Spoiled

As I sit here at my desk with my lunch of a Mango Apricot yogurt and a blueberry Trader Joes cereal bar staring at me I realize I have no appetite. And I know why. It is all my mom's fault. We visited them over the weekend and she spoiled my stomach with lots of yummy homemade foods. Thanks, Mom, now I have to retrain my stomach back to my normal diet.

Fall Cleaning?

My cleaning style is somewhat haphazard. I get a few minutes here and there and I do whatever is most urgent--clean the bathrooms, wash the underwear, scrub the dishes. It seems like what gets left behind is the general organization and straightening that goes along with having a large chunk of time to devote to cleaning. Cupboards get jumbled, closets get full, whatever isn't urgent (ie, visible to guests, haha) doesn't get done. I really need to devote a day or even a whole weekend to cleaning, organizing, and fall decorating. It will be much less stressful to not have all that hanging over my head, but a lot of tiring hard work to accomplish. Maybe I can do it the last weekend in September, but it might have to wait until Columbus day weekend.

Here's the plan:

Throw away clutter!
Clean high traffic areas of carpet
Empty, clean and reorganize all cupboards in kitchen.
Pack away summer clothes and get out fall/winter clothes.
Wash windows.
Empty and repack downstairs closet
Empty and repack guest bedroom closet
Donate unused clothes to church

Bottom line: don't leave a nook or cranny un-disturbed. Now we will see if I actually follow through....

a moment to remember

The following is excerpted from President Bush's statement on September 11, 2001.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

God bless America.

We're Back!

Our five days of vacation in North Myrtle beach were wonderful--and gone far too quickly! We had a great time swimming in the ocean and the pools every day. We visited a beautiful sculpture garden and wildlife refuge, and saw a lot of the sights in the M.B. area. Most of all we just enjoyed one another's company without the distractions of work and school. Sappy--I know--but hey, we love spending time together, going on adventures, and being silly!

puppy fever

Have you ever seen a cuter puppy? I saw this little girl who is for sale right now from a French Bulldog breeder in Alabama. She is a Frenchton: French Bulldog crossed with Boston Terrier. She will probably be about 20 lbs when she is grown. When I saw her I fell in love. I am now smitten with puppy fever. If I wasn't gone 12 hours a day at work I would be driving to Alabama right now...

Change and Growth

Everyone who knows me knows I am not a big fan of change.


We have been going through a period of growth within our small group that has caused one of the couples go their own separate way. While I do believe that this is all in God's plan for us and is important for our growth in our walk with Him, it is so very hard to deal with emotionally. It is difficult not to blame this on something that we have done wrong, rather than accepting that God called them in a different direction than He was calling the other couples in the group.


And although I know there really was not another option to what has happened, I still cannot prevent a profound sense of sadness and loss from sweeping over me.

So hot this week

This isn't an exaggeration.

Vacation Ahoy!

We are headed to Myrtle Beach, SC, in 16 days! Not that I am counting or anything. Bill and I are excited to explore a new beach and a new state and to have some time away from work and especially Bill's school.