Your Chance to Win

The Secret is in the Sauce: Win a Keurig Platinum Brewing System and $50 worth of K-cups

I visit The Secret Is in the Sauce daily. Regularly, they have contests where you can win prizes. This prize is a super cool coffee maker on steroids. Personally, I don't do coffee. But I LOVE hot chocolate and hot tea.

All you have to do to have a chance to win this prize is click on the link above and leave a comment. Very easy. Check it out!

Straight No Chaser

Have you ever heard of this group? They have their own website. You should check it out. But just to give you a summary...

They are an acapella group out of Indiana University. They got started in '96. And they are amazing! I enjoy many of their songs. But I have to say, their '12 Days of Christmas' is my most favorite. Enjoy!

Angel Tree

Every year, SAIC gives its employees the opportunity to make a difference in someone's Christmas. The deal is simple. You decide how many kids you want to 'adopt' for Christmas. You get their Christmas list, along with their sizes and favorites. Then you be their Santa Claus.

I spent more time and money on my two adoptees this year than I did on everyone else in my family put together. I don't normally enjoy shopping. But I enjoyed shopping for these two kids that I've never met...that I'll never meet. I loved wrapping their presents. And I loved delivering them to the SAIC offices in Bloomfield.

I'm sure others did too. Just look at the picture. All in all, 54 families, which consisted of 136 children, received gifts. This picture is all of the gifts in the hallways of SAIC prior to being delivered to the kids.

In addition to those who adopted kids and purchased their gifts, several people donated money and candy, and helped organize and deliver the gifts. So many people doing something so good. I LOVE Christmas and what it does to most of us.

I hope your Christmas was equally as blessed.

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S ! ! !

I have to admit, I got this video from the SITS site. But I love it...a cartoon Christmas special that we all watched year after year, professing the TRUE meaning of Christmas. I just love that Linus. (Maybe that's why I gave my little feline the name Linus.) Anyway, my point is, I loved it so much that I made it my post today too.

I hope you all have a very merry, peaceful, joyous Christmas.



Amen!

Congratulations are in order...

Jeff got his acceptance letter to Indiana University Southeast today. He was pretty excited. And I'm very proud of him. We were both a little worried...but only just a little.

Although things could change at any moment, his current plan is to get a degree in Biology and try out the whole pre-med thing. Jeff and I decided a long time ago that he was not cut out for medicine because of his complete aversion to blood and needles. But he found a medical position that doesn't have a whole lot of either one. Optometry.

Dr. J., Doctor of Optometry

7-8 years in college.

I wish him well. Really I do. But I have a hard time believing that Jeff will stick with anything for that long. He's not the best student. He should be; he's very bright. But he chooses NOT to excel. Then again, he IS growing up. So, maybe this is just the goal he needs...to focus on something bigger than weekend plans, to plan for his future, to truly apply himself and see what he's actually capable of. It could happen.

I hope it happens.

So, now comes all kinds of paperwork. Housing. Financial Aid. Orientation. Logging into the network and creating a schedule.

Wow, in less than 8 months, my son could be in college. Hmmm... I'm pretty sure that I'm not old enough to have a kid in college.

So, what IS a Grenadier anyway?

OH! And my brother, who is a HUGE IU fan, is going to have a field day with this one. Jeff, a HUGE UK fan, will be attending an IU school. Whodathunkit?!

A Whole New Attitude

Yesterday, I worked 9 1/2 hours. Today, I worked more than 10. Tomorrow, I'm planning to work another 10. But anyone will tell you that my whole attitude this week (and last) has been immensely improved compared to a couple of weeks ago.

The reason is simple. I've accepted a new position. I'll still be an SAIC employee at Crane. But I'll be working in a different department. Currently, I do customer support and system analyst functions. I enjoy providing customer support; I hate doing analysis work. I just don't feel all that confident, comfortable, or competent with it.

But next week, I'll be administering a couple of applications, providing customer support, and helping to prepare data for conversion to ERP. But this time, I'll have only one customer site instead of 13. So, I'll be doing work that I love and feel comfortable with. I get to start with things I'm actually good at. And it still leaves me room to grow.

Initially, I stressed over the decision to stay in my current position or apply for a new position. Then I struggled with whether or not I truly wanted to accept the position. I didn't want to abandon my current project or the customers. I didn't want to leave my team holding the bag. But I also didn't want to keep stressing over my job and not sleeping well

Ultimately, I said yes to the new position. And today, I am so thrilled and excited about this opportunity. Ever since I committed to the decision, I've been so much more at peace.

So, the long hours this week are to allow me to get everything prepared for those doing the job after me. And let me tell you, it's well worth it.

I almost forgot...I've been awarded!

My dear friend Christy at To Be or Not to Be has blessed me with the FABULOUS BLOGGER AWARD! How cool is that?!

Here are the rules to receiving this award:
1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.
3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.

Okay, first the five fabulous blogs.
1. Sara Willhelm at Sweet Somethings - I used to work with Sara at Crane. I miss her. But I keep up with her life and her two little ones on her photo blog.
2. Sprinkles of Light (by Sara Willhelm) - I know, two by the same person. And this one is her business. But I LOVE her work. She takes pictures of pregnant moms, newborns, and kids of all ages. She's really talented.
3. Cassandra Ann at Living for the Moment - Cassie is my cousin. She's a brand new blogger, mostly to keep her family informed of what she's up to. She is a beautiful girl, so talented and so intelligent. I just always want the best for her.
4. Kerrie Flanagan at The Writing Bug - Kerrie's hope is that her blog will inform, educate and inspire all those who have caught the writing bug. She definitely informs, educates, and inspires me!
5. Beth Morrissey at Hell or High Water - Beth is out of Dublin, Ireland and is a freelance writer. Her website is always loaded with writing contests and freelance leads. It takes a special person to advertise work to her competitors. I LOVE that about a person.

Now five fabulous facts about me.
1. I am totally in love with Dr. Gregory House. Not Hugh Laurie the actor, but House the character. I know he's a jerk, but he's so darn good at his job! (Yes, I know he's a fictional character. I've been single a LONG time. Humor me.)
2. I am a HUGE football fan. My favorite teams are the Indianapolis Colts, most of the Big Ten teams, and the Air Force Falcons.
3. One of my favorite songs ever is the Star-Spangled Banner. I'm not sure if I've just always been patriotic or if my stint in the Air Force pushed me over the edge. But there are times when this song brings tears to my eyes. I enjoy singing it too.
4. When I am really down or overwhelmed or out of sorts, I get in my car and drive and sing. I find it very relaxing. The inside of my car becomes my whole world. Nothing else exists. It's a wonderful place to be. Oh, and normally those drives happen in the middle of the night.
5. My favorite bible verse is James 1:2-3 - "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. For it is the testing of your faith that produces perseverance." My translation - "It's all good." I say it all the time. ALL the time.

I feel like a winner!

I went to my company Christmas party last night. 871 other people attended as well. The party was at the French Lick Hotel and Casino. Good food. Good conversations. Good company...pun intended. I really like working for SAIC.

Between dinner and dancing, they gave away prizes. Like 200 of them! My name was called as a winner! I got a $25 gift certificate for Sears. Also, they gave every person...not just the SAIC employees...but EVERY person a $10 card to use at the casino. THEN they bought us breakfast. I LOVE SAIC! It was all very nice. And I only lost about $2.50. I consider that a win.

Between dancing and going to the casino, Terri and I went up to our room to get comfortable and drop off a few things. I checked my voicemail only to find out that Linus was home! He's been missing since Thanksgiving. I still don't know where he went, but he's home now. So, I felt like a winner before we even stepped foot in the casino.

Actually, I felt pretty good long before we even left for French Lick. I worked the Toy Store for a few hours yesterday morning. That's where the Toys for Tots toys go, as well as the toys collected at the area churches. Talk about amazing. Thousands and thousands of toys, all lined up on tables. The parents get a shopping cart, just like at any other toy store. They push their carts through the aisles selecting two toys for every child. Volunteers wrap the gifts for them as the parents then check out the clothing area. Hats and gloves, t-shirts and sweatshirts, socks and shoes. They get to choose another two items per child. Then before they walk out the door, they get a bag of candy for every child, to put in their stockings. It's so heart-warming to see all of the parents' faces glow as they select gifts for their kids.

I totally feel like a winner!

The Gym Trumps my Blog

Okay, working all day and going to the gym makes me too tired to blog. I have things to say, like I interviewed for a new job today and I almost got run over by a semi yesterday. But I don't have the energy to be witty or insightful. I also found out today that Jeff can no longer drive my car. Tomorrow afternoon, we have to stop by State Farm and sign a 'driver exclusion statement'. Both me AND Jeff. I had to break the news to him tonight. He thinks the world is out to get him. And I think I hear my pillow calling my name.

Two Miles a Day

Okay, I'm back to hitting the gym. And I'm loving it. Why oh why do I go so long without hitting the gym. I need to do it. I enjoy doing it. My doctor practically begs me to do it. Yet I find 101 other things to do to avoid it. Ugh. I'm ashamed.

But I'm recommitting. Even if I just walk two miles a day. I can do two miles a day. I can make time for two measly miles a day. It takes me right around 45 minutes. As I get faster doing my two miles, I'll add in some weights.

Today is the second day in a row that I've made it to the gym. I walked more than two miles both days and then did five minutes on the elliptical machine. That darn thing kicks my butt. I couldn't do much more than that really. This week, I'll do five minutes every day. Next week, I'll up it to six. I'll continue to add a minute (or more) every week until I'm counting miles instead of minutes.

Oh, and if I do two miles every day for the next 28 days, I'll have another 40 X 40 goal completed. WooHoo!

And I have to say, I'm sleeping better. I don't know that it has anything to do with my workouts though. I think it has more to do with the antibiotic that my doctor prescribed. I took naps Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon. I probably would have again today, except that I was watching the Colts win their sixth in a row. (WooHoo! Go, COLTS!) I should sleep well tonight though.

Ugh, I think Jeff has a kidney stone again. He doesn't want to go to the doctor. But he was in a lot of pain this morning. He seems to be doing okay right now. But it's only a matter of time with a kidney stone. When it decides to move, look out. I just hope this one passes quickly. This is at least the third time he's had stones since the beginning of June, maybe the fourth. Unbelievable.

What do YOU need?

I recently came across the SITS website. If you haven't visited there, check it out. They honor a blog everyday that the rest of us can visit and comment on. By taking part, your blog is eligible to be the 'blog for the day' in the future.

Today's blog for the day is Keeping up with the Chreste's. The author of the blog submitted three posts that she wanted to share. One of them was from July 25, 08. It's called 'What I Need (According to Google)'. She typed in "Julie needs" in the google search line and then made a list of the first ten things that were returned. Check it out. It's really funny...and enlightening.

So, I tried the same thing. This is what Google thinks I need.

1. Leslie needs shows with tour dates, songs, videos, etc. (actually, I'd like a tour date with book signings!)


2. Leslie needs a fat reality cheque. (pun intended, I'm sure)


3. Leslie needs a home. (hmmm, I have a home, but the link was about a dog)


4. Leslie needs lots of attention. (who doesn't?)


5. Leslie needs a vacation. (google knows what it's talking about)


6. Leslie needs 'happily ever after'. (you don't say...)


7. Leslie needs people like you to do some meaningful work. (polite way of saying get back to work!)


8. Leslie needs a life. (that's probably true)


9. Leslie needs to be a little more aggressive at times. (that's probably true too)


10. Leslie needs to go home. (lol, I say this all the time when I'm at work)

Give it a try and see what Google says that you need.

What do you want for Christmas?

Today at work, we had our Christmas Goody Day. Everyone brings in their favorite holiday favorite, some sweet, some not so sweet. Then we graze for hours.

It was really nice. The decorations were beautiful. The Christmas music was the perfect backdrop for our get-together. And the food was yummy!

While we were sitting down eating together during lunch, I asked some of the guys sitting with me what they wanted for Christmas. I have to say, I got some unexpected responses.

Dave looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. He laughed out loud. Then he stopped long enough to say, "I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it." I'm like, "It's December 3rd! No one has asked you what you want for Christmas yet?" He said that he hasn't been asked that question in a really long time

Huh... really. So, I went about asking others.

Vic said that he didn't know what he wanted. Finally, he said, "World peace." Okay, Miss America. I'm sure that will probably fit into your stocking.

JR was the first to give me the kind of answer I expected. He said that there's a toolbox he's had his eye on for awhile. Then he followed it up with, but I'll probably have to get it for myself.

I asked Randy what he wanted for Christmas. He didn't tell me what he 'wanted'; he told me what he 'needed'. Four tires for his truck. I asked him if he'd mentioned it to anyone that might give him Christmas presents? He just smiled at me. I wasn't sure if he didn't hear me or if he didn't want to have to say, 'No.'

John said that he wants a pardon. He might need it after he deals with his teenager for his latest antics. Well, I can totally relate to dealing with an uncooperative teenager. But unless you're tight with the governor, you're going to have to expand your Christmas list.

Jeff said that he wanted a boatload of mistletoe. Now THERE'S an honest answer! The man wants some quality time with his honey.

Still, I was really surprised at how many of them hadn't thought about what they wanted for Christmas. I'm guessing that no one had asked them prior to my asking them. I remember when I was little, EVERYONE talked about what they wanted for Christmas. Santa always asked us what we wanted. Our parents asked us. We even wrote one-page papers for English class on what we wanted for Christmas. Today, every other commercial on television is telling US what we want. In our house, we hardly get through Thanksgiving...no, Halloween...before Jeff gives me his Christmas list.

So, here's my challenge to you. If you haven't thought about it yet, decide what you want for Christmas. I don't care if there's no chance that you'll get it. I just think we should all take just a moment to think about Santa giving us our wildest dreams. We used to. In a simpler time. Why not go back and live in those moments for awhile?

What do I want? A kiss (not the chocolate kind this year), a clean house (that I didn't have to clean myself), and an apology (from my least favorite LHS administrator...or the opportunity to slap him. Okay, Santa would not be happy with me; I get that.) Oh! What I really want is for Linus to come home. He's been gone for a week now.

Am I going to get any of that? I might get kissed; it's hard to tell. Unlikely, but possible. My house will only get cleaned by someone else if I pay them to do it. Which I may. : ) And that apology? Yeah, about as likely as the slap. As for Linus, unfortunately I have a feeling that he is no longer with us. Whether or not I get anything on my Christmas list is not going to dictate how blessed I feel during my most favorite time of the year. But still, it's nice to have wishes.

I have a confession to make...

I have a secret blog.


This subject came up in conversation at Friday's 89ers dinner. I've had blogs under this userid since 2005. Scripted Notions is actually the longest lasting of my blogs. I also maintain (well, kind of maintain) a couple more... one for Inspirational Emails that I receive and one for my Dreams. But I still have one that was the start of a book about four women commuting to work. But I haven't posted to that one in nearly two years. It's written under this userid as well; it's just not visible. It's not a secret. I just figure that since I'm not updating it, it makes sense not to display it.

But I have a completely separate blog. I log in with a different userid. I don't even have the same name on that one. I'm completely anonymous...or so I like to tell myself. That's where I REALLY vent about my world. I hold nothing back on that one. If I have a crush on someone who might actually read this blog, you won't see it here. But you could definitely read about it there. How I REALLY feel about work and some of the people there? Yep, that's there too. Some of my REAL fears and screw-ups? Uh-huh, it's in there.

Uhhhh, no, I am not going to tell you how you can find that one. It's public, so you could find it, if you really wanted to. I'm just not going to give you any hints to get there.

I've only had the new one for about a month. I guess I figured I needed another outlet to vent. Mostly because of the whole work situation.

I actually write out my journal entry on a piece of scrap paper that I carry around with me all day. It's really the back side of something I printed out, that I no longer need anymore. It's kind of my way of trying to be green. So, it's not really a 'piece' of scrap paper. It's an actual 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper with 'something' on the back side. I start out writing just like I'd write on a piece of notebook paper, relatively straight lines going from left to right, fairly neat handwriting in a small font. By the time I'm done, my lines are no longer straight and my writing is usually bigger and much sloppier. Eventually (usually when I get home, but not always), I type it in and mail it to my other blog. I don't edit it at all before publishing it. It's pretty much raw emotion, the way I was feeling when I wrote it out.

Not everything in my other blog is negative. Though Monday through Friday, it tends to lean that way. Much like this one, it's honest. But unlike this one, it's unedited. That's the difference. I promise, all of the really big things, you can read about them here.

And if you happen to find the other blog, don't tell anyone. ; )

Good news, bad news, and other news

The good news is that I saw Gary today! Gary is my cousin who has been in Iraq for the better part of the last year. Their whole family was getting together for dinner tonight. Before that blessed event, Gary and his wife went to mass. That's where I saw him. I gave him a HUGE hug and welcomed him home. It just brought tears to my eyes, knowing that he's home safe and sound. Prayers answered.

The bad news? Linus hasn't been home for two days. He hasn't eaten his food. He hasn't stopped by for a hug and a snuggle. I've seen no evidence of Little Man Linus Felinus PITA-bread Underwoo since he stopped by for dinner Thursday night. I wonder if someone took him in because it's been cold outside. If so, I'm sure he's driving them crazy trying to get back to HIS house...aka outdoors. I simply can't believe that he's run off too far and is now lost. He's lived here for three years; he knows his way around. I hope nothing scary happened to him. You know, like a run-in with a bigger, four-legged mammal that eats smaller four-legged mammals or worse, a Buick. I'm kinda missing him. I hope he comes home soon. I need a snuggler.

In other news, I had dinner with some of my 89ers friends. Always a good time. There were seven of us. A couple of them new to the group. And then a couple of 89ers who chose to eat with their families stopped by to say hey. We signed a couple of cards for friends, talked a bit about our reunion (which we REALLY need to start planning BIG time), and laughed A LOT. But I have to tell you, there was one person in the group that practically begged me NOT to mention her in my blog. I kind of thought that making my blog would be an honor. But apparently, I'm wrong there. I'm a little hurt to learn this. I didn't promise that I WOULDN'T mention her by name, but I figure it's only right. So, hello to my friend in the Indy area, mother of two, former AF Lieutenant and Lionette, clarinet player extraordinaire. You know who you are! Also, hello to Terri, Krista, Jackie, Jeremy and his wife Stephanie. (Didn't want there to be any confusion with that last name.)

Please Help Save Crane Chapel

Letters to the Editor

Monday, November 24, 2008

To the Editor:

At an information meeting held in the Bloomfield Library a small group of people were given a presentation on what the Navy plans to do with the Crane Chapel if no one speaks up to stop the wrecking ball.

The group was told the Navy has exhausted all its efforts to find another use for the building. If by some miracle no one comes forth to save the structure the Chapel will be demolished in the next year or two.

The Crane Chapel was built when the Navy Base came into being and was used by Catholic and Protestants services on a regular basis until recently with the decline in navy personnel and the Chapel has also suffered from the limited access for civilians to get on the base especially since 9-11.

The Crane Chapel was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 but this will not stop the wrecking crew from taking the Chapel down.

Crane Naval Base is in the process of taking input from interested individuals from now until Dec. 11. Your comment does not have to be lengthy but merely express your viewpoint on whether Crane should keep the Chapel intact or if you agree it's time has come to an end. You can make you comments know by mail:
Attention: Nancy Albertson, NAVFACMW, Crane, Bldg. 2516, 300 Highway 361, Crane, Ind., 47522-5001. You can also e-mail your comments to: nancy.albertson@navy.mil They would like for your comments to be in writing but if you have questions or want to comment verbally you can call Nancy Albertson at (812) 854-6162.

******************************

In a notice that appeared in only one area newspaper, it appears to this writer that Crane was only asking for your input on how the building can be used for other functions and not if the Chapel should be spared. But I think you should be free to express your opinion and let them know let them know your feelings pro or con on this matter.

If I may be so bold as to say, it will be a sad day if this Chapel at Crane is demolished as it is a monument to our Creator and should be preserved. I know in today's world it may not be "politically correct" to Praise God but if we do this how can we expect Almighty God to bless Crane when we are destroying our only monument to him.

We need to find ways to preserve it, not destroy it.

Comments need to be sent no later than Dec. 11, 2008.

Louis Kavanaugh Jr.

Montgomery

I had a dream

I had a dream this morning that I was getting married. And this one has been haunting me all day. Not that it was traumatic or anything. Just...well, normally I can figure out why I dream certain things. With this one, I got nothing.

I remember that I was at a house. Not my house. Not a house that I'm familiar with. And my parents came to visit. Or maybe they were already there and I came to visit. It's not important. But I remember talking to my mom about this guy. She asked me if I'd heard the news. I'm like, what news. Then she told me that this guy was going to propose to me.

I don't know how she knew that before I did. But I remember thinking that I was HUGELY jealous when he was with that other girl...whoever that is.

Before I even got to talk to the guy, we were already planning the wedding for St. Martin's church within just a few days. Even though it wasn't my home parish, it was his when he was growing up. Still, it sure seemed like we were rushing things.

I kept thinking that I needed to talk to Brian. (That's the future groom, Brian.) But I wasn't sure when I was going to get that chance. Strange, huh? Nevertheless, I kept planning the wedding.

The next thing I know, I'm walking down the street and it starts to rain. Just a drizzle, not a downpour. I love rain! So, as I'm walking down the street and enjoying the rain, I see Brian running by. He wasn't running away from anything; he was exercising. And he was wearing a dark gray hoodie with the hood on his head, but still I recognized him.

So, I called out his name a couple of times. When he didn't answer at first, I thought that maybe it wasn't him. And I was feeling a little silly that I didn't even recognize my future husband. But he finally stopped his run and turned to look at me. Then we walked up to each other in the middle of the street...without saying a word.

Finally, he said, "Well? Think you're up to it?" (meaning the marriage proposal)

I told him that I thought so, but I had a few questions for him. My first question was about not getting married right away and actually having an engagement. He was all for waiting, if that's what I wanted.

I won't bore you with the other questions. But I will tell you that we worked things out and finally had our first real conversation about getting married. Then he kissed me right there in the middle of the street. It was so very sweet...and romantic. I never felt so in love. (Of course, it was a dream and EVERYTHING is more intense in a dream.)

Okay, I can't really explain how ANY of that relates to what's going on in my world. But top that off with the fact that Brian (in real life) is an openly gay man.

What the heck is THAT supposed to mean?!

Prayers from the Catholic Mass

Today while at church, I decided that I wanted to share a couple of the components of our mass on my blog. They are short prayers that really move my heart.

The first is called the Confiteor. I have to admit, I wasn't at all familiar with that word until I looked it up on the internet. To me, it's simply a prayer that we often say near the beginning of the mass to help prepare our hearts and minds for the Word of God. It is prayed by the entire congregation, heads bowed.

I confess to Almighty God,

and to you, my brothers and sisters,

that I have sinned through my own fault,

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done and what I have failed to do;

and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,

all the angels and saints,

and you, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The second prayer is much later in the mass and is only prayed by the priest. The Lord's Prayer is either recited or sung at every Catholic mass. But near the end, the priest says a short prayer, then we resume the Lord's Prayer. Some of my non-Catholic friends ask why we do that. Except to say that the mass has traditionally included prayers in the form of doxologies (praises to God at the end of standard prayers), I don't really know why we do that. But I have to say, this is one of my favorite prayers during the mass. I hope we don't lose it.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil

and grant us peace in our day.

In Your mercy, keep us free from sin

and protect us from all anxiety

as we wait in joyful hope

for the coming our Saviour Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and ever. Amen.

Nothing Short of a Miracle

Two and a half years ago, my cousin's son (okay, also my cousin) went into the hospital in desperate need of a heart transplant. He was only 22. He'd had several heart surgeries his entire life. Eventually, he got that transplant. So many people were asked to pray for a donor heart, for a successful surgery, and for a strong recovery.

But while recovering, Adrien's kidneys started to fail. His heart appeared to be doing well, but other parts of his body weren't. At one point, the doctors said that he needed a liver and kidney transplant and he needed them both before he'd ever leave the hospital. What are the chances that one young man can match donors on three different organs inside of a couple of weeks? We knew we'd need a miracle. So, we prayed harder.

Over the next few weeks, Adrien grew stronger. His kidneys began to heal and his liver was able to do its job. Surprisingly, he started falling lower and lower on the transplant list because the immediacy of his need lessened. We had been praying for matching donor liver and kidneys, but instead, God was healing Adrien. Ultimately, he left that hospital with the same liver and kidneys that he went in with... and a new heart that was beating just fine.

Tonight, I went to his wedding reception. And Adrien was DANCING!

He's not completely out of the woods. They recently found a spot on his liver and he may still need that transplant in his future. But this young man is blessed beyond measure. And happy. And married to a beautiful and obviously strong, Miss Chelsea! Two years ago, we never imagined that this day would come.

Nothing short of a miracle. Praise God!

A Word from My Father

I have really been struggling at work lately. So much to do. No, it's more like...SO MUCH to do. Every time I turn around, there's yet another thing added to my list of things to do. I feel so far behind. And everything is frustrating me. I have no patience. I honestly wish I could work from 8pm to 8am for a month all by myself just so I could focus on my current To Do list without having to deal with all the interruptions (customers, co-workers, managers).

Most people who know me at all, know just by looking at me that I'm not happy at work right now. God forbid someone actually ASK me how I'm doing. It's not good. Not only am I overwhelmed and frustrated with everything, but I'm simply NOT dealing with it very well...to the point that I'm venting regularly. Really, it's not good.

In the last couple of weeks, my mantra has pretty much become 'something HAS to change'. Today, a dear friend of mine reminded me that this place is not forever. "This place" could mean my current work environment. Or it could mean my lifetime on this planet. Both would be true. I just need to keep reminding myself of that.

Then I got home from work and was checking my email and reading my friends' blogs like I do every evening. I noticed the daily bible verse on my blog. The perfect verse for me to hear today...

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. - Colossians 3:23-24

I've said it before and I'm going to say it again... I LOVE how God speaks to me!

40 X 40 Status

In order to stay on track, I want to give a 40 X 40 status update quarterly. I was going to do this on my birthday, but I forgot. Just had other things to write about, I guess. Nevertheless, here's what I've been working on.

2. Write a book...

- Right now, I'm writing a book about three women and their biological clocks. This book was inspired by my friend Terri. All three characters are single, independent, in their late 30s, and have successful careers. One of them is a single mom, divorced for a dozen years or so. One of them is engaged to be married for the first time. And one of them is single, but desperately wanting a child. My plan was to write this one for the National Novel Writer's Month contest, which says that I have to write 50,000 words in the month of November. I'm way behind! So, I'm not sure that I'll hit that word count by that date. But I'm loving this book, so I'll definitely finish it.

4. Walk two miles every day for a month.

- I started this in September and again in October. I've now decided that not all 30 days have to be within the same month. As long as I do 30 days in a row. Sound fair? So, at least now I don't have to wait until December to try again.

9. Read 40 books I've never read before.

- I've gotten a great start on my book reading. I love to read, so this one was pretty easy. I started reading Sue Grafton's books, thinking that would be an easy way to knock out a bunch of books with the same characters. Once I find an author whose writing style I love, I can read everything they write in no time at all. Unfortunately, I didn't really like Sue Grafton's writing style. So, I only read a couple and moved on. But our local library introduced me to another author that they thought I might like. And they were right! Janet Evanovich is wonderful!

I've read the following books since I started my 40 X 40 challenge:

1. G Is for Gumshoe - Sue Grafton
2. H Is for Homicide - Sue Grafton
3. Through the Labyrinth of Writing Your Book - Anne Wayman
4. One for the Money - Janet Evanovich
5. Sundays at Tiffany's - James Patterson
6. Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich
7. Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich
8. Shattering Glass - Gail Giles (Jeff's library book)
9. Five Alive - Janet Evanovich (what I'm currently reading)

11. Get my homemade card inventory up to 150+ cards.

- I have been making cards! I'm not up to 150 though. I'm up to 45...nearly 1/3 of the way there. Unfortunately, I intend to mail out 15 of those by the end of the week. That will bring me back down to about 1/5 of the way there. And I'll be making lots of cards in the next three weeks to send out for Christmas. Of course, those won't count towards my card count either since they'll be in the mail within a couple of weeks after that. But hey, at least I'm making cards again.

13. Start another blog for my dreams.

- COMPLETED! I've even been pretty consistent with posting my dreams. I haven't touched it in a few weeks though, but I have been writing them down. I just need to type them in! I'll do that. I don't know that I've learned anything from my dreams, but I have friends that find them very entertaining. So, at least it's meeting a need somewhere.

16. Read my bible from cover to cover.

- This is another area that I'm not making as much progress as I expected. But I am making progress. I started with Genesis and am through Exodus. Now I'm reading Leviticus. My original plan was to read six chapters a day. Sometimes I read six. Sometimes I read more. Usually I read less. Actually, that's not true. When I read, I usually read at least six. My problem is, I don't always pick up my bible to read it. I used to read in the evening before going to bed. But I think I'm going to start reading in the morning. I've been resisting going to work in the mornings. I figure if I can start the day off with something more positive, more inspirational, perhaps it'll put me in a better mood for the day.

37. Visit IHOP.

- I had plans to go to the International House of Prayer in October. But things came up for a couple of the people making the trip. So, we've postponed. We haven't set a date. But I also have a few other friends that want to go. So, this will definitely happen.

Top Ten Signs You Need a Long Weekend

10. You answer the phone, "What do you want?!"
9. You've started questioning that 'no alcohol during working hours' policy.
8. EVERY - LITTLE - THING seems to get on your nerves. (co-workers who can't park, temperature controls in the office, anyone who's laughing while you're trying to work, the copier that constantly jams)
7. You have a killer headache within an hour of arriving at the office. Be careful...this will quickly develop into getting a headache ON THE WAY INTO the office.
6. You start looking for other jobs while ON the job...and you no longer care who sees you.
5. Your trash can and your INBOX are one and the same.
4. Visions of the upcoming weekend help you get through Monday.
3. You used to hate meetings, but now you use the 'down' time to write your memoirs.
2. You're starting to think that a week in jail would be a nice alternative to a week in the office.
1. You've had to resort to doubling your anti-depressant with your morning oatmeal in order to make it through another day without a work-related 'incident'.
BONUS: You openly vent about work on your publicly available blog.

I refuse to admit which of the above apply to me. But suffice it to say...PLENTY!

This is the fourth day in a row that I've been off work. And I'm off again tomorrow. WooHoo!! Five days in a row...no work. I love it!

Everyone needs an extended weekend every once in awhile. But I am hating (okay, not loving) my job right now. So, unfortunately I seem to need an extended weekend every month.

I hate it when I'm not enjoying my work. I just don't like what I'm doing. Actually, I don't really like my role right now. I don't like all the change and uncertainty around the office. I don't like feeling like I have half a dozen bosses. I don't like feeling behind all the time.

I've been unemployed in the past...for nine months in a row. I don't want that again. And I DO appreciate that I'm employed. I'm just NOT happy right now. I need to find a way to find peace in the office.

What I DO like.

1. Being employed.
2. The company I work for.
3. Making the money I do for being in such a small town.
4. Having a beautiful 20-minute commute to work, moving at 55mph.
5. Getting every other Friday off work.
6. Some of my co-workers.
7. The knowledge that I've gained.
8. Some of my customers.
9. Doing customer service.
10. The fact that I can post prayers in my cubicle and pray them when I need them...which happens to be fairly regularly.

I just need to focus on the things I do like. I need to keep doing work that I can be proud of at the end of the day. And then I need to let God handle the rest.

The Will of God

Tonight, I went back to the revival at the Followers of Christ Baptist Church to listen to Mark Sanders again. He preached on the Will of God.

We started with Matthew 6, The Lord's Prayer. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."

He then had us flip to 2 Chronicles 7:14. "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Though the entire verse is important, Mark kept going back to God's people humbling themselves. Only then would God's will be done.

What does humbling oneself mean? Accepting that we can't do it all on our own. Accepting that we must rely on our faith in God's dominion over all things. Accepting that God wants us to lean on Him in all things. And then not taking credit for His work.

By humbling ourselves, we accept that we cannot grow spiritually, lead others to Christ, effectively minister to others, or obtain the desires of our hearts without the grace of God. And that is why we pray to God daily, passionately, specifically, and intensely.

God loves it when we ask Him what His will is for our lives. Why? Because His will for each of our lives furthers the Body of Christ. So, we must humble ourselves and pray, and then follow the will of God. Each of us. Every day.

Easy enough, huh?

The Belly of a Fish

Tonight, I attended a revival at the Followers of Christ Baptist Church in Carlisle. Mark Sanders was preaching. Mark has a special place in my heart. While giving a talk at my Walk to Emmaus last year, he just happened to look at me, point my way, and remind me that I am a precious daughter of God. I needed that reminder. Now I sign my prayer journal entries with 'Your precious daughter'. So anyway, I was really looking forward to listening to what Mark wanted to share today.

He talked about the book of Jonah. The very first verse says that Jonah heard the word of the Lord. Mark expressed that Jonah didn't question whether or not he heard the word of God. He didn't wonder. He didn't even pray on it, whether or not that's what he heard. He knew it was the word of God.

Probably every follower of Christ wonders regularly if God is speaking to them...in the signs that we see during the day, in our dreams, in the coincidences that occur in our lives. We wonder. And we all wish that we knew 100% that God was truly speaking directly to us, telling us what to do for Him. How easy would it be to do the will of God if we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what the will of God is. Or would it?

Jonah knew. He knew what God's will was for him...to go to Nineveh. Yet he chose to run the other way. He got on a boat that was taking him far away from Nineveh and God's will for him. He didn't want to have anything to do with Nineveh...even though that's EXACTLY what God's will was for him.

Eventually, others threw Jonah off the boat in order to calm the storms brought on by God. And Jonah found himself in the belly of a fish. Why the belly of a fish? Because God needed Jonah in a place where he had no where else to go, nothing he could do, except to look to God to save him.

Jonah prayed and called to the Lord. "But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord." Jonah 2:9 Then God commanded that the fish spit Jonah out onto the dry land. Voila, Jonah was freed from the fish.

And this time, when God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, he did. Good thinking, Jonah. He's a fast learner.

While in Nineveh, Jonah preached one of the shortest sermons ever: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." Jonah 3:4b Everyone from the king to the donkeys put on sackcloth and fasted, calling urgently on God and giving up their evil ways. When God saw this, he had compassion on the city and its people.

So...Jonah went into the city of Nineveh, which was overrun with wickedness against the Lord. But instead of having to endure their violence or work at convincing them to listen to him, he finds that they are willing to listen. God prepared the way for Jonah. If Jonah had only listened to God in the first place, he would have seen how God would be there for him.

Instead of being relieved that his mission was over and successful, Jonah becomes angry! He didn't avoid going to Nineveh because he didn't like the Ninevites. He wasn't afraid of the people and their violence. No...he didn't want to see the grace of God bestowed on the formerly evil Ninevites. He didn't want them to be forgiven. He wanted them to endure the wrath of God. He wanted God to treat them like the average human would treat them. He even went as far as to say that he'd rather be dead than see the Ninevites forgiven for their evil ways.

God asked Jonah why he was so darn angry. God compared Jonah's anger over a dying vine, which Jonah didn't plant or tend to, with his compassion for the Ninevites, his children. His point was that Jonah had no right to be angry with God's decision to be compassionate to His children.

And that's where the book of Jonah ends. We don't know what happens to Jonah, if he ever understands or at least learns to accept God's ways. We don't know if he ever learns to forgive the Ninevites. But the fact is, we are much like Jonah. We don't always want to follow God's will. Because we're afraid. Or we don't agree with how God might handle the situation.

How easy would it be for us to do the will of God, even when (especially when) we know that we couldn't possibly understand the level of unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness that He'll show them?

Hi, Mom! Welcome home!

I worked ten hours today. Kind of a frustrating day. I didn't get home until after 7pm. I was still sitting in my car with my cat on my lap where he immediately landed when I opened my car door because he couldn't wait to welcome me home. As we were cuddling, Jeff walks out. I gave him one piece of mail with his name on it. He figured it was his paycheck. I simply asked him if he wanted me to pay his phone bill now that he had some money coming in. He said, and I quote, "You're already getting on my nerves. Just leave."

At first, I thought he was talking to the cat who was now begging for his dinner. But no, he was talking to me.

I wonder if there's a teenager translation dictionary out there where that means, "Hi, Mom! Welcome home!"

Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you. Today? Bear 1, Mom 0.

Birthday Girl!

As of 11/3/2008...

I am 38 years old.

I am 456 months old.

I am 1,983 weeks old.

I am 13,880 days old.

I am 333,142 hours old.

I am 19,988,564 minutes old.

I am 1,199,313,895 seconds old.

My age is the equivalent of a dog that is 5.43248532289628 years old. (Didn't you always want to know your real age in Dog Years?)

My plan for the day was to get to the office early, work a few hours, and then spend the entire afternoon lounging on the lawn with the cat and a good book ("Lean Mean Thirteen" by Janet Evanovich). But that didn't happen. Ultimately, I worked nine hours. And they were somewhat frustrating hours.

I am having SERIOUS issues with my PC at work. First of all, it rebooted itself twice with no warning at all. Apparently due to some kind of security push. But still, it takes so darn long for the thing to boot up again, it wasted a lot of time. THEN I think I have a memory leak. I can only work for about two hours before I see significant degradation in performance. Obvious things too, like all of the icons on my desktop disappearing and multiple errors. So, I again reboot, which clears things up for awhile. But only for awhile.

I had lots to do today. That's always the case after being on travel. Not only the action items I 'earned' from our meetings last week, but also all the things that had to wait because I was away from my desk. Not to mention, it's the beginning of the month, so I have lots of reports and such to accomplish. Anyway, busy-busy. So, my day went quickly.

I had dinner with my friend Shannon who shares a birthday with me. We were born at the same hospital. AND our mothers shared the same hospital room! How crazy is that?!

The evening ended with bible study. We're studying the gifts of the spirit. Tonight was JOY. I LOVE that word. One of my favorites.

Happy birthday to me!