4.19

sometimes when i sit down

the words pour out of my fingers

like a melody

at other times

they are stilted and stammering

but they're still mine

i find this writing therapeutic

even if i can't share my deepest hurts

i can share where i am

even if the woundings are fresh

i can bleed all over the page

all over the screen

and find my healing

writing is powerful

it brings life to dead situations

it brings peace to me

when things look stormy

i am determined

- to figure out a way to make sweet tea using my fresh stevia leaves instead of sugar

(anyone have any hints on that? i've not found much online...)

- to become a real coupon lady ;-)

(i had my first every "saved more than i spent" moment this week. ok, so it was a dollar more saved than spent but STILL. can't wait to do more!)

- to make a killer mojito...strawberry or otherwise!

- to eventually have a savings account again...

- to find some adorable pajama pants soon. i heart pajama pants.

- to run/walk the neighborhood soon. but it's so HOT...so

- to wiifit more often :) i'm averaging 3x a week or so (and actually seeing results!) but i'd rather do daily if possible.

Thursday's Ten: U-Pick 10

Hey all. Coming to you late today. I'm dealing with a lot today, so I'm not really "here"...and am a bit sleep-deprived, so I didn't come up with a fantastic topic like usual (yeah right!)



You know how Panera has the "U-Pick 2" deal? I always get french onion soup and half a sandwich...

Anyway, this is your own U-Pick list. Your topic, your ideas, your blog. I'm going to list 10 random things that are on my mind, but you go with whatever. Ok? :0)

1. I have a 30 before I'm 30 list. Hopefully I'll post it while I'm still 29.
2. I had dinner at 11:45 last night. Mmmm, healthy.
3. Easter is my favorite holiday of the year, candywise at least. (Christmas is really. But Easter has Cadbury mini eggs. And jelly beans. Ahhh)
4. Laffy Taffy has the WORST jokes on their packages. Do 5 year olds work there?
5. When I get a sinus infection my ear piercings get infected. How odd is that?
6. I love shows like "The Middle" and "Parks and Recreation". They did their research on rural Indiana...
7. I could do a 5K every week of the year. It's really hard to limit when there's so many I want to do...but the cost helps me there :-)
8. I did a bracket for the NCAA this year. First year in a long time. I may have caught the basketball bug again...uh-oh
9. I'm loving the Wii. I borrowed Mario Galaxy from a friend and I'm totally addicted (actually Anthony borrowed it, asked said friend if I could borrow it too...does that mean I borrowed it from Anthony or our friend or both?)
10. I've been craving a strawberry Italian cream soda for about a week. Must.find.strawberry.syrup to make one. World Market here I come!

Can I add a bonus? The Windows 7 commercials drive.me.crazy. Could it be because I've switched over to Mac or are they really that DANG ANNOYING?!

Ok. I can't really muster up more than that today. I love you all and still need your prayers and I work through some pretty major stuff.

Nashville: 11:39 pm

boulevard of broken dreams...broken cars...broken people, broken lives
strange sights, strange sounds, strange land
creeped out drivers plod through wasteland, wantland, needland
amazed and astonished at what lies before them

blue lighting up the skies on every turn
abandoned highway where there should be plenty,
abundance of cars
sits silently in wait of the lone driver, the adventurer

she drives alone, terrified yet enthralled
heart pounding with excitement, with fear
knowing the strange silence of these nashville highways
is temporary

the dark thoughts that swirl around her mind will disappear

light will come

the hustle and bustle will return
normalcy will come
and until then

she must drive on

Thursday's Ten: Things found In...

Does anyone else need to clean out their purse as badly as I do?

We're about to find out.



Ten Things Found in Your Purse
(or wallet, laptop bag, or manpurse)

1. wallet (well, that's normal)
2. camera (still normal)
3. small notebook that I use to jot down scripture and prayer
4. coupons (random ones, some of them likely expired)
5. not one or two but three shades of Burt's Bees tinted lip shimmer
6. old Victoria's Secret mint tin that I use for a change purse
7. plastic spoon. no, I don't know why.
8. a thank you card from a friend
9. individual cracker bag. unfortunately the crackers are more of a powder by now
10. a baggie full of earrings that I've made so that I have a backup when I inevitably forget to put them on in the house. oh, and random necklaces and bracelets for the same reason.

how about you?
what will we find in YOUR bag?


(grab the button and sign MckLinky)

Awards and Such...

Shanda is such a sweet and wonderful friend who I've really enjoyed getting to know. She hosts Titus 2 Tuesdays, and leaves so many encouraging notes and comments to my blog and others. She was the deserving recipient of 2 awards lately, and has honored me by selecting me to receive both of them!

Here they are:

For this award you are supposed to list 7 random facts about yourself and pass it on to 7 other people.
(just 7? of each? you'd think that would be easy...ok, I'm making myself not repeat any of the blogs that I awarded the other day even though they're all so deserving!)

1. I have to eat my m&m's, skittles, starburst, etc separated in colors...I save the best color for last...and I prefer even numbers of ANY type of food because I must chew evenly with each side of my mouth. Yeah, I'm slightly ocd...
2. I have nieces and nephews that are older than I am.
3. I was seriously petrified of Santa when I was little. For YEARS I would run past his office at Santa Claus Land (now Holiday World)
4. I have a dog magnet. I have never considered myself a "dog person" although I like them and will probably have a few more over my lifetime...but seriously everyone I know who has a dog has a dog who loves me. Even the dogs who hate most people. Go figure :0)
5. I love to cook...not so much bake. Or clean. I enjoy the results of all 3 though. :0)
6. When I find a new song that I love I'm obsessive over it, and I will not stop listening to it until I have learned every word and nuance of it. I actually miss the days of buying CDs all the time, because the jacket lyrics made that a lot easier, and sometimes I buy a new CD instead of downloading just because of that.
7. I can't stand cornbread. I keep trying it, but it's just not good.

Recipients this time around.
I picked all of you because of your candor, honesty and ability to be "real" with your readers. I love reading each and every one of your blogs!

Jaycee @ Married Without Children
Megan @ Infertile Myrtle
Sunny Mom @ Cole Family Mission
Wolf @ Musings
Bethany @ Striving to Be Bold
Caitlin @ Go-Go Gadgett:Gidgett
Amy @ Sweet Home Amy



For this award, you are supposed to: 1. Confess 5 things you are addicted to. 2. Pass the award on to 5 deserving bloggers

Ok. For this one

1. Sweet tea, San Pelligrino water and coffee. If you see a drink in my hand (during daylight hours that is) it's probably one of those!
2. facebook. It's a tab that's always open in my browser.
3. my dvr. what did I do before it???
4. Trader Joe's. Joe just moved in a few months ago, but oh has he made my life better.
5. Mint chocolate oreos. Not found at TJ's, unfortunately but omgosh. Yum.

And I'm selecting for the recipients of this award...each and every one of my (checks list) 33 followers! I am humbled and honored by your desire to read my words on a regular basis, and appreciate you all so much. I was thrilled when I had 1 follower, excited when I had 5, and with each new one I have been so thankful for these new friendships.

Randomocity

Why do cheerios smell like pee? No, seriously.

I wonder if screaming "SERENITY NOW" would defeat the purpose...

Keeping one's mouth shut is not always as easy as it may seem.

Oh, and Leslie very kindly presented me with another award over the weekend! Here it is:


The rules are:
1. Post the award on your blog, and link to the person who gave you the award.
2. List seven things you love.
3. List seven blogs you love.
4. E-mail or comment on those blogs to let the people know you've given them the award.

My 7 Loves (in no particular order):
1. The amazing people God has placed in my life -- Anthony, my girlfriends, old and dear friends, church family...
2. children
3. pictures -- taking, scrapbooking, finding cool ones, etc
4. Trader Joe's
5. animals
6. worshiping
7. technology

And 7 of my favorite blogs (this is REALLY hard! I'm trying not to repeat any that someone who tagged me chose, or that I have awarded to in the past, so that IS narrowing it down) are:

Catholic Teacher Musings
Grace Gets Greater
Happy As Can B
Looking for Something Deeper
Let Go Laughing
Snarky Much?
Highheels and Hairbows

And...it has come to my attention in the last few moments that I have been awarded 2 other awards--so it looks like I have another post coming up very, very soon :)