Friday, April 25, 2008
Facelift for the house
Last Sat. Jim and I went to an estate auction and ended up buying a few furniture pieces for our house. We also bought a newer fridge to replace our OLD faithful gal! Now, we are planning to do some painting in the kitchen and living room to update the place. Ideas are welcome for colors for the kitchen. I have made some plans with some friends to come next Tues and Wed to help me. Now, for peeling off wallpaper. . . .anyone have any great hints on how to do that easily?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Comp Cards
Monday, April 14, 2008
Remember When. . . .?
Graduation Dress
Hannah finally found a graduation dress, so now we need to find a shaw/tiny jacket and shoes and jewelry to match. She does well at planning ahead; graduation is not until Jun. 26!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Spring weather is here!!!!
The last few days we have enjoyed some WONDERFUL weather. It was really great to see the snow disappear!
On Sat. I went with Grandma B. to an auction for the day. It was very crowded, but we found a few "treasures" for little coin! Grandma ended up buying a fridge to replace her extremely old one in the basement.
Andrew is getting a real initiation in work! He had to close on Sat. and was there until 1am. Poor Jim, he went to pick him up at 11:30 and ended up waiting there until 1. He did get a free coffee and muffin and got to read the paper!
Hannah is planning ahead for 8th grade graduation. She is already shopping for her dress and trying to decide how to do her hair. She is very organized and does not like to be hurried. (That comes from her dad, not me:)
On Sat. I went with Grandma B. to an auction for the day. It was very crowded, but we found a few "treasures" for little coin! Grandma ended up buying a fridge to replace her extremely old one in the basement.
Andrew is getting a real initiation in work! He had to close on Sat. and was there until 1am. Poor Jim, he went to pick him up at 11:30 and ended up waiting there until 1. He did get a free coffee and muffin and got to read the paper!
Hannah is planning ahead for 8th grade graduation. She is already shopping for her dress and trying to decide how to do her hair. She is very organized and does not like to be hurried. (That comes from her dad, not me:)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Updates:
We have had a BUSY last two weeks. Just an update on what we are up to.
I have started my new job and REALLY like it. I have a co-worker (who was hired the same time as I) who is really nice. She is a Christian also, and we have a lot in common. As far as my job, I work Wed evening for 2 hours, Thurs eve for 4 hours and Fri for 8 hours. I really like that I can still have supper with the family before work (except for Fri) and the 3 older kids can come to work with me. The youth center where I work is a place for teens (11-19) can come and hang out. There are TONS of activities (pool, ping pong, Wii, Playstation, air hockey, crafts, foosball, etc) and we are going to try to make a homemade snack every night. The center has struggled to get the kids to come out for the last year or so and need some fresh ideas. So, Kelly (my co-worker) and I will try to do that.
Julia is VERY excited to FINALLY get a chance to take gymnastic lessons. We signed her up on Thurs. night and her lesson is 1 1/2 hours. The gym where she takes the lesson is not far from my work, so I am arranging for her to get a ride over to work and she can ride home with me. She has been asking for about a year now to be able to do gymnastics. I gave her the choice of Pony Club or gymnastics (too expensive to do both) and she chose gymnastics.
Andrew starts his McDonalds job for real on Mon. We will have to see how long it takes before he can't handle eating there anymore! He looks very cute in his uniform!! (I will post pictures soon)
A stray cat followed me home one day when I was walking. Hannah has been taking care of him and he is very nice. We did find a home for him in a barn with someone who recently moved into the area and was looking for a new barn cat. She has such a good way with dogs and cats. She has a lot of patience and has tamed the wild barn cats so we can a least pet them. We did take the two kittens to get fixed, so they may not trust us fully anymore!
Daniel is an optimist. He has been riding his bike (even in the snow!) to try to hurry spring along. He can't wait to get the dirtbike out again!
After 2 months of ground work, Leah is now riding Blaze and working him under saddle. He is a quick learner, and seems to enjoy working. Leah is working hard and with more bills coming up with Blaze (vaccinations, teeth, feet trims, etc) she has been trying to find ways to earn money. She is babysitting when the opportunity arises and may be cleaning the store/gas station every 2 weeks. I think the reality of how expensive horses are is starting to set in! She doesn't even go shopping anymore with us because she has no money to spend!
I have started my new job and REALLY like it. I have a co-worker (who was hired the same time as I) who is really nice. She is a Christian also, and we have a lot in common. As far as my job, I work Wed evening for 2 hours, Thurs eve for 4 hours and Fri for 8 hours. I really like that I can still have supper with the family before work (except for Fri) and the 3 older kids can come to work with me. The youth center where I work is a place for teens (11-19) can come and hang out. There are TONS of activities (pool, ping pong, Wii, Playstation, air hockey, crafts, foosball, etc) and we are going to try to make a homemade snack every night. The center has struggled to get the kids to come out for the last year or so and need some fresh ideas. So, Kelly (my co-worker) and I will try to do that.
Julia is VERY excited to FINALLY get a chance to take gymnastic lessons. We signed her up on Thurs. night and her lesson is 1 1/2 hours. The gym where she takes the lesson is not far from my work, so I am arranging for her to get a ride over to work and she can ride home with me. She has been asking for about a year now to be able to do gymnastics. I gave her the choice of Pony Club or gymnastics (too expensive to do both) and she chose gymnastics.
Andrew starts his McDonalds job for real on Mon. We will have to see how long it takes before he can't handle eating there anymore! He looks very cute in his uniform!! (I will post pictures soon)
A stray cat followed me home one day when I was walking. Hannah has been taking care of him and he is very nice. We did find a home for him in a barn with someone who recently moved into the area and was looking for a new barn cat. She has such a good way with dogs and cats. She has a lot of patience and has tamed the wild barn cats so we can a least pet them. We did take the two kittens to get fixed, so they may not trust us fully anymore!
Daniel is an optimist. He has been riding his bike (even in the snow!) to try to hurry spring along. He can't wait to get the dirtbike out again!
After 2 months of ground work, Leah is now riding Blaze and working him under saddle. He is a quick learner, and seems to enjoy working. Leah is working hard and with more bills coming up with Blaze (vaccinations, teeth, feet trims, etc) she has been trying to find ways to earn money. She is babysitting when the opportunity arises and may be cleaning the store/gas station every 2 weeks. I think the reality of how expensive horses are is starting to set in! She doesn't even go shopping anymore with us because she has no money to spend!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Amen!
Food for thought--by Craig R. Smith?
". . .So, being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4% of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bulletproof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social & political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the US, yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the President who took us to war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31% approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The Commander-In-Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it. . .are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a "general" discharge, an "other than honorable" discharge or, worst case scenario, a "dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69% of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way". . .insane! Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your birdcage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a county. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. . ." (edited for space)
". . .So, being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4% of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bulletproof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social & political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the US, yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the President who took us to war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31% approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The Commander-In-Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it. . .are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a "general" discharge, an "other than honorable" discharge or, worst case scenario, a "dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69% of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way". . .insane! Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your birdcage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a county. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. . ." (edited for space)
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