| The problem with a public journal... |
[Jul. 14th, 2004|03:04 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  uncomfortable | ] |
It came to my attention recently that a person I don't much feel like sharing my personal life with has delved into my journal...that was the problem I initially had with Tim's journal...There are always nosy nobodys....
of course, I chose to publicize the info but feel very uncomfortable with this person reading and delving into my life, our lives, so personally. She seems to crave this information perhaps wishing it were she instead of me. I have decided therefore, to no longer continue using the journal...
The few friends and family that have the link are always in close touch anyway and I've found other outlets for creativity.
To you:
Time to let go....actually it was time years ago...
signing off for good.... |
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| Things you find in the ocean.... |
[Jun. 6th, 2004|07:33 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  rejuvenated | ] |
Wow, we had a blast this weekend! We drove three hours north to Camarillo, a little near the ocean town near Oxnard, to meet with a friend. We stayed overnight, had a fabulous dinner at a Hibachi restaurant, and enjoyed the company of our friend. In the morning, we breakfasted and said goodbye as he left to catch his flight back to NJ. Then, we decided to head home by way of the Pacific Coast Highway...just amazing! Beautiful rocky coastline and as we came closer to a pull off along the side of the road, I peered out into the ocean and saw the dolphins..
We stopped immediately and stood gazing upon the magnificence of nature..
Dolphins and even a Sea Lion graced us with their presence. We snapped some photos and watched for a long time until they disappeared. It was right up there with our whale spotting at the outer banks a year and a half ago.
This morning was my first day of volunteering for the children's ministry at the church. It was so much fun! 4 kids all under the age of 2. Thank goodness I'm proficient with blocks!
Next weekend...Vegas, here we come!
Here's some pics from our adventure:
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| Legos hold the key to the universe ..... ???? |
[Jun. 2nd, 2004|11:13 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  creative | ] |
When Tim and I were dating, we pondered the reasons for our union and guessed that together we were to build something really fantastic.....out of Lego's, of course.
Here's a picture I drew for him......
Titled: Rescued by Legos (1st in a series...oh yeah...it's the last, too)
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| Cutie Patootie..... |
[Jun. 2nd, 2004|10:43 pm] |
So, when Brandon was l'enfant I made up a song for him called Morning Star...cute, soothing song about how he's brighter than any sunshine..etc, etc....Almost every time that he would cry I'd sing him that song and he'd instantly stop, at least briefly. He still sometimes asks me to sing it to him...
Anyhoo, my older sis came up with the idea of winter star for my shower theme and I went with it for Alexanders song...last night while rocking him to sleep during a fussy period I began singing "Winter Star" and he smiled up at me almost the entire time I sang it to him....so adorable! The words are as follows:
Morning Star
morning star
my morning star
my beautiful morning star
you're as bright as any sunshine
shining in the sky
you are brighter than
the brightest sunshine
shining way up high
you're my morning star
my morning star
my beautiful morning star
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Winter Star
winter star
how lovely you are
up above the sky tonight
winter star
you're never too far
too warm us with your light tonight
winter star
don't change who you are
we love you so much
winter star
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Yep, they're cutesy, rhymey little songs, but as long as they're effective...
and...
I snapped this without anyone knowing this morning.....heheheh...(of course I asked Tim's permission before posting it)
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| Great Message 8 ) |
[May. 31st, 2004|09:57 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | touched | ] |
This weekends sermon was super! You can listen to it here
The best story was about a group of nine kids running for the Special Olympics. One of them fell down and began sobbing. The other eight kids went back, lifted him off of the ground and they all held hands as they crossed the finish line together. He went on to say that this group of kids had just taught the audience the lesson of community and that we are here to help each other in that way and create a community full of acceptance. It was definitely moving and certainly inspiring....
In other news, I'm so sad and worried about my older sister. She has a herniated disc and a bulging disc below that and it's pushing on her sciatic nerve putting her in tremendous pain. She also has two small children (ages 2 and 4) and lives in Pittsburgh. I want so badly to be there to help her, but she refuses to let me come and do anything but spend time with her and the girls. Did I mention that she had a great hand in raising me? She was always there in my youth to walk home from school with me, read me to sleep at night...I just wish she'd let me repay a bit of that loving care.
Off to watch a movie and indulge in our new addiction....lemon pepper wings..mmmmmmmmmmmmm...! |
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| Hehehehe..... |
[May. 31st, 2004|12:05 pm] |
My inner child is ten years old!
The adult world is pretty irrelevant to me. Whether
I'm off on my bicycle (or pony) exploring, lost
in a good book, or giggling with my best
friend, I live in a world apart, one full of
adventure and wonder and other stuff adults
don't understand.
How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla
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| Name something orange..... |
[May. 27th, 2004|12:45 pm] |
Allie had his four month checkup on Tuesday...he weighs in at 18 lbs 2 oz. and 27 inches long...He's still in the 95th percentile and the Dr. gave us the go ahead for veggies!
So...I've decided to make my own baby food...got out the cute red food processor (matches my Empire Red KitchenAid mixer that Tim got me for X-mas...fun stuff) steamed carrots and sweet potatoes and froze little portions....Next will be butternut squash and green beans....It's strange that homemade baby food has such a better taste than jarred. I remember trying Brandon's when he was a babe...reminiscent of eating cardboard (hmmm...guess I don't do that *so* often). Allies veggies are TASTY!!!!!!
We tried introducing the carrots last night and got little reaction, but today's lunchtime carrots brought great joy! He really liked them hardly spit any out at all...
Sure is cool to move into new territory....
Oh...and after the Doctor's appt., Alex and I went shopping at BRU and bought a cartful of new toys and books (he did a great job with his three shots)...such a blast..of course he slept through it, but he LOVES all of the new stuff...
A cute star piano that adjusts to toddler age, a little touch Leap Pad with an animal dance story, some new texture books, and a butterfly full of different buttons and shakers...we're having a great time playing!
Spirit West Coast all day Saturday and Sis in Laws B-day Sunday..great, fun weekend ahead.... |
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| *phew*.... |
[May. 26th, 2004|01:05 pm] |
Busy, busy days...I started the hallway remodel yesterday and in preparation had to remove wallpaper, remove carpeting, padding, and tack strips, and scrape off the popcorn ceiling (Tim did most of the work on that after working late...so sweet of him to pitch in and help...of course he IS taller as well, making the task a bit easier)...
So today, Allie and I ran to Lowe's (so glad it's only a few minutes away) and picked up primer....then I busied myself with the daunting task of washing down the walls and removing adhesive and stray bits of wallpaper backing...such fun!
Thankfully, it's a small area to work in about 8ft by 3ft. I MUST HAVE instant gratification..I've never been very patient when it comes to house projects...
I'm that way I guess with any projects...I love to see the finished result and hate all the work in between...ah well...
Off to wash down walls before sweet angel wakes from his nap... |
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| Thank goodness for Spray n Wash.... |
[May. 24th, 2004|10:23 am] |
Brandon's friend stayed with us all weekend and on Friday evening they went to the big Frog 5 bash at the church...they played games and .....best of all....partook in a 30 FOOT LONG banana split...They were sticky and covered in chocolate and strawberry sauce by the time Tim picked them up, but also very happy....8 )
The weekend was super productive! We picked up and priced items needed for the big bathroom remodel...I'm starting in the hallway with a Linen textured treatment (Eddie Bauer faux treatments) and we'll also be adding a wood floor just in the hall outside of the guest bath to see if we can actually install one. (We'll be putting one in Brandon's room next and want to practice first). Anyhow, we certainly are excited to be starting this project and it's gonna be fun to work on it as a family...
We also received a big surprise check in the mail from HUD for paying off our FHA loan...that was an awesome addition to the savings!
Allie has his big four month check up tomorrow! Can't wait to see how much he weighs now...We noticed at church yesterday that he is really quite a bit larger than other babies his age, making him look much older...That's a great characteristic to have before you're an adult, but definitely not after..; )
Brandon has a big state report due in a few weeks...He chose Pennsylvania! Sure will be fun to see the end result...He's so creative!
so here's the finished office area...So much fun to sit together and play games or google or whatever else we're letting the computers do for us...(We found a new online game and downloaded the free open beta version...Saga of Ryzom..pretty cool character creation)
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| Like a star from a distant planet... |
[May. 20th, 2004|11:41 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  quixotic | ] |
This is the most insane compilation of "stuff" I've ever seen! You've gotta check this out.
Other than that...Last night was INSANE!!! The crazy, maniacal, evil as can be cat (yes, I'm talking about *YOU* Samantha, as you watch me type over my shoulder) would not leave us alone last night...Each time I'd get up...she'd be right there by my head making little sounds...then I'd tell her to go and Tim would shoo her away....When he woke this morning he told me that she walked around in circles on top of his chest for 30 mintues!!! She obviously needed something, but COME ON CAT! So I feel it is my duty today to wake her each time she lays down for a nap...hehehehehe (evil laughter abounds)...
okay, I wouldn't really do it, but it sure was fun to think about...
8 )
HAHA...by the way, I looked up "quixotic" before using it...I like it!
Quixotic - adj.
1. Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality.
2. Capricious; impulsive: “At worst his scruples must have been quixotic, not malicious” (Louis Auchincloss). |
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| Fun project.... |
[May. 17th, 2004|01:29 pm] |
both projects took less than an hour all together....
Supplies:
wooden box with drawers (I imagine papier mache will work as well)
magnetic strip (even cheap sheet metal from the hardware store)
tacky glue
some kind of sponge or brush
fancy papers...your choice (scapbooking papers work great)
So just cut the papers to fit...on the box, I fit the front panel exactly..on the magnetic strip, I wrapped the paper. Water down the tacky glue until it's soupy and spread heavily on surface. Spread also on back of paper and adhere paper. At this point you can slide the paper to get it on right...then slather glue on top of paper to wet it well and rub over it with your fingers to remove air bubbles..
Tacky glue dries clear so don't worry about how it looks now...
This is fun and easy!
Enjoy...send me pics if you're inspired...I'd love to see them! 8 )
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| "Just Like Heaven"..... |
[May. 16th, 2004|10:32 pm] |
Hehehe...had to quote an old "Cure" song to describe the wonderful weekend!
We bought and assembled our new office furniture....the room looks super and organized and each computer has its own space! I also was able to get a beauty day yesterday with a great cut and highlights...it's been a year since I've done that...then we spent the dinner hour with the Sis in law and hubby at a great new sushi place...such fun!
and...
We gave Allie his first taste of cereal...rice cereal to be exact...he didn't love it and he didn't hate it, but he certainly seemed surprised and tolerant of our excitement over attempting to jump start him into a new stage of development...
We found the most precious feeding stuff at Ikea...
Of course with the sunshine a little rain must fall...We had planned on travel to the East coast for two weeks but alas Tim's new work deadline won't permit him to take off two weeks...so now I'll be bringing the kids home alone...(It's only a five hour flight..how bad could it be)...hehehe..
but at least Tim will be able to join us for the second week in Philly..
oh yeah! and....we're vacationing even sooner than that..my parents are coming out in a couple of weeks and we're going to spend two days with them in Vegas..expenses paid..
Tim and I went sans kids last year for a romantic weekend and were only able to explore the Northern strip...sure will be fun to delve into the south...New York, New York...MGM Grand...Excalibur...and the rooms at Ceaser's Palace are paid for (Thanks Mom..you're the best!)
So that's about all the excitement I can stand...
Later.. |
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| The greatest gift of all.... |
[May. 10th, 2004|10:12 am] |
Ahhhhh...Mother's Day was wonderful..thanks to all the boys in the house. I got to sleep in and awoke to breakfast, coffee, and the Sunday paper....along with several cards and gifts. It's so nice to be appreciated!
We spent the afternoon buying a new computer...Tim and I have been sharing one (Brandon has his own, but hates to use it alone in his room) and it's so nice for us to be able to sit together again and just....well....compute...8 ) It's been about two years since we've had that...
We're also getting rid of the gargantuan office desk today...I've been waiting a very long time to redo the office/diningroom. Can't wait to shop for new desks and we can now fully use the beautiful antique drop leaf table that we purchased months ago..
I LOVE getting things done...!!
The evening found us spending time with friends of Tim's that have left Rockstar. One came down from San Francisco with his girlfriend and organized a little BBQ at his friends along the beach...It was a beautiful evening and Allies first time at the beach. We didn't get too much reaction, but did get a nice picture.
It was a dream of a day...and great to socialize a bit. |
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| scattered thoughts....as usual.. |
[May. 7th, 2004|07:23 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | content | ] |
Poor Tim's been working every weekend for the past three and late most nights.... E3 is next week along with the unveiling of the game, so it must be absolutely stunning. I know he's doing a super job though and the game will be a HUGE hit...He was, however, able to be home for growth group last night...I'm so glad that's a priority..
It was great to get the insight of the group on last Sunday's topic of Temptation..(I was so happy that Mom and Dad L and R attended church with us...their presence only added to the good feelings of the morning service). The sermon was very well spoken, but a pretty basic lesson. Tim and I didn't feel really wowed by what we took home, especially as we did our homework for the group...
So...we were both really excited that last nights meeting provided us with a greater understanding and more insight into temptation and how others cope with it on a daily basis. As we were leaving I expressed to the Host, Greg, that we really appreciate the insight and wisdom that he brings each week and that he makes us think and discuss each lesson further. He said that he felt the same about us and that we were a great addition to the group. It was nice to receive that validation as Tim and I are both a bit insecure when speaking in a group setting.
Also, we found out about Spirit West Coast at last weeks group, which takes place over memorial day weekend. Looks like a great christian celebration! We're getting tix for the whole day Saturday and can't wait to take Brandon and Alex....it sounds very similar to the Creation festival that Tim and I attended when we were both younger. (We still can't determine if we were at the same one or not)....
Well, here's a couple pics taken last night and this morning...
Oh and...thanks a lot to Dennis for getting the whole family addicted to his new "drug" of a game...(said with the utmost sarcasm), but we still luv ya...8 ) |
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| A tribute to the purest soul... |
[May. 6th, 2004|01:06 pm] |
I've been thinking a lot about work lately...I really miss all of the residents and inevitably when I think about them...I think about David...
David was an ornery soul, we connected from the very beginning. I first met him right after I moved to California and began working as Assistant Director at a center based Day Program. We hit it off...I've always loved sarcasm and wit and he had both characteristics down pat.
David left the program soon after I arrived and I didn't see him again for several months...I soon found that the job wasn't causing me to look in the mirror at night and say "You really helped people today" (my requirement for a job) and decided to move on. Low and behold I ended up being David's QMRP at his residence...What luck....!
I always told him that I followed him and he loved to believe it.
David was so special...everyday he'd get off the bus from his program and come to my office to "help" me with my paperwork...
We talked about everything under the sun and I'd print things for him from the internet...one of his favorite things to do was create playlists for cd's that I would make him.
He'd often call me on the phone and tell me to "hurry up" and get that cd done...
He was such an amazing soul....the purest of souls, seeking only friendship in return for his wonderful smile and fun personality.
I cried yesterday, thinking about him...about the last time I saw him.
you see...he loved his food...especially cheeseburgers and when the Doctors told him he could no longer eat solid foods it took away one of the few great pleasures he had in life.
He decided that he did not want to follow the diet and I had no choice but to discharge him from the facility. It was the saddest most awful thing I had to do....but it was our job to keep the residents healthy and his weight loss and desire to not follow the order put him at too great a risk.
He was discharged to a nursing home after spending some time in the Hospital. The last visit I had with him was in the hospital where I pleaded with him to reconsider the diet and begged him to consider a feeding tube so that he could be placed in another facility...He refused and the family came out of the woodwork and decided to allow David to decide...He passed away a month later at the nursing center with aspiration pneumonia caused by improper swallowing of solid foods.
I often wonder if he made the right decision though I know with certainty he's in heaven now eating the biggest, juiciest cheeseburger ever...
So I write this tribute to a great friend and a wonderful soul....I will always have a part of David in my heart and will always be grateful for the time we spent together...
One of the last things I had to do at work was hold a memorial service for him and so I share with you one of the scrapbook pages I made to present to the family at that service...
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| Oh yeah....and.... |
[May. 5th, 2004|12:36 pm] |
Whilst in Old Town, I purchased a new celestial piece for my collection...
I don't have any stars...so he's the first and very awesome!
Here's just a few of the others...lots more around the house....
Tim's great about helping me find the perfect new addition whenever we encounter them...8 ) |
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| so much to say... |
[May. 5th, 2004|10:20 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  loved | ] |
so little opportunity to say it...
Life has been motoring along a steady pace the past couple of weeks...
J's Baby shower was wonderful! It took place at a lovely victorian tea room in Old Town San Diego (the same place she had her wedding shower)filling the afternoon with laughter, fun, and the tastiest finger sandwiches ever created in a variety of interesting flavors.
After the shower, Tim's Mom, family friend, Allie, and I walked around Old Town which was in the midst of a fantastical cinqo de Mayo celebration. We partook in the festivities vicariously as we strolled past historical buildings and quaint vendors...It was a beautiful, warm, sunny San Diego day.
We had such a nice visit with the family, I hated to see them go...so glad that they'll be back shortly for the birth of the new grandson.
In other news, we finally did it....the papers are signed for the refinance and should close next week! *yay* It turned out better than I expected, no house payment for two months and the payment will be less...That'll be super helpful towards our savings for several more years of stay at home mommyhood.
I wasn't sure at first how I would feel being home...I love to be working and helping people and being able to see my contribution to society, but I'm really enjoying it! Allie is such an awesome baby..he hardly cries at all and his smile could melt the most frozen of tundras...
It's also great to have so much more time with Brandon, who kind of missed all of that growing up.
I am, however, looking for some volunteer opportunities (probably through the church) and trying to find lumps of time for my "on hold" sewing projects.
Life is grand...it seems that from the moment Tim and I became one heart, all parts of life have just been falling into place around us...of course there's a lot of hard work involved, but it certainly feels like the natural progression of our "written in the stars" union. From the moment our eyes met, we looked forward together, without hesitation or fear...all the past hurts melted away and the only vision was that of our future filled with amazing love.
That kind of love is so wonderful to build a family on...each life challenge brings us closer and closer together.
and then you know why poetry was created and why artists started to paint....
yeah yeah, I know...but even though you think its cheesy..you're secretly searching for the same thing....8 ) |
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| New Recipe.... |
[Apr. 22nd, 2004|01:41 pm] |
Part of the fun of being home is trying new recipes and I've delved into my New Choices cookbook (Betty Crocker) which is full of healthy low fat, low cholesterol meals/desserts...I've used this book for several years now and especially love the chocolate brownie recipe...mmmmmmm.
So anyhow...tonight, is growth group so we only have about 15 minutes to eat and get on the road. I'm making Chicken Satay and cucumber sauce...It's very thai and full of curry, cumin, garlic, lime, and lots of love....hehehe 8 )
Should be delish...you really should try this cookbook! |
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sparklyeyes4u's journal
mischievous