSING

I claim it for you - now claim it for me. God has more than a thousand ways to provide for us, that we know nothing about. Here is your financial blessing! It's a simple prayer . . . got 30 Seconds?

Don't sleep on this...Someone recently read this for the first time and received exactly enough for a $0 balance on all credit cards.

If you need a financial blessing, continue reading this.

“Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God, I pray to you that you abundantly bless my family and me. I know that you recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother, husband and Wife, but all who believe and trust in You.

GOD, I send up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the person who sent this to me, but for me and all that I have forwarded this mess age on to. And that the power of joined prayer by those who believe and trust in you is more powerful than anything! I thank you in advance for your blessings. God, deliver the person reading this right now from debt and debt burdens.

Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that you have given me GOD, for I know how wonderful and mighty you are and how if we just obey you and walk in your word and have the faith of a mustard seed that you will pour out blessings. I thank you now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come because I know you are not done with me yet. Amen”

Peace and Blessings....Have Faith

25 Things About Me

1. I always try to back in to a parking space so it's easier to pull out. I always do this at work or church. Or, if there are two empty parking spaces parallel to each other in a parking lot, I'll pull forward to the other side.

2. My church is my life.

3. I miss my relatives who live far away, and wish they lived closer. I feel bad that my girls don't get to spend time with their cousins.

4. My hair has never been permed or dyed. In addition, it's been uncut for most of my life (about 27 years).

5. I love to sing and "shout to the Lord." One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 100:1 - Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

6. I like to search www.biblegateway.com and the Strong's Concordance. "Make a joyful noise" is also found in 6 other psalms.

7. I am very opinionated. And stubborn. And hard-headed. Many times I have to learn a lesson "the hard way."

8. I'm so thankful for God's unending mercies and unconditional love.

9. I've recently become addicted to facebook.

10. I have a fondness for fast food and eat too much.

11. I like to exercise, but don't seem to "make the time" to do it.

12. I like to play sports, but am not very good, so I'm usually too shy to do it.

13. In high school I joined the cross-country team so that I could get a "sports" letter for the letterman's jacket I never bought.

14. I really like to eat dark chocolate. A lot. I don't care much for white chocolate - brings back memories of a fourth-grade incident at a friend's birthday party = ate too much of the stuff, and haven't cared for it much since.

15. I became the baseball scorekeeper when I was a sophomore in high school because I had a crush on one of the players.

16. I don't like movies, and can't stand it when that's all kids want to talk about - especially in Sunday School.

17. Acts of service is my love language. Please don't say you appreciate me - show me. Buy me lunch (or a bag of chocolate).

18. I love to sing in choirs, and wish that some church people weren't so condescending toward those who aren't blessed with a great singing voice. I believe the point of a church choir is to magnify and exalt Jesus, and He will anoint and make a beautiful harmony.

19. I like to attend baseball games, but not without a scorebook.

20. Scrabble is one of my favorite games; but I like to play most any thing. I really like word games, and used to play Boggle with my mom a lot. I'm not good at trivia. I like to win, but think I'm a pretty good loser and have good sportsmanship. I don't like to play Monopoly (or Triopoly).

21. I don't consider myself a computer junkie, but I can waste too much time surfing the internet.

22. My mom recently told me I have ADD because I'm always starting a bunch of projects, but don't seem to finish too many.

23. When I get a notion to do something, I go all out. For example, my current relaxing past-time is working jigsaw puzzles - so every time I go to the thrift store I'm looking for more. I've probably bought 16 puzzles in the last two weeks.

24. I'm a pack-rat, and I love Christmas decorations. Everything in the garage is mine, and about 50 percent of it is Christmas stuff.

25. I love to bargain shop. I'm not into brand names - Although I love anything patriotic and the colors red, white, and blue - I try not to buy Tommy Hilfiger just because of the principal of not buying brand name stuff.

Shoe Score at ROSS Dress for Less store

Etienne Aigner Carmelina SKU #7483625 on zappos.com
Regularly $68.95; sale price $62.06! (That equates to a 10% off sale).

It’s $69 at shoes.com and amazon.com.

I purchased these exact shoes for a coworker today at ROSS at lunchtime.

How much did I pay?

Well, the Ross price was $21.99, but it was marked down to $14.99. So, with tax, I paid $16.15.

Zappos’ sale price with tax is $66.87. I only paid 24% of the Zappos price!

I’ve hence dubbed myself “Office Personal Shopper.”