So most of you might know that I am "Addicted to Facebook" as my husband calls it. Twice this week he has had to tell me to "get off of facebook and put down your blackberry" - I don't know what's worse...the blackberry addiction, or facebook. But either way, they both consume me. Probably why I haven't been posting here lately. Soon O will tell me to log off of blogger! I guess I should just step away from all computing devices for a while!

Anywho...there's this little "game" going around facebook where you write 25 interesting/random (little known) facts about yourself, and then "Tag" your friends so they have to do it to. Basically just a way to keep everyone on facebook for that much longer. I must say it's quite successful.

Since everyone that reads this is not on facebook, I decided to share my 25 random facts with the world. Because everyone cares so much, I know...and mainly because we haven't been very interesting lately and I don't have much else to say....so enjoy!!

1. I once spent $85 in one month at Starbucks on nothing but $2.30 Grande Coffee with creme and caramel syrup. I got a lot accomplished that month.
2. I cry at Publix commercials.
3. I'm scared of the dark.
4. I tried to cheat on a test in 9th grade by writing the answers on my hand.
5. I got caught. I still don't know the counties in Alabama.
6. I've never been to Tuscaloosa more than just driving by on the interstate.
7. I think global warming is a farce.
8. I sucked my thumb until the 5th grade, and then had braces twice.
9. The lifeguard at my childhood pool once accused me and a friend (you know who you are!) of peeing in the baby pool. Which we did not do.
10. He is now my doctor but has no clue who I am.
11. A scary movie must always be followed by a cartoon.
12. I bought my first house after only looking in the windows of the model home.
13. I hate to read, but have a novel in my head waiting to come out.
14. Everyday I set my alarm for 2 hours before I have to get up, and then hit the snooze button until I'm late.
15. I see my mother every day of the week except Sunday.
16. I once bit into a tooth that was in my Firehouse Sub's sandwich, and can no longer stand the thought of any kind of sub sandwich - Later figured out it was only a bone fragment from where they cut the meat...but that didn't matter.
17. My aunt Carol once told me that eating orange peanut M&M's two at a time, one on each side of your mouth would make your ninnies grow. I believed her until about 4 year's ago.
18. I only listen to Country and Christian music. I didn't know who Fergie was until last year, and I still couldn't pick her out of a crowd.
19. All of the Christmas ornaments on our tree and the decorations in our house have a story behind them.
20. When I was 5 we had a dog named Tiger that ripped out the eye of our next door neighbors dog in a fight. Tiger went to go live on a "farm" after that. About 2 years ago I learned what that really meant.
21. Sometimes I think our house is haunted by Old Man Donnelly that used to live there. Especially since my cousin Rachel pointed out how at night our front windows are straight from a horror movie.
22. My husband and I talk about moving to England...lately more and more frequently.
23. I became a Christian when I was 15 years old, but didn't really start focusing on that part of my life until I graduated from college. Now instead of wishing I had that time back, I use my experiences to help others.
24. I haven't been in Walmart in over 3 years.
25. I laugh when people get physically hurt in front of me. Not because it's funny, but because it's always awkward and I don't know what else to do. I can't help it.

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I love junk drawers. I'm like Monica on Friends. My outside world looks so put together, but if you open my junk drawers, there's no telling what might come out and bite you. I've recently discovered that I had accumulated quite a junk drawer at work. It is after all where I spend most of my time.

I cleaned it out the other day. Some of the things I threw away disgusted and amazed me. There were cough drops that expired in 2007, Tea bags that I'm not sure how old they were, and an empty bottle of Scope, just to name a few. There was also a picture of me and O from New Year's eve 2005/06. My how we've changed!

My drawer is now neat and tidy, and I'm slowly building up the staples again:

A breath kit - tooth brush, floss, toothpaste (I still need a small bottle of scope). You never know when you might eat Sushi for lunch and need a refresher.

Tea - I love a good afternoon tea. They provide some here at the office, but it's gross. Tazo is my fav. Any kind will do for a quick afternoon relax.

Hand lotion - Dry hands are akin to scratching your nails down a chalk board (you just cringed didn't you?)

Lint brush - Lint on my clothes drives me bonkers. And dog hair. Dog hair makes me crazy. Although you wouldn't know it if you saw my car.

Disposable bowls and oatmeal - I never know when I'm going to get stuck with no breakfast or lunch. Or worse, stuck here for dinner. Oatmeal is a good staple that will fill me up in a pinch. Sometimes I eat it dry and then drink a big glass of water. I'm weird like that.

Gift bags and tissue paper - Birthday's are always popping up around here, and sometimes I will need to run out for a quick gift, but I'll inevitably forgot the wrapping paper. So I keep some around just in case.

And the ever famous desktop Christmas decor. And Halloween, and Easter and Thanksgiving. A little bit of every holiday to keep things cheerful.

Somehow these small items make the days go by quicker, and help me get through those insane moments. Which seem to happen all too frequently lately!

What's in your junk drawer?

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(This post is not to make you agree with my politics…just to let you in on our life a little more. It is not meant to offend you. I'm sorry if it does!)

If you know me, you know my politics. I am an issues voter. I don’t believe in any form of abortion (for any reason), and I believe our forefathers were on to something when they wrote the constitution. I believe in gun rights (& not just because I’m married to a cop!), and I believe the separation of church and state was not meant to literally keep religion out of government/schools, etc., but rather to keep religion from becoming the government – so everyone can worship freely. Those are just a few of my intrinsic beliefs…just so you know where I’m coming from in this post, since I obviously don’t agree with the current administration.

Agreeing and supporting are two totally different things. The Bible calls on us to support our leaders. To pray for them always, and to obey the laws the government has put in place. (Check out Romans 13) So just because I don’t agree with the current policies, and I don’t follow the current administrations belief systems, doesn’t mean that I won’t be supportive of them, pray for their best and genuinely hope that they do succeed in all that they do.

I do, however, believe that the current state of affairs in our nation is a direct result of how our nation has run so far away from the Bible. Our country was founded on Biblical beliefs and truths, as evidenced in the simple phrase on that quarter in your wallet “In God We Trust” – I recently ‘voted’ in an online MSNBC poll about whether or not that phrase should stay on our currency. Of course I voted yes, but about 20% of the voters said no. That’s scary.

I am troubled by the millions that attended the inauguration services. Yes, there was a bit of history there…point taken. But what troubled me the most was the look on most of their faces – the hope they are entrusting with one human being. The idolization of him. The literal worship. That scared me.



My only hope is that people begin to understand the importance of the entire government as a whole, and not one man. But more importantly, I hope that these people will learn to place their hope and trust in God, rather than idolizing and worshipping our leader.



Because in the end, he will not be able to lead us down the true path to change.

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Labels: God is in Control, Vote, Winner

I know I've been totally slacking in my updates the past few days. And I know that is seriously bothering some people who shall remain nameless ;o) - It's Annual Compliance time at work...which means nothing but work, eat, sleep, repeat. And sometimes it's more like work, sleep, repeat.

And Owen has been sick this week with a double ear infection, so I've been taking care of him. Who knew you could get a double ear infection past the age of 4. But he managed to do it!

I'm turning in my last MAJOR report today, and should have more time to twiddle my thumbs, and use them to type a much needed update.

So stay tuned - probably tonight - I will update you on the events of our weekend, before another comes to pass.

Enjoy your day!!!

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As you know, we've taught our dog to run on our treadmill. It's really been quite a life saver in this cold weather. Well it's not really that cold, but by the time we get home at night, it's too dark to take him on a run through the neighborhood, and I don't do mornings. So the only other option is the treadmill.

It's great. All we have to do is run downstairs, tell him to go left (instead of right to the cars), open a few doors, and BAM! Before you know it he's standing on the treadmill waiting for you to turn it on. If we could just figure out how to rig a button for him to step on to turn it on, we'd be in business!

Last night was no exception. I got home from work, and decided that I needed a good run, so I got dressed, and headed downstairs. Little did I know, Tas was hot on my heels. He jumped on the treadmill before I could even turn the light on.

So, in true "you first, me second" fashion, I let him go first. I had him running on a 4 speed for a good solid 20 minutes. A 4 speed is pretty fast for his little legs. By the time he finished, the news was over and Wheel of Fortune had come on. I love the Wheel. I'm such a Wheel Watcher!

Anywho. Tas was finished running (or at least according to me he was) and it was my turn. Owen was on the bike (in the garage) and so I opened all of the doors so Tas could just run about between the two of us. I hopped on the treadmill, and turned it back on.

Tas heard the beep of the power button, and came barrelling into the den. By that time I had already set my speed (to a measly 4.5) and started trotting. I noticed he was beside me, trying to decide how to jump on with me, so I promptly and sternly said "WHOA" - which is his "stop or you're gonna get it" command.

He will stop on a dime if you tell him "whoa." So I thought I was good. He's standing there staring at me, waiting for his command that he can move again, and I'm jogging along.

And then it happened. The television was turned up loud so I could hear Pat Sajack in all his Wheel of Fortune glory over the treadmill. The guy in the money suit was done dancing around, and Vanna had been introduced in her pretty dress. And Pat said the magic word....

"OK..." (..."let's get started"). "OK" is Tas' command that he can move again. And it doesn't matter who says it. Once he hears it, he's off to his original quest. Which this time happened to be running on the treadmill. With me.

We almost ended up in the emergency room. Here I am, jogging along at a 4.5 speed, quite clunkily I might add in my too big for running shoes. And Tas decides to join me. Our treadmill is not big enough for two.

I quickly grab the handrails and jump over him to the ground. Undoubtedly saving myself and him from certain disaster.

And off he runs, happy as a clam, with me sitting on the couch watching The Wheel.

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Labels: Crying and Exercising, Dogs, Tas, Vizsla's

Side note - I've had puzzling questions about the Squirrel post. I'm sorry if I confused you! It was a very random thought I had that day, and I posted it to get you thinking. Do you fear anything? Besides bugs and stuff? What have you done to conquer that fear?

Ok - side note done.

We don't really make "New Year's Resolutions" in our house. They are impossible to keep, and remind me more of "Hallmark Holiday's" than anything worthwhile. The only real "resolution" I guess you could say we've made is to try to continue to better ourselves, continue on our path to be better Christians, grow in our walk with Christ, and to be a better witness to everyone we come in contact with. That in itself is difficult, and constantly requires us to keep each other in check.

Last year we made a concerted effort to take time each day to pray together. I guess if that were a "resolution," we succeeded. It's now a regular occurrence in our house, and we feel quite lost when we forget. Our effort this year is to take time to read the Bible together each day. Starting at the beginning. And hopefully finishing before the end of the year.

Last year we bought a children's storybook Bible - really for no other reason than it was at the bookstore and kind of jumped out at us while we were there. I started reading it randomly last year. It's actually really neat. It is truly in storybook form, and tells the entire story of the Bible from start to finish in chronological order. It puts it all in a perspective that my 'baby' Christian mind can understand. I mean, I'm not really totally new to this, but I have a lot to learn. And this version is very helpful. And it will be a staple bedtime story when we have children. (There are a million different versions, but I'll find out who wrote ours and post it, in case you're interested).

So, in our new effort to read the Bible everyday, we are reading from this children's storybook version, a couple of chapter's per night. Hopefully it will stick like our prayer plan did.

On another note, most people tend to look for continuity in their lives, don't want anything to change, comfortable where they are, etc. We are prayerfully hopeful that this year will bring about many changes in our lives.

With that, we would ask that you pray with us this year for our effort to continue to seek and follow God's timing in our lives. We love this verse from Proverbs 16:9 - "A man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" - I have it plastered on our refrigerator door.

We both have a great need to look at this daily, especially when we feel stalled out, or are looking for things to change and they don't happen the way WE think they should. And after referencing this verse, we realize that things are not going to happen because WE want them to.

One thing we've talked with many of you about, is that we are ready to have children. Or at least we feel we are ready - you're never "really" ready, are you!!? This really shouldn't surprise you. If you know me at all, you know I'm a magnet for babies and children, and I would most times prefer their company to that of adults. And Owen is actually very ready too, though he may not admit it to you!

For many other reasons than I'll post here, my maternal instincts are running rampant, and I'm getting discouraged already. But every time I get discouraged, I remember that verse, and remember that it's not happening, because it's not TIME for it to happen yet!!

Rather than ask that you pray we are 'successful,' I ask that you pray for God to make known his timing and plans for us in the parenting department. I know that may sound like a strange prayer, but we don't like to pray for God to provide specific things, we prefer to pray for his will to be done.

Hardly anyone I know is very open about their plans, rather, attempts, to become parents. I'm sure mostly due to the emotional toll it can take when you are unsuccessful, and for many that's a private time. But we feel this is something we want to share, so that you can help pray and support us during the process. Of course we'll mostly keep things private, but we are officially trying, and I'm sure it will be a roller coaster. And rather than keep it to ourselves, I prefer to have all the support we can get! And no, we are not currently pregnant!

There are many other things that we have on our "course" for this year. A few that I cannot discuss at the moment. Gotta keep you on the edge of your seat! But for those items, we just pray that God will determine our steps, and lead us down the path that He sees fit. Hopefully in a few more months we'll be able to share more.

I know it's a little late, but we wish you a very Happy 2009, and pray that God's Will will be done in your life as well.

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Labels: God is in Control, Keeping Busy, Munchkins