Opportunities for Grace

I was going to put the quote below on my sidebar, but I decided it was to good. I love it. It is from the book I finished last night. I read it, then I read it again, and then I read it again. It just stopped me in my tracks. It is so true. People always think when bad things happen to them that God is punishing them. This quote totally put another spin on the trials and tribulations we endure.


We're all given terrible trials sometimes, things we think will break our spirit and kill us, and they make us stronger in the end. They seem like the cruelest blows, but in a funny way they're like compliments from God. If he didn't love you and believe in you, He wouldn't give you challenges like this. They're opportunities for Grace.

My Cube

Savannah asked me to take pictures of where I work, so she could see. I figured I'd share them with ya'll too. You can see where I sit and answer your e-mails, talk to you on the phone, and dream of much bigger and better things than this cube.

My Name Plates. I have had the regular one since I started, I got the fancy new one when I completed my OJT training :)

This is my work area from the "door way" of my cube.
Looking into my cube
The wall behind me.
This is what I see when I'm sitting in my chair. Except I don't see Tom anymore, I changed it to a pic of Jason and I.
So now when you call or e-mail me you get a visual of my little work world :0)

The Love/Hate of Sundays

I love the weekends. I get to hang out with my family, shop, clean, veg, cook. Yesterday Jason was going to go into work for awhile, but decided not to. We took the kids to lunch at THEIR favorite place. Then went grocery shopping, and to the park to play.

Jason Slam Dunkin'

Savannah doing the beam
Jason trying to teach Savannah how to bat(it didn't work)Mr.Cool
My boy, he doesn't li to smile b/c of his teeth, it makes him look sad in all his shots



We had an awesome time. We played HORSE, catch, Savannah and I enjoyed the sun and read a little bit. It was an awesome way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon.

When we got home I fixed an awesome dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans. Misty told me that they were having that on Friday and I had been craving it ever since. It was SO yummy!! After dinner Savannah left to go to Kiyah's and the boys( Welton was here) had a grand time having the place to themselves. They eat tons of junk food and watched a football movie Jonathan rented.

While the boys were doing that, Jason and I worked on these....

I bought the letters last weekend when I bought the rest of the goodies for our room. They turned out so good! I love them. Also, on Saturday my pics for over the bed arrived. Yippee!! Jason and I haven't decided if we want to mat and frame them, or put them on a canvas and decorate the canvas's to match the letters. Either way I am loving our room. It only needs a few more things to be "done". The kids are not allowed to watch TV in there anymore, so that almost eliminates the clutter. It's always clean....ahhhhh... I love it.

Today I am working on laundry, and chilin. I am hoping to do some digi LO's later so check the other site if you get a chance. Jason has lemon bars in the oven, I can't wait for those babys to cool. They are my favorite treat!! I hope the day starts moving a little slower, I hate to see Sundays end!!

Turn On Your Speakers!!

I love this song! Jason sent it to me today at work.

Underpaid

I'm about sick and tired of doing my TL's job. I'm about to throw a bunch of crap you may or may not understand, but it's a vent and I don't know any other way to vent it. Previously I split the investor portion of our job with another girl. So you'd think when she announced she was going to be out for 2 weeks they'd train someone to take her position right? Nope. Let's give Angel the portfolios for all the private investors! This part is Ok, I have 2 assistants, so I can delegate to them and do the work that I really enjoy(spreadsheets, reports, and investor contact). However, even with 2 assistants, this is a huge task. I am constantly busy. All this would be A-OK except my TL doesn't know how to do her job. She is constantly sending me crap, asking me crap, and having me do her crap. Which of course interferes with my job. Today she had me going in circles, b/c she didn't know what she was doing!! She wanted me to find her a contact. Fine. I found the internal contact, that would be who would possibly be able to help her find the external contact. Well, she doesn't know if this is the right person, so she wants ME to e-mail and find out if it is. Bottomline: She wants me to e-mail b/c she doesn't really know what to say or what information she is looking for. AAGGGH! So annoying. So glad it won't be going on to much longer.

Good Day :0) Bad Day :0(

Good: I called Staci this morning to chit-chat, and discovered she was in Ft. Worth!! Only 10 minutes from house. So I convinced her(it didn't take much) to swing by and visit. I had not seen her with my own 2 eyes since Memorial day weekend last year when Grace turned 3. We had a great time chatting, laughing, and playing with the kiddos. I got to play with this little guy who is 1 today!

Happy Birthday Morgan!!

Me and Staci

Photo taken by "Big Girl" Gracie! She did awesome!

After every pic Gracie took of Staci and I she wanted to take a picture with her Mommy.

Don't they look Cutie?

Me and my other Gracie Girl!!!
Gracie rockin the "innocent girl" pose!!

Bad: I took the car in for brakes and it needs bunches of other crap too. That's not so bad. The bad part is that they have to order some parts and I may not get it back until tomorrow! WHAT! I was very nice to the fellow and explained we are a one car family and I NEED THAT CAR BY 2:30!!!! He is in the process of trying to find the parts at differant dealerships, and hopefully he will be able to send one of his guys to go pick them up. If not I will have to rent a car for a day! Agh! What a pain!

Wheeew!

This weekend has flown by! Thankfully I have tomorrow off too! Yesterday we went and did some running around. I bought my Febuary gift for the Year of Angel! I picked up some goodies at Micheals for our bedroom. I really want to make it a special place for Jason and I , instead of the family hang out it is now. So this is what I got:
Can you take a stab at what the colors will be? I also bought some letters at Hobby Lobby to put on the wall, and e-mailed Mellibelle to order the 12x12 prints for over the bed. I need candles though(ahem, Staci) Yipee!!! We also picked up the stuff for Jonathans school project on the Planets. It turned out pretty good. It was a family project for sure!

We tried a new church this morning, and I am so frustrated. We cannot find one up here that we both like. We are tempted to stop being lazy bums, and just get up early to drive back to Meadowridge. It had the music and the message that we love. Not to mention people we adore. I keep in contact with some of the people from down there and I may see what the scoop is with the schedules now.

I did our taxes this weekend and we are getting back......$11. Yes, $11 bucks. I'm not suprised, I actually thought we'd have to pay in. It cost me $7.95 to file, so ya, not really making any money. Oh well.

I have pretty much firmed up the kiddos trip to Grammies. Jason and I have to put in the vacation time for the Friday before Memorial day, but that's it! Jonathan and Savannah are stoked to spend 7 weeks with Grammie, and Jason and I are stoked to spend 7 weeks child free! It makes me super thrilled that I have Big Kids that I can send off to the grandparents.

Jason and Jonathan are off playing basketball and will be home soon, so I better go and start dinner. I hope ya'll had a great weekend too!

The Best Valentines Day ever!!

This V-day ROCKED!! Jason and the kids got up and opened their gifts at 6:15 before I went to work. Jason got a movie, a CD, and some candy. The Savannah got some HSM stuff and Jonthan got NBB stuff. Then when I got to work.....Jason sent a dozen orange roses!! They are so pretty. I love them!!! Much better than red.

I love them( AND HIM) so much

Instead of going out we decided to stay home and try our hand at our new favorite food...SUSHI! We all went to the asian market and bought the goodies. The kids thought it was neat, but smelly!! This is our Sushi stash....

The Hallock Sushi Bar.....

rice, avacado, cream cheese, cucumber, imitiation crab meat, and salmon( yes, raw)

Not pictured: Nori

Sushi Chef Jason

Yummy!!! The sushi looks good too......hehehe
Savannah LOVED the Califonia rolls, Jonathan choose to eat one then proclaim he was "so full"

He's such a chesseburger and FF kid. He never wants to try anything new.
At work I won a valentines gift basket. It had bubble bath, candles, rose petals, cider, crystal classes, a teddy bear, chocolates and a $25 movie gift card. It was a nice unexpected v-day gift for Jason.
When the kids went to bed he came into the bedroom and saw this......

I shouldn't have to tell you how the night ended....

Do you know what these are?

Today Jason got the SI swimsuit edition in the mail. I asked if it had sports articles in it. He said, no. I said, Well are you going to keep it then? He looked at me, looked at the magizine and proceeded to tear it up. Not if it's going to bother you he said. He tore up the whole thing!! It made me feel good. And will probably end up getting him lucky tonight :0)

Yesterday it was beautiful outside! The kids have been begging to ride their bikes, so we decided to go for a walk. We walked up to QT which is about 1/4 mile away. It was nice. The kids rode their bikes, Jason and walked. Savannah is almost ready to have her training wheels off. Jonathan had his off the summer before kindergarten, but we haven't worked with her at all. Bad parents. We certainly couldn't do it Sunday, seeing how she was bike riding in a skirt!!

Daddy giving Savannah a "push start"

Jonathan at QT

Lookin' pretty for the camera....
My guy!! Today Jason sent me this lovely little ditty, to brighten my day:

Yesterday the sky was blue I walked with my family to Grab some cash and sneaky
I held a beautiful woman’s hand
She’s my girl of all the land
Forever doesn’t seem to long
To be with this beautiful brown Eyed girl
yes she is.
Hand in Hand we walk a street ,
our Kids on bikes their hearts we Beat.
One more may come On the way,
but for sure she’s Mine for forever to stay!

So....yeah

I want to write, but I have SO much swimming in my head I have no idea where to begin. What to put out there, what to keep to myself. What are people tired of hearing, what are they not... Who to tell, who not to tell. I'm not a keep it inside person. If I have an issue or a problem, I tend to air it rather quickly. Holding stuff in makes me mean, bitter ,and bitchy. I love ya'll but sometimes I wish I had a secret blog to air my feelings on before I come here, but than that would really defeat the blog perphaps wouldn't it? I don't know.....I just feel blah. Not a bad blah, nothing has happened or changed. Just woke up today and....BLAH! Maybe it's lack of sleep.

4 kids!

Yup, I have 4 kids tonight. Jonathan and Savannah each have a friend over. It hasn't been to bad really. We had Pizza for dinner, then the girls settled down to watch HSM 2 while the boys played Madden on the DS's. Jason is working tomorrow, so I will pick up the house, and do other domestic duties. I have to go to Hobby Lobby b/c I agreed to make a canvas for a raffle at work. It will be the first time I have touched paper scrap stuff in months. I'm a little excited and a little scared. What if it sucks?? Speaking of sucks. Amy and I unknowingly scheduled our girls weekend over Easter weekend, so we have to reschedule :0( That sucks! However do get to look forward to the 23rd, that's when I get to see Meli!! Hip, Hip, Hooray!!

Good Day

Today was my first day on the 7-4 shift. While it will take a little getting used to getting up early again I think I will like it. It will get me home before the family, so at least I can pretend I'm a SAHM. Plus I will get to catch up on my phone calls. Today I talked to Staci for almost two hours!! We had so much to catch up on. It was so nice to talk to her. The more we talked the more we realized how long it had been since we talked! I didn't realize it until we got off the phone but we have been friends 6 years in April!! WOW! I met her when Tanner was 9 weeks old and Savannah was in an infant carrier!!!

Cheers Stace, here's to us!

Blissfully Happy

Can you believe it's February already? The year is flying! We had a WONDERFUL time last night. Jason and I started the evening at a sushi place downtown called Paranhia Killer Sushi. It was yummy! I had the Loster rolls and Jason had California rolls with somesort of crawfish stuff on top, with a side of Crab Sashimi. Delish! Then we strolled hand in hand down to the convention center. It was a beautiful night. We had never heard of the 2 opening acts, but they were good. Finally, Casting Crowns took the stage. It was awesome! They are awesome. Awesome isn't even a descriptive enough word to describe how frickin' awesome it was!! Since the kids were staying over at friends we were able to sleep in a little and get in some quality snuggle time :0)

Every one has been curious about 999 Zillion percent post. Well you will happy to know I have made a scrapbook page about this event and posted on my new scrappy site! Ha! Another blog for you check out. I am going to do our 2008 family album in digital, so this will be where I post our family pages as well as any other scrappy projects I do this year. The link is:

http://ouryearinphotos.blogspot.com/

I will put in on my sidebar too, so if you just want to check it while are checking this one you can. I am REALLY loving the digi stuff. I can do sitting at the kitchen table while I cook dinner, I can stop in the middle and not worry about a child moving stuff around, if i mess up I just ctl, alt, Z. It's better than UnDo!!