28 February 2007

Something to do when you are sick. . .

(This is from Em C.'s blog) :)


1. What time is it? 11:37 am

2. What are you most afraid of? A combination of things: being abandoned, hit by a semi, eaten by a shark, nuclear weapons, and cockroaches in my bed. . .

3. Have you ever seen a ghost? No. Let me know if you see one.

4. Where were you born? In Fresno, California

5. Ever been to Alaska? No, but I would like to go someday - OOoo Alaskan Cruise.

6. Ever been toilet papering? Unfortunately, no. I have been papering before though ;)

7. Croutons or Bacon bits? Croutons

8. Favorite day of the week? Sunday or Friday ( I don't have to cook on Friday :)

9. Favorite restaurant? Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill, or Zio's . . . I love food.

10. Favorite Flower? Orang-ish roses & stargazer lilies/tigerlilies

11. Favorite sport to watch? Basketball - GO SPURS!!!

12. Favorite Drink? Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke

13. Favorite Ice cream? Skinny cow chocolate fudge cones & Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chunk Brownie

14. Disney or Warner Brothers? Warner Brothers

15. Favorite fast food restaurant? Subway

16. What color is your bedroom carpet? tan

17. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Twice (she hangs her head in shame)

18. What do you do most often when you are bored? internet, exercise

19. Bedtime? Varies

20. Favorite TV show? 24, Lost, the Simpsons, Bridezilla

21. What are you listening to right now? Silence

22. What are your favorite colors? Red, deep purple, orange, black

23. Do you have any pets? Soon, a DOG! :)

24. Which came first the chicken or the egg? Chicken.

25. What would you like to accomplish before you die? I would like to have some kids,Travel the world a bit, and own horses again.

26. Favorite instrument? the piano and cello

27. Favorite band or musical artist? Hard question - I think I will always love U2 the most though.

28. Favorite school subject? NO SCHOOL!!!

29. Favorite thing to eat? Chicken pesto pasta, and pizza

30. Ever been hunting? no

31. Favorite movie? I love Sabrina, Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea series, Pride and Predujice

32. Who's your favorite classical composer? Bach & Tchaikovsky


27 February 2007

Every color goes where you do

The following article caught my eye this afternoon. Hmm. . . This seems more like a personality test :)


Color me loveable

By Barrie Dolnick

Most of us have a favorite color. Maybe you’re drawn to sky blue because it makes your eyes stand out or you find forest green particularly comforting. Whatever the case, your preferred hue can reveal a lot about what makes you tick. And the same holds true for the people you date—you’d probably have a different impression of a date if he or she said, “My favorite color is yellow,” versus “My favorite color is black.” That’s because color speaks a powerful, silent language. And I can help you understand it. I’m a success coach and best-selling author of Simple Spells for Love and other books, and I’ve studied color theory. So, look up your favorite color below — and your date’s best-loved shade — and get some colorful insights that will benefit your romantic life.

Red
What it represents: Ah, the color of passion, anger and high blood pressure. Red is a primal color. It represents primal urges, like lust (“I must have you now!”) and fury (you know the phrase, “seeing red,” right?). Yes, red is a commanding color: Think of how stop signs get you to halt in your tracks and how you stand back when a red fire engine goes whizzing by.

Understanding people who love it: They act — sometimes without thinking — on immediate desires. In fact, they’re usually the poster child for immediate gratification. It’s up to you if you go for it... or proceed with caution.

Orange
What it represents: OK, orange is not exactly the easiest color to wear and it’s not the most common favorite color, but guess what? Orange is as sexy as it gets. Orange is a mellowed red—and it takes primal, lusty urges and mellows them with a softer vibe. Orange is the color of early attractions, emotional responses, and inner magnetism. Oh, and one other thing: Orange is also close to gold, the color of success and wealth.

Understanding people who love it: Someone who likes orange is alive with feelings, the ability to nurture, and can intuit a path to success. If your favorite color is orange, you don’t have an “off” switch when it comes to passion. This is all good stuff, but there’s nothing casual about the connections this kind of person usually forges.

Yellow
What it represents: Yellow is the color of the sun, vitality, power and ego... but it’s not a great indicator of romance. Watch out for self-centered, me-first energy when someone prefers yellow to the rest of the rainbow.

Understanding people who love it: If yellow is your favorite color, temper your use of the word “I” when you’re interested in someone else. You can come across as too ego-centric. Now, if you’re dating someone whose favorite hue is yellow, make sure to jump in and share stories about yourself, since this person may not give you much room.

Green
What it represents: Here is the heart of the matter. Green is the color of love. (It’s no coincidence that we make our money in the same color...) Green is the color of life and abundance — leaves, grass, plants — it’s all about growing, expanding, and living. So why don’t we give ferns instead of roses on Valentine’s Day? Because green is about expansive, humanistic love and acceptance, not bodice-ripping romance. What’s more, green is a nice person color, a do-gooder, be-gooder kind of color. This person has a warm heart. Hot passion is probably in there somewhere, buried under the integrity and honor.

Understanding people who love it: If you love green, you put the greater good before your own good—but try a little selfish behavior once in a while.

Blue
What it represents: Blue is a color of clarity, communications and charm. And regardless of the shade, this hue says: “I like to be understood.” On the downside, under stress, a “blue” person can send mixed messages, have trouble making up their mind, or just space out.

Understanding people who love it: If blue is your favorite color, you never run out of anything to say—expression is your strong suit. And if you’re dating someone “blue”? The same holds true; you should always know where you stand.

Purple
What it represents: Purple evokes the energy of illusion, imagination and fantasy. Or should we say purrrrple? Purple tends to inspire foreplay, romance, flirtation and teasing—it builds anticipation with playfulness. The downside of purple is unrealistic expectation. Is it easier to live in your fantasy world than the real world? Some purple-lovers prefer it.

Understanding people who love it: If you love purple you can be an imaginative romantic or prefer imaginary romance—depending on how you feel.

White
What it represents: White is light—the combination of all colors. White symbolizes purity (the virginal bridal dress, the christening gown) and spirituality. There’s a simplicity to it, too.

Understanding people who love it: People who love white are probably clean and orderly. While white isn’t the sexiest color, it is certainly healthy.

Black
What it represents: Like white, black is a combination of all colors, but instead of purity, it represents the unknown, the unseen—mystery. Black basically holds back information... but there’s no denying that it has strong associations in our culture with “the dark side” and evil.

Understanding people who love it: If your favorite color is black, you are more hush-hush than ha-ha. The silence of this color lets others fill in the blanks. Black says “I’m not telling you anything.” People who love black can be tough nuts to crack, but quite possibly worth the effort.

Astro-coach Barrie Dolnick helps people find love and happiness by understanding their stars and their karmic energy. She is the author of twelve books, including Enlighten Up! and KarmaBabe. Her website is www.barriedolnick.com.

A little bit of everything, all rolled into one

I am kind of wondering if this is going to be a 'fast' week - I have my secret hopes that it will be. With H finally over a yucky bug, I think that it is now my turn to get sick. These bugs always seem to start with a scratchy, sore throat, followed by head congestion which makes you feel like you have been hit straight-on by a semi. . . ugghh.
H used up all the Dayquil, so I need to make a little trip to Walgreens.

We had a wonderful weekend. We found a working dryer! Or, maybe we just found that our breakers weren't working quite right - at any rate, we are tumbling loads of wet clothing & they are emerging DRY.
Well, another sweet blessing was to see my Grammy and my Aunt from New Mexico. They actually were on their way to visit my brother and his sweet fam in Ohioland, but only got as far as Dallas and then San Antonio. What a fun surprise!

I got out of jury duty yesterday - bringing in a contract which proved that we were moving to a different county saved me. :)

I started packing things last night, but, now as I look around at what I did, I am already getting annoyed with myself for not doing it in an organized fashion. I hate disorder, and I am not too keen about throwing miscellaneous things in boxes that will give me a big headache later.

This is our first move - together.
Any suggestions or tips to make it as easy as possible?

Hope everyone has a great week - I so am glad that we can't pass germs through blogging!

23 February 2007

Little Project

In an effort to become a better photographer (and, okay, in a copy-cat fashion after my brother ;)
I have made a new 'Picture Blog' :)

Warning: the posts are few and not wonderful, but we are working on that ;)

22 February 2007

You make me laugh

After glancing at the red table runner I had laid on the dining table, my DH sheepishly grinned and remarked that runners were like 'thong underwear for tables'. . .

I don't know if I will ever think about table linens the same again.

21 February 2007

Blessed are the shallow, depth they'll never find

This particular line caught me off guard yesterday. No, this is not a line from the beatitudes. . . I pulled out a really old Jars of Clay tape that I had stuffed in the middle console of my car, and was actually amused that the thing still worked, having survived the hot summer of last year in a steaming little space.

So, anyway, this line.

What a strange thing to cause conviction. It pointed me to really think about how surface level & shallow I have been lately. With my work,just trying to get those hours in and not seeking to be as productive and profitable as I could be. With my housework, putting things off, not thinking about the day after today with shopping, cleaning and planning. With my marriage, not seeking the longterm needs of my spouse, but having that same 'this moment' mentality, and,most grieving, my relationship with God, not putting the most time and effort into reading and praying and seeking Him.
This is just a small list, there are many other things that I did not mention, but, I am convinced that this is the fruit of my empty heart. Emptiness verses the fullness that I am so desiring to cultivate.
When I am not seeking the Father, my life cannot portray joy, servant hood, and beauty. If I do not consistently seek His Word as my daily bread, I cannot do anything right. I can only hope for a meager blessing.



Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

20 February 2007

Life is Precious

This was an amazing story. God faithfully preserved the life of this tiny, tiny one.


Tiny Baby to Leave Florida Hospital

Feb 19 10:56 PM US/Eastern

By MATT SEDENSKY
Associated Press Writer


MIAMI (AP) -- A premature baby that doctors say spent less time in the womb than any other surviving infant is to be released from a Florida hospital Tuesday.

Amillia Sonja Taylor was just 9 1/2 inches long and weighed less than 10 ounces when she was born Oct. 24. She was delivered 21 weeks and six days after conception. Full-term births come after 37 to 40 weeks.

"We weren't too optimistic," Dr. William Smalling said Monday. "But she proved us all wrong."

Neonatologists who cared for Amillia say she is the first baby known to survive after a gestation period of fewer than 23 weeks. A database run by the University of Iowa's Department of Pediatrics lists seven babies born at 23 weeks between 1994 and 2003.

Amillia has experienced respiratory problems, a very mild brain hemorrhage and some digestive problems, but none of the health concerns are expected to pose long-term problems, her doctors said.

"We can deal with lungs and things like that but, of course, the brain is the most important," Dr. Paul Fassbach said Monday. "But her prognosis is excellent."

Amillia has been in an incubator since birth and has been receiving oxygen. She will continue getting a small amount of oxygen, and her breathing will be monitored once she leaves Baptist Children's Hospital. She now is between 25 and 26 inches long and weighs 4 1/2 pounds.

"She's going to be in a normal crib, she's going to have normal feedings, she's taking all her feedings from a bottle," Smalling said.

Amillia is the first child for Eddie and Sonja Taylor of Homestead. She was conceived by in vitro fertilization, which made it possible to pinpoint her exact time in the womb, and was delivered by Caesarean section.

16 February 2007

At Last

Its Friday.


Its been sort of a grueling week for us, with H sick and me working extra hours to cover for my coworker. I am a wee bit-ish tired.

But tonight will be a good payoff.

- Paydays for both of us
-Haven's feeling better
-We are going out to dinner tonight - we had to raincheck our Olive Garden dinner on Valentine's Day :(
-We are 18 days from moving! WOOHOO!


p.s.
Go check out
MSN's "week in pictures" - Oh yeah, take particular notice of #4 (I thought it was funny that that made it into their collection).

14 February 2007

Hearts and Flowers



Well, my poor Valentine is sick . . . and I am kind 'out of order' this week, so, this may not be the most romantic day for us. . . however, we are determined to make the best of it.

The plan: Haven began the morning with a lovely rose bouquet, in my favorite colors :)
(also, admire the IKEA tablecloth from Julia ;)-




Later, we are going to have dinner at Olive Garden, thanks to Haven's co-worker, who gave us a generous certificate for there as a Christmas gift.

Hope ya'll have a LOVEly day ;)

12 February 2007

Oh, Be Cute


This Pen tuple of Pandas got to me. . .

'Whelmed

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. ~ Psalm 16:11

I wish that I could fully express the 'fullness of joy'. . . You know, that feeling of deep contentment and satisfaction, hope and thankfulness, that every word you say seems to fall short of. . .
This morning is one of those 'joy in the morning's' . . . I feel like God has flooded my heart with joy & has satisfied my soul.
He is leading us into a new chapter of life. . . and as the pieces are coming together, I am honest-to-goodness getting excited chills down my spine. He is making His path of life known to us, and we are standing at His right hand.

And man, He is pouring down the pleasures



10 February 2007

Ro-Day-O

We ventured out into the cold to go to the San Antonio Rodeo this afternoon. We skipped the rodeo show, due to a lack of interest in paying $45 per pop for a decent seat. Walking around the grounds was just as fun though :)

We stopped by to see a KuneKune (pronounced 'cooney, cooney') pig. This big mama seemed to enjoy eating enormous amounts of piggy chow & her piglet seemed well on its way with the same goal in mind. . .


This was outside of the art exhibit center







Scary carnival rides


"Little piece of heaven on a stick"
Texans seem to love the idea of meat-on-a-stick. . . we still don't get it. . .


Food for Thought


MMMmmm. . . now we're talking . . . FUNNEL CAKE!



Y'all Come Back Now, Y'Hear!

Amor

Well, we discovered a cheesy little link, just in time for Valentine's Day ;)


To: Haven
Love: Amy






AND
To: Amy
Love: Haven



*Have a heart

09 February 2007

Gelato and a Bulldozer


Granted, this is not a very normal combination. But when you have a gelato place that is next to a plot of land that is being developed for a new shopping center, add a guy and a girl in the picture, this is what you get:

Two small cups of gelato and a big bulldozer.

We didn't want to waste the night, so, after a spaghetti dinner, I cleaned the kitchen and we headed to Davinci's. We used up a gift certificate and then walked over to this plot of tractors and construction equipment.

My man was in heaven, gelato in one hand and pointing at the different parts of this mammoth-like mechanical beast with the other.

It was pretty cool, I must admit.


08 February 2007

Newsy

Lets see.

These lovely tulips were waiting for me when I walked in the door from BSF Tuesday night.
Favorite color & heavenly smell.

Sigh. I love my Dutch hubby.



I found this at Marshalls the other day.





I know, I know, it seems kind of funny that I would get excited about this, but it will look kind of neat in our new garage.

We rented 'The Duplex' the other night - chick flick that was pretty cute/pretty slapstick, but a hearty laugh for both of us.

"Freedom Writer's" was also a very well-done movie, if you fell like theatering.

Other stuff:
We are really frustrated with our apartment complex. We are being charged for the whole month of March even though we are moving out the first week. It seems ridiculous. Honestly, its been a pain in the tush. . . but as we receive documents in the mail from the title company and count down the days, things really don't seem all that bad.

P.S. - anybody want TWO broken dryers? Ours broke last month, so we craiglisted
and found another one. We excitedly got it home and hooked it up and threw in a wet load. We waited for the heat element to kick in. . . tried another setting, still no heat. This continued for a while. Hubby took it apart in the living room and called about a new heat element part. The cost was too much to swallow. . . so, to end this, we have two broken dryers on our patio & lots of wet clothing.

Thank goodness for a little laundromat on site :)

06 February 2007

Burst of Sunshine




I hardly know where to begin. I don't even have the words. This week has put me in great awe, and speechlessness. I cannot even come near to explaining how gracious God has been.
And that is what this week has been. Dumbfounded at how much I have worried, and at how faithful the Lord has been.
I feel overwhelmed, but in the best way. . . Its like a curling wave behind me, but I want to be drenched in it, soaked completely through. My feet are buried in wet sand, holding me firmly in place, ready for the strength of the ocean. And I may topple over, I may lose my footing, I may get taken under the wave. But I will not fear.
Sometimes I wonder, how in the world did I get here, in this place called Texas? It was never in my wildest imagination that I would be here, and yet, right now, I am having the hardest time picturing me anyplace else. The Lord is truly settling us here, making us a home, providing for our needs, giving us hope, fellowship, friends and joy.

And all we have breath to say is, "We stand in awe of You Lord".

03 February 2007

Of mementos and memories. . .

I started to go through the top shelf in my crowded closet. Quel Mess!!!

I opened two boxes full of all kinds of papers. . . childhood artwork, as well as some Brothers Grimm-like stories (with illustrations, of course) by my sister, hilarious vocabulary essays written by my brother, some rhymes and poetry I had penned sometime under ten & a couple of cards my dad had given my mom.

I laid everything out in organized piles and smiled as I read each page. It all came from a worn folder that held baptism certificates, newspaper clippings from a victorious gingerbread house contest, negatives from pictures I can't find. . . Things that belonged to a different life, a different time, a different place. . .

How did I get all this stuff? This is mom stuff . . .
And how did all this end up in a plastic storage bin, stashed with miscellaneous pictures, old receipts, bank statements and programs from our wedding? (Am I
that disorganized?)
At any rate, Its been a walk down memory lane & I am sure that this stuff will make the rounds to each appropriate owner ;)

01 February 2007

Clutch your pennies, this is really gonna hurt. . . . ;)

I'm back.

Blame the absence on blogger. Big B decided to change everything and make things complicated. My computer spit up cookies and rejected this login business. I wrote three ugly, angry emails to blogger help desk - which, to this very moment, still have not been answered.
I was even at a point to start a new blog somewhere else.

Until my hubby saved me. It was all in the settings - I will leave it at that, as I tuck my head under a rock and try not to wonder if I really am blond.

So . . . in the meantime, exciting things are afoot here. Things like dropping off papers to the mortgage man, things like eye-ing more furniture and slowly gathering moving boxes. . . things like we are moving in just about a month!!!! Yes, things like, WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!



This is the one that we were wrestling about for a week - we prayed, we looked some more, we talked over everything, looked at the financing options and then took a second look. That's when the Lord started to welcome us into this little 3 bedroom, 3 bath home right outside San Antonio. He is providing for us in ways we would never even think of.

I will post more pics shortly (the link to the virtual tour is down now that its off the market).

Thank you for your prayers and love - we are so overwhelmed!

About Me

My photo
Seattle, Washington, United States

* Wedding Day * 10-08-05

* Wedding Day * 10-08-05

Things I Love - and not necessarily in this particular order ;)

  • Bubble Baths
  • California, where I was born
  • Chocolate :)
  • Color
  • Cooking & trying out new recipes
  • Decorating
  • Horsebackriding
  • Long conversations over good food
  • Music - all kinds
  • My Husband, of course! ;)
  • Photography
  • Reading
  • The Bible
  • The Northwest
  • The Ocean
  • The River Walk
  • Traveling
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