I've come a long way baby...

It was a moment that made me stop and think "wow, I have grown up so much". It happened last night.

It happened when I picked up some clothes off the bathroom floor and discovered a two-inch long wriggling cockroach on its back.

I didn't scream, I didn't jump (I started- starting and jumping ARE different). I reached OVER the cockroach to open the bathroom cabinet to get the Raid. It wasn't there. I calmly walked to the kitchen (meanwhile yelling at the cats to leave it alone- I was afraid they would flip it over- and yeah, like the cats could understand me...) and got the Raid, walked back and killed the nasty. Using two dustpans (without a broom attached to the end of them and without plastic bags wrapped over my hands) I calmly scooped it up and flushed it.

I've come a long way. A long way from trapping a cockroach under a cup and then calling Christina and Paul and Paul coming over and disposing of it.

Aww....

Hilarious

So, I just started reading this book that I was very excited to start reading. It's outside of what I normally read. It has the phrase "National Bestseller" on the cover. Gasp! No, pigs aren't flying...yes, I don't normally read bestsellers because, well, for the most part, they are very disappointing.

This particular book may be the exception. The title? "The Know-it-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World" by AJ Jacobs. It's an autobiographical tale of the author's quest to read the entire Britannica encyclopedia. He breaks down the chapters into letters. I just finished C. It's an awesome mixture of facts and extremely dry (my favorite!) humor and the goings on of his every day life.

My favorite excerpt so far that had me snorting with laughter for a full three minutes? (not including right now as I am remembering it)

" Brain:
The Britannica's brain-related highlights so far: the Greeks believed that it produced mucus, which gives new meaning to blowing your brains out"

hahahahahahahahahahaha...

Belated New Year's Post

Yeah, yeah I realize that it's now January 3rd, but I unexpectedly had to work console the past couple of days and now I am sick yet again. Grrr...doesn't sickness realize that I have a TON of stuff to do (like packing and moving and quilting?)

Anyways, down to business. So, something that has become a New Years Day tradition for me is to read back over the prayer journal I keep throughout the year. I tend to fall asleep while praying (oops!), so I found that writing my prayers out helps me to focus. I also use it for my Bible studies and as your standard-run-of-the-mill journal as well. I highly recommend keeping one. It's always so awesome, despite whatever bad/challenging stuff has been going on, to read through and see the amazing work that God has been doing in my life and in lives of the people around me. It's easy to forget the good things when in the midst of struggles, and by reflecting on His work, I am reminded of how much I depend on Him, or need to depend on Him. It's also a good reminder to see that His timing is perfect. I may have prayed about something at the beginning of the year, and didn't see results (and the results are not always what I prayed for...they are always BETTER) until months later...some things even take years...( ha! so that's where 'patience is a virtue' came from...hehe).

It's also interesting to see how I have changed over the year( and no, not just the red hair!)- things that I was anxious about a year ago, I'm not anymore. Things I was afraid of, God has given me peace. My perspective has changed in a lot of ways. Now, of course, there's a whole slew of new paranoias/flaws that He and I will need to deal with this coming year :), but that's what growing is all about right?

I also make new year's goals. I made 13 last year and met 12 of them! They range from all sorts of topics: financial, personal, spiritual. For instance, I wanted to keep track of how many books I read...27!

For this year? Hmm...run a half-marathon, read 30 books ;-), save X amount of dollars...well, that's all I am willing to share in a public forum at least...

So, I challenge you to sit down, if you haven't already, and reflect over your last year. If you don't keep a journal, ask your friends to remind you of things you were concerned about or struggled with over the year, goals you might have mentioned, and take a moment to praise Him- because whether you believe in Him or not, He is moving in your life. Try to see it. Happy New Year!

AZ Wrap-Up

So the rest of my AZ trip was spent whirlwinding around making last minute visits to people I haven't seen in awhile (like my friend Amanda, she was pregnant with her second when I last saw her...he's two now!). I also headed over to Garcias and hung out with their three kids (uh, teenagers actually, which makes me feel OH so old!) We watched Doctor Who. Coolest kids ever.

I got waylaid with some throat/fever/cough nastiness on Saturday that is still rearing its ugly head as I type, but at least it happened at the end of my trip :)

All in all, a very good trip.

At Nancy and Quique's house- in their rehearsal room (they have a band). John Michael is hidden by the drum set



Amanda helping JM rock out



Monica got her wedding dress!!! And we got the bridesmaid dresses picked out too. Maid-of-honor can check those boxes off ;-)

Christmas Fun with the Family

John Michael got a wagon from Santa...and he refused to get out of it...so he ate his breakfast in there.

The grandkids with Grandma



Notice the rock sitting on the cat's head? That was his hat and John Michael was showing me where his hat was. He really liked that cat. He even gave it kisses (my suggestion), much to the consternation of Nana and Monica :D (I'm such a bad example, hehehe)

John Michael with his Daddy (John)

John Michael and Monica always match...its kinda funny

Family picture

Sibling picture

Me and Zildjian (yes, named after the cymbal)- my cousin's son

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we have an open house-type party at my parents. People just randomly pop in and out as they head to other Christmas gatherings. It's a fun way to see a lot of people. Good food too :) The ham came out great, even though Mom's oven literally stopped working the day before...ham made in a crockpot? Best ever!

Mom and Grandma

John Michael getting ready to go outside and play with Daddy and Uncle Bobby

me and Bobby (who wasn't exactly please to be subjected to my picture taking)

My sister is weird...

Me and Monica

Art project

My mom has her class make presents for their parents for Christmas by stamping their hands on a fabric wreath and then stuffing the wreath. So Monica and I had John Michael make one for them, and both Grandmas. This kid does NOT like to get his hands messy!

Finished product