Blogging...

Don't have really anything to say... but really love the new Maxine...
Those who carry little dogs around in their purse should be careful when searching for loose change... Too funny...

Well, what's going on?? Tara has surgery this Friday. They are saying they are going to let her go home the same day - if all goes well. Pray that they do not need to give her the meds to control the bleeding disorder. But I do think that hospitals and doctors send you home way too early after surgery these days. It's crazy.... The woman has her shoulder bone split so deeply that it's bleeding ... and they want to send her home the same day.

We are getting closer to moving the office out of her home. I hope that happens fast. Really difficult both of us trying to work ... and only one computer and in a small space. And it must be difficult to seperate home from work when it's in your guest room.

I guess that's all that is going on. I'm not sure that anyone even reads this so not sure why I even blog here. Oh well...

Horses....

When creating my blog I came across the blog of a horse owner. Blogger.com has her blog as one to read... so (no surprise) I checked it out. The blogger is a woman (Victoria) who was from California but has moved to the East Coast and owns 2 horses. She tells of her daily education that she receives from her horses. What they teach her is amazing and I look forward to reading it. I have commented on her blog several times that I read about her life and dream about being able to have the same.
My friends all know that I am crazy about horses. But I am not quite sure that no one truely understands just how they have captured my heart. Growing up my mom and dad had a horse. He was a 17 hand high (that's tall for a horse) paint. He was tri colored and was the most magnificant animal. My mom bought him from a man who was getting married - and his bride to be said, "me or the horse." Almost daily we found out more about King and what he was able to do. There really wasn't anything he couldn't do ... my friend Mickey liked to ride barrels and begged and begged her mom until she gave in to let her ride King. She took King out to the field where the barrels were - she thought she would just ride him around the barrels ... and she found out that King knew the barrels better than she did... He ran the barrels and she held on. After my mom and dad split my mom couldn't afford the upkeep on King so a friend of my dad's offered to let King stay at his place. He owned a home on lots of land and was a cattleman. After running his cattle one day (riding through his cattle checking for illness, etc.) he came back to the stall and let his horse go. It was then that the cattle decided to stampede. All he had available to ride was King... he found out that King knew catttle better than any of his cutting horses ... he too just held on.
King was amazing in what he could do. But beyond that - and what captured my heart was King himself - not for what he could do but who he was. He was the most magnificant animal (did I already say that?) who knew when my dad was on his back that my dad could handle anything and King would often test him to see just what that was. But King also knew when I was on his back ... and this horse who loved to prance and run at full speed was also the most gentlest of creatures knowing that his little girl was on him. I really am at a loss for words about what exactly what it was about him ... but my heart will never be the same after knowing him.
Needless to say I miss him. And I miss having horses in my life... I miss the heart, I miss the power, I miss the feel of their coat, I miss the smell, I miss the special love they have... I doubt that I have come close to even beginning to explain the feeling correctly.
Today on Victoria's blog she posted a link to another horse owner (Stacy) and then her sight has video of Stacy and her horse in a horse show. It is a video of Stacy riding her horse without a saddle and without reins. What I can not begin to explain in words can maybe only be best explained by watching the video. All I can say is that it felt like my heart was going to EXPLODE while watching this woman and her amazing horse...

End of my Birthday Week...

Well, my birthday week is over.... sad but true. It has been awesome... to top it all off my husband got a much deserved break. We went out of town for a night... we went to Tehachepe (or however you spell it). So very nice... we walked around the little town and went into the little shops (yes - my husband does enjoy that)... I bought a new windchime since mine is missing most of the pieces. I also bought a little something for my friend Alexis since today is her birthday... We went into a quilting shop. OH MY - what gorgeous quilts. I just stood there in awe... the owner of the shop said she did quilting workshops ... 5 days of instruction from her for $100. What a great small retreat idea!!! John wanted a good steak dinner so in search of a good steak we ended up at Cattleman's Restuarant. Cattleman's sounds like it would have great steaks huh? Well, it had good fajitas. New owner - now it's mexican food. John heard there was a lake nearby so he wanted to find it - maybe he would get up early and go fishing. Guess John didn't know that backwood country roads are dark!!! We passed right by the lake and about 40 miles later hit a dead end. Back to the house we were staying at and watched a couple of movies (Delta Farce with Larry the Cable Guy - it was ok, and The Life of David Gale - good story but could have done without some of the scenes). The next morning we watched The Last Sin Eater (GREAT SHOW!). While we were cleaning up and deciding on our day - it started snowing!! John was a little freaked out that we were going to be trapped up there so we starte packing faster. But we still HAD to eat at Sonic and John still wanted to find the lake. So we put the sheets in the dryer and the towels in the wash and headed out for lunch. Picked up Sonic (yummmmy onion rings and Cherry-Limeaide !!!) ... and headed to find the lake. On the way we saw a sign for a camp ground so we went to check it out. And we were so glad we did... the snow that I mentioned wasn't really sticking everywhere else... except at this campsite... We ate our lunch watching the snow and then got out and took pictures and nearly froze!!! If ever I get off the computer and clean out the truck I will get the camera to load up pics of the snow... We then found the lake (it was closed). And saw a house for sale... John and I dreamed of owning a house that close to the lake ... it was livable but definetly needed some fixing up ... and sat on 5 acres with horse stables out back.... maybe one day...
We had promised Jake we would be home before bedtime but John had also promised him a gift ... so then we started the search. Came across a book store that was moving so everything was on sale... could have spent a lot more time there... and then down to the fake 99cent store (I don't think ANYthing was 99cents in there) ... they had knives in the cashier case... so yep - the boys got additions to their collections.
On the way home we stopped by and saw one of John's brothers and his family ... wow his girls are getting big !!! And oh so pretty...
We were blessed with no traffic (either way) ... and made it home around 9 last night. Since it was Friday - that worked on being home by Jake's bed time...
Really enjoyed the time away... Now - I really must get unpacked...

Valentines...

This is out of order because in the busyness of last week - I forgot to post about Valentine's Day.

John and I both had to work .. and it is rather common that he calls me to ask what is for lunch. Valentines was no different.... he wanted to go out but I was soooo far behind on my work I just couldn't. So he asked what I wanted - and I said Sushi. He said, "I was just thinking that." So he showed up at my office with sushi...

But not just any sushi.. he went from Long Beach to the place I have mentioned before that we both love in San Pedro to get sushi ... and then to me in Lomita. We sat in my office and shared sushi over mounds of paperwork... that was it but it was very possibly the best Valentines Day I have ever had.

What a Surprise!!!

Last night I was minding my own business ... trying to complete the monthly financial reports for the church ... when all of a sudden I was abducted from my office ... blindfolded and driven in circles until we reached our destination.

When we reached where we were going ... I was directed out of the van and into a gate... blindfold removed - and saw friends and family waiting to yell surprise!!!

I was then told by everyone there how hard my husband worked to pull off this fabulous event. The theme was Princess Pony... or Rodeo Queen - I'm not quite sure... but it was girly and horsey all at the same time... there were bales of hay... horsey signs and balloons... a wanted poster picture booth... and everyone in cowboy hats. And food ... oh my the food... John bought brisket (they don't know what that is here), chicken, cocktail sausages, chips, dip, and then was forced to get a salad and something green for the table. He even went all the way to Lynwood to pickup a huge barbque pit (ranch style) ... and bought a smoker.

The cake was cupcakes with the cutest horsey candles... I loved it. Loved it all... I'm still quite amazed as to how my husband and friends pulled this off. Oh they lies they have been telling me all week... :-)

I am still in amazement of the show of love from my friends and church family....
I will add some pictures after they are posted on other's sites and I can steal them... I can't wait to see them myself!!

I don't turn 40 until Wednesday... and will be holding on to 39 until the last minute... until then - I now need to go and complete those financial reports!!

I told you I was busy...

I haven't blogged in days... mainly because I have been too busy to stop and write down all that I have been doing.

Let's see I last blogged on 2/8 ... that was Friday ... since then:

Saturday 2/9 - Jake turned 7!!! We had a great time with our friends at the bowling alley. He had 9 friends join him for his birthday.... somewhere is my camera with the pictures on it.

Sunday 2/10 - I taught in Beginners Church ... I had one helper... and she rarely comes to church... her kids were not there... I think it was good for her to have a day without them... and to have an identity of a woman - not just the boys mom... I feel really bad for her. I learn more and more about her relationship with her husband... he is borderline abusive. Well, I say that he IS abusive.. not physically but mentally - and in my book that is soooo much worse. She said she talked to someone... asking if she could divorce her husband... and she said he told her to stick it out.... I sure hope that this is one of those times that the one who was counseling her just didn't hear the whole story.... I can't imagine anyone giving someone advise to stay with an abuser.
After church we had a Department Head meeting.... in my opinion the meeting went rather quickly (which is good)... but I was agitated for most of the meeting. Way too much eye rolling... and that's all I'm gonna say here.

Monday 2/11 - Nicky and I had made a plan that we were going to meet in Beginners every Monday and do general cleaning and straightening... well, there was Christmas holidays, and other stuff that has gotten us out of the routine. So we decided yesterday to meet. Alexis joined us. We walked in and I thought it was going to be a day of leggos go here, cars go here ... wiping stuff down, etc. I looked over to the wall paper that has been getting worse by the day and I couldn't take it any more. So we decided to take it down .... I had been searching for a replacement wall paper .. but nothing really hit me and wallpaper is expensive !!!! So, we decided to get material instead. So, off to Joanne's .... me, Alexis, Nicky and 5 kids... The wall already has a huge rainbow mural on it - so we needed to find something that could go at the bottom of the wall that would not distract but would somehow tie into the rainbow... we found a green material that has leaves on it ... so stretched across the wall it looks like a giant bush. Then we stumbled on these awesome tin critters .... they are multicolored 3D animals that would be found in a garden. (Butterfly, dragonfly, frog, lizard of some sort, and a lady bug) The plan was to put the along the bottom like they were on the bush.... So on Monday we got the material up ... and that was about it....
That night was the monthly knitting circle... women of all ages gathering with yarn and tools attempting to make something. Well - that's what I am doing. I am on scarf #2 ... and looks like it is turning out much like the first one.. more of a pennant than a scarf.... oh well ... I enjoy the fellowship.

Tuesday 2/12: At Joannes on Monday we had also talked about the bulletin boards in the room.... how there is only one and there is a debate as to who it belongs to.... so we decided to find a creative way to create another bulletin board in the room.... We found cork squares. We decided that the one pack of 4 was not enough so I had to return to Joanne's to get more. While I was there .. I went against the feng shui girls and decided to buy more things for the wall... they had these really pretty flowers... and I got a sun.... I had really wanted the butterfly and the dragonfly to be able to be flying in the rainbow ... so I got the flowers to replace them... So, I met John there on his break ... Nicky came with her 3 and John taught the boys how to use the hammer... after laying out where everything was to go and seeing that the sun was really too small to fit in the picture we decided that there was another sign at Joanne's that would fit perfect and would tie whole wall in together... it is a sign that has 4 different signs - one hanging from the other... and it reads, "Life began in the garden" .... PERFECT!
So, back to the church ... John got all the critters predrilled and cut holes in the fabric so he could use screws to put them up - ... John, Joey and Matt got all the critters/flowers up and then John had to go to work and Joey had karate... I painted the rest of the wall where we had taken down the previous border and decided not to continue there again... finished the trim, and folded/stapeled the fabric over the trim so it blended well .... hung the new bulletin board... mom redid the Sunday School bulletin board, and we had just enough material left to redo the top of the piano seat... there 2 tiny things that still need to be finished ..... and yes of course after it is up and done - I feel the need to move things... but that is impossible and I must now live with the fact the lizard is over too far to the left... and the Life began in the Garden sign maybe should have been taken apart and the signs spread out... overall - it's beautiful ... and I love it. Thanks to my wonderful husband, mom and friends who always back me up on my projects...
After that I sorted my Pampered Chef stuff (woohoo!) .. and made deliveries to all that had ordered... dinner was eaten in the car and homework was done this morning.

Today is Wednesday the 13th... I am playing Granny Esther tonight at Fellowship.... talking to a group of young girls at a Mother/Daughter banquet about how although outward beauty is very important to the world and media... it is of no importance to God .... I wrote out my "script" and it's getting critiqued or I would post it here ... plus that would be a realllllllly long post... so I will let you know tomorrow how it went.... I need to go to goodwill today and get something to wear..

I still need to get some actual work done this week!!!

Ain't Love Grand?

I just answered the 18 love question bulletin in My Space ... only because Shanna said I had to. :-) One question was what song do you want played at your wedding. So that prompted me to get out the CD of the song that I walked down the aisle to... "I've Dreamed of You" by Barbara Streisand. I sat here, played the song and big giant tears welled up and poured down my face. I so love that man..... and I am trying so hard to get to a place that I feel safe to show him that again. I remember how we were.... I couldn't keep my hands off of him. I couldn't stop looking at him .... I couldn't stop smiling. I want so badly to be there again... before it all went bad. Before the enemy came in and stole it all away. And now I stiffen when he holds me...

But my Jesus has promised me that no matter what - His Love will sustain me. And maybe I needed to go through all of that - just so I would know what real love is. A love that is far better than anything I can find on this earth. A love that reaches down to my very soul and fills me up.

But, I still want to be able to show John that I still love him... and it's not a love like it was in the beginning..... it's more - it's deeper... it's better... and I want to show him.......

Last night in our study, the leader on the DVD said that Jesus will bring up our past hurts on purpose... but He will do it in a safe enviornment so that He can come in and rescue us. That happens sometimes daily to me. One day I WILL be past this fear of rejection.

On a much better note: His rescue yesterday -- Tara came to my office at the church and said, "Let's go to lunch!" I knew something was up but was pleased to go. She has been so busy with the opening of the house and I enjoy being able to talk with her. She is an amazing woman and I learn so much from her. So, while we were talking small talk I still felt something was up. The enemy kept telling me that she was letting me go... and I was believing it. But God had a better plan. Tara said that in her morning prayers He told her that I shouldn't be doing the books for Community's Child... but instead I need to be doing something that I liked. And then Tara offered me the position of Event's Coordinator! All events (except for the major fundraisers) will be coordinated by me!

Wow... never saw that coming... but what an awesome feeling of acceptance and appreciation!!

Yep... His love is so grand!!!

VOTING FIASCO!!!

I went to vote yesterday ... only to find out that I was somehow registered as a Non-Partisan (meaning I didn't pick Rebublican or Democrat).

I was sure that I was registered as a Rebulican but... then it got worse!!!

I was told as a Non Partisan I could vote for anyone BUT a Republican!!!

I almost cried.... I hope others had better luck at the polls... =(

Sigh....

Ever brag on someone and then they right after -they let you down???

Majorly Impressed!!!

I teach a class for our homeschool academy. Well, actually I facilitate a class. The class is called, "What I want to be.." I arrange for different speakers to come in and tell the class about their professions.... hoping that it would encourage the students to start listening to their heart and thinking about their future careers.
My first class of the semester was today and I found out yesterday that my speaker couldn't show... so while talking to my friend Alexis on the computer who was talking to our friend Nicky on the phone... Nicky volunteered to help me out. Nicky and Alexis used to have their own business where they made fabulous jewelry. So - in no time at all - Nicky put together one of the most professional and well laid out presentations that I have ever seen. She was flawless!! She came with a powerpoint show, handouts and examples of product. She told the class all the steps necessary to open their own business and what were the most important aspects for being a business owner and self employed. Really all I could do was stand there with my mouth open...

After that - it was the opening day for Community's Child. www.communityschild.org (one day I will learn how to put those sleak links in .. maybe Nicky will show me?) The house was doubled in size and is absolutely fabulous. The most heard statement today was, "when can I move in?"
I have watched and been a part of the build from day one and have been amazed almost daily of the gifts and people that God has brought to Communitys Child... Today there was probably a 100 or so people in and out of the house ..... but Tara believes that this construction of this house and this new charity have already touched the lives of over 8,000 people!!! And we don't even have anyone living in the house yet!!! No other way to say it... God is awesome!!!