Today I took a vacation day so that I could treat my mom to breakfast and than later on this afternoon treat my friend Julie to lunch for her upcomning birthday tomorrow.  It will be a day of celebrating life and enjoying others company.  Plus, I reconnected with an old friend from elementary school that I’m thrilled about discovering. The ironic thing is that she lives a mere 15 minutes away from me.  That great thing was we were both online this morning and got to chat for a bit.  I’m hoping to meet up with her some day soon.

I’ve been attending the Foursquare church down the street now since Decemeber.  Last month was a bit crazy with different activities on some weekends, so I missed a few servies, but I’m starting to get a bit involoved and make new friends.

Work has improved a lot.  We finally migrated closer to where I live so getting to work is much easier and it’s nice to have a real cubical to work in.

So far this year I’ve read 14 books.  I’m hoping to make it past 5 books for this month.

This past weekend I went to Texas to be there for my best friend’s baptism.  What an experience.  Due to lack of sleep I was weepy as soon as I woke up! My allergies didn’t help me either.  We went to church in their neighbor’s van.  The church we went to is a big Baptist church.    The foyer alone was breathtaking. The inside was beautiful. I was allowed to stand off to the side of the baptistery so that I could take pics while she was being baptized, but due to my crying nonstop I let her friend take the pics which came out lovely.   The pastor preached like how I envisioned a Baptist preacher preaching. He told it  like it is and he said it with authority!

After the service we went to lunch with my friend’s neighbors who have become their best friends.  We went to this great tasting Mexican food restaurant that’s in a house that’s been converted.  The food was great and the atmosphere was nice.  They even played Christmas music.  That surprised me a bit since it’s Feburary, but always a classic you can’t help, but play it.

It was hard to live TX.  It’s my second time going and it was neat to stay in a different place.  I did sightsee around the town they live in near Dallas/Ft. Worth

Now that I’m home and taking a day to reflect on this past weekend I feel a bit drained.  Good drained, not bad drained. It was such an emotion packed weekend getting to meet my best friend’s new best friend and getting to see where she lives and what her life is like there.  The baptism was the icing on the cake!

1. My favorite color is blue
2. My favorite foods are: any type of potato, French Toast, grilled cheese, cinnamon rolls, broccoli, onions, garlic and curry with rice
3. The place I want to visit the most is Poland
4.  I adore country music, but sometimes it depresses me
5.  I dislike girls who are snotty
6.  I’m under 5 feet tall
7.  I wish I was more sophisticated and prettier
8.  I think the Polish language sounds like music
9.  I’m a PK
10. I hate wearing dresses
11. I’m more of a tomboy, but wish my girlie side would come out more often
12. I think it’d be neat to get my tongue pierced
13. Some day I would love to own an old Victorian house in the woods
14.  I’m looking forward to being 60 one day
15.  I’ve wanted to be a minister since I was 8 years old
16.  I hope to publish some day and earn my living that way….now just have to stop procrastinating!
17.  I don’t have a college degree
18.  When I was about 5-9yrs old I would record myself singing…..
20.  I have a fear of driving, but feel better doing it by myself
21.  I’ve been on t.v. once in the audience of Kids Inc. on Disney back in 89 or maybe 88′
22.  I’m a professional procrastinator
23.  I suck at communicating with my siblings
24.  I’m not a kid person (but I don’t hate kids)
25.  I’m learning in life that a few great close friends is more important in life than having a bucket full of them

1. Where is your cell phone?  table
2. Your significant other? kitchen
3. Your Hair?  blond
4. Your mother?  birthday party
5. Your father?  birthday party
6. Your favorite thing? books
7. Your dream last night?  vivid
8. Your favorite drink?  lemonade
9. Your dream/goal?  Publish
10. The room you’re in? living room
11. Your hobby?  bookish
12. Your fear?  fire
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?  home
14. Where were you last night?  Home
15. Something that you aren’t?  Confident
16. Muffins? blueberry
17. One of your wish list items?  House
18. Where you grew up?  pretty
19. The last thing you did? church
20. What are you wearing?  clothes
21. Your TV?  off
22. Your pets? none
23. Friends: Incredible
24. Your life?  Improving
25. Your mood?  peaceful
26. Missing someone?  Always
27. Your car?  outside
28. Something you’re not wearing? earrings
29. Your favorite store?  Books
30. Your favorite color?  blue
31. When is the last time you laughed?  Today
32. Last time you cried?  Today
33. Who will resend this to you? unsure

Have you ever, Did you ever?

01. Start your own blog ? Yes
02. Sleep under the stars ? Yes
03. Play in a band ? No
04. Visit Hawaii ? Nope
05. Watch a meteor shower ? no
06. Give more than you can afford to charity ? no
07. Go to Disneyworld ? Nope
08. Climb a mountain ? figuratively? Many, literally?  No, but a lot of huge hills
09. Hold a praying mantis ? No, but I’ve been up close to one
10. Sing a solo ? No
11. Bungee jump ? No
12. Visit Paris ? No I’d rather go to Poland
13. Watch a lightning storm at sea ? No
14. Teach yourself an art technique ? No
15. Adopt a child ? No
16. Eat sushi ? Nope
17. Walk to the top of the Statue of Liberty ? No, haven’t been to NY or back east yet
18. Grow your own vegetables ? No, but my dad has
19. See the Mona Lisa in France ? No
20. Sleep on an overnight train ? No
21. Have a pillow fight ? Yes
22. Hitch hike ? Nope
23. Look at the rings of Saturn through a telescope ? No
24. Build a snow fort ? Yes and it was a lot of fun
25. Hold a lamb ? No
26. Climb to the top of a lighthouse ? Yup, I think so in San Diego
27. Run a Marathon ? No
28. Ride in a gondola in Venice ? Nope
29. See a total eclipse ? Possibly
30. Watch a sunrise or sunset ? Yes
31. Hit a home run ? I’m terrible at baseball
32. Go on a cruise ? Nope
33. See Niagara Falls in person ? No
34. Visit the birthplace of your ancestors ? No
35. Visit an Amish community ? No
36. Teach yourself a new language ? I’m trying to learn Polish
37. Have enough money to be truly satisfied ? Nope
38. See the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person ?No
39. Go rock climbing ? Uh, No
40. See Michelangelo?s David ? No
41. Sing karaoke in public ? No but I watched my friends sing
42. See Old Faithful geyser erupt in person ? Yes
43. Buy a stranger a meal at a restaurant ? No
44. Visit Africa ? No
45. Walk on a beach by moonlight ? Yes
46. Ride in a helicopter ? No
47. Have your portrait painted ? No
48. Go deep sea fishing ? No
49. See the Sistine Chapel in person ? No
50. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris ? No
51. Go scuba diving or snorkeling ? No
52. Kiss in the rain ? Yes
53. Play in the mud ? Yes
54. Watch a movie at a drive-in theater ? No
55. Be in a movie ? Yes, some little small independent Christian film that I’m not sure even got completed being produced
56. Visit the Great Wall of China ? No
57. Start a business ? Yes
58. Take a martial arts class ? No
59. Visit Russia ? No
60. Serve meals at a soup kitchen ? Yes
61. Sell Girl Scout cookies ? No
62. Go whale watching ? No
63. Get or send flowers for no reason ? Yes
64. Donate blood, platelets or plasma ? No
65. Go sky diving ? No
66. Visit a Nazi Concentration Camp ? No
67. Adopt a pet from a rescue shelter ? No
68. Pilot an airplane ? No
69. Save a favorite childhood toy ? Yes
70. Visit the Lincoln Memorial ? No
71. Eat Caviar ? Yes with PBJ on bread…can we says BARF?
72. Make a quilt ? No
73. Stand in Times Square ? Never been
74. Tour the Everglades ? No
75. Visit the Viet Nam Memorial ? No
76. See the Changing of the Guard in London ? No
77. Drive a race car ? No
78. Ride on a speeding motorcycle ? Does a dirt bike count?
79. See the Grand Canyon in person ? Yes
80. Publish a book ? Not yet
81. Visit the Vatican ? No
82. Buy a brand new car ? Yes
83. Walk in Jerusalem ? No
84. Have your picture in the newspaper ? No
85. Read the entire Bible ? Pathetically no
86. Visit the White House ? No
87. Kill and prepare an animal for eating ? No
88. Hike the Appalachian Trail ? No
89. Save someone?s life ? No
90. Sit on a jury ? No
91. Meet someone famous ? Yes via distance….Fergie before she was Fergie back on Kids Inc I got to be in the audience.
92. Join a book club ?Yes
93. Own an iPod ? Yes
94. Have a Facebook page ? Yes
95. See the Alamo in person ? No
96. Swim in the Great Salt Lake ? No
97. Cross country snow ski ? No
98. Hold a snake ? Yes
99. See Van Gogh?s Starry Night in person ? No
100. Read an entire book in one day ? Yes

After doing this survey I feel like my life is incredibly dull compared with this list! I’m hoping to some day go to Europe and publish a book, so hopefully my future holds much more excitement. Not that my life isn’t exciting now, but it would be nice to have more Yeses than Nos.

1. Do you like blue cheese?  Not when I was a kid, but now I love blue cheese!

2 .  Have you ever smoked ?  Yes.  A brief stint from 18 yr old-20ish.

3. Do you own a gun?  Nope

4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Grape

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not really unless it was due to something live threatening!

6. What do you think of hot dogs?  Yuck. Back when I ate them I loved getting a Polish hotdog from Ted’s.

7.Favorite Christmas movie?  ”A Christmas Story”

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning ?  Orange juice or a mocha

9. Can you do pushups?  Only when I have to.

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?  My wedding/engagement ring

11. Favorite hobby? Reading

12. Do you have A.D.D.? No, but I do give random comments and act spacey sometimes

13. What’s one trait you hate about yourself? I am selfish

14. Middle name? Anne

15. Name 3 things you are thinking about right now: I wish the weekend would extend some more besides having tomorrow off work, I found a Bible I’ve been wanting back (yes dummy we got rid of the one I originally had that was nice!), glad to have a quiet night at home with my hubby

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, mocha, iced tea

17. Current worry? Not worrying about cleaning and enjoy the rest of my weekend

18. Current hate right now?  Being lazy

19. Favorite place to be? At my favorite coffee shop reading or lounging around at home with my husband

20. How did you bring in the New Year?  Waking up at 11:58 due to some kid banging pots and pans

21. Where would you like to go? Poland

22. Name three people who will respond? No clue…..

23. Do you own slippers?  no

24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Maroon with two pink iced doughnuts on the front, with one’s jelly insides gushing out…it’s quite hilarious really

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I don’t think I ever have before

26. Can you whistle? sort of

27. Favorite color? blue

28. Would you be a pirate? not my style

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? complete silence

30. Favorite Girl’s Name? Brianna

31. Favorite Boy’s name? Nicholas

32. What’s in your pocket right now? a $1

33. Last thing that made you laugh? I can’t recall what it was

34. Best bed sheets as a child?  Disney themed ones

35. Worst injury you’ve ever had?  I don’t think I’ve ever broken a bone (yet), but I have had eye surgery and had to wear casts on my feet to try to get my tendons to stretch, which didn’t work.

36. Do you love where you live? Sometimes. I want more greenery!

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 1

*38. Who is your loudest friend?  It’s a toss up

39. How many dogs do you have?  None yet, but want a Yorky some day

40. Does someone have a crush on you? Yes my husband

41. What is your favorite book?  Currently Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

42. What is your favorite candy? Too many to list

43. Favorite Sports team? Don’t have one

44. What song do you want sung at your funeral?   No idea

This past Thursday was my 9 year wedding anniversary. I can’t believe next year it will be 10. I’m hoping for our tenth we can go to Poland and Germany on vacation.

Church has been refreshing. I even went last Sunday after not getting to bed till 1am. It’s nice to go because I want to not because I feel I have to. I even took notes last week. Last Wednesday I got a free devotional journal that makes devotional time easy and meaningful. Now I just have to do it. I feel so infant like since I have avoided it for years.
My dad’s health has been doing better. I’m still concerned he’s over doing and not just focusing on being.

I will not slack off on blogging. I have been naughty in that department.

I have been silent for almost one week!  This past week work has been going better and better.  This weekend I am getting to see my BFF whose in town for a visit.  I can’t wait.  It’s weird how four months can feel like 4 years. Silly, but it sure feels like it.

I’ve been going to the Saturday night service at the Foursquare church.  It’s nice and small.  I went to  a new comers dessert which was fun and informative.  It was an overview of the church’s beliefs and a history of the church and also a question and answer time.  It was great to meet some other people who are also, new at attending there.

This upcoming week is a journal/devotional workshop I’m going to go to, which I’m very excited about!

Tonight I got to spoil my husband with giving him my reward for working so hard aka spending bookstore gift certificates! Considering how much I get spoiled by him I felt like spoiling him right back.

My agenda for tonight is to sit and read and get a good night’s sleep.

It’s amazing how a night of church can make me feel better.  I don’t feel all gooey inside, but more peaceful.

It’s nice to know I have one more day off of work before going back.  A whole day to rest, enjoy the wintry type weather and enjoy spending time with my hubby.

I’m looking forward to meeting a new friend for coffee tomorrrow! I’m hoping it goes well.

This next weekend my BFF will be in town visiting from TX.  I can’t wait.  Just have to figure out when the best time to meet up is. It feels like she’s been gone a year already and it’s only been a few months.  Crazy how time goes  by and feels much longer than it is.

Off to go lounge with my man!

This new year is off to a great start! I got off work at a wonderful time and have an evening full of possibilites.

I don’t have many plans on my plate, which is nice.  I do, of course, have church tomorrow night which I’m looking forward to.

I may actaully get crackin’ and start character sketching tonight!

Some times I just lean back at work and am amazed at how blessed I am with the job I have (going now almost on 2 years!),  and how the simplest things in life can be the most rewarding.

I’m looking and hoping to focus on just ‘being’ this weekend and not overly ‘doing’.