52 Blessings ~ Week 8

And this week, my blessing is very easy to choose!! I am so thankful for the miracle of modern medicine!!!! I have been so sick all week, struck down with this awful sickness that is going around. Thanks to the miracle of a doctor and a great prescription, I am finally feeling human again today & was able to go back to church! I don't get sick very often, so at a time like this, when I have been sick, it makes me so thankful to live in this country where we have the best medical care available to us so easily!

52 Blessings ~ Week 7

I'm a week late with this, but I have a good excuse that I'll use in the next one! My blessing for last week is actually something that I am trying very, very hard to remember to be thankful for & that is trials. I get so caught up in thinking about all the bad things that I have to deal with that I forget to be grateful for the growth that my trials give me. It's hard for me to remember to be thankful for something that is hard for me to deal with. However, I had re-inforced for me at church how important it is for us to go through these things. That old saying, that which doesn't kill us only makes us stronger? Yeah, it really is true! So, even though things seem really rough right now, I am grateful for the strength & the growth that is available for me from my trials, if I will but remember to open my heart up to the learning experience.

Little Bit About Me...

I got this off a fun blog that I found! This is kinda fun!

Jobs I've had:
1. Saturday assistant at our vet's in high school
2. secretary at a horse reproduction lab at UI
3. front desk clerk at a motel
4. waitress/cook at a cafe
5. different positions at Melaleuca
6. insurance inspector

Movies I could watch again and again:
1. Sweet Home Alabama
2. Fever Pitch(goes back to that Red Sox obsession I talked about)
3. Remember The Titans
4. Princess Diaries 1 & 2
5. The Sandlot

Guilty Pleasures
1. shoes
2. Dr. Pepper

Places I've Lived
1. Connecticut
2. Germany
3. Moscow, Idaho
4. Pingree, Idaho

TV Shows I like:
1. Friends (re-runs)
2. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (I cry every single week)
3. House Hunters
4. Cashmere Mafia
5. How I met Your Mother

Places I've been to on vacation:
1. the beach in Maine
2. Florida
3. most of the states--Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Minnesota, California, Illinois--in particular

Favorite Foods:
1. ice cream
2. grapes
3. melon of any kind
4. italian

Body Parts I've injured:
1. knees
2. broke my foot--most painful thing every

Nicknames:
1. Liza
2. Lizzie Lou
3. Liza Rose
4. Liza Jane

Ok, Now I tag Jen...

54 Blessings ~ Week 6

Ok, so I'm a day late again! I've already mentioned that I am a dog person. This week, I am thankful for the critters in my life. Our dogs are a big part of our life & a part of our family. I am thankful for the unconditional love they give. No matter what happened in my day, no matter if it was a good day or a bad day, no matter if I have people mad at me at work or at home, I can always count on a joyful welcome when I get home from the dogs. They're never mad at me, they're never rude to me, and they're hardly every inconsiderate of me--only when there's food involved for them! Beyond that, having the dogs helped so much when James & Josh came to live with us! The dogs gave them someone who cared about them. Both of them got their own dog, which gave them someone to take care of & gave each of them instant best friends. On the way to the MTC with James, we asked him if there was anything he didn't have with him. He said yeah, the only thing I'm missing is my dog....I wish Gibson could come with me. I love that James has this best buddy that he's had for 6 years & that he missed Gibs being able to go with him. In the picture above, you see me hiding behind my book & under one of my mom's gorgeous quilts, with Hannah stretched out on my legs. I couldn't get the red eye out, for some reason.

The hard part of having dogs is that they don't get to stay with us long enough & it always breaks my heart when one of our dogs dies. But I don't think I'd ever be able to to live without the sweet soul & spirit of a dog.

Who'da thought?

I saw this on Jen's blog & it looked fun! I have to admit that I was surprised with the results!

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Orange

You're a bold, confident orange. A warm, powerful color that indicates a strong, welcoming personality, orange is the mark of people who are social and extroverted by nature. Vibrant, with an upbeat attitude, you have a bright, inviting demeanor. Energetic and fun-loving, you're a real friend-magnet. Your easy charm and unassuming manner make you the sort of person people want to meet and get to know better. Well-rounded and fun to be around, you enjoy helping others, so it's no surprise that orange also symbolizes attraction. Orange is an extraordinary color — for an extraordinary person.

What are you? http://web.tickle.com/rd/50651/color/index.jsp?testname=colorogt&resultid=D

52 Blessings ~ Week 5

So, after much thought again this week about what to express gratitude for, I have turned down my mom's suggestion of being thankful that I was born into a Red Sox fan family--however, I may save that one for during the baseball season!

This week, I am going to express gratitude for our home. I absolutely love our home. While it's not perfect & there are definately things that I want to improve, I can walk through each room in my home & love it. But what I love the most is the memories that we have made in our home. I have memories of family, friends, and neighbors in every corner of my home & I love that. Home is someplace that I know I can always be happy & loved, no matter how things are going in any other aspect of my life. Home is supposed to be a safe haven & for us, our home certainly is.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I didn't really pay attention to the weather outside until I got a phone call this morning. It was our neighbor, letting us know that church had been cancelled because of the snow. So I decided to brave the elements & see what was up out there. This is for sure the most snow we've gotten this year. So...I took photos!

This is out our front door. The house that you can barely see is about 1/4 mile down the road. Usually, we can see the house that's another mile across the fields with no problems.

This photo is out our back door, looking through our back yard.

This is looking out the back door in the other direction.

I made the dogs go outside with me. Corrie is in the rear, Hannah in front. They were less than enthused about being out in the snow.

Corrie, now standing in the front, is Hannah's grandmother. Corrie is not always sure that Hannah needs to be around, but tolerates her for the most part.

Of course, everyone was much happier once we came back in the house. Corrie will now spend the rest of her day on the bed, which is where she believes she belongs at all times.

(Like the fun pillowcases? My mom made those for all of us for Valentines day one year. Mine have cute dancing frogs on a black background with a bright pink border.)

The Paint Difference

What a difference some paint makes! A couple of months ago, we decided that our kitchen was getting old looking. Somehow, we just hadn't noticed that it was getting dingy & icky after about 8 years. So, we bought some paint. Presto! The kitchen goes from looking like this.....

to looking like this:
Well, to be honest, it wasn't exactly prest0--more like several weeks of work & painting every chance we got! But we are thrilled with the outcome. I can't believe how much better the kitchen looks with just some paint! Now I just need to be able to afford those new countertops I really want!

Basket Ball

I've been bad this week. Games 4 & 5 of 8th grade basketball were Wednesday & Thursday. Wednesday was an away game in Marsh Valley--the game went on even though Marsh Valley had school cancelled because of snow. Our guys ended up losing by 3 points, but played a very good game. Thursday was a home game against Bear Lake--our guys played kind of sloppy & ended up losing by 6 points. They definately did not play their best game on Thursday! The guys were pretty bummed about the game, but I did notice them collecting hugs from the girls in their grade who were at the game...those hugs must have helped to bolster them through the loss. Josh is very fond of girls...I'm hoping against hope that he never turns 16!!

Elder James...

James has been out on his mission for almost a month now. In fact, on Monday, it will be a month. It's just seemed like he was away for awhile. I don't know how a whole month snuck up on me. He spent 3 weeks in the MTC in Provo & then left a week ago for the MTC in the Dominican Republic. Everyone who has sent out a missionary has told me that I won't be able to believe the changes in James as he throws himself into his mission and is able to grow from it. I would never have believed anyone who told me that I would be able to see that difference already. He is definately not the same 19 year old teenager who left us a month ago. I can already see a maturity & depth that there were times I wasn't ever sure he'd get to! I love to hear from him & read his letters, even when he challenges me to something that I am so scared to do! I am so proud of him & hope that he knows that!

He is loving the Dominican and is scheduled to be there for 4 weeks before he flies to Puerto Rico.

A ME quiz

I think Jenni tagging me means that I'm supposed to do this next, so here goes...

1. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? I woke up about 5:45, but then realized that Josh didn't have school and the roads were closed, keeping me from going to work, so I went back to sleep until 7:00
2. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? Diamonds
3. WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? I don't even know. I don't go out to movies very often--they're way expensive, so we usually just to pay-per-view on Dish.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? Without A Trace, Cold Case, How I Met Your Mother
5. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? I don't really do breakfast except on weekends
6. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? I don't have one--really, really long standing family tradition
7. WHAT FOOD DO YOU DISLIKE? I can't stand onions
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CD? I got a Keith Urban CD for Christmas that is quickly becoming a favorite.
9. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Dodge Grand Caravan...I'm hoping to be able to replace my car that some idiot kid totaled sometime this year.
10. WHAT IS YOU FAVORITE SANDWICH? grilled cheese or tuna fish, depending on my mood
11. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE? Lack of ethics
12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING? I have these two pairs of pajama pants that are extremely comfortable--I wear them as often as possible at home!
13. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? Ireland, definately.
14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? In the process of re-painting--going to do stripes in two shades of green--very pretty.
15. FAVORITE BRAND OF CLOTHING? I don't really have a favorite brand.
16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? I'd like to move back to New England
17.WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? My birthdays have been pretty low key for the last few years. I'm the one in the family who really "does up" people's birthdays, but I don't do that for my own, so it's very laid back.
18. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Boston Red Sox baseball games
19. FURTHEST PLACE YOU ARE SENDING THIS? Umm, not that many people read my blog, so probably not very far at all.
20. PERSON WHO WILL NOT SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? um, blogging
21. PERSON YOU EXPECT TO SEND IT BACK FIRST? again, blogging
22. FAVORITE QUOTE? I'm actually not much of a quote person
23. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? January 13th
24. ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? I used to be a night person, but I think I'm getting old. Now I have to go to bed much earlier. I am probably at my best in the last morning/early afternoon.
25. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE: 8
26. PETS? You asked for it. Dogs: Corrie, Hannah, Maddie, Brooke, Jessie(James'), Hope, Miranda, Riley, Gibson(really James'), Derek(Josh's), Patterson(Josh's), Garth. Cats: Meow-Meow, Fluffer, Uncle, Nephew, Buffy, Baby
27. ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS YOU WANT TO SHARE? Nope
28. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? a veterinarian
29. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? Today's actually been a pretty good day. I'm feeling OK
30. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY? dark Snickers bars
31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? carnations or lillies
32. WHAT IS A DAY ON THE CALENDAR YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? none really
34. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Dinner was this really yummy pork think I made with mushrooms in a cream sauce served on rice with a salad
35. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? I do, but it's never really worked for me...maybe I'm doing it wrong
36.IF YOU WERE A CRAYON COLOR WHAT WOULD COLOR WOULD YOU BE? blue?
37. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? Dr. Pepper
38. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Babe's
39. SIBLINGS? 4 brothers
40. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Christmas. It's a perfect day for me. I get to be with my family & there is no stress!
41. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? my Pound PUppy
42. SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall
43. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
44. COFFEE OR TEA? Neither
45. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate
47. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO E-MAIL YOU BACK? no, just blog it!
48. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Tuesday--I had a really rough day on Tuesday
49. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? Other than some dust on the carpet, nothing
50. WHO IS THE FRIEND YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST? Megan--I think we were 4 when we met
51. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? worked until I about fell asleep at the keyboard
52. FAVORITE SMELL? fruity smells...mango, coconut, berries, etc.
53. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? Not being good enough, or not being able to take care of everything that is my responsibility
54. SALTY OR SWEET? depends on my mood--usually sweet though
55. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR RING? probably 8--but other than my car & house key, they're all for work--how sad is that?
56. HOW MANY YEARS AT YOUR CURRENT JOB? I've been with my company for 5 1/2 years--at my current position for 1.5 years.
57. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Sundays
58. HOW MANY TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN? Ledyard, CT, Vaigaihan, Germany, Gulestein, Germany, Gales Ferry, CT, back to Ledyard, CT, Pingree, ID, Moscow, ID, and then back to Pingree.
59. WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW? good 'ole Pingree