Happy 23 1/2 birthday, Carrie!

Today Carrie let the entire Facebook world know that it is her 23 and 1/2 birthday. So.... when she got home from work, we had a half birthday for her! We sang half of "Happy Birthday", Mother made her half a cake, and I made her half a card.

Here's the half-birthday girl with her cake and card


Trying to represent 23 and 1/2. It's much harder than you'd think


Reading her half card


The inside of the card


Again, with her half cake, half card, and an Army man!


Happy half birthday, Carrie! Let's hope the second half is just as good!

I caught it...

The travel bug, that is!!

For the last few weeks I've just been DYING to go somewhere. We had been planning on taking a big trip in March because it'll be our 5 year anniversary (WOW! Has it already been that long??? Awesome!) but we had to push that trip to the wayside when we decided to build our house. So, we have no travel funds at the moment because every penny is going towards our new digs. Not that I'm complaining! Very much worth it! But... I still have that itchy bite that the travel bug was so kind to give me.

We're hoping that once we get settled we can save up and take a trip in the fall/winter or just wait until our 6 year anniversary in March 11. We shall see..

In the meantime, in no particular order, here are the places I am just DYING to go right now. Apparently I have expensive travel tastes so who knows if and when I'll ever get to go to some of them!!


Israel



Back to Jamaica



Kiev, Ukraine


so that I can see these wonderful people that I miss dearly (Michael, Angela, Nathan, Abigail, and Josiah)

Japan

So that I can see these awesome friends and their little girl! (John and Mayumi)

Australia. No particular place, I've just always wanted to go there really bad.

I would LOVE to go back to Ireland!

Hawaii, because any sane person wants to go there at least once to say they've been

Back to LBI because well, I love it there

Egypt

The mountains somewhere in the States. I'm not picky... anywhere. But preferably either somewhere there are not any bears (ha, yeah right) if we're tenting it, or I'll have to be in a cabin/RV/Pop-up. I don't do bears. *shudder*

California

So I can visit my old roomie!!

Camping. Somewhere at least 2+ days away and we'd have to be gone for at least a week. Again with the no bears thing though. Tent = no bears zone. Cabin/RV = bears ok. Not really ok, but at least I will sleep at night that way.

Greece (or just a Med cruise will do!)

Wherein I start at point A and end up at point D almost bypassing point B

* I'm having a long-winded day... beware!*

I really love Casting Crowns... and I really like this song. It's a fabulous reminder of how we often get caught in a progressive change, spiraling towards sin and a worldly mindset and life. And who will deny that it's an easy thing to do? I'd reckon that most everyone, whether you want to admit it or not, has found themselves fading into something at one point or another.

It may not be adultery, as the video portrays, but it can be anything. Adultery, stealing, lying, gossip, complacency, cussing, bitterness, what we watch on TV/movies or listen to on the radio, wishing a bad case of chicken pox on your irritating co-workers (not that I would ever do that...), fill in the blank. Anything that doesn't glorify God and edify others can go on that list. I know I am guilty. Are you?

I love how the song ends in a song we all undoubtedly sang as children. So, so, SO much truth in such a simple song.

People never crumble in a day, so we need to watch what our little eyes see, our little mouths say, and our little hands touch. Sin sneaks up on us sometimes. The devil is out there, people, and he's smart.

*switching gears a tad*

1 Peter 5:8 - "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are."

Now, I'm definitely no expert on lions, so feel free to correct me or disagree with me, but I don't think roaring lions are quiet. You know when a roaring lion is nearby. In fact, you can probably hear their roar for miles. And, if a lion is anything like me, we ROAR when we're hungry. We're miserable and mean and everyone knows it! We know what we're looking for, FOOOOOOD, but don't necessarily have the particular item we're going to devour in our sweaty palms/furry paws yet. I can only assume it's probably the same with the devil. He knows what he's looking for (a man, woman, child, to deceive/devour) but he may not have a specific one in his sights at that particular moment.

For me, and I assume the same is true for my big furry amigos, once the food is in sight though, the roaring ceases. We go into kill mode. For me, that means making a beeline for the meal and attacking it with a vengeance. For a lion, that means sneaking up quietly then pouncing and suffocating the poor little baby wildebeest. That bowl of macaroni and cheese and the wildebeest alike had little to no chance at all. Goners. (Water buffalo on the other hand, might just have a chance !)

What I take this to mean is that we are well aware that the devil is out there. We can see him prowling. We can hear him roaring. We've probably seen him attack someone else (or even ourselves) before. We've been warned. It's obvious everywhere around us that he's here and he's on the hunt. There's no denying it.

It's when he puts us in his sights and targets us that he gets quiet, sneaks up and gets us. The wildebeest probably isn't surprised that the lion exists... he's likely heard the distant roars, seen him up on a hilltop, and maybe even saw his Auntie Beulah get torn to shreds... He's surprised that it's right there all of a sudden on HIS neck. He knew it was out there, but he let his guard down. He probably found a really good patch of grass and wasn't even paying attention. That's when he was attacked.

We do the same thing. At least I know I do. I get so caught up in the business of life that I let my guard down. We never think it's going to be us, but really, we're ALL on the devil's hit list. And as believers, I kinda think we may all be towards the top of that hit list too.

So yeah. We know he's out there. We know he's in seek-and-destroy mode. We know that he wants to rip us to shreds. Yet, we so easily turn out backs to the roars and go about our business. If I was in the African wilderness, you can bet your bottom dollar that I wouldn't ignore the roars of a lion! I'd keep tabs on the exact location each and every roar came from! So, why do we so quickly ignore the devil's roars? Instead, we need to be alert! And aware! And watching not only our own backs, but our brothers and sisters backs too! We're all in this together!

Alright, I think I've written enough for today. If I don't stop, I'll go off on yet another rabbit lion trail. If you made it this far, I'm very impressed. If I had any cookies, I'd give you one.

Please, let me know your thoughts! Correct me if I'm way off base. Or add something if you like. Or tell me that lions actually mew when they're hungry and that roaring is just a silly made-up myth... like banjos being used worship instruments.

Jiggle Butt!

I fully admit that my favorite part about 5K races isn't pushing myself to run faster (I hate running) , the exhilaration of crossing the finish line (my time is always embarrassing), the camaraderie (ok..that part's fun) or even the satisfaction of knowing I'm doing something good for my body... no, my favorite part is the t-shirts.

Yes, I said it. The t-shirts.

You see, I have a problem. I am a t-shirt junkie. It all started back in college when we were given a free t-shirt for attending anything from Homecoming, to participating in Mission Day to taking your trash out to the dumpster. Ok, maybe not that last one, but can you imagine the t-shirt for that? It could be so fun!

Anyway, when my sister told me about an upcoming race for women only and then told me it was called the Jiggle Butt Run, you KNOW I was instantly in. Seriously, who wouldn't want that t-shirt?! A crazy person, that's who.

So, we signed up. We had a group of 4 chicks (all Fruzins...that's a post I need to do someday) on our team, The Elegante Paraplus. That's dutch for "fancy umbrellas". It was our team name for the Zoo Run Run a couple years ago. Love it. Anyway, our team consisted of Carrie (my seester), Lauren, Katie, and myself.

We were really excited about it until we found out that it would be 15 degrees outside the morning of the race. Um, yuck? But we showed up anyway. Unfortunately, Katie was sick (for real) and opted not to go to the race. I don't blame her. I almost considered "coming down with a cold" so I could miss too. I mean really, who wants to be outside when it's 15-20 degrees outside for more than a few minutes? We gritted our chattering teeth and went anyway! We had no intentions of actually running. Some of us are way out of shape and don't like running anyway. Some of us. Namely, me. Luckily, Carrie and Lauren were all for walking too.

This is our view in the starting box. There were supposed to be around 1500 women signed up, but I think a lot of them "caught a cold" when the heard Dan Henry's forecast on the news the night before because it didn't look like that many people at all... I'm not going to judge them though. Wimps.

Carrie Lauren and I, all ready to go! We pinned jingle bells on our hats to show our "team spirit". And because we're nerds like that.

Lauren! I love this girl!

Freezing my tail off and ready to get moving!

My seester, Carrie, in her rocking orange hat!

They had put up fun signs all along the race path. Of course, since we weren't exactly racing for time, we stopped to take a few pics.

Thank goodness for hand warmers! The problem was that my chin and cheeks got numb. So I tried to warm my face up.

Go Lauren, go!

Carrie and I thought it'd be fun to douse ourselves with our water. Because we're so hot and all.

Stopping for another picture. I think if we hadn't stopped so much, we totally would've won. Or not.

We finally made it!! We ended up doing the Monkee Walk (please say you know what that is!!) across the finish line. No, that isn't our time up above us in the photo... We were loitering after we finished and then decided to take a picture at the finish line. We DID finish in under an hour, though I won't say what our time was ;)

After eating a free bagel, mini Luna bar, and a yogurt drink, we left. We stopped by the frozen fountain at some of the law offices. It's just so cool!

Carrie and I fenced with icicles from the fountain. I totally beat her.

Then I fought the fountain.

Lauren told the fountain who was boss too.

We are some tough chicks!

And we survived!! Maybe next year we'll actually run it.

And, of course, here is the awesome shirt!

2009 In Review

Just a quick rundown of 2009

January - Major head cold, Celebrated New Years Eve at home on the couch with NyQuil and Kleenex, Got a new boss, Crazy neighbor's psycho dogs broke through fence multiple times, Ashlee and Tyler got married in Houston, Angela and Abigail came to town

February - Decided to put our house up for sale, Repainted several rooms so we could sell, Packed up my scrapbook stuff to stage the back bedroom (sad!!), Started looking at houses Happy birth day Maddie Horton!

March - Put "For Sale" sign in front yard, Josh got a motorcycle, Looked at houses, Josh's 28th birthday and our 4th anniversary, Daniel gets an apartment, Annie Ruth passed away

April - Pete's Piano Bar with Leah and Jody, Bluebonnet pictures, I had jury duty (but didn't get picked), Looked at houses, Tried frog legs with Carrie, Daniel and Emily got married, PCA's Godspell

May - Glen Rose Dulcimer Festival, Our house sold, Took Jenn's bridals, Packed up our house, Carrie graduated from college, Leah's bridal shower, Looked at more houses, Cookout at the Linigers, Took Sara's prom pictures

June - We closed out the house and moved into my parent's house, Lots of crying, TONS of peaches, Esther Bible study, Blake and Ashley got married, Leah and Jody got married, Played with the Claus kids, Enjoyed the Levitt Pavilion, Union Lake Day, Getting burned out from looking at houses, Jenn Linden's wedding shower, Happy birth day to Natalie Bozeman!

July - Met crazy lady at the Levitt Pavilion and learned her entire life story, Pulled down old border in Mom's dining room, Cars got egged, Planted a tree in my parent's front yard, More house hunting, Tried Quinoa for the first time, Parent's left for NJ

August - Got two rocking chairs, Daniel and Emily started house hunting, Josh and I went to the Country Peddler show, Saw Tommy Emmanuel at Bass Hall, Met Ron Hall (author of Same Kind of Different As Me), ER visit, Really getting over looking at houses, Cute kittens living under the neighbors porch

September - Josh started school, Shopped in Southlake with Emily B, New found love for Anthropologie, Realization that I am broke and can't afford anything in Anthropologie, Saw Julie and Julia with Brenda, Got another new boss at work, Labor Day at Glenda and Keith's, Carrie came home from NJ, Carrie had her wisdom teeth taken out, Mom and Dad came back from NJ, Winfield!!!!!!, Hung out with the Claus family in Winfield, Dad and I made t-shirts with "statements", Pecan Grove jamming, Carrie started working at La Madeleine, Decided to build our house instead of buying an existing one, Happy birthday Carrie!

October - Josh and I watched the Aggie Band march into the Cowboy stadium, Texas State Fair and saw a llama give birth, We reserved our lot with the builder, Went to the Greek Festival with Carrie, Supper Club and pumpkin painting at the Linigers', Took pictures of little Benjamin Liniger, Transported books for the East Arlington Renewal, Pumpkin Run, The Afters at the Levitt, CT scan of my brain - I DO have one, Dad built a coffin for Doc

November - Church picnic, Dinner with our friends Brent and Briyana, Melinda taught me to crochet, I tasted grass jelly at Bethany with Daniel, Union Camping Trip, Motorcycle show, Happy birthday Dad and Grandma!!!!, Charlotte took up residence on our front porch, Daniel and Emily found a house, Introduced Josh to Candlelight Inn, Thanksgiving in Cleburne, I went Black Friday shopping with Daniel and Carrie, Finalized floor plan for our house

December - Snow flurries on the 2nd, Women's Retreat in Glen Rose, Daniel and Emily closed on their house, White chocolate covered cranberries, Lots of work on Daniel and Emily's house, Secret Agent Christmas at Beautiful Feet, Took pictures of our friends Adam and Deren, Daniel and Emily went to California for Christmas, Fruzin Christmas party, Made apron for Melinda, Snow on my 29th birthday, WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!, Celebrated a belated Christmas with Daniel and Emily, more snow, All day shopping trip with Carrie and Emily B, Celebrated New Years Eve at my parents house with friends and family, Major head cold.

2009 was an interesting year. Not bad, but not so great either. Hoping for a much better 2010! Happy New Year everyone!!

We need a second laptop!

This blog is dying a slow painful death! It's not for lack of excitement in our lives though. We've been fairly busy lately! The problem is that everything I want to write about includes pictures. The pictures are at home. My husband is in school and requires the computer in the evenings. Therefore, I don't get full access to the laptop until after 10:00 PMish and by then, honestly, who wants to mess with it?! So. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Sometime in the near future I need to find some time to write about the Women's Retreat, our house status, various other things, and Daniel and Emily's new house!

Until then...

The post in which I scream like a little girl

Meet Charlotte.

She is a barn spider and she lives on our porch. This is her in October when she was still "little".

She is big. And hairy. And ugly.

Carrie and I let her crawl on our faces

She tried to eat me.

This is her tonight, November 21. We think she is "with child" at the moment. See how she is bigger? And hairyer hairier more hairy? And uglier? No, I'm not saying pregnant women are big, hairy and ugly. Only spider-women. Spider-women that live on my porch.

Dad is the only one brave enough to get close. Since I am typically not afraid of any bug (except roaches), I tried. I did. I couldn't do it. She is just too big. I even tried sticking a ruler up there, but the ruler slightly touched the web and she tried to attack. I screamed. Like a little girl. And ran inside. And threw the ruler down. And screamed some more.

Yes, this is our friend Charlotte. As long as she doesn't touch me, her web doesn't cross my path, and she and her soon to be baby Charlottes stay out of the house, she is welcome to stay as long as she likes.

Genius!

This is awesome. That's all there is to it.

Banjo Hero!

I don't understand the phenomenon that is Guitar Hero. Then again, I've never actually played Guitar Hero. It just hasn't interested me. I guess I'd rather sit around and play a real guitar. A real, marketable skill

That said... I think there is a veritable market for a variation of the game called....

BANJO HERO!

See, the difference is that playing a banjo really isn't a marketable skill so therefore, it doesn't matter if you play a real one or a plastic one. Besides, let's be honest, either one will get the dogs howling and any human within earshot calling the cops on you in a matter of minutes.

The object of the game, of course, would be to get better and better (Or do I mean worse and worse? We ARE talking about the banjo here) As you progressed through the levels, your character would lose more and more teeth and his appearance would grow increasingly more.... hillbilly.

Then, WHAM!! before you know it, you're sitting on a rickety old porch, toothless, barefoot, holes in your overalls, a piece of straw sticking out of your mouth, and your scraggly dog Jethro sitting at your feet, having mastered the game Banjo Hero.

There could even be accompaniment instruments you could buy to go along with it such as the Washboard, Washtub Bass, Jug, Spoons, Bones, and for the especially enthusiastic, the musical Saw (watch your fingers, kids!).

I definitely think there is a market for this game! It would be THE hot item at Best Buy the day after Thanksgiving (at least in Arkansas). I know I'd buy it. Or burn it. Um.. one of the two.

You're building a WHAT?!

I went out into the shop to see what Dad was building on Friday afternoon and found this...

It's a coffin.

Dad found out he has FOUR broken ribs, not one, so his doctor told him to go ahead and make a coffin.

Not really.

It IS a coffin, and he DOES have 4 broken ribs, and his doctor DID tell him to build it...

Thankfully, it's not going to be used any time soon for it's real intended purpose. I'm sure Doc wanted it for Halloween, but it will undoubtedly eventually end up in his cowboy town, Marrow Bone Springs. It was rather odd to come home and find Dad out back putting together a coffin though!