Merry Christmas everybody!

Karen gave me the idea when she said she got a snow flake on her toes. I just had these put on my thumbs, the rest is red. I am sooooooo tired of always having crappy nails, especially when I go home and am going to be seeing my old friends. So, after feeling horrible about them all through Thanksgiving break, I vowed to have them done for Christmas! I am just hoping they last. I haven't quite figured out how to be still afterwards, you can tell I am typing. I so want to be a girl, but on these kinds of things, the tomboy in me peeks out! Anyway Karen, hope you don't mind. They make me think of you when I look at them, so if you do mind...tough!;)-

Now, more importantly, I hope all of you have a very special Christmas. And we all remember to keep him in the season. Merry merry Christmas, and have a Happy and safe New Years!

Is it weird that I cried when I put my new bed together? My first what I call, "grown-up" bed. I was sitting there looking at my headboard, and started crying. I realized at first that I was happy. Happy that I bought this beautiful bed on my own, happy that I put it together by myself, happy knowing that I worked hard to pay it off. So, I dried my tears and finished up. But before I knew it I was really crying. Crying because I was also sad. Sad because I put together my bed by myself, sad I made another significant purchase without my husband. I am glad that I had God to help me with the whole thing. He definitely helped me put it together, cuz if he wasn't I would have threw a few fits. I am also glad that he held my hand through my tears. And now I have a beautiful new "grown-up" bed.

It's been awhile, it feels like since I wrote anything. So, a few updates about what has been going on with me in the last week. I went to my first Women's Bible Study from my church last Thursday night. Of course, I was late! I got lost trying to find it. But it was great, just like in church, everyone welcomed me in without overwhelming me. I recognized many of them from church, and a few of the ladies I had met last Sunday were there. My teacher, who I supervise was there, along with a former teacher of mine. So, there were enough people there I knew to make me not as freaked out. We talked about Christmas Traditions, which was very interesting since my family doesn't have very many, and those we do center around food. All in all, I felt like this is the right place for me to be. I look forward to actually getting to know these incredibly sincere amazing women. I am baking cookies this weekend for the lady who works for the Mission. I don't get to bring the cookies to the Mission myself, because when they are going I will be at work, which is a bummer. But I at least feel like I am doing something good outside of me. Jan talked to me again about the Craft Group, and me and my two teachers were laughing about our silly projects that we could bring, for example I have three coats with buttons hanging on their threads that I just don't fix because I am lazy! But I really do think I want to learn how to knit, so it will be fun.

The next big event for me is I have been planning my Wine and Appetizers Party for a while now, and it is just right around the corner! Next Tuesday night! Yikes! There has been so much going on, that I haven't written you all about it. I will break it all down for you, and welcome any suggestions that I have missed, since I am not an experienced party planner by any means. Karen really gave me the inspiration for what I am doing after reading about one of her parties she gave in Bama. So, here goes. Like I said it is Wine and Appetizers, with some Silpada Jewelry mixed in! I love Silpada parties because they don't put on stupid presentations or games. There is no pressure to buy. They bring a display of many of the best pieces, and you get to try and wear anything you want! The rest of the time you mingle and have fun. Towards the end they do ask if anyone wants to buy anything, and if several do, I get some free jewelry for being the hostest with the mostest! My favorite part!:) Anyway, I loved loved the bamboo wine plates Carey got Karen for her burfday, so I went and bought some green ones for my party. They are perfect, because I don't have a lot of places to sit, so several people will have to stand. I also bought some new wine glasses from World Market, I didn't have a set. Oh, and I got some really cool magnet Europe inspired Wine Charms. They go with my Europe picture wall in the Dining Room. Now the Appetizers part of the party. I picked several easy recipes from my 5 Ingredients/3 Easy Steps cook book. Recipes include: White Pizza Dip w/French Bread, Monterey Jack's Dip served with chips, Quick Mix Dip served with Veges, Sausage Balls, Olive Cheese Balls, Tumbleweeds (dessert), and Red Hot Christmas Punch. I will be adding more little desserts on my own. I only have about 8 people coming. I split each of the recipes up in twos, meaning there will be teams of two people bringing ingredients and making the recipes together. It is all a surprise. I handed out cards with half of the recipe on each. They don't know who they are making it with, or what they are making. I will work out a schedule so each team has a time slot to make their recipe. This way, we have a continuous flow of apps throughout the night. So, what do you think? Seriously, what do you think! I have lots still to do. I need to reorganize my newly painted office, clean clean clean, and get my schedule written. Did I mention I need to clean? And do some shopping? And I am sitting here writing this blog?! Yikes, I really need to get going.

But before I do, I just wanted to say that yesterday, as you may know, was Sue's funeral. Karen, I was there in spirit, but it killed me to not be there. My mom was suppose to go in my place, but the prospect of bad weather scared her so she didn't go. I haven't called, because I am trying to keep a respectful distance. I know Karen has much to deal with right now. I am missing you though. I know you are getting through this, and you have support. I am thinking and praying for all of you.

I will miss you Sue. Until we meet again.....

Another Church Story

I walked into church a little mad at myself for once again being late for the before church prayer and the divvying up of serving tasks.

I haven't made it once for this.

But, I am early for church when this happens, so that's good.

I was, however feeling like I am still looking in.

So, I made myself go stand by myself in the hall where everyone is coming in. Before I could get my prayer out to God, someone approached me.

This someone happened to be the Pastor's wife.

Instantly, she started taking me around and introducing me to several ladies in the church.

Before I knew it I was accepting all these invitations!

Some of which you will laugh at, like the crafty group I said I would be a part of:) Ha!

Why did I say yes to that?

I guess I just so badly want to get to know these people, I will almost say yes to anything.

I also found myself telling this nice lady that I will help her bake cookies to give out to the Mission.

I was invited to join a Women's group that meets once a month on Thursdays.

I think I am the most excited about this prospect.

They meet this Thursday night.

I was invited to a coffee thing tonight for new people at the Pastor's house, but I am not going to make it to this one sadly.

I think I overwhelmed myself today.

So, cookies, ladies and knitting (they're going to teach me) for now.

God is really moving.

I have never been to a church so welcoming before.

I love it!

Bobbi made this for me, and one for Karen. I just had to share it, because it is so pretty and unique! She said she used the inspiration of my coffee shop for the design. I can hardly wait to wear it there! Thank you Bobbi for being you.

My time with Sue and Karen

I was worried. I was worried that I wouldn't get there soon enough. I was worried about Karen getting through each day. I was worried that I wouldn't be a good enough friend, meaning that I wouldn't know what Karen needed the most when I was there. I still worry. But my time there was precious to me. Thanksgiving to me was more than wonderful. I know it was a stressful time for Karen, but she really pulled off the day with love and grace. The food was incredible! That girl can cook! I can't say enough about Champagne Turkey. I was honored to share the day with Sue, who was awake for much of it, and able to talk a little. Mostly, I know she listened hard to all that was going on around her. I am happy that my mom was able to come and share the day also, and very glad she finally got to meet this amazing woman. I know Sue made an impact on her, like she does with everyone she comes into contact with. The follow days were hard. Sue was pretty worn out from all the activity, and was asleep and didn't wake up much by the time I would make it over to the house. But on the last day I was there something truly amazing happened. It was a hard and difficult day to say the least. This was Tuesday, Karen wrote about much of the day in her blog, so you know it wasn't a good day. But when Larry, the pastor came, and Millie Sues great friend, and we prayed.... God was there. I felt it all around us. First we prayed for Sue. I was able to lay hands on Sue and pray for the woman who has prayed and encouraged me for years. I just felt God all around us, and I felt him lifting Sue up. There was definitely a light there in Sue's eyes. There was joy there, and love all around. I was able to have a moment with Sue that I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to do. I so often do not tell people in person how I feel about them, because it is soooo hard for me. I can write it, but to say it out loud with that person looking into my eyes is extremely difficult. But I, with lots of help from the Lord, told Sue what she has always meant to me. I told her that I knew she has been praying for me, and that her prayer and influence has been strong in my life. Sue said she has been praying, and that she loves me. I just wanted her to know how much she has meant to me over the years. It was a short exchange, but one I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I also watched Karen going through so much, and with more strength than she knows she has. I knew this was hard. I know Karen feels that she is not equipped, but to witness all that Karen has been facing for the past month, well there is no words worthy enough. I have so much love and respect for Karen, even more than I ever had before. Karen, you are incredible. Your mother knows it is you taking care of her. She loves you more than you can understand. And, I did see pride in her eyes of her eldest daughter. You have had to make some very incredibly hard decisions, and mostly on your own. But you aren't alone, because I saw God give you the strength when you needed it the most. And even during the most difficult time during this time that we had to face, I was honored to be there with you. I hope you know that. I know I tried to make lame jokes at times, but there was no other place I wanted to be at that very moment. I just hate that she was in pain. My heart just hurts that this is all happening and that there is nothing I can do to make things better for you. But know that I love you. I love E. I love Sue.

Well, I'm off to do a lot of what you see here in this pic of Karen.....don't shoot me! I plan on leaving tomorrow morning if the snow we are suppose to get is not too bad. Please pray that it isn't, and I can get there safely and at a decent time. I haven't been home for Thanksgiving in about 10 years, so you know you and Sue are very important! I am thankful to be able to get to spend some time with Sue and the Klasi family. My mom is also coming to hang out with us, and hopefully I will see my brother at some point. Carey might be coming too! I pray with all my heart that Sue knows how much she is loved by everyone who knows her. I can't wait to be there.....to just be with my best friend and her mommy.

For Karen

John 14:1

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me(Jesus).

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

DeAnn!

The new Hot Cocoa Kisses, are my new favorites! Yum, just had to share.

Assignment #2



This last weekend, I decided to go check out a local Coffee shop in Old Colorado City, called My Daughter's Deli and Espresso Bar. I got myself a Pumpkin Spice Latte, and sat down to take notes. It was a quaint place, but a little too small and narrow for me. There is no outside seating, and the tables line up against one side of the place straight down to the other end. It felt a little like a cafeteria setting to me. It wasn't cozy. They did have a few antiques, and nice art from local artists. I was able to think of a lot of things that I would do better with my own place, and things I wouldn't do at all. So, it was a good first visit. I also got some tips from colleagues of mine about resources I could check out. Apparently, there is an organization that helps women get grants for new business set up. Definitely going to check that out. I haven't started writing out the business plan yet, but I would like to start it hopefully this weekend. Keep praying that doors open for me. As hard as I try, I can't seem to stop thinking about this dream of mine.

In the spirit already? I don't know, maybe I am just in a buying mood, but when I saw the Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses that DeAnn talked about last year, I had to snap them up and try them. I couldn't find them last year! They are good, but white chocolate isn't usually a favorite for me, but they are not bad. I think next time I am going to pick up the new Mint Truffle Kisses. Those might be more up my alley! I also finally got a new cell phone! I got a pink Razor! My old phone was part of my on going technology woes. It was literally falling apart in my hands a little more each day. My new phone is soooooopretty! And pink! I am such a girl. Anyway, somebody call me. I want to hear my new ring tone!:) Happy weekend!

I suck.



I keep reading, and rereading what I wrote about my dating experiences. I hate how I sound, and believe me I did not want it to sound as bad as it does. It is just really hard to explain what I really mean. No matter how I try, it sounds just as bad. I really do care more about what is on the inside than the outside, and if you look at the guys I have fallen in love with, you would know what I mean. I also know that there are more important things out there to cry about than my nonexistent love-life. So, I am sorry for what I said. I am sorry for how it sounded. I will do better at staying positive.

My List

Lists are very popular on our blogs, so I thought I would write one too.

Things that I did this weekend that were good:

1. Got my hair done and styled while drinking a glass of wine.

2. Falling asleep on the couch Friday Night:)

3. Slept in Sat. morning (9:45am).

4. Made a real breakfast.

5. Enjoyed coffee!

6. Put a payment down on my new bed frame.

7. Talked to my best friend.

8. Had a date with a 'normal' guy! They are out there!

9. Went to church.

10. Gave lady at church my email address.

11. Hiked the Incline on a beautiful day.

Baby steps towards a dream






After talking to my brother one morning this last week, my wheels started to turn. He really encouraged me to start the process towards my Coffee Shop dream. I have been basically "talking" about this with only a select few for a couple of years now. I mentioned to him that I need to look into taking some business classes, which he baulked at. There is help out there, I just need to find it. We talked about starting to write my Business Plan outline as a first step. All of my ideas are in my head swimming around. It is time to get them down on paper. So, I looked online for some help and found a great outline that tells you exactly what you need in the plan. I also found a Business Plan template, which I saved on my computer for later. I then looked on the BBB site, which had a couple of articles to help me go towards the right direction, I hope! One is Steps to Starting your own Business. The other is Looking for Sounds Financial Advice. The next order of business, once I start getting my ideas down in the outline, will be to go check out the competition. I will go to several coffee places and take notes of what I see that works, and what won't work for me. Mostly, I am just trying to not run away screaming. This is a scary idea. But I am only at the thinking stages right now. That's isn't scary, right?

Mommy Bloggers





Have you heard of this? Moms, who blog and get paid for it. Or have you heard the term Professional Bloggers. How can I make that happen? Wouldn't it be cool to do something for fun that you do as a pastime and get paid for it? I heard about this on 60 minutes or something like that, can't remember. I really think that you writers out there, and you know who you are, should find out how you can make some money out of this bloggin thing. That is your mission for the week. Good luck! Keep me posted. Hee hee.

Ok seriously!

It is time for someone to tell me the truth. Am I destined to find a geeky guy? Are geeky guys what fit with me? Seriously! I really starting to get a complex and am strongly considering not letting anyone set me up again. Unless of course, judging from what I look like, that is the type of guy people think I belong with. It's really not that I think I belong with a hottie, but sheesh! I can't even really describe well the types of guys I have been set up with in the last year or so. So, please tell me so I can get over myself, ok? Is a guy with funny teeth, and odd shaped head, and nerdy quirks my type of guy? Or do you see me with a normal build type of guy that could hang with my friends. Or maybe just help out my self esteem and tell me the type of guy you see me with. I know I am asking right now for the superficial. I already know what I want on the inside. It's just the guys I have been set up with, including tonight, make Cody from high school look like a model. I am babbling now, I know sorry, bare with me. I am just starting to think that I am not all that pretty. You be the judge, you are my friends. I can take honesty from you. Lay it on me.

I love this picture of the bowling ball, cuz that is how I look when I bowl a strike or end up in the gutter! This was suppose to be a funny blog about me joining our work's Bowling League. But of course in my life there always seems to be so many other things intertwined through the main story. Work for the past few weeks has been a real struggle for me. I tried to be assertive at work, but it ended up biting me in you know where. I won't go into the whole long drawn out story, it is really still exhausting for me to tell to many times. But bottom line I was met with some real ugliness. It still floors me when I get a first hand glimpse at what people are capable of. I more than made the VP of Human Resources angry with me because I tried to get something done that his department wasn't. He blew up at me through a mass email. It was awful. I can't even describe it except to say there was hatred in his words. That really took me by surprise. I have always thought of myself as someone easy to work with and get along with, and up until this point I thought I had a good working relationship with this man. But there was hatred behind his words. When I had to confront him about it, I was met with even more venom. He did not care to listen to me. He decided I was out to get him, and that was it. Our CEO was out of town that week, but I knew I would have to talk to her when she came back. She is a piece of work also. You don't want to be on her bad side. And usually she takes the side of the people she directly supervises, which is this guy. When I did meet with her, it wasn't quite as bad as I thought, although she did tell me she talked him out of resigning. She apologized for him, should have been him, but oh well. But she also defended him to some degree. The talk itself went fine, but then she went and talked to my boss. The next day, bowling day by the way, my boss told me that Noreen-CEO thought that I had rolled my eyes at her during a passed meeting, not the meeting I just had with her. I was really upset about that. One she did not address that with me when she had the chance, and two I would not ever do that! So, I had a sour taste in my mouth, and feeling pretty defeated in my job. I was really looking forward to this wacky bowling night. A chance to blow off some steam. Take a guess who was on the opposing team next to us. Noreen. There went that. I had to be on my guard the whole night and act like I was having fun. I did learn some things from all this though. I am not good at playing the politics game at work. And when I get a little confident, I can get a little big for my britches in a way. I need to humble myself a little more at work, trust God more. And remember more harm comes from gossiping and perpetuating the negative feelings. Anyway, I am hoping the next bowling game will be more fun. And I am wondering if God put Noreen there to remind me that it would have been more harmful if I would have spent my night gossiping about her. God is both funny and wise.

My new Church

Well, today didn't go like I pictured it exactly,

but it was good just the same.

I made it to church 5 minutes later than I hoped,

despite Carey calling me this morning to make sure I was up.

Thanks Carey!

I missed the prayer portion and the divvying up of jobs.

5 minutes late!

These people don't waist anytime.

I guess I thought there was more to it because you have to be there a half an hour before the service starts.

So, hopefully lesson learn,

and I will try again.

What happened instead was,

I was standing in front of the coffee bar getting my cup filled.

A girl approached me that was in the members class with me.

We started talking.

She is very nice,

and she is a teacher also.

So, we have a lot in common.

We stood there for quite a while before going in to sit down.

Then, a man that was also in the members class with me,

came in and sat near me. He actually lived in Rapid City for the past 5 years,

but recently moved back to the Springs this year. He is not native to SD,

but we had something easy to talk about.

After church, I did not get to meet the people Pastor Pete wanted me to meet,

but instead talked for quite awhile with the guy from RC,

then I teacher that works for me who also goes to the church.

The girl I was talking to earlier also came back over.

I stayed after church for quite a while!

I usually leave immediately,

so it was really neat to stick around and actually talk to people.

Everyone I have met so far has been so genuinely nice and easy to talk to.

Is God looking out for me or what?!

To make things better,

it was also a communion Sunday.

I felt very much renewed in my faith,

and feel like I have been given a fresh new start.

I feel that this is only the beginning.

Today

I became a member of my new church today. This will only be the 2nd time I have done this in my life. It just feels like time. The last time I committed to a church, I had to leave it suddenly. I hope this one sticks for a real long time. It feels good. And I feel like I am starting over with God. Today, I am home.