Hot N Cold

This week I have not been myself, I feel like this song by Katy Perry:

'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up

Hopefully the holiday weekend will be refreshing and I will be motivated to write about fun things like:
 1. The pillow project that my Mom and tackled over Christmas
 2. Derby Pie recipe and more edge brownies
 3. Downstairs Decorating COMPLETE
 
For Now, I will leave with you with this hymn.  I told you I was all over the place!  Katy Perry to a simple hymn that I sang growing up.

In His Time
In his time, in his time
He makes all things beautiful in his time
Lord, Please show me everyday
as you're teaching me your way
and I'll do just what you say
in your time.

Monday Night TV

2011 is kicking off to a great start and is just getting better.  I can not think of any other way to spend Monday night than on my couch watching Brad Womack's return to The Bachelor and Nikki Heat appearing on Castle!

A visit to his bar Molotov might be in my future.

New Episode!

Happy New Year! 

Happy Birthday Jesus!

The Birth of Jesus

 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.
 
 ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 
 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 
¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:1-20)

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Solo Christmas Home Tour

I missed all the excitement with Nesting Place Christmas home tour but all the houses were so beautiful and welcoming that it motivated me to get a few more decorations out and organized.  Most of my decorations are located in one room but in various spots.  But the highlights are:

Stocking on the "mantle" with coffee filter wreath. (ignore the thermostat, I do)

Coffee filter wreath. Thank you Nesting Place for the tutorial.

Side table with background of kitchen. The picture in the frame is from last years Christmas card.  This spot is also where new Christmas cards are collecting. 

Frames just hung, adorned with ornaments.

Ornaments that normally would be hanging on the tree.  But this year an executive decision was made to spend money and time organizing from the move instead of a tree.  I will enjoy my Mom's tree when I get to her house.

The ornaments one picture up and this sign are Glory Haus products, LOVE them!

Fitz and Floyd Frosty Friends pitcher and cookie jar, these guys always make an appearance through the holiday season and usually stay out until the end of January.

The Reason for the Season!

 Merry Christmas!  

2010 Christmas Card Picture

Nacho Cheeeese

Yesterday, in the car on the way to the Decker Challenge, Neal asked me what my mantra was going to be on the hills of the course and guess what came out....Nacho Cheeeese.  The conversation was sort of like this:

Neal: what is going to be your mantra for the hills
me: ignoring the question thinking in my head, I will just run them no big deal.  At this point I was also feeling uneasy towards the race.
Neal: you need a mantra to get you up the hills
me: ignore
Neal: Shit we didn't get your bib out of the other car
20 minutes later after back tracking to get bib and Neal is not fuming anymore

Neal: so have you come up with a mantra
me: NACHO CHEEEESEE (at this point, I am feeling more at ease and getting PUMPED UP)
Neal: is that really your mantra?
me: NACHO CHEEESEE

My reasoning for choosing nacho cheese is not real clear even to me but it worked.   I said it over and over and over and am thankful for Neal's persistence.   If I had taken the time to look at the elevation map before the gun went off I might have talked myself out of this challenge, there were rolling hills, long steady inclining hills and short steep hills.  Nacho cheese was repeated, repeated, and repeated.

When I saw Neal close to the end of mile 11, I yelled out Nacho Cheese!  I was so happy to see him and receive encouragement.  It was a tough run and my quads are screaming today but I was pleased with my time and will leave you with our pump up song that is played in the car on the way to all races!

First Day at TDA!

After a long nine months today is Neal's first day of full time employment at Texas Department of Agriculture.  We have been challenged, tested and shown incredible generosity through this year.  The Lord is awesome with his timing and we could not be more grateful that he has answered our prayers.  We were patient, specific and had an army of faithful servants praying joining us in prayer. 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

—Romans 12:12

 

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.  

—Psalm 40:1

 

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

—Romans 8:25

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO for Neal!

Praise the Lord!

Jingle Jangle

That sound is the new keys to my new townhouse.  EXCITED does not even begin to describe my feelings right now.  Since January my home has been one room and bath in a friend of a friends townhouse (room featured here) with half my stuff sitting hap-hazard in a storage unit.  When my main man mover and I unpack all the stuff that I haven't seen since January it will be like Christmas came early. 

My main man mover is experienced, this will be the third time he has moved me in the almost two years that we have been together.  He is awesome and always helps suggests insists getting rid of items that I no longer wear or he no longer wants to see.  Thank you Dude for your moving expertise! 

Leaving Washington D.C for Texas in January 2010