Thursday, January 28, 2010

The Sun has Set

Oracle purchased Sun Microsystems. It is official.

Wade has a job! He is an Oracle employee.

The waiting is over. Finally.

The truth is that as a family we would have been OK with whatever happened with Wade's job. Loosing his job was never my biggest fear or hurdle....it was the waiting. Almost like our lives have been on hold or frozen for 9 months. Every conversation, decision and dollar spent made us think about the Sun and Oracle merger.

Today I feel free. Free to live a life that is no longer bound by a fear of what will happen to Sun and ultimately Wade's job. Free to make the dream come true.

Wade, I know this has been a long time coming....You made it. They want you. Your work is of value. I always believed in you...and even if they loose faith in the months and years to come....I never will. You are gifted and God has a plan and purpose for your life...I am simply grateful to be a part of it. Love you.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Best Friend

I never get tired of you...even when I was a punk teenager and we fought every second of every day...

You are the most beautiful woman that I know (...well tied with mom)
You have showed me what unconditional means

I think of you every day

I pray for you every time I think of you

I know that as long as my heart pumps blood around my body that you will be a BIG and IMPORTANT and TREASURED part of my life

You are genuine, thoughtful, continuously learning and growing

I would not be me without you...you have made me stronger, wiser and more beautiful than you will ever know

You are my sister and there is no one on this planet that could ever fill your roll in my life

You are my BEST friend...and I have some REALLY GREAT friends.

You are not my best friend because you are my sister. You loved and cried and put in real honest hard work....you have earned that title.

Happy Birthday Best Friend. I LOVE you.

Thank you Jesus for her...for blessing my life with her. I hope someday you bless Hunter in the same way.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Lost Photos

An old friend
A BEST friend
A forever friend
Shared a few pictures with me I had never seen


They took my breath away
and brought back memories from years ago like they were yesterday

She held my baby when he was just a week old
We all looked like a million bucks
Marriage and babies was new and exciting
We were young and naive
We were on the cusp of living as adults

So much has changed....



I simply and completely love these women in a way that I can never fully explain
They just make me smile
They are my girls
They speak truth in a rare form of love
They are always there, always forgiving, completely accepting and know me inside and out

There are no words for the depth of our love and friendship.

Finding these pictures is better than buried treasure.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Thanks Mom

Mom did a bit of digging and found this out about Canada's health care program....

"Abortions in Canada are provided on request and funded by Medicare, to Canadian citizens and permanent residents (as with most medical procedures) in hospitals across the country. Abortion funding for hospitals comes from the various provincial governments (their overall health expenses are however paid for in part by the federal government). One-third of hospitals perform abortions, and these perform two-thirds of abortions in the country. The remaining abortions are performed by public and private-for-profit clinics.

sorry dear "

YUCK! Please tell me that I am not the only one that is sick over the use of tax dollar to fund abortion.....

Monday, January 18, 2010

A change is coming...at least in the state of MA. I cannot stand too much political talk, debate and news in my life....it makes my blood boil....it ruins nice evenings....and most times there is NOTHING I can do about it. Wade and I have been watching and listening to the health care debate unfold. There have been times, many times, that I just have not understood why this is happening this way. I am OK with not getting my way or things happening that I may think are not what our country needs....that is the ebb and flow of life.

What I have a hard time with is paying for someone to get an abortion. It more than bothers me...or causes a knot in my stomach...it literally causes me physical pain for me to realize that MY tax dollars could KILL a child.

When Ted Kennedy passed away and the "people's Senate seat" became available I said a silent prayer that God might put a warrior there. A warrior that could stop my fear from becoming reality. Against all odds in one of the most liberal states....a republican got elected last night. More importantly a conservative fellow that will fight this health care bill as it stands today.

As Wade and I debated about how the DARK blue state of MA could elect a RED Republican at this time in their agenda.....I realized that I am not alone in my pain. In fact a "think tank" discussion with the voters of MA on FOX news really outlined what was happening in their state and I believe across our great nation. People are not OK with the current agenda....even the same people that elected to put that agenda into place a year ago.


A change is coming....and I hope that I NEVER EVER have to fear my (hard work) tax dollars being used in a fashion such as abortion again. I am OK with the voters choice and the people being herd...even when it is not what I agree with.... however I will NOT be OK with paying for abortion even if every other voter in America is....and if it happens I just might have to move to Canada.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Dear Judy

Dear Judy,

You were there in Haiti on a missions trip when the earthquake hit! At first when I found out I thought how horrible....then I quickly realized that this is not something that just randomly happened to you...but that you were chosen and prepared for this time. God is using you.
He is using you there in Haiti to touch and change peoples life throughthe POWER and LOVE of Christ. ..but he is also using you here, at home, to change my life.

You are an inspiration, an encouragement and I love you. You have not only been a dear friend to my mother, but a strong woman - a Christ inspired - woman that I have had the privilege of knowing for most of my years.

Send my love, my tears and my deepest sympathy to the people that you are touching every day.

You are in prayer...All of the people in Haiti are in prayer.

God is good. In times of tragedy and triumph... God is good.

Renee Little



Here are links to Paul's blog and the OC register news article....Pray with me....will you?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Dentist

I went to the dentist yesterday...and had my teeth cleaned and examined. I was sweating this appointment....you see since I moved to Tracy, Ca I have tried a few dentists and they have all been AWFUL. The hygienists have been heavy handed, rough and caused a great deal of pain. I also knew I had cavities but refused to go back there....now I was stuck with a sore tooth and no choice but to go visit a dentist.

I choose a new office just down the street from my house. They had TV's for me to watch while I was having my teeth cleaned! The hygienists was gentle and kind....while getting my teeth really clean in the process. Their office and equipment was high tech...I got to see all my digital xrays on the computer screen at my seat! Let's just say I was a good girl and that I will be going back to that office again!

Finding a good dentist is right up there on my top 10 things I will be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Football

My cousin Jake plays football and he is amazing. His high school team won state champs this year in Alabama!!!



I wish he lived closer. I wish I was able to go to his games...wear his team color and cheer for him.

Being far away from family SUCKS.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

80 Things


Here are 80 things my sister and I love about our grandma Betty on her 80th Birthday.

80. She has never forgot me on my birthday
79. Her soft touch
78. How clean her house always is
77. The easter egg hunts she would put together for my sister and I
76. My summers at her lake house in Nebraska
75. How she would play the organ for me
74. Her gingersnap recipe
73. The small horses she made for me one birthday...she always knew just what I wanted
72. I have never seen her angry or yelling
71. She smells wonderful...not like stinky perfume or just plain soap....she smells like home
70. She would sit and read to me as long as I liked when I was a child
69. She did not judge me one second when I was pregnant out of wedlock
68. When there is a bargain she finds it...when there is a coupon she clips it
67. Her hands...I just love them...they are beautiful
66. How she taught me a bit of sign language
65. Her well rounded opinions that are formed from a life of hard work
64. Steak Diane...I love this tradition she gave to me on Christmas Eve
63. I have never heard her complain
62. She sets aside a time to talk to my mom every Sunday...no matter what
61. She walks different routes through her house to avoid traffic wear on her carpet
60. Her health is important to her
59. So she eats well
58. And walks every night
57. I love her style. She is always neatly dressed and watches the latest fashions
56. At my wedding she seemed to glow...she was so beautiful
55. Feeding the ducks the heal of the loaf of bread off her pack patio in Ventura
54. Trips to the swimming pool in Kansas City
53. She gave me long, warm oatmeal baths when I got the Chicken Pox
52. Her voice....it is like an angel
51. How she would sing along to all the songs in the movie "Scrooge" as we watched it every Christmas
50. $1 table presents
49. Her house is always super clean and very comfortable
48. She drives a HOT car!!!
47. She looks cute when she is cleaning,without even breaking a sweat, making it look so easy
46. She is extremely selfless, and always willing to give up something of hers for someone else
45. She is a HUSKER fan :)
44. Her life story is very interesting, and it is an honor to see the woman she has become on her journey
43. She gave us an AMAZING grandfather growing up, and has yet again brought another amazing gentleman into our family
42. She always smells pretty
41. She dresses cuter than I do
40. She is patient
39. She is kind
38. She is an amazing baker, and always shares her secrets
37. She has a positive outlook on every situation
36. She is a great listener
35. She has the ability to listen and give advice without being judgmental
34. She is very sharp on the facts of history and even current events
33. She has such a detailed memory of conversations, people, events, I am jealous she can remember more of my childhood than I can
32. She gets more gorgeous every year
31. She does not seem to dwell on the past, mistakes or uncertainties
30. She has the ability to really fall in love, even after unimaginable heartache
29. She is very witty
28. Her junk emails are usually really cute, the best junk email kind
27. She has a soft touch to her, and you feel like you could melt into her arms when she hugs you
26. She looks good in shoulder pads (hard to do)
25. She is very hospitable
24. She still knows how to party
23. She is always taking up a new hobby, dancing, weight lifting, book clubs, choirs
22. Everything in her house matches
21. Her house always feels like home, even thought its not my home
20. She has taught us to value family, and to love them unconditionally
19. She loves the Lord with all her heart, mind and soul
18. She is a great traveler
17. She gave us a really fun uncle
16. She is took the time to stitch something special for Hunter when he was born
15. Her house, and mom's, and mine, are full of creations from her sewing machine
14. She loves animals - especially poodles and Siamese cats
13. She cuts out newspaper clippings and mails them to me with a sweet note
12. She prays for me
11. Her computer skills are sharp..which means we email and Skype!
10. She is wise
9. Her money is spent with purpose and planning
8. She protects herself
7. Her family comes first
6. How selfless she is
5. She participates in community events...and is always volunteering
4. She never played favorites with my sister and I
3. She calmed my mom down when she was REALLY mad at us girls
2. She gave us our mother...the most wonderful gift she has given (in my opinion)
1. She intentionally, purposefully, unconditionally and powerfully loves us

We love you Grandma.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The ULTIMATE sign of Hospitality

I was born in the deep south....I mean deep. I am talking about swamps, long drawls in speech and big white magnolias. We left Louisiana before I even started school, but I went back for 6 months during college.... for an "internship" but more than that a boy. For those six months I lived with his folks and they showed me the true definition of southern hospitality.

Their lake home was breathtaking. Miss. Brenda cooked my favorite meals, put sweet notes by my bedside, cut fresh flowers from her garden and put them in my room, took me on tours of her favorite spots, hugged me every time I walked in the door, left mints on my pillow and strategically placed pictures of me all over her home. I felt more than welcome.

I left that summer with a broken heart, fun memories and a good lesson on how to open your heart and your home to your guests. It was a summer I will always remember and think of often.

Over the past 7 years since that summer I have stayed in many homes and traveled to many places....and none welcomed me like Miss. Brenda...that is until Canada.

My in-laws insist we stay in their room. They give up their BED. Seriously it is the warmest, most loved and endlessly welcomed feeling I have ever had. Then my darling Canadian sister and brother in-law did the same thing....gave up their master suite for us. It is not about money, comfort or style....it is about giving the people you love the best you've got.PERIOD.

I love them...and not because they give me things and won't let me pay (EVER). But because they continuously go out of their way to love Wade, Hunter and I. They purposefully and intentionally make sure we know they love us.

It has been a new lesson for me. A lesson of selflessness. I am humbled and loved. I could not imagine it gets any better than this...

Monday, January 4, 2010

Right Now

Right now I am missing this...my sister. This Christmas was nothing short of amazing...but I would by lying if I said it was complete...how could it be complete without her?

I know that I am all grown up and married and this is just part of life....celebrating holidays and birthdays apart....I do not think I will ever get used to being away from her.