Day Trip to the City

A few weeks ago we took a day trip to the city.  It was beautifully sunny, but more cold than we anticipated.  We walked through most of the Field Museum (Natural History stuff) and then walked to Millennium Park to eat at Park Grill.  We also stopped in the lobby of the Art Institute, but their free nights had changed, so we didn't stay.  It felt good to be adventurous and we got about a weeks worth of walking done all in one day!

 View from our parking spot.

 Sue the "T-Rex" in the Museum lobby

The Art Institute

All in all, a good day.  The best part was having a few carefree hours to spend with my husband.  Neither of us wondering about the future, or worrying about work we could/should have been doing.  It was a good reminder of why I like him so much :)

The Many Names of Virginia Peanut

a.k.a :
Peanut
Peanut Butter
Nutter Butter
Butter Bean
Bean
The Nut
Fur Child
Sweet Pea
Little One
Tiny Dancer (video explanation below, though it doesn't really do her justice)

Veins and Vanity

Varicose veins. I have had them since my early twenties, possibly even teen years. I will have them for the rest of my life, unless I pay thousands to be rid of them.  Which, I have to confess, has seemed like a viable option at times.  However, when I stop to think about it, that would be the very definition of vanity at it's worst.

I also don't have the whitest teeth... they aren't bad, but could be better.  I've thought about buying those white strip things, or some other form of whitening, other than toothpaste (cause Mike and I share toothpaste, and his teeth are more sensitive and whitening paste is hard on your enamel).  For some reason, the thought of spending money on whitening my teeth seems far less appalling than spending money on fixing varicose veins.  It also feels less vain.  Is it just a money thing?  Because it costs less?  Or is it more.  Maybe it's because teeth whitening is much more common and socially acceptable.  Everybody does it... no biggie, right?

Mike and I frequently talk about being honest with ourselves, our friends, and our appearance.  Meaning, trying to be true to who we are, and not put on a front as to appear to be something else.  Yes, I take time getting myself cleaned up, doing hair and makeup each day, debating over what to wear, but I try to keep in mind as I do these things that they should not consume me, and they should not define me.


“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”
~John Newton


 

Ode to Sweetness

I always say that I don't have a sweet tooth, but sweet TEETH :) 



Some of my absolute faves (in no particular order):
~ Candy Corn (hands down my favorite part about October - and the inspiration for this post)
~ Sour Patch Kids
~ Cinnamon Crunch Bagel from Panera (through the bread slicer, with cream cheese)
~ Chocolate Chip Oreo Brownie Bars (new find!)

And of course...

~ Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake



Do not leave me home alone if any of these items are in the house.  They WILL disappear :)

Book Review

"O Me of Little Faith" by Jason Boyett

2 thumbs up
An easy, non-overwhelming read.  He is a clever writer with witty comments and funny footnotes.  Besides, you have to have a good sense of humor to put that picture on the cover :)

This book has made me think hard about my faith and how I handle my doubts and uncertainties.  I am definitely going to keep it on the shelf and refer back to it in the future.  I also plan to recommend it to a few friends. 

Buy it online!

PS - kudos to me for actually finishing a book.  Yes, I said it was an easy read.  That is in comparison to books my husband reads.  I also have a tendency to start books and not finish them.  So, regardless of how high the hurdle, I give myself points for jumping it at all.  :)

I love my job

I'm such a dork. Today, I was getting ready for work, and actually excited to go there. I was looking forward to seeing customers, coworkers and the products! I love those products. Before you go on thinking how lame and nerdy I am (cause I am, don't you worry) chew on this: how many people get to say they are looking forward to going to work? Excited to go to work! Now who's the nerd :) I'm so blessed that God has brought me where I am today. Not just a job, but a good one, and not just a house, but a free one, and not just a husband, but an awesome (and hilarious) one at that.
 

God has blessed us through this journey, and I am so grateful for it.


See if there's a store  near you!

An interesting read if you have a moment and are interested in some of the reasons that make this a company different than other retailers.

Have a good one!

"Have a good one!" a phrase I use often. Especially at work. I think it's the lazy way of telling someone to have a good day or good evening, because you don't have to think about what time it is.

"See you later!" is in the same line of conversational mannerisms. Usually used when I don't know when I will see someone (friends, usually) next. If I were to say, "have a good week!" that would imply that I won't see them till the next week. And what then if I see them in between?! When someone tells me, "See you on Sunday", I immediately ponder, "will I actually see them? wait, are they referring to something I planned but forgot? have I double booked myself? uh oh." The only times I'm really comfortable saying the specific next time I will see someone, is when we just finished making the plans to meet up again. If you say, see you tomorrow, and we have not made any plans to hang out, I have a minor panic moment. I know, I'm weird :)


"Have a good one!"

Good AND Bad

I find it easier to believe that bad things come from God, than good things. I guess I assume that things in life should go fairly smoothly. When they don't, I have no problem trusting that God has a reason for the crap in my life. That doesn't mean I like having crap in my life, but I can usually brainstorm up some kind of good that could come of it. However, when things go really great, or something wonderful happens out of the blue, I simply attribute it to the fact that things in life just go well sometimes; coincidence. How ridiculous is that? Most people thank God for the good stuff and either forget Him during the bad or curse Him for it.

I was explaining this phenomenon to Mike one day, and he said I am like Naomi. {{Whoa, being like anyone in the Bible is cool, but being like someone from the Bible that has the same name as a supermodel? Stop! I'm blushing!}} Anyway, Naomi from the Bible... who was bitter and blamed God for her apparent abandonment. {{Wait a minute... maybe I shouldn't be so flattered by my husbands’ assessment after all…}} She did however, end up realizing that God had not completely forgotten her and took care of her in the end (and all through the middle, as my husband pointed out).

Saying I’m like Naomi is actually fairly accurate, considering a year ago I was so angry at God, I felt like He was not involved in my life at all (abandoned) and that He could really care less about what went on in my trivial life. So, acknowledging that He is here, and somewhat participating, is also admitting that He cares. Sort of. Even if it is getting back to brainstorming the good that He could make of unfortunate happenings.

I am not quite to where Naomi was at the end of her story, but I suppose we are always on this journey of working on our relationship with God. I certainly have come a long way, but I am even more certain that I have much farther to go. My frustrations with Him are not because hard things have happened to me, or around me, but because I don't believe he actually loves me. The kind of believing that you don’t have to think about, you just know it.



This is the product of five girls going apple picking. It was so good, and so bad for us :)

I've heard so much about you!

As I was brushing my teeth this morning
{{pause. I felt like it was worth noting that most mornings, the time spent brushing my teeth is used to determine my wardrobe for the day. This routine developed out of the realization that I was wasting time standing in front of the sink, occupying one hand only, while my other hand and more importantly, my conscious thinking, were available. So, I go into the habit of taking my teeth brushing into the bedroom and standing in front of my closet, pulling out shirts and pants and switching combinations at least three times before achieving satisfaction. If by chance I have already thought about what to wear, I move to the next step of accessories! By combining these to daily necessities, I have not only saved time, but improved my dental hygiene. I'm sure some days my teeth are brushed for 9 minutes straight!}}
Anyway, I strayed from my routine and stood in front of the sink, and because my brain is quite sporadic and random, the phrase "I've heard so much about you" invited itself in.

It's a very common phrase, yet I wonder if we ever stop to think of the implications it carries. Imagine the many situations in which it would be used. Of course, it is most commonly said after an introduction of a new acquaintance. A few examples:

Just imagine introducing someone you know and love (friend, spouse, sig other) and after they meet the person listed, your friend says "Oh! I've heard so much about you!". Hah! Imagine the vast array of emotional responses that could be running through their head!

• the boss
• the ex-girlfriend/boyfriend
• the neighbor
• the co-carpooler
• the parents of the kids you babysit/sat for
• the professor/teacher
• the teammate
• the doctor/dentist
  

Basically, any relationship you have where you are not so close to the person that they know without a doubt what you think of them, things could get awkward. And awkward things make me laugh. So think about that next time you tell someone that you've heard a lot about them ;)

PS. You should definitely wink too. It adds to the awkward factor :)

Incline Me To Repent

Depth of Mercy
Selah

Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

Heaven find me on my knees
Hear my soul's impassioned plea
Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Deeply my revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.

Heaven find me on my knees
Hear my soul's impassioned plea
Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me

"Now incline me to repent, Let me now my sins lament"
My favorite line, not because it makes me feel happy, but because it makes me feel real. How often do I go through each day, not at all thinking of how the things I do and the things I think have real weight and meaning. It matters. Not in an ego-centric way, like what I think has the same impact as what Roger Goodell thinks. I mean it really matters when it comes to the reflection of my soul. And if I don't stop and evaluate what I'm thinking, then my life is gonna start to get messy, and look a whole lot more like my ugly selfishness than God's gorgeous compassion.

Copy Cat

I saw this posted in another blog, and it made me laugh so hard I had to share. Don't tell Mike, but even HE got a good chuckle.

The Objective Truth...

If you don't have time to read it now, make sure to check it out later. Make sure to click the link at the bottom of the page, to read the next post in the series. It is a fear we as women have all had at one point or another in our life. A fear that our men have also shared, but have learned better than to say anything to us about it :)

PS. I should try posting other people's things more often! It alleviates the problem of thinking of something clever to say!

Steal My Sunshine

I was thinking about some things I was reading, catching up on other people's lives, and I started thinking about their commentary on their own life. It occurred to me, "Sometimes I am baffled by people's inability to look beyond themselves and at least acknowledge the joy that other people experience. You don't have to enjoy it too, but to steal that joy from someone else? Disgraceful." and I am utterly disappointed. However, I also have to remind myself that I am not in their shoes and I do not know all of the details so I can not completely resign to knowing the right and wrong in this situation.

Also, I wonder how many times I do that? I like to think that my own sarcasm and frequent negativity are my way of dealing with life, and don't affect other people. I actually try really hard to make sure that people around me feel good and comfortable. Sometimes I try too hard, in fact. Yet this is clearly my opinion from my perspective. It is impossible for me to objectively evaluate how my negativity impacts others. So next time you are having a joyous moment, and I steal your joy, feel free to remind me to let you have your moment and enjoy it too. I don't need to pretend to be joyful with you, I just shouldn't spoil it for you.

A Poem

In school, the only form of poetry that I ever got the hang of was haiku. I think this is because there is one simple rule, and it is easy to remember. Syllables. Five, seven, five, done. Other poetry was too deep and complex for me. "Sure, it doesn't have to rhyme," so said the teacher. But then I get my grade back and she tells me "it's not really a poem." What did I miss?! I'm not sure why I didn't just stick with the rhyming. It is also an easy rule to follow. Maybe it was during my "I want to look cool and mature" phase, and apparently rhyming seemed childish. So, the haiku it was.

Now for the haiku itself (with explanation to follow):

Hush little birdies
The sun has not said good 'morn
And sleep evades me

This was composed somewhere between the hours of four and five this morning. I had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep all night long. So as I lay awake in bed, at four-something this morning, trying to clear my head and focus on 'nothing', I was rudely distracted by eager birds. Why do they sing their chipper songs before it is light? Must they remind me that day is coming, so I better hurry up and get my sleep in? Thanks, pressure is just what a restless person needs to fall back asleep. hah. And so, as I am sure everyone does, I made up a poem. I hope you have enjoyed my literary adventure. :)

P.S. I do, in fact, enjoy birds. Just not when they are singing at 4am. ;)

Mistaken Identity

I am quite frequently informed that I look "just like" so and so. Or, "I could have sworn I saw you the other day!" but alas, it was not me. I think this is actually very amusing. I take joy (er, pride) in knowing I look like other people, sometimes even famous people. This picture is me and a girl dubbed as my twin in college.


This post however, is about the other kind of identity. The one we hold of ourselves. What do you see as your identity? There can be many, but usually there is one that you tell first to people you've just met. Or the one you make sure to include on your bio or "about me" statement. Now, I know as believers, you are to strive to hold our identity in Christ. You are supposed to be completely confident in your adoption as a son or daughter of Christ that you are most excited about it and it is the first and last thing you want to share with people. Let me be the first to confess that I struggle so much with this concept that it feels like I am writing about a foreign country that I've never visited.

**Warning**: I acknowledge that I have a tendency to whine :) and exclaim "woe is me". Please feel free to stop reading if you start to gag.

Over the last few weeks I have been unemployed, waiting for my next assignment from the staffing agency. The first week was bliss, the second was miserable and the third was a combination of both. Having time off from full time employment is like an impromptu, mini-vacation. Woo hoo! I get to bake things (Raspberry Banana Bread, Chocolate Peanut Butter Mallow Bars, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies...) and plan real meals for my husband! It was a fun week. Then week two rolls around and the fact that I should have been called by now, and the temping agency is clearly neglecting me, sets in. (That is sarcasm, because they can only call when they have assignments, I'm not really blaming them). Week three got the pendulum swing started with reminding myself that not everyone gets to enjoy time off like this, and at least we have some savings in the bank to keep us afloat. Swing... I am useless, jobless, lazy, unmotivated and annoyed. So that is what has prompted the ponderings of my identity. My conclusion:

It is harder to struggle with your identity when you have none at all, than when you have a fake one.

Oh how I long to be the kind of person with a profession. So that I could say, I am a _____. And in that statement, I would be informing people that I am of value, I bring something to the table, I help mankind! It could simply be, "I am a Mom, I have little people that are completely my responsibility and I am doing my best to raise them as good humans and lovers of God." Or I could be, a nurse, a barista, an accountant, a pastor, a counselor or a teacher. But no. Instead I am a person that works for a Staffing Agency doing temporary assignments as an Administrative Assistant.

I realize that all of these identities are, in reality, fake. They are titles that help describe us, but they are not supposed to be our identities. However, when you have one, it is easy to get comfortable and tell yourself (or possibly lie to yourself) from time to time that your real confidence and comfort comes from your identity in Christ. Lie or not, it is easier when you have another identity to fall back on.

Every other month

I seem to be on an "every other month" schedule with blogging. Oh well, it is what it is. I currently have an unintended break from temp assignments, so have been catching up on that infamous "To Do" list that we all keep in the back of the junk drawer. (Write a blog post, "check!")

In other news, our free cable disappeared, so we went completely without TV for about a week. Just a movie or two. It was an interesting experiment, and definitely reminded us of how much we depend on it for a distraction, or as the default activity. I called the cable company to see about having them hook up basic cable (you know, like the free channels you should get anyway) and it cost $17 a month, plus tax, plus a $32 installation fee. Please note that our apartment is already wired (as is the entire campus...) and the "installation" consists only of coming down to the campus, opening up some box and flipping the switch to "on". Also note that the installation fee for a residence that previously had NO hookup at all was only $46. It is interesting to me the correlation of necessary work and money we pay... I guess I should say lack of correlation.

Moving on. We decided to try out the digital antenna route, in the hopes of paying more, up-front for something that will last a few years. A $40 antenna, gets us the basics, about 8 channels or so, including the public access channels that are only good for soothing a fussy baby into a lull with mindless elevator music. Unfortunately, the picture gets all jumbled and seems to be temperamental. So, we will either stick with this and work on our patience finding the perfect spot for the antenna, or return it and upgrade to a more expensive one. The great part is that as long as we spend less than $200 and use it for at least a year, we are saving money! It would be good for us to invest our free time in other ways/things anyway. PS - Thanks to Mom and Dad for teaching me about money, more specifically how to be smart about investing in something of good quality that will last you in the long run.

We just need to have access to the TV for our favorites, which include but are not limited to:
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (Fridays) Our favorite! Check it out on Hulu.com
Flash Forward (Thursdays)
The Mentalist (Thursdays)
The Good Wife (Tuesdays)
Parenthood (my new interest, though the official verdict is still out, Tuesdays)

See you in another two months! hah, hopefully sooner ;)

Thoughts on Blogging

I seem to have very little to blog about when there are no children or dogs around. I'll have to work on that. Maybe it's a reflection of a lack of introspection and thinking about the deeper things of life. Or it could be laziness, or not valuing the ponderings and little stories I have. Sorry friends, I'd like to work on this.

New blog to follow

I found a new blog to follow. I falls under the same category as www.realsimple.com only it is a blog instead of a site, so not quite as user friendly, but still full of wonderful organizing tips. It's called I'm an Organizing Junkie and it fits me oh so well. I think what got me hooked was her post on "Makeup Storage Makeover", which was basically a picture version of my first month of life, here at Trinity. I am so proud, I think I might even take a picture of some of my favorite organizing feats, including my jewelry drawer (1), hair/makeup drawer (2) and the delightful linen closet (3)! Wow, I really am this excited :) Oh, and our new storage cabinet for the bathroom (4).

1
2

3
4

I often wonder "Was I like this before I got married? before I went to college? before I met Mike? etc" just to make sure I am staying true to who I am. The answer is generally a resounding "Yes". Sure I've grown and learned and matured (I think) but when you boil things down to personality and genetic makeup... I am a list-making, people-pleasing and over-analyzing east-coast girl. Yup. All of the above!

Getting around to it...

Yes, I am still here. A blog is a funny thing. One day you love it and want to share your every thought on it... and the next, it is feeding your guilt for not being "active" or posting enough. Technology in general seems to be a silly combination of ways to make life easier, yet complicated it immensely.

I am applying for jobs, here in Illinois. It seems to me that this process is expedited through the internet. I am able to search tons of available jobs just by typing a few key words into a few key websites. I am grateful for the internet yes, but I also occasionally despise what it has done to society (depending on what it is that I am attempting to do, and of course on my mood). I have squealed in glee at the long list of available jobs that match my search criteria... and I have moaned in agony as I type the same basic information into the application sites over and over again.

(side-note: Did you know that each school district in Illinois has it's own 'wonderful' application to fill out online? Also of note, is that there are usually only a few, if not just one, schools in each district. So when you want to apply to 4 different jobs, in 4 different school districts, you have to type the same information 4 different times. Joy.)

Don't get me wrong, I understand why they have these online submission things. It makes their job a million times easier when everyone's application is submitted in the same format. I just don't like it when it makes more work for me :)

I will be positing more photos, videos and updates... I promise! This is from my last trip to the pool with the girls. I miss them so much!

Black Friday

I had a desire to shop. I always have a desire to shop, but this time, it was different. My curiosity got the best of me, and I woke at 4:30am to see what all the fuss was about. When I arrived at Wal-mart, the line began front and center of the store, curved around the side, ran all along the building, and proceeded to curve into the parking lot. Crazy! I had deja-vu of the hour long wait to vote.
So I finally enter the store, head straight to the electronics section, find the item I am looking for (I will only refer to it as "the item" because it was a gift!) and am promptly informed by the employee that I needed a ticket to receive the item. What?! Is this some information everybody else seems to know, and I somehow was oblivious to? No, in fact, even the seasoned shoppers were surprised at the "ticket system". So, to not drag this story any longer than it already is... I talked to several people in the "ticket line", several more employees who all seemed to have no other agenda than to get you off their back, and finally found the manager. He was escorted by two police officers and was the keeper of all of the (magical) tickets.
The system worked (barely) and I got the item! Although I had a few ideas on how to make things work a little better, like maybe trying to use some of the technology that you so eagerly sell.
By the time 9:00am rolled around, I had shopped at three different stores and spent way too much money. All in the name of holiday spirit and gift giving!

And then there were two...

Spooky's brother (Boo) joined us on Wednesday evening. We've all been having great fun, and a few extra opportunities to practice patience. They love to wrestle each other, it's hilarious. And it doesn't matter what one of them starts playing with, the other will get jealous. Seriously, we gave them a cardboard box and one got interested, and before you know it they were pulling it apart! Though they are definitely more of a challenge than just one dog, they really are a good lesson for us. They make us work more as a team, not just taking turns, but coordinating and doing things at the same time and together. For example, when you're trying to get a puppy to go potty out side, it's much easier when one person only has to keep track of one dog, and they aren't distracted with being too close to each other. And messes... one cleans, and the other removes the culprits. We are a true team. And though it causes some stress, I love it.