I've moved...

I will no longer be posting from here...I am moving blogs and you see why when you link over. A new journey begins! woo-hoo!

Come see me at Second Chances and save the link to your favs and sidebars!! :-)

Kevin is HOME!

Yesterday was a bit of a blur for me. I was a nervous wreck because I knew I'd have to speak. And, yesterday the chapel was so packed that they had to bring in extra chairs. We were sitting at the front, so when I stood and turned around I kindof lost everything I wanted to say! ha!

It was a great day for Kevin. He was surrounded by childhood friends, family, and family friends. He had quite a group there to see him off into the real world. Four of his buddies he has had since high school came, his parents, my mom, his sister and her crew, and even parents of some high school buddies. The only regret I have of the day was that I didn't think to video him leading the song "He Arose" in the front of the church. Wow - he was really something! When his graduation video is posted to the John 3:16 site, I will share it with you. It really showed the growth and change in him from 6 months ago.

Look - here is the line-up for the day...Kevin's graduation!! hee-hee!

Once we got home, we went out to eat and then to the grocery store because for those that know me, you know the refrigerator was empty. Kevin laughed when he saw it and said I was a guy...I had Dr. Pepper, poptarts, and some french onion dip & chips. That's about it. LOL! But what was really funny was that we were tickled to just be grocery shopping shopping together! How's that for finding some appreciation in the little things...I normally hate grocery shopping! ha!

And, best of all, my wonderful food is back...here is my breakfast this morning...breakfast tacos. His breakfast tacos ROCK! *and, no, I am not at work today...I am sick...cough...cough!

Today is THE DAY!!!

I am up, and I am wired! No snooze button today!! I can't believe I actually get to bring my big bear home today!!! Yee-haw!

Keep us in your prayers as he makes the transition from a boot camp full of support to the ugly real world.

Now, I gotta go finish getting ready and do my happy dance!!!

90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

From the jacket: On the way home from a conference, Don Piper's car was crushed by a semi that crossed into his lane. Medical personnel said he died instantly. While his body lay lifeless inside the ruins of his car, Piper experienced the glories of heaven, awed by its beauty and music.
Ninety minutes after the wreck, while a minister prayed for him, Piper miraculously returned to life on earth with only the memory of inexpressible heavenly bliss. His faith in God was severely tested as he faced an uncertain and grueling recovery.

What I thought: This was a good book - not great writing by any means. It didn't help that it took me almost a month and a half to read it because I have been too busy to read lately. So, I was into it in at the beginning but not so much by the end. It is an amazing story what all this man lived through to tell. What I got most out of the book is that it reinforced for me that God has a plan for each of us. When we are experiencing trials, God is still with us. He is using those trials for us to share our stories with others and help each other.

Anyone else need a break?

I would just like a day to sleep in please!! ha! Sometimes life gets crazy busy!!
And, I am just trying to get things done (like papers graded and edline updated - all the stuff I won't want to worry with next week). Why? Because my man is coming home!!! heehee! 3 days peoples! 3 days! I mailed my last letter today!! woo0hoo! I also ate tamales out of a can tonight because when Kevin gets home, he thinks all that food is gross. I mean, I heated it up first...unlike when I eat pork and beans straight out of the can. ha! He hates that! So, I'm getting in the last of my "yucky, unhealthy" food. :-)
I am about to catch up on everyone's blog too. Last night, I had dinner with my friend with the twin girls. Adorable!! Although, I have NO clue how she keeps up with them at all. And, I don't think I am cut out for this Mom business unless I can order a 2 or 3 year old. Ha!
Ok...gotta check blogs...Thanks for any and all Audrey prayers. Check out her blog in my sidebar for updates. She has made it through her heart surgery with flying colors! Another woo-hoo!

And, last, a shout-out to my parents - Happy 33rd Anniversary!!! (on Friday) I love you both!! Aren't they cute?

Rant!

*Warning: I am getting some venting done here so I don't explode on someone...so you have been warned. And as an aside, you all crack me up when I vent and then I get all the emails saying "was that about me?" HA!

For the most part, I am a very non-confrontational person. This has its positives and negatives. I let things build and build sometimes and then it only takes that one little thing to just finally push me over the edge. Not liking to cause conflict can often cause me to bite my tongue or "let things go"...until one of my BFF's is within earshot and then they get an earful. ha! I can sugar- coat anything to keep a situation from becoming heated...and again my BFF's usually get to hear the HEATED version when I vent later! You get to hear today!

People really need to keep their opinions to themselves about how they think other's should live their lives UNLESS they are asked for their opinion. Do NOT pretend you know what it is like to be me or judge my decisions on anything until you have walked a day in my shoes!!!! As far as Kevin & I are concerned, no one has ANY idea what all we have been through except us! I am the one who has had to deal with his alcoholism face-to-face. He lived with me, so I know first hand what it was like when he had been on a binge. I know what it was like to watch him not be able to even focus his eyes or hold his head up. I know what it is like to have to shut the bedroom door and leave him passed out in the floor because I can't lift him. I know what it is like to hear him crying out my name in the middle of the night for help. ME! NO ONE ELSE!!!! So, do not judge me or tell me what I should do with my life. I am a big girl and have been fiercely independent since the age of 18, so far I think I've managed just fine. I could go on and on about the affects of alcoholism and how it not only affects the person doing the drinking - but that isn't the point. Let me also say that everyone else gets involved the day after the binge....that day is a cake walk compared to the rest. That day is full of remorse and promises to do better. That day is full of all the things you want to hear. NOW, all that is in the past. The past is the past. Let's just leave it there. My point is...until you have actually walked in my shoes and seen what I've seen and felt what I've felt...DO NOT TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T DO!!! And certainly, do not judge me for a decision I have made. I am 36 years old and can make any damn decision I want. If it is the wrong one, I, and I alone will deal with the consequences. It won't be the first time I've made a mistake and it certainly won't be the last.
You know Kevin & I have both grown a lot over the past 6 months. But it has not been an easy walk. We have had struggles. Some that only he & I know about. We have overcome. Together. With Love. Do not try to tell either one of us how we should act about anything. If one of us isn't all cheery one day or wants things done a certain way or makes a decision that WE are happy with, then support us or quite frankly shut-up! This is not a time for anyone to be throwing rocks or telling anyone how to live their lives. Worry about your own. I am willing to bet you have problems of your own hiding in your closet. So, as my kids at school would say "MYOB" - mind your own business!

Whew...I don't know about ya'll but I feel a lot better...my keyboard, however, just took a beating! And, yes I went around the world to just say MYOB! :-)

In case you were wondering...

...there are only 6 more days until Kevin comes home. I know you are ALL counting down the days too (if only so I will shut-up about it!) It is going to be a little strange at first...I am jittery nervous like a first date or something. ha! We are so blessed to get to wipe the slate clean and start over fresh. (Not that anyone would want to go through what we did to get here! ha!) He has already asked what I want to eat the first week he is home. I am working on my menu...the weight is about to pack back on! ha! And, the grocery bill is about to go WAAAAY back up!! But it's all good! :-)

Now, I have to go put the finishing touches on my Master's project and be done with it! woohoo!

Don't forget to say a prayer for Audrey's surgery in the morning!

Back soon...

I am really swamped and trying to stay on task with this master's project (not an easy task but I am almost finished). So, in the meantime...head on over to some of my fav blogs and show some love...

Go see Tasha at www.cheeka-beeka.blogspot.com. She has some sick kiddo's right with ear infections and poor Tasha is about to be a crazed mom! :-)

Go see Lindsey at www.craftylou.blogspot.com. She is now 6 months pregnant....time flies!

For gorgeous farm photos if you are an animal lover like me go to www.foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com. She is a city girl who moved to the country and has some amazing stories and pictures.

Go to www.audreyphelan.blogspot.com and give some prayers and support for a friend's grand-daughter. She is having heart surgery on the 10th of this month and is only 3 years old.

Don't be afraid to leave comments when you visit their blogs! :-)
And, there are lots more good ones in my sidebar...check 'em out! Just don't forget to come back here too!heehee!
In case you are counting, 10 days until Kevin's home!

Random Thoughts

*Only 12 days until Kevin is home!!!!

*There are never enough hours in a day to get everything done.

*Hair balls from cats are just GROSS! eeekkk!

*My goal this week is to finish my Master's project that is due. I may have to ban myself from blogging until it's DONE!

*I don't think I want a pet cow anymore after the diary farm came to school today...cows are BIG! ha!

*Scrapbooking is Friday....YES!

*Is it Spring Break yet?

*How can it snow on Saturday and be 70 degrees 5 days later???

*The Bachelor is a JERK...enough said!

Happy birthday!!

To the very bestest dog EVER - Jax!! You all know how absolutely crazy I am about this dog, and we have had 11 years together today. If dogs could talk, the stories he could tell! ha!

I hope we have many more days together buddy! :-)

2 weeks!!

In two short weeks Kevin will be home! woohoo! I brought home the first carload of stuff today - yippee!! It was so good to see him...with me missing visiting last week because of the scrap retreat, well, it made for a long two weeks no matter how much I needed a girls weekend! The moment I saw him all my stress and worries were gone...he really is my bestest friend and soulmate and I am so ready to have his messy self home! ha!

On another note, only two more Saturday classes for my Master's class - thank goodness! I have one class on the 14th and a big project due that day. urgh! Then, April 4th is the final. I looked at the summer schedule and both classes I need to finish ARE being offered. Unfortunately, one is first session and one is second session, so I'll have to be class all summer, but I am going to try to get in because I am ready to be DONE! Wish me luck that they don't fill up before I get in!! :-)

As Requested...scrap pages!

*Back to the old blog look today...no more wishing for snow. Now I want Spring!

I had a request for pictures of scrap pages completed over the weekend...now who am I to deny a request? Especially about one of my favorite topics! So, here are some of my favorites from the weekend (some are blurry but that's ok...you can't read my journaling...heehee!): Favorite title goes to "RV there yet?" Thanks Sandy for that one! I liked the bling music notes and the color for this one - plus the pics were fun:
Although, it doesn't show, I worked hardest on this one because I wanted it to be good. We were each given the same 3 pieces of paper & had to design a page with them. It was really neat to see how no two pages looked alike, but all were with the same paper. I was proud of this because I made my own tag and used a big bite for the first time to put an eyelet in my tag. How's that for scrappin' terminology 101! ha! (Oh, the tag says To: The kids of John 3:16 ministry From: Santa aka Kevin)
This one is just fun because Christmas card photos are one of my favorite parts of the season. My friend, Carey's kiddo, just makes the whole thing. Look at that cute Santa face!! This one was obviously just plain ole sentimental... I journaled about our journey to John 3:16.These are AWESOME letters that Peggy discovered at Wally World - they come in a booklet that looks like a paper pack, but each page is big colorful letters. Love them!

This one I just loved the paper and the sparkle stickers for Shena's name...plus, I used staples for the first time on a scrap page for the ribbons.
And last, this one I love the simplicity and the quote...at the top it says, "Often attempted, never mastered..." Then the bottom is stamped Christmas Card Photo.And there you have it... Keep the pages simple is my motto!

In less than a month...

Kevin will be home!!! Yee-haw! March 15th!! I only visit two more times and then it's graduation!! After that, I will actually have someone to share the ride to Batesville with - woo-hoo!

Retreat continued...

I am still tired today from the excitement and late nights of scrapbooking over the weekend, so this is going to be short and then I'm crashing! I will catch up on all blog reading tomorrow...or Wednesday when I play hookie from work....shhh! Anyway - above is Peggy at her work station. We all got our own 6 foot table to scrap at - there were about 32 scrappers total I think.
This is our gang late into the night on Friday night...we were actually more tired Friday night than Saturday night...hmmm? Oh, and I have to give a shout-out to Laura & Peggy who made it until 4:30 am Saturday night...woohoo!

There was a scrapbook retreat queen...sadly it wasn't one of us. The queen is pictured below - we all have aspirations to steal her crown next year. The queen is the one who scraps the most pages. (I was pumped with my 34 pages!! yippee)
Our saving grace was Laura who won the PJ parade...whew! We have a winner in the group! Go Laura...aka Funny Girl! The PJ queen! I think it was the boots!

Scrap Retreat Weekend

First of all, we had a BLAST! Second, I am exhausted!! And, today when I got home I crashed for 3 hours and could have easily slept until in the morning!! Here we are in our matching T-shirts we bought just for the weekend, because we LOVE to cheese it up! heehee! Aren't they cute? Next year, we are thinking maybe matching PJ's...because this has to be a yearly thing. It was THAT awesome!! I only have the energy to post one picture tonight...more to come tomorrow! :-) I know you are all going to wait on pins and needles. LOL!
My favorite things about the weekend were just simply getting away with great friends, the awesome CD that Laura made for us to listen to on the way - she titled it scrappers delight - ha, the fun we had with our walkie talkies (we had to take two cars because of all the stuff and each car had a walkie talkie so we could sing together and still talk on the way...we know we are cheesy but we don't care!), and the new tools we learned about on the trip. I may think of more tomorrow when my brain isn't dead...but I do know I have to get a big bite. That is on my next Hobby Lobby trip!!
Stay tuned....more tomorrow! :-)

Our Own Concert

My kiddo's had a project to build their own instrument to wrap up our sound unit. There were some good ones!! I am always amazed!! Anyway, here they are putting on their concert today ~ comical! It's only 52 seconds of torture! ha!

PS....only one day until SCRAPBOOK RETREAT!! yeehaw!

Wordless Wednesday: PJ Day at School

Counting down...

Only 3 days until the scrapbook retreat...yee-haw!! My scrap stuff is packed and ready!!

Handmade Valentine's R the BEST!

*We are just going to hope that when Kevin comes home, he doesn't backtrack through the 'ole blog! heehee! If he does, I'm going to be in BIG trouble!! But, I happen to know through the grapevine that at least 3 of my letters have been shared with the entire camp. So...all is fair in love & war! LOL!

Here is my Valentine on a handmade "card" & I couldn't have asked for a better one!

Dear Lori -
I've thought about this letter all week. How do I explain to you what you are to me? I'm really not sure I can. You have stuck by me through my spiritual (and almost financial) bankruptcy, and you've brought me here where you've saved my life. I came here to salvage my life, but Jesus has restored it and given me a future. A future of hope, prosperity, joy, contentment, and love. I owe it all to Jesus and you.
I want to always put your needs above mine and serve you the rest of my life. I know what our future holds, and it is some good times. We'll have a rough patch from time to time, but that's when we seek and trust God and we can't lose. You are my world. You are my gift from God.
I love you whole heartedly,
Kevin

I just wanted to share this glimpse into our personal journey through alcoholism to show anyone who may need it - there is HOPE! They have to be ready and most of the time, they have to lose everything. Kevin did - if I would've bent just an inch, he wouldn't have gone to John 3:16. He didn't want to go in the beginning. It was too long. My advice to anyone dealing with an addict is don't cave. Stand your ground. You can love them and still be firm in what you know is right. I was able to talk to someone today about John 3:16 and their struggles with an alcoholic son. It confirmed to me that THIS is what Kevin & I have been put here to do with our lives - our purpose to help others overcome and give them HOPE. Without hope, we have nothing!

Almost Monday already?

Time flies!! It can't almost be Monday already! I haven't had a weekend yet!!! Seriously, last week was yuck - way too much going on and my stress was HIGH. I had a full blown migraine by Friday night. But, it is all over now. That week is behind me, AND I got all my work done - masters work - check, all papers graded - check, entered in edline - check, interims printed and complete - check, parent conference forms typed and ready - check! As a result, I refuse to bring ANY work home this week! :-) It all stays at work ~ especially since I have to stay and hold parent conferences all week.

Remember the best way to handle overload? Reward system! heehee! So.....I have my eye on the prize this week...the countdown is ON! I can make it through this week to get to SCRAPBOOK RETREAT WEEKEND! Yee-haw!!