If your life sucks....read here!!

First let me say, I will try to catch my typos and spelling mistakes...may or may not happen! LOL

So I happen to have 700+ friends on Facebook.  Yes I know I need a life.  But hey, it is what it is.  Some friends are fun.  They post funny pictures and things in their life.  They make me smile.  Some friends are upbeat.  They offer good days and well wishes.  Some friends just post those annoying "click to share" type pictures.  I just scroll through.  Some friends post well....down in the mouth type things.  I have to confess, I generally don't respond to them and most often than not, I will eventually delete them if it becomes a recurring theme for them.  Why?  Not because I am unfeeling or don't care, but because I choose to surround myself with happiness, upbeatness (see I made up a word) and positiveness (probably another one there too!) 

So your life sucks....well this is for you!

You have a choice because here's the deal.  You only get this life once (unless you believe in reincarnation but you might come back as a dung beetle) so yeah, I know YOLO (you only live once...in case you haven't heard of the song)  But really that is it.  You don't get any do overs.  No going back to your teen years, or your twenties.  No replays of the good times while fast forwarding through the bad.  This is it.  These days are your days.  You get the same seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years I do.  But it is up to you how you plan on living them.

So your job sucks?  Well go find another.  I don't want to hear your excuses.  NO, really I don't.  You know why?  Because YOU can CHANGE it.  Get an education, look for another job, transfer....do something about it.  Honestly, you can throw excuses at me all day long and I am going to give you a rebuttle to it all.  Just because you hate your job doesn't mean it is going to get better.  So YOU better figure out a way to do something about it.  It's real simple, either change your job or your attitude.  Yep...YOUR attitude. 

So your love life sucks?  Well you have a few choices...If you are dating/married/shacked up with some one who makes your miserable.  Leave, get out, move on.  Yeah, it will hurt, but let me tell you the person making you miserable is the way they are.  Granted a person can change a few things, but overall....they are what they are.  I love Mr. Looks Good in Wranglers, but here is a little bit about him.  He has never bought me a gift and in four years only two cards.  I bet some of you fell out your chair.  Yep, no gifts, but let me clarify.  I am able to go out and purchase something if I want it.  Around Valentine's day he bought me a red VW Bug.  I needed a car so it wasn't really a gift but it is as close as I get.  For our 4yr anniv. we moved to this awesome house.  Granted we were looking to move, but moving cost money...I tell you all of this to say....I could cry and moan over the fact I am not having flowers delivered or gifts to unwrap.  I really could.  Never a birthday gift..NOTHING.  But instead *I* choose to focus on the fact since I have been with him, my life has gotten nothing (gotten nothing...redneck talk for ya!) but better.  Mine and my children's lives are amazingly better than they were four years ago.  So if your guy or gal is not making you happy this is what you do.  Either focus on the positive and forget the negative or....move on..find another guy or gal.

So your money sucks?  Well look at the job one.  DO SOMETHING to change it!  Easy as that!!  No really....get off your hinny and change the way things are. Hey but keep it legal.  I don't want any one coming back to say "she told me to rob a bank"   

I personally believe in positive thoughts, vibration, energy...whatever you want to call it.  But there is a little secret (about The secret) you need to know. You have to be willing do something.  I could sit here and say "I am going to win the lottery"  I can be as positive about it as I want be but if I don't get my keys, get in my suburban, drive down the block to Valero and actually purchase a lottery ticket, I am not going to win. 

So send out your positive thoughts but be sure to give them something to bounce back on.  For example, you want a new job.  So you light candles, do your thing, send out positive thoughts.....also be sending out resumes and filling out apps.  Don't get me wrong, I believe you could bump into the right person to get you on your way, but you need to do a little leg work to help get those energies going for you.  Your perfect job may not know you exist unless you send them a resume.

So here is the deal.  Quite bitching about your life and do something about it.  No one wants to hear it.  (yeah, pretty cold, but that is human nature) Quit making the world miserable around you and go out and change your circumstances. Choose things that are positive to say.  And then SAY them.  Even if it is hard for you to believe, they will come true.  Also be willing to learn and try new things.  You never know where the next bit of awesomeness will come from.    And remember life is not easy....no one gets out alive!

Dear Christians

This is my letter to all the Christians out there in light of the Chick-fi-la crud.

Dear Christians,

On August 1st I saw you out in droves around the local CFAs, even the one at the mall was packed.  I know some of you there were there in support of Free Speech.  I get that.  However a good portion of you were there to support "biblical marriage."  Well let me just say....it is nice of you all to finally stand up for something.  Sadly, it was a chicken sandwhich.

I think of all the things Christians could en masse join together for and you chose a chicken sandwhich.  Really? That is the best you could come up with?

You couldn't all come together for abortion, poverty, hunger, drugs the list of sins goes on.....And yet you really for the santicy of marriage.  Honestly.....you rallied together for court costs and a piece of paper.  You couldn't join together to and spend the average $20 (for a family if not more) for stopping abortion or donating to a food bank for some one in need?  You couldn't spend that money to help fix a neighbors home or put the homeless off the streets?  Instead you gathered up your suburbia family, hoped in the SUV and drove to CFA.  You turned  your head away from the protesting gays and waited an hour or so for chicken sandwhich.  That was your idea of helping your fellow man? 

I remember once when I was a kid and a tornado went through our small town and damaged a few homes.  It was a Sunday morning.  When word got out we were at church.  My father (not known to be generous with money) grabbed me out of Sunday school.  He and another man were all who were willing to leave church and help out some families whose homes were damaged and needed immediate repair.  Out of all the good God fearing Christians...a church full of them infact, 2 men and a 6th grade girl who were all who went to help.

This CFA thing reminds me of that.  All the good Christians are glad to help a cause as long as it isn't hard and they benefit.  You got a chicken sandwhich and waffle fries out of the deal.  You were able to sit in your air conditioned car and listen to music and wait.  How hard was that??

WWJD?  Do you remember the bracelets and the phrase?? I do, they were everywhere.  So let's apply this cute little catch phrase to the whole CFA thing.  Umm, well I don't think Jesus would have been waiting in line at CFA.  I am just guessing, but based off of scripture, the people he chose to hang out with were not those considered the best in society.  Tax collector, prostitute, leper, heck even a dead guy.  So I am gonna go out on a limb and guess Jesus would have probably not even been near the CFA and if he was.  He would have been out with those feeling hurt....offering compassion instead of $5 for a chicken sandwhich. 

So dear Christians....if you want to be a light unto the world.  Start shinning.  Right now, a few of us don't think you are too bright.  Start walking the walk instead of flapping your lips.  Go do something Christ like.  Start with Love...  love your neighbor.  By the way, this extends further than the guy next door.  This means all your neighbors.  Your community.  Your world.  This means people who are not like you.  This means the poor, the black, the Asian, the guy who is from the middle East.  Oh which reminds me...you do realize that is the area Jesus was from.  He wasn't a white guy.  This also means the drunkard, the druggie and yes even the gay.

Sincerely,
A person who is tired of all the CFA crud.

My Pocketful of change

So as we all know by now today is the day to support Chick-fi-la.  People have come out in droves to buy a chicken sandwhich.  Police have been needed to direct traffic, lines are long and families are all waiting for a sandwhich and waffle fries.  In my neck of the woods, there have been protestors holding signs and protesting the establishment.

Here are my thoughts...for better or for worse..for who cares and who doesn't....

First of all is the establishment of marriage and what it means today.  Eons ago when people "married" they expressed their intent and followed the customs of their people and culture.  Whether they were bringing over some sheep to give the dad for the price of the daughter, having a ceremony with a woman they didn't know and their parents had set up when they were toddlers.  Some men simply took the woman they wanted, others asked the father or the tribe elders.  Through the years there was not a government establishment of marriage.  It was what it was. 

Then marriage changed.  Government stepped in.  You know had to have a piece of paper to say you were married.  There is the legalities of name changes and proper ceremonies.  And now we have people bickering over whether or not two guys can get married or two gals.  Basically they are argueing over some court mandated fees and a piece of paper.

Mr. Looks Good in Wranglers and I are not "legally" married.  I refer to him as my husband as it is easier than explaining we are two adults, committed to one another and who live in the same household.  For all intents and purposes we are married.  I don't need the court, government official or bible thumpers to disagree.  They can't change my heart or his.  We are both pretty stubborn. ;o)

Next, we have corporations.  Most, if not all, major corporations send money to organizations.  Some support veterns, others gay rights, some the church, some United Way....the list is long and goes on.  It is a tax right off first of all.  They give away money or in order to decrease the amount they must pay in.  Simple as that.  Secondly, they support what they as a board of directors believe in.  Just as a family we do.  And I am sure your family does as well.  You may give to the SPCA, the church, etc...  You give where you feel like you think your money will do the most good. It is what you believe in and makes you...well you!

So Chick-fi-la gives millions to support a biblical family.  Do I agree with this?  Nope...not at all.  But you know what---we live in a FREE country.  (at least today it is!!)  They have that right to support who they want.  Just as another company has the right to support who they want.  They are not mandated to give to certain organizations..they give to who they want to support.  It is no big secret Chick-fi-la is a Christian based business (although I argue the biblical Sabbath is not Sunday, but Friday at sundown....anyway...)  The company has proven their business plan works...they make money.  Apparently enough money to be closed one day a week when all the others are open. 

I am appalled people are surprised to learn they do not support Gay marriage.  Shocker!!  But again, did I mention the whole "we live in a free country thing?"  Feel free to eat a chicken sandwhich somewhere else.  You don't have to eat there...again..freedom comes into play here. 

So the bottom line for me is this...I don't boycott Chick-fi-la simply because I never eat there anyway.  I don't like their food!!  I don't care for their sandwhiches and I don't like pickles and when I ask for cut the pickles...the pickle juice is still on the patti and thats just nasty.  I do support gay marriage, just as I support straight marriage and interracial marriage.  The piece of paper doesn't change the fact people love each other.  It doesn't make them any more committed. 

So while you wait in line with the gazillions of other American's to get your chicken sandwhich, I will be home, saving myself some money and enjoying a pickle juice free dinner.  I may have some gay friends over, well at least a couple of bi women.  I will continue to be shacked up with my honey and consider myself his wife.  I will continue to teach my children love and not hate, but also this country may have a few quirks but freedom is still the base line of the foundation of this nation.  And here is the simplicity of it...if I don't like who or what a business supports...there is another business out there ready to take my money. 

A little bit of Lubbock

I had big plans today to visit Palo Duro Canyon.  My dad took me twice when I was kid to see the play Texas.  It was a lasting memory for me and I wanted to share the awesomeness with the kids.  So, we got up and dressed.  Piled into the suburban and took off.  First we headed to Bolton's to get free air for a low tire.  While Drake and I were looking, we noticed "something" in the tire.  Ahh, now here is the part where I become brilliant...I decide to buy fix a flat and well..."fix" my tire.  We put some more gas in the suburban and took off.

For us to get out of town, we have to get on Loop 289 and then get onto Hwy 27.  At this point I am not telling the kids where we are going.  I wanted them to be wowed.  And have ooohs and ahhhs from the back seat(s).  Well once on Hwy 27, I started feeling a little bump bump.  I honestly thought it was the road.  I had never driven on it and sometimes roads do make the car make funny sounds.  About the time I asked, "hey you think it's the tire"  we felt that BAM....and rubber went flying.  Might I add, it flew pretty impressively. 

Now mind you, we are new to town, new (to us) vehicle and I am not EXACTLY sure where I am.  So I google....hello?? Google is awesome, it knows where I am!! So I call the closest wrecker service.  I explained where we were, and the fact we had NO tools and we were hoping our spare was good. 

After 45min and two phone calls....I finally get Mr. Baggy Pant, no personality, who knows what is name is guy.  First thing, he jacks up my suburban and it in the process it slips off (slips my ass...it fell off!!!)  He had to make a phone call and then used his tow truck to lift my suburban.  Now mind you...when I called, I explained the situation....I have NO tire changing tools (if I had...my guys would have had us up and out of there..and blog would have been a lot shorter!ha) So he gets to the spare tire part and drum roll please.................he doesn't have the tool.  Then preceeds to tell me they could tow my suburban but the kids and I would have to find a ride.  Um hello??? what part of "I just moved here" do they not understand!

Soooooooooooo Mr. Baggy Pants drives away and I make phone calls.  Then my red-headed, pony-tail wearing knight in a white truck from Caprock Tire shows up.  And in less than 30min I have my spare on my suburban, all tires are checked and for road side assistance I only paid $35.  VERY happy!

But because of the two hours we sat on Hwy 27 staring at each other, talking about the past, being thankful it wasn't worse and listening to Jacob snore, we had to scrape our little outing.  It's all good, no panic...we hit a couple of Lubbock things....

We were right down the road from McKenzie Park so we headed there to check out Prairie Dog Town.  We are all closet prairie dog lovers here....honestly, we contemplate ways to capture one and make it our pet.  We threw them chewy granola pb bars and watched them snack.

Are they not the cutest things!!

After we left there we headed to The Choclate Mousse Pie Bar

You are feasting your eyes on our feast of Oreo pie dip.  Yep..PIE dip.  Basically you go in, choose your filing and then what you want for your crust.  They serve them in cups.  A very interesting experience.  I can tell you...the pie dip was gone in probably five minutes.  Did I mention it was YUMMY!!!

Soo......no, my day didn't turn out as I planned.  But through it all I remained thankful.  Everything could have been worse...and everything worked out---one way or another!! 

So if you ever decide to visit us in Lubbock...look there are two places we can take you to visit!!!



It's official--We moved!!

I have been asked several times for pictures of the new house, so this blog is all about my house!  Just so you know the home we moved from was about 950 sq ft.  We had three trailer loads of stuff.  Honestly, I have no idea where everything was in that home!  Even Joe and Deb, our friends who helped transport our stuff, asked, "where did all of this come from?"  I still don't have any idea!! 

So now as I am finally able to hang up stuff, I am discovering a lot of my items from the old home does not match the new house.  As my friend Micah would say, "you know what that means, you have to go SHOPPING!!"  Heck ya!!  However, as usual I will be shopping garage sales and clearance.  Might I add Kirklands always has an amazing clearance sale!! 

So how you go....house porn for your viewing pleasure

Here is our home, now minus the tree...and the bushes have been trimmed!

Welcome!!  I have my little stars hung up for the 4th.  It was a quick fix for myself, the wreath lady.  One of my favorite things of this home is the purple front door!

Here is our little entry way! 

When you step in, this is your first view.  Look how tall the ceilings are!! 

Here is the living room, a look from the boys' rooms.  Notice the cutie on the computer on the couch!

Another view of the living room, this one from the garage and laundry room area.  Please note we do live here, so yeah, there are a few papers etc... sitting around.  But hey, I just moved!!

Another view across.  You can see the doorway to the boys' room. 

Looking from the entry way across the living room.  Doorway by the tv goes to the laundry room and garage!

Looking across the living room from the fireplace. 

Standing in the dining room area looking towards the kitchen.  My WHITE kitchen!!  UGH!

The dining area. 

Looking from dining room to living room.  Notice the white stool, I had to use it to hang up stuff.  And I have to use it reach stuff in my kitchen! 

looking from kitchen into the dining room

to the left of the sink.  That was yummy garlic bread for supper!!

The other side of our kitchen and Lynsie's cookie mess.  She was a doll and was baking cookies!

All the windows have these great shutters on the inside.  The louvers open and then the whole panel opens as well! How cool is that??  No need for curtains!  Although, I miss curtains!  But I am quite happy with the simplicity of them!  And EVERY single window has them!! 

This is bookshelf and picture between the boys' room.  The poster, which is not easy to see, is from Viet Nam.  My dad had a street vender draw it for my grandmother. It is dated 1963. 

Boys'/guest bathroom. 

More of their bathroom.  The starfish was one dad had in our house when I was growing up! I wish I knew the story behind it!

The hallway to my bedroom

My bed...in my bedroom of course!

More of my bedroom.  As you can see it is pretty blah in there right now!  Still have a lot to do.

Last picture....I have NO idea what to do with this wall in the living room!

Okay, I still have a lot of work to do, but you get to take a gander of our home!

The Attitude of Gratitude

I am not a mainstream Christian.  Actually I do not refer to myself as a Christian of any sort.  Although I grew up in what I considered a strict Christian home and later married a man who became a pastor, I no longer share those beliefs.  So there is my disclaimer…LOL

When we first moved out here we stayed in a Motel for a month.  We had heard you couldn’t find a room anywhere so I was very thankful for the room we had.  I continued to be thankful because we were being charged a decent weekly rate.  Yes it was the little things I was thankful for.  Just as we were able to have money saved up we found a home.

I am not exaggerating when I say housing out here is crazy.  I do mean crazy.  IF and that is a big IF you can find a place the cost is outrageous.  I have seen 3br/2bath trailers be offered for $2500 a month.  And sadly, for the sake of needing a home, people pay that amount.  So we found our little place (yes the picture on top is our actual home now)

This past year I have been so thankful for our home.  I have taken pride in making this our home.  I have decorated and bought new items to really have a nice place.  And I have been thankful.  Our home set in the best of the school district’s schools so there was no worries about the school Jacob would go to.  I have a yard (small) and a tree (trees are good) and I have continued to be thankful.

I fully believe you have to appreciate whatever it is you have.  If you own a rundown couch that sinks to the floor, be thankful.  It is a place to sit.  If you drive an older vehicle, be thankful, it gets you around.  You have two choices:  gripe and complain about what you have or truly be grateful for what you have.  Relish in the gratitude. 

Where we live is pretty icky looking according to most people.  I have chosen to see the beauty out here as well as be thankful for the life we have here.  I find the sunsets/sunrises amazing.  There is nothing to block your view.  The area we live contributes (geologically) to the formation of oil which contributes to my quality of life..I have been thankful.

If you are wanting better, more, be thankful for what you have now.  Be thankful for the moments.  There is more to life than just stature and money (and yes I know money does help!) but truly finding the things to be grateful will totally change your attitude.  I have lived paycheck to paycheck and spent my time being thankful just that the basic bills were paid.  We couldn’t afford cable so we were thankful for our dvd player and Redbox. 

You get to choose your attitude. “I hate my house, my furniture, my car, my job” makes for one miserable person.  And truthfully you are probably just as miserable on the inside as your life reflects on the outside.  You want a better life?  Be thankful for what you have now.  “I am thankful for the home I have, it’s a roof over my head.  I am thankful I have my couches and recliner; I am not sitting on the floor.  I am thankful for my car; I am able to run errands.  I am thankful for my job, it keeps the roof over my head, my car gassed up, food on the table.” So what if you are not keeping up with the Jones, chances are when you have a great attitude about what you have, the Jones will be jealous of your zest of life. 

When my dad and I would talk, and he was feeling down and in pain, I would remind him…it beats the alternative.  Every. Single. Time. He would perk up.  He was thankful for the pain, the bone weary tiredness and the fact everything taste like metal—It meant he was still alive.

So for a year now, I have been practicing thankfulness.  Every day.  Every time I pulled up to our little home, I would express thanks.  And now here we are fixing to move.  I truly believe because I was thankful for what I had been given and willing to care for it as if it was a mansion, I have been blessed with a home better than I could have imagined.  I am so excited and yes THANKFUL for the new home.  It is amazing to me.  A garage, a huge walk in closet, a real dining room, a fireplace…things that were once upon a time beyond my imagination because I was so down in life, but now because I have chosen to be thankful for whatever I have, I am being blessed. 

A few pics of our new home!!

My Twisted Sense of Humor

To know me is to know I inherited a twisted sense of humor.  Thanks dad!!  My father was funny and out there and laughed at things you sometimes not ought to laugh at…..and *sigh* I do the same.  I guess that is one of the perks of having your father raise you …alone, by himself.  There was no mother to gently guide this terrible behavior out of me.  So I am pretty much twisted…..but then you already knew that right?

We are moving.  To a house.  I am beyond tickled.  A house…a real house made of bricks.  I will soon have a fireplace and garage and grass and trees and patio and a master closet to die for.  All the things a girl wants growing up…especially the closet.  Did I mention the fantastic closet?  Heck I am excited there is a special little storage spot for brooms and mops.  Yeah, I get excited about that type of stuff.  I have already threatened to do snow angels on the living room floor I am just that excited.  I can’t believe I am fixing to own a garage door opener. 

So with moving comes packing.  Boxes.  Lots and lots of boxes.  And in boxes goes stuff.  You know your personal stuff.  Books, clothes, blankets, sheets, make up you never use, dishes you forgot you own, appliances you never use.  Just stuff.  So here is my dilemma and where my humor comes into play. 

My dad was cremated.  After his cremation he was divided in thirds.  Morbid I know.  So I have one third of my dad.  Currently he sits on a bookshelf in a plastic bag, twist tied shut and in a plastic box.  I have more of him than I thought I would have and he is heavier than I expected.  But there he sits.  My third of a dad in a box.  He just hangs out up there.  No worries..it’s dad in a box. Except we are moving.

I now have a quandary.  Does Dad in a box go into a box?  I mean do I just pack him up? Dad in a box in with some books, a couple of hangers and random papers that are part of the last few boxes you box up?  The random stuff that has no home as you are organizing your life into little or big boxes.  Will my dad like his box in a box?  Or do I just carry him in the truck with me and two kids and a dog?  What if I have to put him behind the seat? 

I have discovered there are no cremation etiquette.  I have to figure this out on my own .  So for now, until the day of moving, dad in the box will sit on top of the bookshelf collecting dust with the clock.