SNOW!!! I love snow!!! :)

I miss having fun in the snow! Sledding...snow ball fights...sledding...snow angels...sledding...building snowmen...sledding. Oh, to be 12 years old and living in Germany again!

There was this awesome hill across the street from my apartment in Germany that all the kids loved. We'd grab our sleds and head to Suicide Hill every time it snowed. Suicide Hill was the site of some of the best sledding fun ever!

It'd be nice to have Suicide Hill in my backyard tomorrow if this prediction of 2 to 4 inches of snow holds true! We'd probably need a little more snow than 2 to 4 inches for some good sledding action, but I'd make a go of it anyways. Although I may not be 12 years old any more...my goodness, that was 22 years ago!!!...I think I still have it in me. The sled from those days is sitting in my parents shed right now. Maybe I'll go steal it and find me a nice hill to sled down tomorrow. If you see me with a cast on my leg or arm...or both...next week, I probably just ran in to a tree or something while playing in the snow.

It's fun to be a kid some times!! :)

Here's to hoping to see some of the white stuff...

Two friends of mine took me horseback riding today. This is only the second time I have been on a horse so I was a little intimidated at first. I haven't had much instruction on how to handle a horse and our guide kept saying "Show him who is dominant. Pull back on his reins if he tries to stop and eat. He's out here to work not to eat." Well, the horse can easily throw me off or bite me or kick me or whatever...and he is a little more muscular than I am...I didn't want to make him mad. Then I find out my horses name. His name was Bama. After that, I was determined to whip him in to shape and show him who was dominant. By the end of the ride, I had Bama running...well, galloping or trotting...I'm not sure what we were doing but I wasn't so intimidated by the end of the ride. I had a good time! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!

I am taking a break from job hunting! I am going to use a gift card tomorrow morning to get a pedicure. Then I'm going to use a gift card tomorrow afternoon to get a haircut and highlights. Then I'm going to use a gift card to go shopping for a new outfit or two. Them my parents are taking my twin sister and me out to dinner. I'm going to pamper myself on my birthday...and I'm going to use other peoples money to do the pampering! :)
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I am truly blessed!! Although I am thankful for the gift cards that will allow me to be pampered...I am truly blessed and so very thankful for the relationships that are behind those cards! As I go through my day tomorrow, I will be thinking of the many blessings God has blessed me with in my 34 years of life.

With my 34th birthday (Jan. 10th) fast approaching, I am ashamed to say that I have never read through the Bible. Hopefully by the time I am 35, I will be able to say I have read through the entire Bible and that I have walked in Jesus footsteps and that I learned more in this one year about God, Jesus and life than I have learned in my previous 33 years! My 34th year is going to be a turning point year!

I purchased the book "The One Year Through the Bible Devotional" this past weekend. There is a devotional and a daily Bible reading for every day of the year. By the time I finish the book, I will have read the Bible from beginning to end. I am filled with anticipation about what lesson each day holds! God is already speaking through His word! He has me hooked! When I go to Israel in November, I hope to feel Jesus' presence as I walk in his footsteps. I hope that by reading and learning all that I can about his life prior to the trip, that the walk will have more significance and meaning.

I believe that God is taking me on a journey this year...and I couldn't be more excited!!

I was thinking about 1 Corinthians 13 - A Christmas Version (see below). I was thinking about my nephew. I was thinking about all the people I met on the mission trips to Africa. I was thinking about my family and friends. I am continually struck with how important our time is. Yeah, our time is important to us and sometimes we pack our time full of activities...but when we give of our time to family and friends; that time is priceless to them!

I can't remember where I heard this. It may have been at work last week. A lady said that a friend of hers gave a young family member (a niece, I think) a homemade gift certificate in which the niece could pick a day to spend an entire "girls day" with her aunt...just the two of them. I think that is awesome! The niece will probably remember that Christmas gift a lot longer than she will some expensive gift that'll probably sit untouched a good bit of the time.

I think that giving someone your time is priceless to the person receiving it because it shows that you really care. When you are willing to give of your time, I think that says a lot more than a quick gift passed along in a few seconds time. Time is a precious gift!!! The older I get and the more that I experience life, the more I realize that I don't have to go in debt to show someone that I care. I don't see the purpose in spending a lot of money when time is so much more valuable! I wish I had learned that lesson a long time ago.

I am so thankful for my nephew and for the time I spent in Africa! God has taught me many, many lessons through those two aspects of my life. I think I may steal the gift certificate idea...regardless of what time of the year it is!

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I Corinthians 13 – A Christmas Version (Source unknown)

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny ornaments, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

I was leaving the grocery store this morning and as I was walking out the door I heard a ton of sirens and then I heard the sound of a helicopter. I wondered what was happening. Once I got out the door, there were atleast 20 police cars, motorcycles and unmarked cars screeching in to the parking lot...all following and surrounding one car that finally came to a stop in the parking lot. The helicopter was hovering directly overhead. The guy (or guys) they were chasing ended up face down on the ground within a matter of seconds. Turns out 2 men robbed a bank at Carter Hill and Zelda Road and the chase ended in the grocery store parking lot on Atlanta Highway. It was kind of exciting to see the end of a major police chase...but there were also several people standing around the exit of the store wondering if it was safe to walk out to their cars. Once the guy was in custody and some of the police officers started leaving the scene, I made the first move to walk out to my car. I figured at that point it was safe and I wasn't going to stand around to see if the guy escaped and have bullets start flying. I was outta there...and calling my sister as I was driving out of the parking lot to tell her what I had just witnessed and she said..."SWEET!!" We live for excitement...haha

I am so excited!!! I received a letter today from the missions minister from my church telling me that my application was accepted. I am going to Guatemala in August on a mission trip!!

The past couple of years I have gone on mission trips to Africa. Those two trips were life changing!! It is not going to work out for me to go to Africa next year, so I decided to go on a shorter/cheaper trip to Guatemala. It will be different than the trips I took to Africa. The trip to Guatemala is a medical mission trip. The people in the group who have medical training will be assisting in the OR. Those of us who do not have medical training will be support personnel...we'll be sterilizing equipment and encouraging the locals/patients and such.

I am really looking forward to what God is going to do through this mission! I know this will be another life changing trip!
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I also hope to to go on a trip to Israel next year with my church to experience the holy land! It will be a 10 day tour of Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee. We will experience the places of our faith as we read and study the scripture together. I have ALWAYS wanted to go on a trip like this and to see this trip listed in our bulletin a few weeks ago gave me hope that I may actually get to do this! I'm waiting to hear about more details, but hopefully by this time next year, I will have walked in Jesus footsteps!
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I am not sure what all God has in store for me in this next year. I'm just trusting that He has a plan!
A friend and I are starting a weight loss accountability group with one another. We both want to be healthy and in shape for the Israel trip. I know she will be a good accountability partner. I pray that God will help me in reaching my goal...He will be my strength in this incredibly difficult endeavor! I've tried and failed at this several times...I do not plan on failing again!
I don't even know what to say about my employment situation. I'm still clueless as to what direction that is going to go in. Like I said, I'm trusting that God has a plan and that He is going to open a door at the perfect time. I may hit a few walls along the way...but eventually I know a door will open.

Losing my job is difficult! Not so much because I liked my job, because there were many days that I hated my job. But I liked a lot of the people I worked with. I've known these people for 15 years and I worked with them for a total of 12 years. I know these people. I know their quirks. I know their moods. I know their good and their bad qualities. I am totally and completely comfortable with these people! I should be comfortable...I see them 5 days a week, 8 1/2 hours a day (including lunch). They are like family. I work with some really good people/friends and I am going to miss them!

Starting over is scary! New people. New job. New environment. Will I ever be comfortable again? Will I work with some good people who will become friends? How long will it take to get to know their quirks and their moods and their good and bad qualities?

I think of the girl that I've worked with for the past 5 years. I passed her in the hall today and we talked for a few minutes. When I first started working with her, I could not stand her. She got on my nerves something fierce!! I guess it wasn't until about a year and a half ago that I started looking at her differently and started trying to give her a chance. We started talking and joking and now, even though there are still things that I don't like about her (i.e. the language she uses), I have grown to enjoy her good qualities and I'm actually going to miss working with her. She always makes me laugh.

I think of one of my really good friends (Jessica). When she first started working at GC, she was QUIET!! She hardly ever said a word. Now, she won't shut up! :) She says the same thing about me. We go to break together, we go to lunch together, we email through out the day when we are bored and ready to go home. What's really cool is I have her spouses approval. Her husband thinks I'm a "pretty cool friend" and he "thinks highly of me". I can't imagine going to work some where else and her not being there!

I think of my church buddies (Aleah, Tracie & Meloney). I work with these 3 pretty awesome women who I've had the priviledge of knowing through church and work. It has always been nice working with them! We all care about each other and even though we may not see each other every day or talk every day, it is so nice knowing they are just down the hall or just over the cubicle wall. Being that close to one another, we were always there if one of us ever needed to vent or needed some encouragement or prayers. I'm going to miss working with them!

I think of my friend (Jackie). She helped me make the decision to go on my first mission trip out of the country...all the way to Africa. I was talking to her about it and she said, "Girl, you better go. That is an awesome opportunity! In fact, I want to go too." So, Jackie and I went to Africa together with my church. That trip changed both of us. I still remember our first night in Africa! Jackie and I were sharing a room and we were both dead tired from traveling for so long. When we finally made it to bed, I think we both fell asleep before our heads hit the pillow. We had 2 twin sized beds in our room. (In my room at home, I have a queen sized bed.) Well, during our first night in Africa, I started dreaming that I was in my bed at home and that a huge flying roach flew from the ceiling directly at me. Since I was in my bed at home, or so I thought, I had plenty of room to roll over a few times to get away from this mega sized roach flying towards me. Next thing I know, I am falling off the twin sized bed that I'm actually sleeping in and I hit the night stand and my suit case as I hit the floor. I noticed Jackie stir in her bed. I whispered, "Did you hear that?" She said, "Yeah! what was that?!?!" I said, "I fell out of the bed!!" and I told her the story about the flying roach and me thinking I was in my bed at home. We still laugh today about me falling out of the bed. I'm going to miss working with Jackie!!

Moving on is so very difficult and scary!!! But as much as my heart hurts right now, I know God has a plan and that He already knows what the future holds for all of us! I know that He knows that we can handle this change because He wouldn't have allowed this to happen otherwise. I know that He is going to use this to make us stronger. I know that He is going to work this out for the best and that we are all going to be ok.

I Corinthians 13 – A Christmas Version
(Source unknown)

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny ornaments, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure

I have decided to try this blogging thing again. I may have a lot of time on my hands starting next Thursday and I need to find some constructive things to do during the day while my friends and family are at work. Of course I am going to spend quite a bit of time looking for work, but there will no doubt be some down time.

This will be the perfect time to ponder the things of my life. I need to reassess some things in my life. I need to pray about what direction my life should take from this point.

I have thought about doing some kind of long term mission work overseas...in Africa or Cambodia. I have gone as far as to talk to our missions minister about mission opportunities that are available.
I have thought about finding another job in Montgomery. I have personally taken my resume to some places. I have a head hunter sending my resume out to different places to help me find a job.
I have thought about my very strong desire to make a physcial change in my life...I want to drop some weight and to be healthy. Maybe I should join the next cast of The Biggest Loser.
I have thought about moving to Texas to find a job. My cousin has been wanting me to move out there.
I have thought about moving to Minneapolis and taking a travel course at The Travel Academy. I could then take advantage of the lifetime job placement services that they offer once I complete the course.
I have thought about going to college here in Montgomery and getting a degree.

Now would be the perfect time for me to pick up and move. No job. No husband/boyfriend. No kids. No house to sell. I do, however, have my family here. I do have great friends here. And I do have an awesome church family here. It is a very difficult decision!!

I have dreams. I have wishes. I have hopes. But, ultimately, my life is in God's hands. I'm not sure what He is going to do or what He is going to call me to do. That remains to be seen...
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I haven't been feeling well since last Wednesday...dealing with a cold and cough. I was sleeping in the recliner in the living room Saturday night. Some time during the night I heard a noise...something falling/breaking and moving around. It scared me to death!! I didn't move a muscle. I sat there thinking, "Ok, my phone is right beside me on the table. I can pick it up and call 911. But that won't do me much good if someone is standing 2 feet away from me. They'll knock the phone away before I can dial 9. Why oh why haven't I listened to Aleah's stories about serial killers and kept a knife beside me while I'm sleeping?!?!?!" I finally mustered up the courage to open my eyes but still did not move or make a sound. By moving my eyes, I searched the dark room looking for a human figure. I knew someone was there and if I moved they would know that I was awake and aware they were there and they would attack...

When you are putting up your Christmas tree, make sure the stand is big enough to support the tree and that the tree is in the stand securely. Thanks to that oversight, I was being attacked in my sleep by the Christmas tree!!!

Merry Christmas, everyone!