Christmas & such.....

How was your Christmas? Well, mine was good. Our Christmas started the Sunday before Christmas. We had Christmas at my dad's house, beacuse he goes to his land and my step mom goes to Lubbock to be with her family. Then on Christmas day we had my grandmother's family over at our house. I love family time! It is great to have everyone under one roof. Fun times and great memories made. Christmas is my favorite time of year. It always has been since I was a kid. Not because of the presents and the decorations, but because it our Saviors birthday and it is a time for families to come together. It is a great holiday! I love the cooking, the baking, and the decorating and yes even the cleaning! I love it all. We had about 15 people over for Christmas. It would have been more, but the weather caused my sister and her family to stay home. We missed her, but she came out the after Christmas to visit, and that was soooo much fun! Her kids are so great. They make me smile every time I am around them.


This is Christmas at my dad's & stepmoms.
(The Mahaffey Family)


This is Christmas day with my grandma's family. (The Hart Family)

For some reason, I could not get into it this year. I wasn’t as excited as I have been in the past. Why? What is different this year then years before? Why does it feel different? No, it wasn’t the snow! The snow was GREAT!

Well, I think I know what my problem is. I hope everyone reading this doesn’t take this the wrong way, because it is not about anyone in my life right now. It is just how I feel...and it boils down to the same ole same ole! BABIES!

I want kids! I love to hear me sister’s kids running through my house. I love to hear them laugh, play, scream and yes even cry! She is a GREAT mom and her kids are blessed to have her as their momma! I want to watch a child’s face on Christmas morning after Santa has brought all of the toys! I want to experience a babies 1^st birthday. I want to potty train my own child, not someone else’s. I want to tuck a child into bed at night. Yes, I even want to wake up 5 times a night to feed a baby. I want to step over toys and clean up messes that a child makes. I want to be a MOM!

Yes, I know kids can be a hand full. I used to watch kids out of my house and I have between 3 and 5 a day! There were some days I never got out of my jammies. I have changed my share of diapers, cleaned my share of puke…….but not from my own kid. I know that we are not supposed to question God on things….but I am only human! Why can a prostitute get pregnant? Why can someone have “18 kids and counting” and I can’t even have one? Why can women have babies and then give them up for adoption? Why can someone have kids and then beat them? Why can a lady have kids and then never talk to them again? Why can a lady have a baby and then throw it in a lake to die? Why can someone have a baby and then years later the police find in a suitcase under a mobile home? WHY? Just think about all of the stories you hear on the news about babies or kids being hurt or even killed! WHY?

A child is a gift from God! I don’t care how you see it…but that is what it is….a GIFT from God. So, tonight when you put your kids to bed, please thank the Lord for them! Even Dennis the Menace is a gift from God; you are just getting paid back for being a little toot when you were a kid!

Some of you always ask why am I so busy all the time and why can I not tell people NO……it is because if I stay busy, I don’t think about these things! I know my time will come….but when?? It is hard to sit back and wait, but I know I have to.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

"Today I will marry my best friend"

December 7….what a great day! Why you ask….because like our wedding invitations said 7 years ago; “today I will marry my best friend”! Let me start at the beginning……

Eli and I meet in 1999. Eli was friends with the guy I was dating at the time. I could NOT stand Eli & he could NOT stand me. But since he was friends with my boyfriend…..we had no choice….we had to be in the same room with each other! We soon became BEST FRIENDS. A short time later, I broke up with my boyfriend because he had certain issues (I won’t go into details, but he chose other things over me)! After about a year of being best buddies, we decided to go on a date!! We went to Johnny Rockets in downtown Dallas for our first date. It was so great to be on a date and be completely comfortable! I have never been that comfortable on a first date. I think it was because we had been friends before we stared dating. He already had seen the good, the bad & the ugly!

In 2001 on New Year’s Eve his whole family came down from Arkansas so we all got together at his aunts house. Everyone one in the room, except for me knew that he had a ring in pocket! His aunt got out her camera and wanted to take a “Family Photo”. We took several. Everyone kept laughing after we took a picture so finally I turned around an Eli was holding the ring over my head!!! He asked & of course I said yes. It was a great night. I don’t think I slept that night.

I am not going to lie, marriage has not been easy. We have our ups and downs; we fight just like everyone else. Thankfully there are way more ups than downs. We are human….but I wouldn’t change one thing about our relationship. He is amazing. He is my best friend and believe it or not…..I CAN TELL HIM ANYTHING! He is my everything.

I think my favorite thing about Eli is his sense of humor. I think mine is better…..but it is so nice to be able to joke around with him. We are always pulling some kind of prank on each other. ALWAYS. He will hide in the closet of the house and scare the pee out of me, or call me at work and pretend to be someone else, or hide my things so I can’t find them! We are like two peas in a pod or as we like to say, we are two puzzle pieces! He can make me laugh when I want to rip someone’s head off and that is VERY important to me. If you know me at all, you know I LOVE to laugh! If you don’t laugh at least once a day, the day is wasted! We have so much fun.

It has been 7 years ago that I married my best friend and he is still my best friend! I would totally do it all again….the good, the bad & the ugly! I am curious to see what the future holds for us.

Here are some pictures from my wedding scrapbook..........

Sky Ranch & Thanksgiving

SKY RANCH

We went to Sky Ranch, which is a Christian camp in Van, TX, as youth sponsors with our youth group. It was AMAZING! We (as in Eli & me) had never been there before. We had 17 kids go and 4 adults go. We had a Thanksgiving dinner at church and then the kids sang at our 6:30pm worship service on Sunday night. After the service, we loaded up and left. Eli drove our Tahoe with the trailer and Sean, the youth minister, drove the church van. We had 4 girls and 1 boy in our truck….so we called our vehicle the “PARTY CAR”! We sang and goofed off the whole way. So fun! We got down there and couldn’t find the way in because the sign feel down. Sean kept turning around and making Eli turn around with a trailer hooked up….finally Eli just pulled over and waited for Sean to pass us again and tell us to turn around. Then all of a sudden, we here screaming and gasping coming from the back row of seats…..there was a guy walking up to Eli’s windows. This was a scene right out of a scary movie….and the one boy that we had in our car was telling us everything that would happen next in a scary movie! The guy asked if we were lost and we said yes and told him we were looking for Sky Ranch. He said, “Well, follow me; I know right where it is!” So….do we follow this stranger that we don’t know down these country roads, where there are NO lights, NO other cars on the road, NO one to find our dead bodies……YES, we followed him….with 4 screaming 11 year old girls! He took us right to the entrance!! We called him our angel in the mustang! He was driving a Mustang. We told to watch out for the church van and tell them how to get there…..little did we know that Sean had found it by now and was sitting there waiting on us!

Monday morning was our fun packed day! We rode horses and went on a Cattle Drive, we went down a zip line, which scared me to death, we paintballed, we did a rope course, swung on a pendulum, jumped on a jumping pillow……ok well I didn’t do all of that. By noon, I was pooped out! I am getting too old! It was a BLAST though. Just watching these kids made me happy! We had a great group of kids. Believe it or not…..they get along really good. After dinner that night we went down behind our cabins to a bonfire to have a bible study and eat smores! It was so dark out there. There were no light on, I had to use my phone as a flashlight to see where I was walking! One of the boys wanted to play his guitar and sing Days of Elijah…..so Eli took him back up to the cabin to get his guitar. They were walking down to the bonfire and there are stairs made out of wood. Eli step on a step and there was a tree stump in the step and it broke so his foot went down in a hole. When they finally made it to the bonfire, Eli’s ankle looked like a baseball was attached to the side of it! The fire wouldn’t stay lit either! Eli and I headed back to cabins before everyone else. Sean found him some ice and found an EMT to come look at it. Well…..a week later….it is still swollen and bruised and he is still in pain! I finally convinced him to go to the doctor. We are going this afternoon. I pray that it isn’t broke!!!

Tuesday morning we woke up and headed home! The guys went to hook the trailer back up to our Tahoe to fine that the lock on the trailer hitch had popped off somewhere on the highway (probably went we had to keep turning around)! So they hooked up the trailer and found a way to make it all stay together. We got back to the church and all the kids started getting their stuff out and we realized that the trailer was never “screwed” on! It is a miracle we made it back with that trailer!

Eli & I had so much fun and can’t wait to do it again next year! These kids are amazing!

THANKSGIVING!

We went to my aunt’s house in Lewisville on Thanksgiving. Everyone was there except my sister and my mom, but that’s because we didn’t invite my mom! It was fun like always. The 3 F’s….food, family & football! What more could you ask for? I wish Heather would have been there, but that’s what happens when you get married. She will be with on Christmas!

Eli mom and brother came down from Arkansas. They got here Wednesday night and stayed until Sunday morning! I love his family. I am so glad too. I would hate to be one of those women that can’t stand their husbands family. It is truly a blessing that we all love each other. They are great. While his mom and middle brother were here his younger brother that lives in Plano came and stayed with us too! We were like one big family. It was great to see everyone together again. They are going to try and come down for Christmas too. I hope they can. Christmas is always at my house and I say the more the merrier! We had about 40 people at our house a couple of years ago. I love Christmas!

My wrist is hurting, so I calling it quits for now! Thanks for reading. God Bless.

So many things, so little time!

Were do I start?

Let’s start with the baby talk….. As of last Friday (Nov. 6) I was a week late. I try not to think about it too much these days, if I’m late, I’m late. But I decided, what the heck, I will take a pregnancy test. Before I took the test, I said a little prayer. It was not a “please make me pregnant” prayer. I just told God that I know this will happen only in His time; not my time, not Eli’s time, IN GOD’S TIME! So I asked God to help me deal with that. God help me be patient and help me have faith that it will happen when He is ready!

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

If you know me at all, you know that I deal with a lot of things through humor! I try to make everything funny. I took the test; it a Clear Blue & Easy test. It was supposed to make a plus sign if you are pregnant; it made the horizontal line and then made a piece of the vertical line. I went and woke Eli up and told him that I was half way pregnant. He didn’t think that was very funny. Of course when I got to work on Friday, I started researching it on the internet. Yes, I know that you cannot believe everything you read on the internet, but it was worth a try. Then, after tell a couple of people this and getting there feedback, I decided to wait a couple of days and take another test. I actually forgot about it all weekend….Thank you Jesus for letting me forget, how do you forget about something like that? Only through God’s help. I decided to take another test Tuesday morning…there was only one line. That is A-OK! God is not ready for the Moreno’s to have a baby yet. We will see what happens. Just pray that God helps Eli & I be patient.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Next subject is my truck! I know you should not love material things, but it so hard when you have your dream car! I have wanted a Tahoe since I was 16. About two years ago, Eli surprised me with one. He found it at Carmax in Atlanta and showed me pictures of it. It had everything I wanted except it didn’t have 4x4, but it was fully loaded. I feel in love it instantly. Then he decided to tell me that it cost too much to have it shipped here and too much to drive there and pick it up. My heart was crushed! About 2 weeks later he told to come up to Carmax because his car wouldn’t start…..so mad and frustrated I drove to Carmax and there it was…..my Tahoe! He paid to have it shipped here! I love my husband & my truck. Well the battery died on Monday night and Eli said he would drive it Carmax and get a new battery. He decided that while it was there for a new battery he would go ahead and get everything checked & an oil change, since we are driving to San Antonio in a couple of weeks. Of course they found stuff wrong…..they kept it over night! Thankfully we have 3 cars…so we didn’t have to get a rent car, but still, I miss my truck. We have two other cars, but cars are not cool…..I am a SUV/Truck person. Oh well, we are not supposed to love material things, right? (But I can’t wait to get my truck back)

This is the time of year that it starts to get busy in the Moreno house (wait, when it is not busy at our house). Saturday, I have decided to put out all of my Christmas decorations. I DO think it is too early, but if I don’t do it then, it won’t get done! (I have too much Christmas stuff, but it is my favorite holiday. Also, on Saturday I am going to help bake pies for the youth bake sale at church. We are going to Sky Ranch with the youth group from church. It is a youth church camp in Van, Texas. Eli & I are both excited to go. I am really looking forward to paintball! I have wanted to do that for a long time. We have a Thanksgiving dinner at church on Sunday afternoon & we have to bring a meat dish and a dessert. Well, everyone always brings chicken from KFC (sorry church peeps, but it is true)….not me, I am bringing chicken & dressing casserole….real cooking and I am going to make some kind of pie! On Thanksgiving we always go to my aunt’s house in Lewisville. I usually make the desserts and she makes everything else, because on Christmas the role is switched, Christmas is at my house. So I need to start think of what to make and start making them. Then on Friday, I am going to my dad’s land (Eli is thinking about not going and staying at home). On Sunday, my cousins & their kids, my sister & her kids, myself, my grandma and hopefully my dad & step mom are all going to take family pictures. We did it about 7 years ago for a Christmas for my grandma & that everyone has kids, we want to do it again! There will be 8 adults and 4 kids….if that doesn’t sound like fun, I don’t know what does???

Then in December, we have the CarMax Banquet, Eli’s friends from Arkansas are coming for a weekend, weddings at the church, our 7 year anniversary, Christmas and who knows what else the calendar holds! I will update you on all of that after it happens!

Eli & I lead a VERY busy and exciting life and I would not change one thing. Life is GREAT! Thanks for reading.

“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thessalonians 5:16-18

To all of my HERO’s out there (and I am not talking about the TV show)

I have been working on a Veteran’s Day Slideshow for church, for about a month now! Veteran’s Sunday was this past Sunday at church. I was trilled when I was asked to put together this slideshow, because this subject means so much to me. All of the church members were asked to bring in pictures of them in their uniforms…..it was so neat to get to see all of the pictures. Some where really old pictures and some were more recent. The slideshow turned out GREAT and I had a great time doing it. So, I have been thinking about this day for a month now.

I cannot tell you how much these men and women mean to me. I have never met even half of them, but they are amazing! I just wanted to take a minute and THANK each and every one of the men and women that risk their life for me. They are not soldiers they are HEROS! They are my hero. I know several people that are serving our country or that their spouse is serving our country. I cannot say THANK YOU enough. Thank you to the spouses too….without your help your spouse couldn’t do it. You are supportive of their decision to serve. It must be hard, but you are there for them. I know it is just a TV show, but I cry every time I watch Army Wives! You are amazing! For those of you that are serving our county…..I truly love you and I am just in AWWW over your sacrifices that you make daily. Thank you for doing what you do. You are a HERO in my book. God Bless you all!

I think we as “civilians” take for granted everyday the work that you do for us. I say “civilians” because I hear that all the time from people that are serving. Without you men and women some of us might not be here today! I don’t believe that there are strong enough words in the English language to say…..I know THANK YOU just doesn’t cut it my book.

Just promise me this….every time you someone in uniform, take a minute just to say thank you. I know Eli & I do. There is a local store here in Irving called Porter’s Army & Navy, they are having an event this Saturday, November 14. You can take stuff to them that go into a care package or just donate $15.00 to go towards a care package! I am so doing that, and if you live in or around Irving, you should do it too.

As some of you may know Eli lost his best friend earlier this year. He was in the Marines. He was killed in a car wreck, but he loved the Marines! He was a great man. I just went back and read my blog about when was taken for this world and I started to cry all over again! Jason THANKS for doing what you did and loving every minute of it. You were a very loved man and I think about you daily, as do many people I am sure. On this day I think of you more! RIP Jason Murdock.

A Veteran’s Day Prayer

Dear Lord,
Today we honor our veterans,
worthy men and women
who gave their best
when they were called upon
to serve and protect their country.
We pray that you will bless them, Lord,
for their unselfish service
in the continual struggle
to preserve our freedoms, our safety,
and our country’s heritage, for all of us.
Bless them abundantly
for the hardships they faced,
for the sacrifices they made
for their many different contributions
to America’s victories
over tyranny and oppression.
We respect them, we thank them,
we honor them, we are proud of them,
and we pray that you will watch over
these special people
and bless them with peace and happiness.
In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.

Birthdays!

Well it has been Birthday Month around the Moreno household! August & November are always birthday months! Our November birthdays are Caitlynn (niece), Mac (niece), Heather (best sister ever), Jennifer (sister-in-law), and Alekzander (nephew). They are all the 1^st thru the 14^th! WOW!

Hopefully, this coming weekend we will have the Moreno parties. Alekzander will be 3…..it seems like just yesterday he was born! Time flies! I will write another blog about their party.

Well this past weekend was the party for the Talley girls. It was great! I made a Tinkerbell cake (with real fairy dust)& a John Deere cake for the two girls. I let Mac sprinkle fairy dust on her Tinkerball cake! I cannot believe that Caitlynn is already 2 years old! And my baby sister is 25! Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was making Heather a bottle. Well, there were kids, presents & tissue paper everywhere. It was great being around my family and Talley family! They are great and funny people. Fun times for all.

I want to take a minute and just talk my sister. Since he birthday was yesterday, it has got me thinking. Some of you may not know about my past very much…so here goes! When my sister & I were young, my mom was there physically but not mentally! Let’s just say she had problems and would choose “other things” instead of her children (things haven’t changed much today). That is where a lot of my anger comes from towards parents that don’t take care of their children. My dad was always at work trying to provide for us. He worked his butt off! He was there for us when we needed him though. So, basically I raised my sister. I can remember when she was about 2 and I would be the one to go get her a cup of milk in the middle of the night. I changed her diapers. I gave her her first hair cut! Ok, she really didn’t need a hair cut, but I was sick of everyone saying that she had the cutest curly hair (and I had straight, stringy hair) so I cut it off! My dad did get me for that one! I had it coming though. Anyways, she was like my little baby and I was only 6 years old! Don’t get me wrong, we had our sibling fight, plenty of them, but in the end she is always my sister and I had to take care of her. When she was sick, I was the wiping her nose and cleaning up her puke. I think that we are closer because of everything and I would not take any of it back, well maybe the haircut because she did have the cutest curls ever, but it has made us the people we are today. I just want to say…..

Heather I am so proud of you and the choices you have made through out life! You are truly a good person. You used to look up to me because I was your older sister, but I have to tell you, I look up to you. You are a GREAT mom, wife and sister. Your kids & husband & your family are truly blessed to have you in our lives. I love you more than words can express. You have seen so much in your life time and I am so glad you made the decision to be better than that. And with all that is going on in your life, you are back in school! You are amazing. Thank you for being you! It is a privilege to call you SISTER! Happy birthday!

Halloween 2009

Let’s talk about Halloween….

Let me start by tell you a weird story……My mom’s name is Debbie and my sisters name is Heather………………My best friend’s name is Debbie and her daughter’s name is Heather! My friend Debbie has a son named Matt & Clay….they are my brothers & sister from another mother! Throughout this blog posting I am talking about my friend Debbie & her daughter Heather!

Now, let’s actually let’s start the week before Halloween! My best friend Debbie had an early birthday party for her son. His birthday is in December, but he is in love with Halloween and the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. So she decided to have him a Halloween birthday party. Since I love parties and planning them (and so does Debbie) I told her I was in on this!! The party was at 7:00 that Saturday so we decided to meet up at 7:30 that morning to get started. We meet and Debbie asked me how many games I came up with? What? Games? I totally forgot that I was supposed to be the game lady! So at lunch time we all sat around and ate pizza and Heather helped me come up with 4 or 5 games! Thanks Heather! We had so much fun. We made a ton of cupcakes, cookies, pizzas, dips, popcorn, cheese fingers, sausage mummies…..you name it - we made it, or at least thought about making it! We didn’t make everything we wanted to, but that is just because there is not enough time in a day. I am telling you…it was a lot of work but it was well worth it. I had so much fun being with Debbie and her kids (Heather, Matt, & Clay) making these things and preparing for this party. It was a BLAST, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I am hoping I get to help with her daughter’s wedding, whenever that might be! We also transformed her backyard into a “Spooky Backyard”! Heather (Debbie’s daughter) made a haunted house in the backyard. It was pretty spooky. Well, 7:00 came and we were ready (well, almost…we were still putting some of the food out on the table)! LET THE PARTY BEGIN! The kids started coming……we started playing games around 8:00! We played eyeball hunt, ring toss in the grave yard, mummy roll up, and then we had a costume contest. It seems like I am leaving something out, but I can’t remember, that was a week ago! The kids had a BLAST!! I really think they enjoyed it. I told Debbie after the party….I don’t know who enjoyed it more….us or the kids? Clay had a great time and that is all that mattered. I have posted some picture, but only the ones with no kids in them, since I am not sure how their parents would feel about it.

Now on to Halloween……

We had a big AUTUMN EXTRAVAGANZA at my church on Halloween day! Was I involved in to you ask…OF COURSE I WAS and so was ELI!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Colossians 3:23-24.

I love these types of things! I am sooo a people person! We had a craft fair that I partook in! I sold my hair bows and my hand stamped cards. I did alright, not what I expected, but I paid for my booth and made a little extra! The youth group was in charge of the food.

Youth group + food = Eli! Eli came with me and helped out with food. I am so glad that he is getting MORE involved in church! I have to admit….it is addicting. He has been helping out in the Youth Group every Wednesday night! I hope he gets addicted. I know he loves God…I just want him to be more involved. Halloween night we had Trunk or Treat. Eli decorated our trunk because by that time, I was wasted! I was so tired from staying up the night before to get all my craft stuff together; I only had 4 hours of sleep! Eli did a great job decorating the trunk! I think we had the best trunk there. The kids had a blast and that’s what matters. I had fun too and I think Eli did too! We made it home just in time for Texas Longhorn game that I slept right through! We had a GREAT Halloween and I hope everyone else did too.
That is it for today. Thanks for reading!

Just stuff!

So it has been a while and not much has happened, but a few things have…….

As most of you know, Eli works at CarMax in the parts department. He was working at the Irving store, but asked to be transferred to the Ft. Worth store about a year and half ago. I think that was the best thing he ever did! I think this for two reasons…..1. He is happier there than he was at the Irving store and 2. We get to go COOL places!!! Every year CarMax has a “President’s Club” Banquet (that just means the top CarMax’s get to go to the banquet) and we got to go last year & we get to go again this year!! Last year CarMax paid for us to go to the Gaylord Texan for 1 night and we got an AWESOME meal out of it…probably the best meal I have ever had! This year we get to go to Hyatt Regency on the River Walk in San Antonio and stay one night in December!! I am so excited! We have both been to San Antonio 100 times, but neither one of us has ever stayed in a hotel ON THE RIVER WALK! That is exciting. I cannot wait to go….maybe I will go ahead and start packing…..just joking! J

I am getting ready for the Autumn Extravaganza at our church. I am going to have a booth in the craft fair and also help out with Trunk or Treat for the kids! I have to get to crafting to get all of my items done. It is going to be on Halloween from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM….come check it out and bring the kids. Tons of fun stuff going on!!!

What else…… oh yeah, for those of you who don’t know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is very important to me. Be sure to get checked…even guys can get Breast Cancer!!!

Eli and I have a lot going on right now in our lives, as I am sure many of you do. I am glad you guys take the time out of your day to read this blog. Thanks for caring about us!

“Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God's peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.”
Philippians 4:6-7

Our Saltwater Babies

We bought a saltwater tank about 5 months ago. We have always had a fish tank, but had to get rid of it a couple of years ago when we moved into a townhouse. We always said that when we bought a house we would get a new tank. We have lived in our house for almost 4 years now & we just got a new tank! The best part is that it is a saltwater tank. They are so pretty, but very addicting & kinda expensive. Everyone has told us that they are hard to maintain, but we don't think so. It is no harder to maintain than a fresh water tank. Eli does all of the work, I just feed them. It is his project. They are expensive! The fish, the rocks, the filters....everything but the water is expensive. We love it though. It is so fun to watch them. There are times when we won't even turn the TV on, we will just sit there and watch the fish! Exciting life, I know!

We bought the tank from some friends and it is all down hill from there! We have only killed 2 fish and had to take one back! When we first got the tank set up, they told us to buy these "starter fish" to make sure the water was ready. If they survived then we could get more fish! Now, we have 6 fish, a hermit crab, an anemone, 2 starfish, some live rock, some coral, a feather duster and TONS of snails!

We started with only starfish and then one day there were two! I researched it and found out that if a piece of a starfish gets cut off, another starfish can form out of the broken piece. Strange but true! One day the hermit crab "molted", which means he has shed his exoskeloton! Gross stuff! But it is perfectly normal. See a saltwater tank can be educational too! We have to limit ourselves to buying ONE thing for the tank every payday (which is every other week). Sounds easy, but it's not. I have posted pictures of our saltwater babies! Enjoy!

Things I make and sell

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a "crafter"! I love to craft! It all started as something fun to do in my spare time and then people started asking if they could buy some of my things. Well of course I said yes! Eli is in the process of making me a website and an Ebay store. I will let you know when they are up and running! In the mean time, I have posted some pictures of some of the tings I have made or I am planning to make. The church is having an "Autumn Extravaganza" on Halloween. This is like a Fall Festival. There will be food, children activities, auctions, live music, live entertainment, and of course A CRAFT FAIR!!! I will have a booth set up there with some of my stuff! My first craft fair...I hear, once you do one, you will be hooked and want to do them all! Well see.

I also enjoy making & decorating cakes. I haven't sold any of these. They are not that great, but I enjoy doing them. It is a lot if fun. I have posted pictures of some that I have made for friends & family. Let me know what you think.

My Weekend!!

So, I have to go on this “Staff Retreat” for work. There are 7 of us that are going to a place just outside of Lake Texoma. We are leaving today and coming back on Wednesday. I went last year with them, even though I was only part time staff. It is a lot of fun, but this time I don’t want to go! I don’t know what my deal is, but I don’t want to leave my husband. I don’t like being 2 hours away. What if something happens? I know, I always think the worst! I know this sounds sappy……but I can’t stand to be away from him! He is my everything. I am going to miss him so much. I am sure I will be writing on this blog the whole time I am gone from him. I have brought plenty of things to do to keep me busy when we are not meeting. Oh yeah, and I have been having nightmares EVERY single night, so now when I have them, I will be in a hotel room all alone!! Guess what? There are no TV’s in the rooms so I brought Eli’s laptop & plenty of non-scary movies!!! Oh well, if I get scared, I will go knock on everyone else’s door and wake someone else up! Don’t think I won’t, because I will in a heart beat. I will go wake Connie, the mom of the group up!

Let me tell you about our group…….there is Connie (Office Manager), the mom of the group! She just came in here and told me to clean up my desk before we leave. J She also makes sure everyone goes to the doctor. She is always looking out for everyone. I love her to death! It would be a blessing to call her my mom any day. Then there is Susan (Music Director)! She is like the crazy Aunt! You CANNOT be in a bad mood around Susan, she is hilarious! She always has a solution for every problem.
I think she is the funniest person I know. I love her to death too! Then there is Sean (Youth Director), he is my brother from another mother! He is like the brother I never had! He is great. I can talk to him about anything….even chick stuff. Then there is Barbara (Financial Secretary). She is like an older, smarter sister. She is awesome. Then there is me! The “young one” that knows nothing. These people always talk about things that happened in the 1800’s and I never know what they are talking about. I am the CRAZY KID of the bunch, always joking around! Finally, we have the mom & pop of the group. David & Joy (Pastor & Director of Christian Education & his wife). They are the ones always TRING to keep us in line! It never works. We are a tough bunch of people. We joke all the time and call ourselves “The Great Big Dysfunctional Family”. I am truly blessed to work in such a great place with amazing people. The one thing that I will take from this job, if I ever leave, will be the great FRIENDS I have made here. They will ALWAYS be in my life! ALWAYS! As different as we are…..we are all on the same page…..WE LOVE GOD!!!!

Ta Ta for now!!! (TTFN; that’s for Susan)

My CRAZY Life!

Where do I begin? It seems like there is always something going on in my life. I am always on the go and there is never a break in my life. But what would I do if it were the opposite? I would be bored and that is not good! As much as I hate it, I love being on the go all the time. Does that make sense?

We went to Lake Livingston in the middle of July for our Vacation. My best friend Debbie has a lake house out there and we try to go every year. We had fun. A week away from the city is always great! I needed the get away.

The first week of August was Music Camp here at the church. That is always a big hit and a bunch of fun. I kinda have my hand in everything here at the church. It was about Joseph and his coat. I made his coat of many colors. It was a stomp musical and the kids did a GREAT job.

As some of you know, I am the wedding coordinator at the church, too. There has been a wedding EVERY weekend in August! I am always up here. I hardly ever get a day off. You would think that I am rich; well I am, not rich as in money, but rich as in the Lord! I will do anything for my God! He is awesome and is always there for me.

Eli & I went to Great Wolf Lodge last weekend with Youth Choir. There were about 21 kids and about 10 adults! It was so much fun. I realized I am too old to have fun! I was so beat up from those water slides it wasn’t even funny! Would I do it again….ABSOLUTELY! Great fun. If you can afford it, you need to go.

We just had a Sock Hop last night at the church and I helped plan it. I wish I could just be a professional party planner. It is so much fun to plan themed parties and then decorate for them. We rocked out to 1950’s music all night. But guess what? I also had a wedding rehearsal. There is not a minute of my day that there is not something going on. BUSY.

On top of all that, Eli & I are trying to have a baby…..what am I thinking? Now for the baby talk………… Well, I went to the doctor on Tuesday and she saw 1 follicle that was only about 17cm instead of 21cm. So she told me to come back on Thursday. When she looked at me on Thursday, she saw 2 follicles that were both 21cm! YEAH BUDDY! Then I had to get the shot that makes me ovulate from the Target on 635, because that is the only close place that carries it. Eli gave me the shot yesterday. Now it is time to get to work. And then WAIT some more! Oh how I love to wait!

I have posted some picture of some the things that have gone on……………….

Not Pregnant AGAIN!

I am not pregnant. I started my cycle……….which means we get to go through the whole process AGAIN! Can you tell I am getting a little tired of this? I am not going to give up; I am going to give it at least 6 months! I am going to start taking my meds again, and pray for the best! I am very frustrated right now with all of this, so I am not going to say much about it, because I don’t want to say something I may regret in the long run. I just pray that I ovulate on my own again! I just have one question……..when is it my turn???

My dad had a heart attack

I was over at my dad’s house on Wednesday, July 1. I just went over there to borrow something, so I wasn’t there long, but my dad was outside in the back yard deflating all of the pool floats. He doesn’t like them, but everyone keeps buying them and then leaving them at his house! Then I went home and started cooking dinner. About an hour later my step mom called and I asked if I would come over to the house, because my dad wasn’t feeling well and she had just called 911. My dad lives next door, so I walked over there and he was lying on his bed, white as a ghost & sweating like I have never seen. I wish I wouldn’t have seen him that way, because now I cannot get that picture out of my head! That was the scariest sight my eyes have ever seen. He was so helpless and looked just about dead. The ambulance got there within 5 minutes of my step mom calling. They hooked him up to machines and determined that he hadn’t had a heart attack yet, but his heart beat was very irregular. When they were checking him into the ER, he had a heart attack. They got him into surgery and put a stent in all with in about an hour! He is doing fine, just very weak. The doctors told him to quit smoking, so that’s what we are praying for! I love my dad very much and want him to stay with me for ever. That was one of the scariest moments in my life. He is my world! I love you pops!

Things are looking UP!!

I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday and every time I go in they ask about my LG levels, basically they want to know if I am ovulating or not. I bought these test that are like pregnancy test. Well I did it yesterday morning and it had 2 lines which means I am ovulating! I wasn’t to sure of it, so when I got to the doctor I asked her everything! I asked if my meds could affect it, if it lies sometimes, etc….she said if there were 2 lines then there were 2 lines. She said that if one was darker than the other, which it was, then I probably haven’t ovulated yet, but would within the next couple of days. She said to keep checking over the weekend and when I get 2 solid, same color lines, then I am ovulating! And we all know what that means! So the doctor checked on my follicles. I have like 5 cysts on one of my ovaries and I have an “OK” size follicle on the other ovary. The doctor said that it could be a little bigger, but it will do! She said it was GREAT NEWS that I started my cycle on my own (no meds) & now my body is trying to ovulate on its own (no meds)! Can you believe that, GREAT NEWS!! I have to go back on Monday to see if I have ovulated or not!!!

I went into that doctor’s appointment so upset about everything. I had a mind set of “This isn’t going to work”. It is tough going through this! But, I can honestly say that I left in a GREAT mood! I think it just might work now! Things are starting to fall into place, literally, and this is a good thing. I have faith in God that I will get pregnant, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon!

I tested my LG levels this morning……………I got 2 solid, same color lines!! I am ovulating! This just might be BABY WEEKEND! Of course, since I have a wedding tonight at the church, a wedding tomorrow at the church, Eli’s brother & his wife and child are moving out of our house tomorrow, AND my mom is moving into an apartment tomorrow! BUSY weekend, gotta find the time though!!! If I wasn’t busy then I would be bored, and who wants to bored?? Oh wait…..I do, just for 1 day! J

Thanks for all of the prayers and encouraging words! I have the best group of people in my life right now! I love each and every one of you in some special way! Thanks for being a part of my life! I AM BLESSED!

I am NOT pregnant!

I took a pregnancy test Saturday morning and there was only one line which means NO BABY! I thought, well ok, maybe it is too early to tell. I could still be pregnant and the test might not be able to pick it up that soon, right? Well I started me cycle on Sunday!! I know, I could still be pregnant….but I don’t think I am. I don’t “feel” it! Everyone says that you will just “feel” that you are pregnant.

I was bummed out on Saturday, but after a manicure & pedicure (that my wonderful husband insisted on) and talk with my hubby, I am ok. Eli has been so great through out this process. He is the STRONG one! I look at the glass half empty and he always looks at it half full. I think that is why we are good together. He just told me that we have to be patient and that me starting my cycle on my own (without any meds to make me start) is a GOOD THING! At least my body is “TRYING” to work the right way on its own! That is a good thing.

I called my doctor this morning and asked her what the next step was. She said that she would like to do another month just like last month, because most of the time it doesn’t work on the first month. She said most women get pregnant on the second or third try. She is going to keep my meds the same (sorry to those of you that have to deal with me every day)! I have a doctor’s appointment on June 18th to check everything out again. The doctor said that hopefully I won’t have to have another shot; she thinks I will ovulate on my own, since I started my cycle on my own! Only time will tell.

I just want to tell everyone THANK YOU! Thank you for the support and kind words. Thanks for the encouraging stories. Thanks for the prayers. Thanks to my close friends and my family for being there for me when I need someone to talk to about this stuff! I am sure you are all tired of hearing or reading it! Well, if you are tired of reading it, it is your own fault; you can stop at any time. Most importantly, Thank You to my wonderful husband who has been a great positive person throughout this whole thing! You are the best!!! I love you all dearly and I am glad you are all in my life. Each of you has a special place in my heart!

(Oh yeah, did I mention that I got ZEBRA TOES??? I am so excited!)

The pictures is kinda blurry....sorry.

These meds are killing me!

I have one more week before I can take a pregnancy test! The doctor said that I can take one on Monday! “Do I think I am pregnant?” you ask. Well I try not to think about it, but I kept thinking that just maybe I am! I am light headed, dizzy, sore in certain places, sick to my stomach, really weak and oh yeah….so darn tired, it is hard to stay awake when I am at work sitting at my desk! I have NEVER been this tired. This morning when I got to work, my boss and great friend, that’s cares deeply for me, told me I should look up the side affects to this prescription that I am on. I am taking prometrium, which is supposed to help me not to miscarry if I am pregnant. Since, I do have a high chance of miscarrying. Well, everything that is wrong with me is a side effect of this medicine! So, now I don’t think I am pregnant, I think it is just the medicine. Don’t get me wrong, I am still praying that if this is what God wants, then I DO WANT TO BE PREGNANT. But it is all in hands. I just keep telling myself I’m not, because I don’t want to get all excited and make myself think I am pregnant and then find out different. Please, just keep Eli & I in your prayers. God knows what he has planned and I have total faith in Him! He is an awesome God!

P.S. Just a little advise to everyone (especially to my ex-friend of 12 years if she is still reading these)……DON’T EVER “pray” for someone to have hardships all through life (which is NOT what a true Christian would do) if you are not prepared for what God might have in store for you!! God is not an evil “person” but I do believe you reap what you sew!!! If you “pray” for bad things to happen to people, then bad things will happen to you.

Short & Sweet

The doctor said that EVERYTHING looked GREAT!! She was excited about everything she saw. One of my follicles was getting smaller, but she said that is normal!!! She gave me my $80.00 shot and told me that I should start ovulating in the morning. Then it is time to do our “homework” for 3 days straight!! She gave me a prescription that I have to start taking on Monday. It is to help me keep a baby if we make one. It is to prevent miscarriages. Then in 2 weeks, one of two things will happen……I will start my next cycle or…….I will be PREGNANT!! I am praying for number 2! I will keep you updated! I would love to have a Valentine’s Baby!!

The Baby Fairy is comming to my house!

Good news has come! I went to the baby doctor again today! Have I said that I love this doctor lately?

I went to the doctor today and I had prepared myself for the worst! I kept telling myself the only thing these dumb medicines have done is to jack with my emotions! Well, the first thing out of my mouth when she walked in the room was, “Hi, what is the next step in this process if these meds didn’t work on me?” At least I said Hi first, right? She said that most of the time the meds DO NOT work the first time. They give you the lowest dose to see how your body reacts to them, and then the next month they raise them and keep raising them until they work. I thought to myself, ok another month of this won’t be so bad! It might be for Eli, but I can do it again!! He said I was too moody. Well she did a sonogram and as soon as she started she said “WOW”! I immediately though something was wrong, because I always think the worst. He exact words were, “Remember all that stuff about the meds not working the first time around? Forget I said any of that! The meds worked!” She said that a follicle (egg sack) should be 15 – 17 cm wide to be considered a “GOOD” follicle. Well I have 2 GREAT follicles right now! The one on my left side is 22 cm wide and the right one is 19 cm wide! She said my follicles look GREAT! How many times has anyone said that to you?? I almost started to cry. That was music to my ears. She then asked me if I was comfortable giving myself a shot in order to make the follicles pop and release my eggs. I said “NO”! I told her I would much rather her do it to make sure it is done right. So, she gave me a prescription and told me to go get it filled and bring it back to her at 10:00 am in the morning! (This is a whole other story).

So, I have another doctor’s appointment tomorrow morning at 10:00am. She is going to give me the shot and then do another sonogram to see if my sacks popped and the eggs come out! Then it is time to get busy!! Here comes a baby!!!

I am really sorry if any of this grosses you out! It doesn’t bother me one bit because I have heard about this stuff so much! I really don’t mean to offend anyone with this kind of talk. If this does offend you, get over it!! I am just joking, if it offends you then STOP READING!!! J

Now I have to vent about my prescription! The doctor handed me the paper with the prescription on it. I didn’t think anything of it; I just took it and went on my way. The only thing she told me was to get it filled and bring back with me in the morning. Well I normally get my prescriptions filled at Kroger’s, so that was the FIRST place I went! That dumb man didn’t even know what it was! He had never heard of it. What kind of pharmacist are you? Then I took it to Walgreens. She knew what it was, but didn’t have it in stock. She said she could of ordered it and had it shipped there by tomorrow at noon! I need it at 10:00AM!! I had to get to work, so when I got to work, I started calling places! I called Browns Pharmacy (located in the hospital) – out of stock! I start thinking, what the heck did this doctor give me? Why can’t I find it? I need it now! I decided to call the doctor and ask a nurse where I could get this “DRUG”? She suggested the Target across the street from their office. Well her office is at BAYLOR, GRAPEVINE, and I am at work in Irving!!! That’s just great! I called Target and asked if they can hold it for me? She said yes, but they don’t open until 10:00AM! What the heck is all of this crap? I will stop now; I could go on for another 10 minutes about everything. About 2 hours later, I have found the prescription at the Target off of 635! I will be going there when I get off of my office job to get it and then rush back over here to work a nursery! I know, you are jealous of my life!!!

Well, I fill you in tomorrow after I get back from the baby fairy! Oh yeah, since I have people that are “praying for hardships along lifes way for me”, which I don’t believe is a real prayer, because my God doesn’t work that way!!!!! Please pray for good news tomorrow and for the next couple of days. Maybe I get pregnant on my birthday (May 25)! What a great birthday present!!!