Well, you probably noticed that my blog looks different! I LOVE change and I was getting a little bored with how my blog looked, so I switched! :) I asked my sister what she thought. She said: "Your blog looks like your 80 years old. Why are there doilies on your blog? I liked the other one better. It was more...cheerful." Haha! I love how honest she is. It's wonderfully refreshing. (This is why I ask her for outfit advice. :)) Anyway, I'm going to leave it like it is for now. (Much to Marissa's dismay! :))
I entitled this post "Different- On Purpose" not because I changed the look of my blog but because of something that happened today.
At the beginning of August I received a letter saying that my driver's license was going to expire in September and that I should fill out the form they had sent me, include a check for a certain amount, and mail it back. They would then renew my license. Pretty straight forward. So, I followed the instructions and mailed back my paperwork. Two weeks later Tyler got the same notice for his license and we did the same thing for him. Now, in September, Tyler has already received his renewed license (2 weeks ago) and I am still waiting for mine. NOT GOOD. (I've never really trusted the DMV.) I called the DMV yesterday and basically asked if I should be worried that I hadn't received my license yet. Apparently I should be. (Granted it took about 5 phone calls to confirm that yes, I should be concerned but oh well.) I was informed that I needed to actually go to the DMV to get this all straightened out.
To be honest, I was really having a hard time having a good attitude about having to go to the DMV to correct a mistake that I didn't make. Especially with an 18 month old who hates to sit still or be held when waiting in line.
But I got Everett and myself all ready to go this morning and headed out to the DMV at a fairly early time so that I wouldn't have to wait in a huge line. We got to the counter and I started to explain my problem to the lady. She wasn't very smiley...to say it nicely. (Of course, if I worked there I doubt I would be very smiley either.) She then informs me that SHE is the one that messed up my license. Apparently she entered the information wrong or something like that. Well she was a little snippy and kind of frustrated that she was having to "own up" to making the mistake. (Apparently the computer keeps track of who did what and when.)
I was getting kind of agitated that she was spending such a lengthy amount of time explaining to me how it wasn't really her fault. (I'll save you having to read all about that.) Everett was getting really fussy by this point and I was struggling to keep him happy while answering the questions the lady was asking me in between her monologue about why she wasn't to blame.
And then I remembered a post that my friend Christy wrote. (See it here.) It talks about how powerful one little smile can be to someone else. I decided I better change my attitude. After all, my attitude wasn't any better than the lady's and I have Jesus in my heart! (How pathetic am I?)
I started to smile at her and assure her that the mistake really wasn't that big of a deal. That we all make mistakes. That we all have bad days sometimes. And amazingly...HER attitude started changing!! She started smiling and being pleasant! She even offered Everett a sucker before we left.
I was so convicted about my poor attitude. ME- a SINNER- deserving of Hell but headed to HEAVEN because of my SAVIOR...and I'm upset about a little thing like going to the DMV. (Again, how pathetic am I?) I'm supposed to be different. I'm Christ's adopted child and I'm acting like I'm not. I need to make sure I'm different- different on purpose.
Well, I'm also thankful that I got my attitude under control because I was wearing one of my school's coaching shirts and the lady wanted to know what TFCA stood for. Um...Twin Falls CHRISTIAN Academy. (Yeah, that's right, I'm a grump and a Christian.) SO GLAD the Lord convicted me early on about my attitude! (He's merciful that way. :))
The good news is I got my license all taken care of, and got my attitude adjusted all at the same time! :) God really is good.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Returning to Reasons to by Joyful
I promised I would get back to why I am joyful! :) Well, TADA!!! Here it is!
I can be joyful because:
1.) The Lord provides for my family. He provides for my family's needs in amazing ways. And I'm not just referring to monetarily. (Though He has provided me with a consulting job that I am SO thankful for!) This month has been really crazy. We counted up all of the times that we were going to have to get babysitters for Everett this month...13 times! And that's JUST in the evenings. That's not counting all of the times he goes to our school's daycare while Tyler and I are both teaching and coaching! (I coach volleyball and Tyler coaches football.) Anyway, God sent along perfect solutions. First, my parents came out and stayed with us for about 2 weeks. That took care of 7 of the 13 times I needed a babysitter! My parents were such a blessing to us! Second, Marissa moved out here. She has watched Everett for us on several occasions, including one time when Tyler and I had games in Boise that we needed to stay overnight for. And lastly, our friends the Reeds. They have watched Everett on numerous occasions for us. We are so blessed and humbled by everyone's willingness to help us out! We are doing some thinking about what to change for next year so we don't get ourselves in the same situation next year. :)
2.) Tyler and I have time for "pillow talk." On an average day these last couple of weeks, Tyler has been leaving the house for school around 7:45 in the morning and has been getting back after coaching and mowing lawns at about 8 or 8:30 every night. Everett and I have been leaving the house around 9:15 every morning and have been getting back around 8:30 every night. By the time Tyler and I are both home and have things cleaned up and everything packed up for the next day's activities we just want to go SLEEP! :) This doesn't leave a whole lot of time for us to be with each other so we can just TALK. Well, lately we have made it a point to talk before we fall asleep. It has been SO GREAT. We just lay in bed and talk until we drift off to sleep. It has been so good for us. I just love that man.
3.) God has been teaching me LOTS of things. I feel like I pray a lot more the busier I get. I'm not sure why that is. I think it is partly because I know that I can't get everything done without His help. And I certainly can't do the things I'm supposed to do with a good attitude without His strength and grace. So recently, instead of turning on the radio in the car, or popping in a CD, I've started to spend my "car time" praying. Good grief, I never realized how much time I spend in the car! Haha! In all seriousness, I am always amazed how much brighter everything looks after I've finished praying about it. Daunting things don't seem as daunting. Disappointing things aren't as disappointing. Discouraging things aren't as discouraging. Worrisome things aren't as worrisome. God is showing me once again how my prayer time is invaluable.
4.) My sister made me funfetti cupcakes. YUUUUUUUUUUUM. She gave me a key to her apartment and then let me pick them up while she was at work. They are SOOOOOOOOOOO good! AND she bought me a LITER SIZED CAN of Mountain Dew!! Those things are so cool!!! I started drinking it on the way to one of our away volleyball games and finished it on the way back. Man, it was awesome!
5.) Everett had his 18 month wellness checkup this month and he is as healthy as can be! I'm so thankful that God has allowed Everett to be healthy! What is kind of ironic is that Everett is in the 90th percentile for height at 33 1/4 inches. I mean, have you seen Tyler and me lately? I don't think either of us has ever seen that side of a growth chart. But don't worry. We don't let Everett get his hopes up. :)
Well, sorry I had to take a little vaca from writing my Reasons to be Joyful recently. Thanks for reading! :)
I can be joyful because:
1.) The Lord provides for my family. He provides for my family's needs in amazing ways. And I'm not just referring to monetarily. (Though He has provided me with a consulting job that I am SO thankful for!) This month has been really crazy. We counted up all of the times that we were going to have to get babysitters for Everett this month...13 times! And that's JUST in the evenings. That's not counting all of the times he goes to our school's daycare while Tyler and I are both teaching and coaching! (I coach volleyball and Tyler coaches football.) Anyway, God sent along perfect solutions. First, my parents came out and stayed with us for about 2 weeks. That took care of 7 of the 13 times I needed a babysitter! My parents were such a blessing to us! Second, Marissa moved out here. She has watched Everett for us on several occasions, including one time when Tyler and I had games in Boise that we needed to stay overnight for. And lastly, our friends the Reeds. They have watched Everett on numerous occasions for us. We are so blessed and humbled by everyone's willingness to help us out! We are doing some thinking about what to change for next year so we don't get ourselves in the same situation next year. :)
2.) Tyler and I have time for "pillow talk." On an average day these last couple of weeks, Tyler has been leaving the house for school around 7:45 in the morning and has been getting back after coaching and mowing lawns at about 8 or 8:30 every night. Everett and I have been leaving the house around 9:15 every morning and have been getting back around 8:30 every night. By the time Tyler and I are both home and have things cleaned up and everything packed up for the next day's activities we just want to go SLEEP! :) This doesn't leave a whole lot of time for us to be with each other so we can just TALK. Well, lately we have made it a point to talk before we fall asleep. It has been SO GREAT. We just lay in bed and talk until we drift off to sleep. It has been so good for us. I just love that man.
3.) God has been teaching me LOTS of things. I feel like I pray a lot more the busier I get. I'm not sure why that is. I think it is partly because I know that I can't get everything done without His help. And I certainly can't do the things I'm supposed to do with a good attitude without His strength and grace. So recently, instead of turning on the radio in the car, or popping in a CD, I've started to spend my "car time" praying. Good grief, I never realized how much time I spend in the car! Haha! In all seriousness, I am always amazed how much brighter everything looks after I've finished praying about it. Daunting things don't seem as daunting. Disappointing things aren't as disappointing. Discouraging things aren't as discouraging. Worrisome things aren't as worrisome. God is showing me once again how my prayer time is invaluable.
4.) My sister made me funfetti cupcakes. YUUUUUUUUUUUM. She gave me a key to her apartment and then let me pick them up while she was at work. They are SOOOOOOOOOOO good! AND she bought me a LITER SIZED CAN of Mountain Dew!! Those things are so cool!!! I started drinking it on the way to one of our away volleyball games and finished it on the way back. Man, it was awesome!
5.) Everett had his 18 month wellness checkup this month and he is as healthy as can be! I'm so thankful that God has allowed Everett to be healthy! What is kind of ironic is that Everett is in the 90th percentile for height at 33 1/4 inches. I mean, have you seen Tyler and me lately? I don't think either of us has ever seen that side of a growth chart. But don't worry. We don't let Everett get his hopes up. :)
Well, sorry I had to take a little vaca from writing my Reasons to be Joyful recently. Thanks for reading! :)
Monday, September 10, 2012
Just One of Those Days...
I'm sure you all have those kinds of days where early on you start to wonder if it isn't going to be just a typical, normal day? I'm not necessarily referring to it being a BAD day, just a day that isn't quite normal. Yeah, I felt like that this morning.
This morning my elderly neighbor from across the street was knocking on my door at around 9:00am. I hadn't ever officially met her. We have always pleasantly waved to each other as we come and go from our cul-de-sac, but we've never formally introduced ourselves. Well, "grandma" had her knickers in a knot this morning! I opened the door and she starts by telling me her name. I tell her my name and stick out my hand to shake hers in a "it's nice to meet you" sort of way. "Grandma" had other priorities. She asks if it's my truck that is parked in front of her house. Nope, not my truck. And then she starts in about the Russians that live across the way from her and how they always park in front of her house and it's almost put her in the hospital 3 times! (Maybe the stress of it? Not sure how it's life threatening...but ok.) She tells me if there are any other cars that get parked in front of her house she is going to call the police. What if she needs an ambulance? Where will they park to come and get her or her husband if someone's car/truck is parked in front of her house??? Not to mention that the cars keep leaking oil all over the asphalt in front of her house.
Now, I do admit that when Marissa moved in last week we parked the rented moving truck in front of her house. (Only because of how our house is located in the cul-del-sac, we don't have enough curb space to park the truck in front of our own house.) Well, apparently this put us on "grandma's" naughty list. She must have been stalking us. I did apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused her and promised we would do our best not to park there again.
Anyway, so that's how my morning started out.
The rest of the morning and early afternoon were fairly normal. I taught elementary and high school choir without any major mishaps.
Then came the volleyball game. I coach the Jr. High girls volleyball team and today they had an away game. We had to drive the van without air conditioning to the game today. It wasn't too bad though because it was pretty nice outside. We rolled down the windows and propped open the back windows and it was fine. And then a bug flew into the van and up my nose. GROSS, GROSS, GROSS. Man does that hurt. And man is it GROSS. Took me a while to recover from that one.
Then we got lost. Yes, I know. Hard to believe that someone with my exceptional sense of direction got lost, but it happened. Thankfully, Annie, my assistant coach, has an iphone. Good thing too, otherwise we might still be driving around. :)
We get to the gym (finally), play and win our game. Hooray for us! Then we get back into the van to go home. We get about 10 minutes away from the school and realize that we have left our volleyballs back at the gym. NOT OK. So...we turn around and go back for the balls. (I was slightly irritated, but it wasn't that big of a deal. If that's the worst thing that happens to us we will be just fine.)
We start our trip back home for the second time after retrieving the forgotten volleyballs. We are more than halfway there when a guy pulls up next to us at a stop sign. He had his windows rolled down (and we did too because of the a/c...or lack thereof.) The man informs us we have a mug on the back of our bumper. Wait...a mug??
Annie said she remembered seeing a cup on the back of the van's bumper at church yesterday morning, but didn't think it could possibly be the same one. I mean after all, we had gotten lost and gone back to the gym to get the forgotten volleyballs which all required a lot of U-turns in rather bumpy terrain. (I promise I was not off-roading.) How could the mug possibly still be there? But it was. A lovely St. Luke's Hospital jug. (I swear those things could hold a gallon of water.) Unbelievable. Annie and I spent quite a while laughing about this.
Anyway, I got home from this busy day around 6:00pm and couldn't decide what to eat. In the hectic-ness of today I forgot to pack myself a lunch and so I had to snack on a few crackers I had in my purse. (Wow, that made me sound homeless.) Regardless, I was SUPER hungry. I ate some leftover lasagna. It was good, but it wasn't quite what I wanted. So then I started trying to pin point exactly what is was that I wanted. (You know the feeling, right? Where there is something really specific you want, you just can't put your finger on it?) Well, I convinced myself that I really wanted a chocolate cookie dough blizzard from Dairy Queen. I had Tyler all convinced to go with me to get one. Then as we are just about to walk out the door, I realize---NO! I don't want ice cream! I want Kentucky Fried Chicken's mashed potatoes!! Rarely am I able to figure out EXACTLY what I want and this time...I DID!!! I was beside myself with excitement! So, my sweet husband took me out at 8:45pm to get KFC mashed potatoes. Oh, man! Did they hit the spot or what!
Like a said, kind of an unusual day. A day with lots of laughs at people's craziness, forgetfulness, and quirkiness. Yup, I consider that a good day. :)
This morning my elderly neighbor from across the street was knocking on my door at around 9:00am. I hadn't ever officially met her. We have always pleasantly waved to each other as we come and go from our cul-de-sac, but we've never formally introduced ourselves. Well, "grandma" had her knickers in a knot this morning! I opened the door and she starts by telling me her name. I tell her my name and stick out my hand to shake hers in a "it's nice to meet you" sort of way. "Grandma" had other priorities. She asks if it's my truck that is parked in front of her house. Nope, not my truck. And then she starts in about the Russians that live across the way from her and how they always park in front of her house and it's almost put her in the hospital 3 times! (Maybe the stress of it? Not sure how it's life threatening...but ok.) She tells me if there are any other cars that get parked in front of her house she is going to call the police. What if she needs an ambulance? Where will they park to come and get her or her husband if someone's car/truck is parked in front of her house??? Not to mention that the cars keep leaking oil all over the asphalt in front of her house.
Now, I do admit that when Marissa moved in last week we parked the rented moving truck in front of her house. (Only because of how our house is located in the cul-del-sac, we don't have enough curb space to park the truck in front of our own house.) Well, apparently this put us on "grandma's" naughty list. She must have been stalking us. I did apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused her and promised we would do our best not to park there again.
Anyway, so that's how my morning started out.
The rest of the morning and early afternoon were fairly normal. I taught elementary and high school choir without any major mishaps.
Then came the volleyball game. I coach the Jr. High girls volleyball team and today they had an away game. We had to drive the van without air conditioning to the game today. It wasn't too bad though because it was pretty nice outside. We rolled down the windows and propped open the back windows and it was fine. And then a bug flew into the van and up my nose. GROSS, GROSS, GROSS. Man does that hurt. And man is it GROSS. Took me a while to recover from that one.
Then we got lost. Yes, I know. Hard to believe that someone with my exceptional sense of direction got lost, but it happened. Thankfully, Annie, my assistant coach, has an iphone. Good thing too, otherwise we might still be driving around. :)
We get to the gym (finally), play and win our game. Hooray for us! Then we get back into the van to go home. We get about 10 minutes away from the school and realize that we have left our volleyballs back at the gym. NOT OK. So...we turn around and go back for the balls. (I was slightly irritated, but it wasn't that big of a deal. If that's the worst thing that happens to us we will be just fine.)
We start our trip back home for the second time after retrieving the forgotten volleyballs. We are more than halfway there when a guy pulls up next to us at a stop sign. He had his windows rolled down (and we did too because of the a/c...or lack thereof.) The man informs us we have a mug on the back of our bumper. Wait...a mug??
Annie said she remembered seeing a cup on the back of the van's bumper at church yesterday morning, but didn't think it could possibly be the same one. I mean after all, we had gotten lost and gone back to the gym to get the forgotten volleyballs which all required a lot of U-turns in rather bumpy terrain. (I promise I was not off-roading.) How could the mug possibly still be there? But it was. A lovely St. Luke's Hospital jug. (I swear those things could hold a gallon of water.) Unbelievable. Annie and I spent quite a while laughing about this.
Anyway, I got home from this busy day around 6:00pm and couldn't decide what to eat. In the hectic-ness of today I forgot to pack myself a lunch and so I had to snack on a few crackers I had in my purse. (Wow, that made me sound homeless.) Regardless, I was SUPER hungry. I ate some leftover lasagna. It was good, but it wasn't quite what I wanted. So then I started trying to pin point exactly what is was that I wanted. (You know the feeling, right? Where there is something really specific you want, you just can't put your finger on it?) Well, I convinced myself that I really wanted a chocolate cookie dough blizzard from Dairy Queen. I had Tyler all convinced to go with me to get one. Then as we are just about to walk out the door, I realize---NO! I don't want ice cream! I want Kentucky Fried Chicken's mashed potatoes!! Rarely am I able to figure out EXACTLY what I want and this time...I DID!!! I was beside myself with excitement! So, my sweet husband took me out at 8:45pm to get KFC mashed potatoes. Oh, man! Did they hit the spot or what!
Like a said, kind of an unusual day. A day with lots of laughs at people's craziness, forgetfulness, and quirkiness. Yup, I consider that a good day. :)
Saturday, September 8, 2012
More Odds and Ends
So it seems that once again I have LOT of things going on, but none of them make for an entire post. So here are some more odds and ends. :)
1.) My sister, Marissa, is all moved into her awesome apartment! It is so fresh, and clean, and neat, and....FUN! Maybe it's super fun to me because never before (since we've moved to Twin) have I been able to say: "Well, maybe we'll just pop on over and visit Maris!" And I've said that like TWICE already! So excited to have her live here in Twin!
2.) My wonderful parents came to visit! My Dad had to leave yesterday afternoon, but my Mom gets to stay another week! I just loving having my family come! It's so nice to be together again and I love watching Everett play with Grandma Bat and Papa! (Trust me, Everett has already been totally spoiled by my parents and Grandma is still here for a while!!) :) He's just beside himself he's having so much fun!
3.) I kicked off my new job with Thirty-One this month! I have had so much fun with this job already! I love it! I'm so thankful that the Lord provided this opportunity for me and my little family!
4.) Tyler and I have been home at the same time this week a total of 6 hours. (I'm referring to being awake- not sleeping time.) We have been a little crazy with volleyball games, football practices, volleyball practices, Tyler's mowing business, and church stuff. Thankfully, we will only be this busy for the month of September and the beginning of October. :) I'm thinking that it was providential that Mom and Dad came this month so that Ev didn't have to spend as much time in daycare. He is LOVING staying home with Grandma and Papa! :)
5.) I just LOVE my volleyball girls. We have SO much fun. We have had a couple of away games recently and the van trips are a riot. I love laughing and joking with them. They are so sweet to let me pick on them and tease them. I'm so thankful for each and every one of them. They are a blessing to me.
6.) I really will get back to writing my "Reasons to be Joyful." I promise I'm still being joyful even if I'm failing to write a post about it every week. God has been too good to me for me to not be joyful. :) See #4 as to why I have been delinquent in this area.
7.) I am thankful for such sweet, caring, supportive friends. I have been so encouraged these last couple of weeks with all of the craziness going on, starting my new business, and finding sitters for Ev, etc...in all of that my sweet friends have been in my corner. I am so thankful for you guys. You are such an encouragement!
8.) Football season has started!!!!!!!! I forgot how much I enjoy it! This means a couple of things for my family. First, Fantasy Football is becoming a heated conversation topic around my house. (lol) Second, my BUFFS are playing again! Now I know a lot of you out there make fun of me for cheering for CU because they aren't any good, but I AM NOT A FAIR WEATHER FAN! I will cheer for them until I die. I just can't help myself!
So in honor of football coming back, I can't resist sharing a couple of pictures. :) Here's my little Buffalo fan and my little Tebow. :)
I think that's it for now. I really will get back to "real" blogging. Eventually! :)
1.) My sister, Marissa, is all moved into her awesome apartment! It is so fresh, and clean, and neat, and....FUN! Maybe it's super fun to me because never before (since we've moved to Twin) have I been able to say: "Well, maybe we'll just pop on over and visit Maris!" And I've said that like TWICE already! So excited to have her live here in Twin!
2.) My wonderful parents came to visit! My Dad had to leave yesterday afternoon, but my Mom gets to stay another week! I just loving having my family come! It's so nice to be together again and I love watching Everett play with Grandma Bat and Papa! (Trust me, Everett has already been totally spoiled by my parents and Grandma is still here for a while!!) :) He's just beside himself he's having so much fun!
3.) I kicked off my new job with Thirty-One this month! I have had so much fun with this job already! I love it! I'm so thankful that the Lord provided this opportunity for me and my little family!
4.) Tyler and I have been home at the same time this week a total of 6 hours. (I'm referring to being awake- not sleeping time.) We have been a little crazy with volleyball games, football practices, volleyball practices, Tyler's mowing business, and church stuff. Thankfully, we will only be this busy for the month of September and the beginning of October. :) I'm thinking that it was providential that Mom and Dad came this month so that Ev didn't have to spend as much time in daycare. He is LOVING staying home with Grandma and Papa! :)
5.) I just LOVE my volleyball girls. We have SO much fun. We have had a couple of away games recently and the van trips are a riot. I love laughing and joking with them. They are so sweet to let me pick on them and tease them. I'm so thankful for each and every one of them. They are a blessing to me.
6.) I really will get back to writing my "Reasons to be Joyful." I promise I'm still being joyful even if I'm failing to write a post about it every week. God has been too good to me for me to not be joyful. :) See #4 as to why I have been delinquent in this area.
7.) I am thankful for such sweet, caring, supportive friends. I have been so encouraged these last couple of weeks with all of the craziness going on, starting my new business, and finding sitters for Ev, etc...in all of that my sweet friends have been in my corner. I am so thankful for you guys. You are such an encouragement!
8.) Football season has started!!!!!!!! I forgot how much I enjoy it! This means a couple of things for my family. First, Fantasy Football is becoming a heated conversation topic around my house. (lol) Second, my BUFFS are playing again! Now I know a lot of you out there make fun of me for cheering for CU because they aren't any good, but I AM NOT A FAIR WEATHER FAN! I will cheer for them until I die. I just can't help myself!
So in honor of football coming back, I can't resist sharing a couple of pictures. :) Here's my little Buffalo fan and my little Tebow. :)
 |
| See! He's Tebowing! Haha! |
I think that's it for now. I really will get back to "real" blogging. Eventually! :)
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