Wednesday, May 30, 2007

She's Just So Cute...


The Bucket Is Back!!!!

So we're back from vacation. We actually got back on Sunday evening but we've all been running around for the last two days trying to get Granny ready for two weeks in London. She left this morning.

Vacation was good. Not really relaxing per say. Granny's not really good at relaxation. So everyday we had someplace to go and someone to see. It also rained every single day. We literally got two hours of sunny weather the entire time. It sucked. We did a lot of shopping (I got some really CUTE stuff for really great prices) & eating. We also redecorated one of Gaga's spare bedrooms. It looked so good once we were done. She loved it and I was so glad. We also did a big Italian dinner the night before we left. We cooked for about 15 people. Crazy! It was so tasty though. Wish I had some left overs right now.

Back to work yesterday. Somehow I managed to not really think about this place while I was gone. Odd for me. I normally can't let stuff here. I call and check in but I only did that once. Was nice. I did have to complete some training during the week but other than that I was hands off. Getting ready for my ACE trip. Basically they send a group of us out to a hospital who is converting, either for the first time or to a newer version, to our system. We are there for support and support we do. I'll be gone for five days and supporting a hospital in Miami FL. I leave on the 7th. We'll work 12 to 15 hour days. It will be hard work and I'll be on my feet ALL day. Only thing that makes it at least a little fun is that I'm going with my best friend. We're rooming together, flying together, everything. At least I'll have someone to be miserable with. =) I'm really nervous about working with clients so directly. I deal with them face to face on a daily basis but it's in a environment I'm comfortable in. They are the ones out of their elements. Now it will be me and they'll be asking me random questions about stuff I'm not really all that skilled with. God is gonna have to just give me favor and the right answers.

Friday, May 18, 2007

I'm Off to the Great Blue Yonder

So in t-3 hours we'll be on our way to vacation heaven. We'll be gone for about ten days. I'll come back with five extra pounds of southern cooking melted to my body, possibly a sunburn and hopefully some funny stories to tell.

BROWNSBORO TEXAS or BUST!

Thursday, May 10, 2007

And the Winner Is Me!!!


So I might have mentioned a while back that I was nominated for an award here at work but a client of ours. I did a few favors for her and she emailed the right people about it. Anyway, today this tiny black box with this tiny blue star arrived in my mail drop. I, as in ME, got a Client Care All Star Award! No. Freakin. Way.

So I've Heard...


When you're broke that you shouldn't stop spending money all together because when you DO finally get paid you will go out and just spend a giant bunch unnecessarily. I think that might be true. True or not I saw this today and even though I didn't need a shiny bright green hand bag, I HAD to have it. It's just so...me. AND I went online to check the brand (I'd never heard of them) and turns out that my $25 bag sells for around $125 online. What a score! Now if I can just find a couple of dresses or skirts for vacation for next to nothing, I'll be set!

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

It's May WHAT Already?

So about an hour ago I started a grant and glorious blog entry. It was shaping up to be a great one (well as great as a blog entry on page could get I guess). Something bizarre happened and I moved my mouse to click back to the screen and it all disappeared. All of my beautiful text was sent into space. Never to return. I just sat here with my mouth gaping open in disbelief. How could this happen AGAIN? I've done this once before see. Seems to always be when I'm typing something long and highly dramatic. Well it wasn't all that dramatic this time but it was long. Shoot!
Ok. Let's try this again...

So my time lately has been riddled with places to go, people to see and stuff to do. Seems like we haven't had much down time to speak of and so last night in a completely selfish fashion I went home and sat on the couch all night. I read a book till I fell into a sweet and glorious sleep on my so very comfortable couch. John came home to find me still there around 10:30. We talked for a bit but I was back out like a light in nothing flat. I did sleep like a rock though. About time too. I've been doing a lot of tossing and turning lately. Thinking about to much stuff. Laying awake praying about John's work, my work, house payments, etc. Yesterday however my prayers were answered over and above what I could have imagined. Typically how God does things. Blows you away completely. John got a new job. I'm so excited for him. It's a plumbing/pipe fitting role. Based out of Lenexa but the job they have him on is in St Joseph. About 45 minutes from our house. He will work 6 days a week, 10 hours a day. A lot of work but he's excited about it. Ready for a challenge. He's getting paid over double what he was making AND he gets $60 per diem each day for food and gas. Pretty sweet deal. He started today. There are a lot of unanswered questions at this point. I have no idea how he will be able to continue with school with the hours but that's up to God. He gave him the job and it's his job to work out the details. I would be lying if I didn't say that I'm a little anxious about having so much by myself time. It's going to be really weird to have to take over most of the tasks that John normally does because he will be stretched out. It's going to be strange to do things like grocery shop alone or make sure I take out the trash. It's worth it mind you but still strange. It's not forever and I know that. That's what will hopefully make it more bearable. It will help us meet a goal in our life and that's exciting to us. Really exciting. Being able to pay off all our bills and get a good chunk of savings built up is something we've talked about for a while. We'll see how it goes.
What else? Oh! John's birthday was Saturday. We had a great time. We actually saw Spiderman 3 for his birthday on Friday night. It was ok. Not as good as the others but a guess an important part of the story. It was just so busy. To much plot going at the same time. Saturday we spent time with Patti for the two whole days she was in town before leaving again for work. She's in Utah this week but seems to be having a nice time so far. She's in a great resort with a great view. On Saturday we went out to Dave and Busters (a huge game place for those of you like me who hadn't ever heard of it). We killed zombies, danced, boxed, bowled and so much more. I'm truly sore from it all. We then went out and had an amazing steak dinner. It's was a lovely day. The weather was nice for a change too. The weather has been non stop rain here and is starting to cause flooding in certain parts of MO. Kinda scary.
Something else silly that I'm pretty excited about is that last night (before I feel asleep) I made up a cleaning schedule for myself. I have gotten to where I get overwhelmed and don't know where to start anymore. So I've decided to do one room a night. That way I will have time to do other things that make me happy as well. So far sounds like a good plan. Tonight I clean the kitchen!

Jeesh I'm a sick person...

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Thinking of Life in Another Way

So I've been reading (slowly mind you because it's a deep and very powerful book) this Rhythm of Life book by Mathew Kelley and today I realized he has a news letter. So I signed up. Got my first email and it was more of his wonderful thought provoking words. I wanted to bring a part of that here because I think it's so important. It's something I've been thinking a lot about lately (I think I've been yearning for this very thing for awhile but couldn't put a name and face to it. MK's book just really hit home with me in this and many other areas). The excerpt below is from his newsletter, as I said but if you find this piece interesting, his book is a larger version of this:

A Personal Message from Matthew
I love the summer. For some reason the long, hot days just breathe extra enthusiasm for life into me. This summer, I am looking forward to finishing the book I am working on at present, training for my marathon in October, spending time at home, our Milford retreats, and my annual trip to Fatima, Portugal. All of these breathe new life into me and prepare me to go back on the road in the fall to engage and inspire my listeners. My question for you this month is... what are you going to do this summer that is going to breathe new life into you? Athanasius wrote, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Are you fully alive? What would it take to bring you to life that little bit more? Don't put it off. Every year I watch and marvel at the transformation people experience on our retreats. I see the resistance. I hear stories about how they nearly didn't come, or were scared to come alone, or didn't want to come at all. But by the end of the retreat they are so glad they didn't put it off...What will bring you to life this summer? Seek it. Embrace it. Celebrate it. Allow it to embrace you and transform you. I look forward to our paths crossing again before too long... and seeing you fully alive!

I'm excited to figure out what will bring me fully alive this summer. I have so many things each day that inspire me and give me flutters of joy but I believe that God has so much more than that for each of us. I believe it's meant to be more like an overwhelming flood for glory in our lives. It's meant to be so great we can't even imagine it. I truly believe God has that for every person alive today but who is really ready to fully receive it? Who is willing to do what it takes to live that unconventional life? I know I want to be. Makes me think of a song by FlyLeaf called Fully Alive. Here is the chorus:

Fully alive
More than most
Ready to smile and love life
Fully alive and she knows
How to believe in futures

Long Lost Me...


So I'm really not lost but I haven't posted in so long that it feels like it. I've been so busy lately and can't seem to get caught up. Not enough hours in the day to do all I need to do and all I want to do. Let's recap what's been going on with me I guess...

Last week was Admin Week here at work. I was pretty much in meetings or some sort of tour Mon-Thur. So being at work really didn't help me get my actual work done all that much. So I had to work from home a bit and didn't get any house work done. I thought I'd be home on Friday so no biggie. Turns out Joyce Meyer was going to be in Springfield, Mo that Friday for a free women's conference. Mom and a group where going and she invited me. So I got up early and headed down to meet Mom and Gary in Sedalia. The day was long but the conference was REALLY great. The church was fabulous too! Ended up spending Saturday and part of Sunday there too. It was relaxing to be away and not think about work. Thursday afternoon was very trying on my nerves. It was nice to be away.

Yesterday was pretty smooth given that I upgraded my pc at work to Vista. So far I haven't had any major issues. Small things. It's so different than what I'm used to but it's kinda cool. I like a lot of the new features but I have a feeling its going to take me all day to tweak it like I want it. I picked a good week however to turn my life at work upside down. It's pretty slow here.

Oh I got a mini hair cut over the weekend too. Just trimmed up the back part but I still love it like it was an entire new do. He's me in my new favorite JLo shades.