Too funny not to post!!!

I know it's been a couple of months since my last post, I need to get better about that. It does get crazy around here with 2 boys, a spouse and a roomie!!! That and with school starting up, there is just tons to do and not enough time to do it in!!!!

So anyway, I'm trolling around Facebook this morning and I find this post from a friend titled "Random Things People Our Age Think/Say" I'm sorry, but I just have to repost this......It's too funny not to. It's also definitely a sign of the times!!!

Thank you Ashley R!!!!!!

Here it is:

"Random Things People Our Age Think/Say"

~~Feel free to make any additions in comments and I can edit accordingly~~

-I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.

-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

-I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

-That's enough, Nickelback.

-I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I 
do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?

-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

-There is a great need for sarcasm font.

-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.

-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

-How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

- I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.

- A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

- Was learning cursive really necessary?

- Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

- I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

- Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

- My brother's Municipal League baseball team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He explained, "Cuz we beat you, and you hate us." Classy, bro.

- Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

- How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

- I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

- Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

- While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

- MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

- Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

- I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

- I would like to officially coin the phrase 'catching the swine flu' to be used as a way to make fun of a friend for hooking up with an overweight woman. Example: "Dave caught the swine flu last night."

-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

- Bad decisions make good stories

-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

- Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

-There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

- "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

-I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

- I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

-When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...

- As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

-Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.

-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

-The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There's nothing like being made to feel like a fat bastard before dinner.

Admitting I'm Only Me

Today is an amazing day.  I finally have my phone, my Advocare is in.  My homework is done....(for now) and I have some truly amazing friends that make my day awesome.  I am going to focus on just being me.  I'm a mom, a wife, and a friend.  That is all I need to be.  I don't need to keep trying to prove people wrong anymore.  I know I am a good mom, even when I make mistakes.  I know I'm a good friend, even though I make mistakes there too.  I know I'm a good wife, and yes, I screw up there a lot too.  I will get an education.  I'm taking a break after my associates.  I can still work for the schools.  I can still support my family.  I am still smart, no matter what any piece of paper I do or don't have says.  I need help being reminded of this.  I have many days when even though I know these facts, I still don't feel good about myself.  I have made many mistakes in my life.  I still will make many more.

For those that told me that I was not mom material, you were sooooo wrong.  I'm not perfect, I make mistakes there, but my son is a straight A student, a great ball player, a leader, a friend, and he is sweet and loving.  He has a heart of gold.  He is a friend to those that have none.  He is a better person than I was at that age.  He is respectful to his friends and elders.  Even when they are not respectful to him.  So if that isn't being a good mom, then I don't know what is.  I don't know many kids his age that are like him.  My son is being raised in a broken home.  I know this.  We are honest with him and answer questions that he has about it.  Brad, Jim and I work as a team.  Some days are better than others.  My son has a HUGE family that loves him.  Many people think that our family style is weird.  It may be for them, but for Ryan, this is normal.  It is stable and loving.  That is what a child needs.  Children need love and stability.  He has both.  Even when it comes from two homes.

For those that told me my marriage wouldn't last....Yes, there were some....They know who they are.  You guys were wrong.  I know y'all thought I'd be divorced after a few years.  After all, I couldn't make things work with Ryan's dad, how would I make a marriage work.  I am for right now.  My marriage isn't perfect.  I will put it out there now, it is very rocky at the moment.  We have been married for 8.5 years.  Marriage needs work.  Sometimes we both work at it, and sometimes only one does.  Right now, we are struggling.  We have had many things hit us in the last year, as well as Ryan going through a bad phase of defiance that has finally ended, that put a strain on us.  We stopped focusing on making us work and let the struggles divide us.  Many things have been said and done to hurt the other on both sides.  There is a lot of hurt and anger between us right now.  The ability to trust that your life partner and spouse will protect you is not there on both sides.  That is a hard thing to live with.  I put this out there, not for any sympathy.  I don't want that.  I want our friends and family to hold us accountable to work on these things to make our marriage work.  When I said I do, I meant for life.  Right now, that looks like an endless dark tunnel, and I don't want that.  I want to see the light.  I don't want to walk away because it's "too hard"  I want to know that we gave it our best.  I want those people to know that I know marriage is hard work and that I'm willing to put in the hard work to keep it alive.  Right know I have hope.  Somedays I don't.  I have asked my husband to try 110% every day.  I need to be reminded sometimes to do the same.  Hold me accountable friends and family.  Some days it's not hard to try.  Other days, I have to make myself try.  Either way it doesn't matter.  You didn't want to have any part in the second most important day in my life.  If we make it out of this tunnel intact, I don't think you will be included in what we choose to do to celebrate that.

As for those same people that said I'd never get an education.  I will have my associates this spring.  However, I choose not to include you in the celebration save for one.  This person has made it known to me how highly they think of how I've changed in the last 11 years.  This person has made it crystal clear.  That is the one person that will be included in these celebrations.  When I graduate, I will include this one and family.  This person has been behind me every step of the way, even through the skepticism.  I will send pictures of course and an announcement, but only a select few that have been behind me and supported me for the last 11 years, will be a part of these celebrations.  Why, because they knew I could do it if I set my mind to it, and I have.

As for spending the rest of my life proving naysayers wrong, in time I will.  I will no longer push myself to do so.  You will just have to wait.  My son will grow into a wonderful man, a loving husband and a doting father and a grandfather that will spoil his grandchildren beyond belief.  We may not see all this in our lifetimes, but when we are in heaven, don't think I won't tell you "I told you so".  I may never get a Bachelor's degree.  I may.  I leave that in God's hands.  He will take care of me and my family.  He has done so up until now and I know he will continue to do so.

So I will say it now.  You were all wrong about me.  I am strong.  I'm a good mom.  I'm a good wife.  I'm a good friend.  I'm a good person.  I'm not perfect, nor will I ever be.  I'm just me.  If you don't want to take me as I am, then take a hike.  I don't need you or your low opinion of me.  I have many people that love me as I am.  I will continue to surround myself with those people.  They are the ones that truly matter.

God's Work

For a while now I've had a single prayer that I have been praying.

During church.
In bed.
On the couch.
In the car.

You get the idea.....I have been wondering how to encourage my husband to lead us spiritually without leading him spiritually.  I know I am no where close to the perfect example of how a wife should be to her husband.  I'm trying.  It goes completely against the grain of what this world has taught me.  My father was very much a teacher of don't take crap from anybody for any reason.  Don't rely on others to do what you can do for yourself.  He didn't want my sister and I to grow up thinking that we had to rely on somebody else to take care of us when we grew up.  He wanted his daughters to be independent women.  My sister has somehow managed to achieve a balance with her husband.

I on the other hand had some relationships that went sour.  Those relationships affected how I have treated my husband.  I took the reigns from the beginning.  I made the decisions.  I picked the church.  I was in charge of how my son was raised.  Jim was just along for the ride.  Most of our close friends know how well that has worked out.

We have a good friend that had a few counseling times with us.  It really opened my eyes on what kind of wife God wants me to be.  Boy did I screw that one up.  I have been really trying hard.  I know I still screw up.....a lot....  I try to remember to pray about it more than I do.  We haven't had a church home in a while.  The small group that we had been in had grown and split so much that we didn't really know anybody in our group anymore.  I felt more like a burden to them than a friend.  We were more plugged in to our group than the church itself.  Probably not a good thing but that's what happened.  We finally stopped attending church altogether.

When the marriage really got on shaky ground, that was a wake up call to me that we were spiraling way far away from where God wants us.  We tried one church that seemed ok in the beginning....The problem is, from day one, we were never greeted....by anyone.  We had to seek people out for information.  For me, that's a red flag.  Jim seemed kind of interested so we kept going.  I tried to join the choir, but I learned rather quickly that I wasn't a member of their clique.  I never truly felt welcome there either.  We looked for a home group.  The first one they matched us up with had children my age and grandchildren Ryan's age.  The second group disbanded after we met with them.  It just didn't really feel like they were really listening to what we were saying.

One Tuesday, after reading a friend's blog, I called her and asked her where she went to church.  She invited Jim and I to come with.

Yes, I know, twice now, I have presented to church choices to Jim.  I said that I'm trying.

That very first Sunday they were having a discovery class.  Jim really wanted to go.  Unfortunately we had prior engagements and couldn't make it.  This made my heart so happy.  We have continued to attend this church.

The very first home group we tried, we are all about the same life stage.  Our kids are all pretty close to the same age.  Some of us are blended families.  I was even called this afternoon by the group leader to see how I was feeling.  I don't think I've ever been called out of the blue like that.

Sunday morning we asked our pastor if he had lunch plans.  He said to check with his wife and if they were free, he'd love to go.  I've only been to one church where the pastor didn't make us wade through all sorts of channels to have some time with him.  Of course, that was a very scary day for Jim and I.  That's another entry. 

Every Sunday, it seems like God is talking directly to us.  One Sunday our pastor was talking about Audacious Prayer.  I already had my prayers lined up.  One of them was answered immediately. (I'm not going into that one though)  The second one I'm seeing God working to answer that one.  Bit by bit, He is pulling at my husband's heart.  This week, while I've been so sick, I've twice asked Jim to pray for me.  While I wait for him to pray, I placed my hand over his heart and asked God to give Jim the words and the desire.  Both times God has answered.  

I know I myself am one giant audacious prayer.  I am no where near the wife that God wants me to be, but I am longing for my husband to be the leader that God wants him to be in our marriage.  I wish I knew my Bible well enough to find those scriptures every time, but for now I will have to settle with finding them as I go and making a note to remember when I come back.

I can see God working in my family.  My son has started a Bible Study with the church and a devotional just for him that he does every day.   Every day he asks if he can borrow my bible because he doesn't have one.  For my birthday, I'm going to buy Ryan his own Bible that he can underline and make notes in and love on as I'm starting to do with my own.
The first time he saw me mark on mine, he asked if I was allowed to do that, as if I had just marked in a library book.
My reply was what one of my youth pastors told me a LONG time ago:

 "God wants us to make notes.  That's how we love on our Bibles.  We make notes, underline, highlight and bookmark scripture for future reference.  You can never read the Bible the same way twice."

I want my son to long for God in his life the way I do.  I know I have a LOT of work, but we are all God's work.

I know as I'm writing this, I'm scattered and a little ADD.  There has just been so much going on, and I don't want to forget.  Every week I think we are getting a little closer to joining the church.  That is not going to be my decision though.  That will be entirely up to Jim.

Every Sunday that we have been at this church, we have been greeted multiple times.  People remember us the following week.  Even the pastor remembers who we are.  That says a LOT to me.  My standards are not God's standards though.  I look forward to Sundays now more than ever.  It's nice to know that the people at your church know who you are and care about you.  Even if they have only known you for a month.

 I'm really looking forward to growing in Christ and hopefully joining the church.  I feel like it's home.  I can see that God is working in Jim.  I can see God's work in me too.  When I would see prayer requests in an email or on Facebook, sometimes I would pray and sometimes I wouldn't.  It depended on how close to the person I was.  Yea, I know, not good.  Now when I see a request, I stop and say a quick prayer.  I don't pray with the usual "if it's your will Lord" disclaimer.  I pray for the healing.  I pray for the person that made the request.  God doesn't want us to pray with a disclaimer.  He wants us to pray Audacious Prayers.

I pray that God continues to work in me and Jim.  I pray that he helps us in our marriage to have a Godly marriage.  I want to be the wife that God commands me to be.  I want Jim to be husband that God commands him to be.  We have a LOT of work ahead, but with God, NOTHING is impossible.

What can we say about such wonderful things as these?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Romans 8:31

Layoffs......

In the last week, many of my friends have gotten word that they are being let go from their jobs thanks to downsizing. Please pray for them. They are quite stressed and most are in a situation where these layoffs can not only affect the little luxuries in life, but they can also affect where they are currently living. I've seen Some of them have to choose between groceries and the other bills already...Please pray for a speedy resolution in all these situations and for peace in all these situations.

Update July 2010:

My husband's job laid off about 12 employees last month. Three of those employees were good friends to Jim. They were employees that were just a year or so short of retirement. Because of those layoffs, they have lost their pension. Please pray for them and their families as well.

Prayer Request

Please keep a dear friend of mine in your prayers today. I'm unable to disclose anymore without permission. Thank you for your prayers

I'm completely blown away

My best friend and I watch the SITC movie ALL the time....Not a big surprise....There is a scene where they talk about a site called Bagborroworsteal.com. I've never really picked up on that until today. So I decided to google it to see if it really exists. Not only does it exist, but I found another website that has promo codes for discounts on rentals as well!!!!! I can see this getting us into a TON of trouble. Think about it though, you can have a Chanel purse for $30. Just return it in a month. That is soooo completely worth it!!!!!! I think the best way would be to split the time and money and share rentals......Although, if we decide to go out together, than we have an issue.

Here are the websites:

www.bagborroworsteal.com

www.retailmenot.com/view/bagborroworsteal.com

Definitely check these out if you are a purse person!!!!! They also rent jewelry, accessories and tons of stuff!!!! I can't wait to get some extra cash to do this!!!!!

Ok.....So it's been a while.....

I know I haven't posted since Daddy's transplant. It seems that time has just flown by. Weeks just fly by and now the school year is over in 2 days. We moved 2 days ago into a larger apartment. We have a new roommate that moved in with us. We have a larger 3 bedroom apartment and Ryan now has a roommate of his own. We are not completely finished moving....But all the heavy stuff is in. I have tons of laundry to catch up on, but it's all coming together.

I've also been working for a friend of mine as a nanny. I help her out during the day while she's on a call. I love getting to hang out with my friend and play with a baby all day. It's the best job anyone can ask for. I love being able to be there to help as I'm needed.

Dad has been doing much better. He's back in to calling ball again. I don't think he has the energy that he used to, but he sure is working hard to get it back. He's taking Mom to Colorado for the annual softball tourney up there. Mom is excited to go....I wish I could go. I would love to see what the guys have in store for daddy.....I just hope someone takes TONS of pictures.

I promise to try to update more often. I will post some pictures of the new place in about a week.