"insert witty post title here"

**Christmas Eve**

I had a lovely migraine keeping me company most of the day. I did a lot sleeping to try and fend it off, it only half worked.

5pm~ Off to Christmas Eve service at our church with my man.

After that we were off to his parents for supper and gift opening.

We had this super yummy soup (no idea what it was but it was good) tasty little ham puff things, cheese, crackers, meat and a whole array of sweets spread out on the table all night, I mean what's a Christmas get together without food?

OH, I got this adorable little music box from his dad that he made for me, perfect place to keep the necklace I got from L-dub (he's gonna just love that I called him that on here, muahaha).  They coordinated their gifts without even realizing, nice!

**Christmas Day**

Church to start the day off

No Sunday school, extra music and Gil finished way early, her NEVER finishes early!

Off to my parents house for round two of stuffing our faces and more gift opening.

NoTe~ My family believes in LOTS of food! Minimum 3 meats and five side dishes, not to mention the myriad of candies, breads, dips and desserts left on the counter throughout the day to munch on. I ate soooo much food!

Gift opening was organized chaos.

OH, I got Steve Madden boots from my mom and dad...

LOVE them ~ OK, so I picked them out. =)

We played cards, shot guns, rode horses, played video games and just chit chatted about anything and everything.  Before we knew it it was 9:30 and people were packing up grumpy and tired children to get them home and in bed.


**White Christmas**
We did not have one =(
Yes, I'm one of those nuts who loves snow especially around this time of year.  It's magical somehow and just makes things feel "right". =)
random fact... did you know in Nebraska the chance for a white Christmas is 30%.  That's about once every three years.  The last white Christmas was in 2009 so that means next year we are due for snow on Dec 25. crossing my finger. ;)

**The day after Christmas**

I had to work... at 8 am... bummer.

The streets were deserted, it was like a ghost town driving to work.

The post office was closed... no mail.

The bank was closed... no deposit.

Every other company was closed... no phone calls.

On the Bright side~

My boss wandered back to our office about 10:30 am and said it was pointless for us to be there and sent us all home.

AND

We get to wear jeans to work all this week (I didn't see this email til this morning so I actually wore dress clothes today but I can still wear jeans Wed, Thur and Friday!)

**The Santa Situation**

I read a blog today where a mom vented about Santa Clause, it was good actually.

Christmas is so commercialized, kids are pummeled with Santa and Frosty and goofy songs and caught up with getting on some fat man's list...

I love the way Shauna put it on her blog.

(Christmas is...) the day that the One who made every single beautiful thing and who keeps my heart beating and keeps the stars in the sky and the blood flowing through my babies' veins, humbled Himself enough to restrict his powers, temporarily, and took on skin and bones and muscles and human breath.

Too often we too as Christians get caught up in the commercialized side of the holiday and forget what it's all about.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't put up decorations (I absolutely LOVE decorating for Christmas!)
I'm not saying you shouldn't exchange gifts.
and I'm not saying that it's wrong to let you kids believe in Santa, that's your choice.

I don't think I'll let my kids though.

I don't want presents and lights and packages under the tree to be their focus.

I want them to realize what this holiday is really about, if Christ was never born then he never would have died and we would never have been offered this great gift of salvation.

That's what I want to impress on their little minds without the distraction of flying deer and red suits and getting on the right list.
I'm not trying to be a scrooge.

I'm a sucker for a little Christmas "magic" and I love the hub-bub and chaos that ensues this time of year.  It's fun and addicting.
Just don't get so caught up in it that you lose focus.


But I spose this can be applied all throughout the year as well.  There are so many distractions in this world to pull our focus away from where it should be, holidays only magnify those distractions.


**Boot Camp**
(yes, I know this last one is random... sorry, it's how I operate)
One of my roomies convinced me to sign up for boot camp with her.
I'm not sure what I was thinking.
It's only four weeks and we are supposed to start Jan 30.
well... three weeks hard core and one week of recovery/yoga.
it's at 5:45 am.
REALLY not sure what I was thinking.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Hopefully I survive to tell you all.
=)

Pins accomplished!

So months ago I started a Pinterest account as I mentioned here.  It's pretty addicting and while there are numerous fun and entertaining ideas, I pin so much more than I'll ever be able to accomplish.  This past weekend I actually executed THREE, yes three of those pins.  woot, small feeling of accomplishment. =)

1) Tile coasters
I actually saw this first from a friend and then rediscovered the instructions via pinterest.  You simply buy 4 inch square tiles from a home improvement store (mine were 16 cents each at Home Depot), Modge Podge, Clear acrylic sealant, scrapbook paper and felt.  They are super easy and you can have cute coasters to match whatever your decor style.  As you can imagine there is a much wider selection of scrapbook paper than coasters in the store.

cute right? =)

2) Button art/letters
I'd see a few variations of this one.  I couldn't find quite the right frames that I wanted but I found some were satisfactory.  The buttons were a little harder to find.  After searching three craft stores I finally managed to come up with some that worked.  Those along with the buttons I had in my craft stash already and some from a friend's button stash made up a fun combination.  I'm not a huge fan of the way the "L" turned out but it's still cute.  This one was a little more work but I think I'll try it again. 

more christmas decor!

and lastly...
3) Gluten Free Carrot Cake.
So my dear ol dads birthday was today, the big 6-2.  The funny part was this morning when he was asked how old he was turning he couldn't remember.  It was like, "Well I was born in '49 so what does that make me? Once you get past 50 you stop counting." (haha, I'll remember that Dad)  Anyway, his favorite dessert is Carrot cake.  My sister and nephew are gluten free so they often don't get to partake in dessert.  In an effort to be sure everyone would be able to enjoy the sugary confection I decided to give gluten free baking a go.  I made sure to buy new sugar, baking soda and baking powder to be sure that there was no bits of flour contaminating my ingredients.  Of course I didn't have any GF flour on hand so that had to be purchased as well, it's not cheap.  After a little reading I discovered that by buying Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust Mix I didn't have to buy xanthum gum, apparently this flour mixture has that in it already (xanthum gum is a nessecity in GF baking.  Without it your dessert will be a pile of crumbs or gummy and unedible, the gum binds everything together and allows the air pockets to form and the cake to rise).  Anyway, for my first go at GF baking I'd say it turned out quite well.  My dad didn't even realize it was gluten free and I'd told him before I dished him up a piece that it was gluten free.  I guess his old age is affecting his memory (that and I'm not sure he totally grasps the whole GF thing yet).  Of course we had to top it with cream cheese frosting, what's carrot cake without cream cheese frosting!?  Anyway, it was delicious and I sent 1/2 the leftover home me padre and the other half with my sis (she doesn't get many sweets that her or my nephew can eat due to the cost of ingredients needed, so she was ecstatic).  

Gluten free deliciousness!

Oh, so this wasn't a pinterest pin but it was a craft that I did this past week.  I was feeling especially crafty and accomplished. =)

Our sunday school group was having a masquerade Christmas party.  I know, not quite what you'd expect for a Christmas party theme but it was still fun.  My guy wasn't too thrilled with the thought of wearing a mask all night, or at all for that matter.  But after a some debating and a little begging we came to the agreement: If it was a superhero mask (he requested Spiderman) he would wear it for 15 minutes at the party.

We were even Christmas colors together! That was totally just a coincidence. haha

One with the sissy

one with the roomie

It was fun seeing what people came up with. Apparently there are a lot of creative people in our Sunday school group! 

Other happenings this week?  I managed to get all the Christmas presents I've purchase up to this point wrapped and under our tree.  I only have a couple left to get then I should be good to go and ready for Christmas weekend!


Oh, funny story (it really happened my sister but it kinda involves me as well)

back story: So my guys 6 yr old nephew always says hi to me when he sees me in the halls at church.  It's really cute, last Wednesday night he was all the way on the other side of the hall and I hear this "HEY ALICIA!", I look up to see the little blondie waving with all his might to get my attention, melts my heart!

So this morning my older sister runs into him in the halls after Sunday school and he's all like Hi Alicia!  She chuckles a little and informs him that she actually is not Alicia but my sister.  Apparently he gave a look like, ya... right... nice try. haha

As if confusing one of his nephews isn't enough...

Tonight during the kids Christmas concert me, my guy and his sis and family were sitting three rows ahead of my family.  His 3 yr old nephew looked back and saw my sis sitting with my family. So he starts smiling at her over his dad's shoulder and flirtin like any 3 yr old would.  Then he looked down the bench and saw me sitting just a couple people over.  I guess he kept looking back and forth between the two of us like, what is going on?

ok we look like sisters but I can tell us apart, right?

Oh well, it's another fun story to add to the many we have about people mixing us up.  I actually answer to both our names which probably doesn't help matters any.  I know we aren't twins but at times I have a pretty good inkling on what it feels like to be a twin, aside from the being the same age thing.   Maybe at some point I'll share more of our mix-up stories, there are some good ones. =)

So that was my week in a nutshell.  This next week we have no AWANA or Bible study or much of anything for church activities so things should be pretty laid back.  The forecast keeps going back and forth as to if we'll get snow or not this next week.  As much of a pain as the roads are I'm hoping we get a white Christmas!

Hope you all have a very

A lesson learned

So my blog of late has been ramblings of mine from recent life events. Family, football, furry creatures and so on.This is entertaining (at least for me) and more fun/easy to write about, usually. I'll be the first to admit that I don't always have the best filter on my mouth.  I have a tendency to spew words without realizing how they may come across.  My mind is a jumble of thoughts that make sense to me but once they escape my lips they often sound much less eloquent then I intend. Words written out here, despite the lols, hahas and smiley faces are sometimes hard to understand.  You can't see my face, you can't here the influx in my voice and if you don't know me well enough my sarcasm may not come across the way I intended. (side note: I grew up in an insanely sarcastic family, it drove my dad nuts).  Words are powerful and need to be used carefully and with thought, which sadly, I do not always do. and it got me thinking...

**Lafue I'm afraid I've been thinking... a dangerous past time... I know...** (movie anyone)

Are these things what you really need to know about me?  Does it matter that I caught 4 mice in one month in my house? Does it matter who won the football game?  Or what color of shirt I'm wearing today?

These things do not affect eternity.  These things are not the core of who I am.

The about me section on the side bar starts: 

"First and foremost I am a child of the King..."

If He is first and foremost in my life shouldn't that be reflected in my posts?  First and foremost, shouldn't I be encouraging and loving and covering this blog with what God is teaching me and how He's blessing me? I was put here to glorify Him and encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ.  While the occasional funny story is entertaining to read and fun to write I need to be aware of what I am putting out here for anyone to read.

If a stranger stumbles upon my blog will they see a funny and crazy girl who talks only about herself and the drama of her life? Or will they see one of Gods children, on fire for Him and shining for the everyone to see?

I pray it's the latter...

Months ago my sister and I started a study on humility.  I knew a number of girls who had gone through the study before me and warned me to be ready, cause no matter how mature you think you are in your walk you will be convicted!  I was reminded that there's a lot more to humility than just putting others above yourself.  Anyway, life got busy and we only made it through the first chapter (the first very convicting and thought provoking chapter).  I've been wanting to pick it back up again but just haven't made it a priority.  I think it was God tugging at my heart strings because even though I haven't started it yet God has taught me some lessons I apparently needed to learn.  Lets just say I that word spewing problem I have surfaced and as a result I learned a lesson on humility and grace.  I guess when God wants you to learn something He'll teach it to you, ready or not.

Now I'm not saying I'll never post any more mundane daily happenings.  I'll still send the occasional shout out to my beloved Cornhuskers, I'll still let you know if any more furry intruders decide to once again take up residence in my kitchen cabinets.  I may even post about some random event and/or small things I find hilarious throughout my day.  Those things are still part of who I am and effect my daily life BUT they are not All of who I am.

~I am a child of the King saved from the grips of sin and for that I am eternally grateful!~

A loooooong weekend

So this past weekend was thanksgiving... and a long weekend, it was lovely!

On Thursday we headed out to my grandmas house in Seward to stuff our faces.  My family from Iowa was in and I only get to see them all about twice a year so it was fun to catch up with them and see how much their kiddos have grown.  This was the first extended family event my man was in attendance at.  His family is rather small, but then in comparison to our clan most families are small.  My family in total is right around 45 people, ya something like that, and only half of us were in attendance on Thursday.  When we get together we tend to be pretty loud and a little on the crazy side and maybe slightly obnoxious... needless to say I believe he was a little intimidated but, I must say, he handled it well.  I LOVE my big, loud, crazy, obnoxious family!  It's what I grew up with; 20-40 people laughing and making fun of each other and just having a grand ol time together.  After you adjust to the noise level most people tend to come around and enjoy themselves, at least that's what they let us believe.  We may appear a little crazy from an outside perspective but we are a semi-normal crew.  I don't think they scared him too bad.

On Friday we headed out to my parents where the everyone was gathering to watch the Huskers destroy the Iowa Hawkeyes.  It's a little more interesting to watch this game with our family because two of my cousins married Hawkeye fans so now this new "rival game" have more meaning to our family than most.  There was some good natured ribbing that went down and at the end of the day only two people in the room were frowning (though I did feel a little bad that they didn't put up more of a fight for our boys)

The funniest part is that my cousins little 5 yr old boy is a Husker fan... his dad is a die hard Hawkeye.

Now I'm not really sure that he knows what he's saying when he cheers for the scarlet and cream, I think he just sees the reaction he gets when he tells his dad the Hawkeyes stink that he keeps going.

E: Hey dad, Go Huskers

A: haha, you better run or I'm gonna spank you (said completely joking of course)

E:  I don't care, spank me... GO HUSKERS!

hahaha, that kid cracks me up.

E: Hey whats that smell?  Oh, it's the Hawkeye over there

I didn't technically do any black friday shopping this year either... ok so may "technically" I did but really does hitting the stores at 5pm count?  I don't think so...

I didn't even buy anything, though my man got himself a $2 pocket knife from Menards.  Good deal!

OH! on saturday I slept in til 10:30 then got up and did laundry (5 loads!), cleaned my bathroom, picked up my bedroom (mostly), cleaned the kitchen and ran to the store and got a few odds and ends.  All this was completed by 5 pm.  I felt pretty accomplished! Totally profitable day.

Then we went to Famous Daves where we waited over and hour for a table then about 20 minutes for our food.  I was so hungry by the time it hit our table I'm not sure I really tasted much of what was on my plate.  But the cornbread muffin, I save that for last and made sure I enjoyed it (my favorite part of eating there!)

Today after church I headed out to the parents to have some sister time.  My baby sis wanted to take some pics and mess around with her camera.  I made myself presentable and we went at it.  Now I'm not exactly camera shy but for some reason as soon as she pointed that lens my way I couldn't keep a straight face (and she was wanting to do modely serious poses).  We did manage to get a few good ones.  It was still fun. AND we saw a dead possum (no he wasn't just playing dead... his eyes were open, his tongue was hanging out and he was at this crazy awkward angle. OH and when we tramped by squealing he didn't move... GROSS!)

Hope you all had a lovely, fun, crazy, enjoyable and busy weekend as well!

We're just cool like that!

They're baaa-aaack...

MICE! ew ew ew ew!!!

That's right... those disgusting little rodents have invaded my home once again... Gross!!

Our landlord got us this "high frequency" thingy ma bob.

We thought it was working... we were wrong. =/

We hadn't seen any signs of the rascals for a couple weeks but kept the mouse traps out just in case.  Last night I received a text from roomie A informing me that she found a dead mouse in the drawer... seriously!?!?

Thankfully I have this guy that kinda likes me and is willing to brave furry rodents for me. ;)

When my man and I made it back to my house later that evening we investigated the remaining traps

(He was gonna get rid of the intruder when he dropped me off at home but she had already taken care of IT earlier that evening, she is a better woman than I!)

Guess what we found around the other traps... mouse droppings... and the sneaks had eaten all the peanut butter from around the cereal piece, WITHOUT setting off the trap! They are getting to be too smart!!

This time we hot glued candies to the traps with a little dab of peanut butter on top, hopefully these will will work better.

The terrible part is we've told our landlord multiple times about this problem and they seem to just brush it off.  I'm not sure if they don't believe us (cause we can start leaving all the mouse corpses on their front step if they want proof. I'm serious!) or if they are just lazy but it's really ridiculous.  Once it gets colder out I'm sure we'll have a whole party under our sink and in our drawers... oh joy...

I've been told my countless people to get a cat. I am NOT a cat person, not one bit!

I've thought about putting rat poison out so they will take it back to their nest and killem all off.  But then I'm afraid it will crawl in our walls and croak... or worse, in the middle of the kitchen floor! EEK!

any suggestions people?  cause I'm ready to pack up my things and make a run for it!

I really hate mice!!

some catch-up

Ok, so i've been up to so very much latey.  Where do I even start?

OH, first off. 

WE WON! *little happy dance* We Stomped them... Clobbered them... Dominated and Destroyed them!
For all you doubters out there, I had faith in them the entire time.

If you don't know what I'm referring to I don't know if we can be friends.
Ok, I'll help you out a little here...

Sit down son!

Rexy stiff-arming em. ya baby!

3 and OUT! Blackshirts are back!

 Final score ~ NE 24  Mich State 3

GO BIG RED! GO BIG RED! GO BIG RED!

The best part is they were favored to win by 4... they didn't even score 4. bahaha!  AND I was there, in the stadium screaming at the top of my lungs cheering our boys on to victory!  It was grand! 

We were right at the 30 yard line about halfway up the section.  This picture  doesn't do our view justice, they were seriously fantastic seats! Thanks Kristin!!

*side note*

Ain't he just the cutest? He's my favorite! =) I'm so glad he's a junior and he'll be around for one more year.  I'll be sad when he graduates.  Our team will sorely miss him, he's unstoppable!  He's our superman.  BURKHEAD for Heisman! anyone? anyone?

OK, I done with football talk for now... =)

Halloween was this past weekend (as i'm sure you were all aware).  Now, I never went trick or treating as a child and therefore never got to dress up so once I hit highschool and got to go to the costume party's I tend to get pretty into it.  I've been... 

a chick from the 80's (poofy glitter hair and all)

a sailor (with a real navy uniform, thanks dad!)

Cinderella (and only one shoe all night)

a crayon (the blue one)

an old lady (we stuffed our butts, haha)

among other things that I can't remember at this point

THIS YEAR...

I convinced my man to dress up as Mary Poppins and Bert the chimney sweep with me.  We made/thrifted/borrowed our entire costumes.

This started out lime green and a brim about twice as big.  I painted it and added the flowers and berries.  Turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

AND all our hard work paid off, we won best duo costume at the party. woot!

Pretty good right?
Oh and my nephew was pretty adorable, he was Mario (notice the black smudge on his upper lip, that was a mustache at one point during the evening)

How could you not just love this kid?

So I don't like pumpkin pie... I think it's the texture, cause the smell is amazing. Every time I smell one coming out of the over I just want to dig in, but I can't bring myself to eat the solidified mush called pie. SO, I decided to try pumpkin in another form.  I found this recipe for "Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies" and they looked delicious so I decided to give em a go.  I tweaked the recipe a bit (partly on purpose... partly not...) anyway, they turned out amazing.  I couldn't stop eating them.  Good thing I went to the gym earlier that day!  I took some over to my guy and the rest went to work. I was sure if they stayed in my house they would dissapear from sight and affix themselves to my hips and backside, they had to go!

Sorry cookies, you were just too amazing.

Awhile back Kristin (one roomie) and I took Andrea (my other roomie) out for her birthday. Back in Oct. She wanted sushi.  I've been meaning to post these pics for awhile just haven't gotten around to it.

Some coconut roll, crunchy LA and asparagus something. All yummy!

Cute "I'm about to take a bite" pose

haha, Andrea's not so sure about hers. 

Ok, so technically we had fake sushi.  After a debate with some friends we determined if it's cooked it's not technically sushi. 

According to Mr Webster:

su·shi

 noun \ˈsü-shē also ˈsu̇-\

cold rice dressed with vinegar, formed into any of various shapes, and garnished especially with bits of raw seafood or vegetables

That's ok, I just couldn't bring myselves to eat the raw fish.  The cooked stuff was super tasty.  After enjoying our "sushi" we went in search of ice cream to satisfy our sweet tooth.

Ted and Wally's homemade ice cream. so tasty!

SO, this week I only have a three day work week. Why you ask?  Well I'm headed to Phoenix for a wedding.  The idea of 80ish degree weather is super appealing as I sit here staring out my window at the snow falling from the sky.  That's right... snow!  Today would be the perfect day if I were home in front of my fireplace, sipping a cup of hot cocoa, wrapped up in a blanket watching a chick flick. Yes, then this weather would be just dandy.  But I'm at work, munching on my cold salad with a little space heater at my feet for warmth. (our office is constantly freezing no matter what month it is, but I think I've mentioned that before...)

Ok, I know it's November but I wasn't done with fall yet.

FALL please come back!

Well, by this time tomorrow I'll be in the desert.  Maybe I'll wear shorts just cause I can! This wedding I'm attending has a dance! I just love dances...dancing... it's fantastic! Hopefully I'll find someone to dance with cause a certain guy refuses to dance with me. Lame right? ;)

I was reading another blog and the gal has been posting things she's thankful for.  She plans to post something every day this month.  Now, I can't promise that I'll be on here every day posting something but I'll try for my once a week.

This week?

I'm thankful for...

~Trips out of state to warmer climates. =)

~A fantastic Sunday school group full of amazing godly men and women. Seriously, they are encouraging to just hang out with. 

~My family. Not in the typical, my family is great way (though they totally are) I'm thankful for godly parents that raised me in the church, involved and with God in every thought and decision. For an older sister who always brings my back to scripture when I'm dazed and confused.  For a younger sister who will listen to me babble and help me color my hair.  For my brothers who are rather quiet but are willing to put up with my craziness and quirks.  For my niece and nephews who make me laugh and entertain us with their individual personalities~ I love those kiddos to pieces! Seriously, my family is fantastic!!

little letters

Dear weather,

Please make up your mind. This back and forth stuff is getting old and I'm ready for fall to come and stay. Bring on the crisp weather and crunchy leaves, I'm ready.

Dear trees in my yard,

Could you please wait at least one full day after we mow before you dump a another load of leaves in our lawn.

Dear lawn,

Sorry you've been constantly smothered in leaves of late. Take it up with the trees, they won't listen to me.

Dear winter,

I haven't had my fill of fall yet, we've barely gotten to hang out. Please wait just a little longer before you make an appearance.  But if you are going to come please bring snow, cause you just aren't you without it.

Dear Phoenix,
I'm coming to see you next week. Please try and keep summer there a little longer cause I'd love to be able to go without a coat while I'm visiting, that would be grand.


Dear Hair
How do you feel about bangs?


Dear chocolate chips in my freezer,
Please stop beckoning me every day after work. I'm trying to eat healthier and you are making it so much harder. But thanks for the comfort you offer when I'm really in need of it. =)


Dear gym,
I'll be back to see you soon, I promise.

Dear roomies personal trainer,

I'd really appreciate it if you would let us use your football tickets tomorrow. My boys just won't play the same if I'm not there to cheer them on.  Kristin and I would be the best people and I'm sure the most appreciative ones to use those tickets for you. Truly!

Dear boys (aka NE Cornhuskers),

I'm trying my best to be able to show up and cheer you on to victory tomorrow. But if I can't make it please play your hardest, I'll love you no matter the outcome but it should would be fun to beat Michigan state. My weekend would go so much smoother.

I should be working...

I know, it's 12:30 and you all are like what is she doing blogging? Shouldn't she be working?
Well, let me tell you... our computer is down... again.  Now when I say the computer is down I mean our "terminal services" which is what I need to do anything work related, I still have the Internet (obviously).  It seems our lovely system crashes often and usually at the most mis-opportune times.  Hopefully it isn't down as long as last time this happened... which was alllll day!  It's a nice break I spose... I can sit here and catch up on all my blogs and clean my desk and sort papers... only for so long though.  AND I go to lunch in 20 minutes so perhaps it will be ship shape by the time I get back, hopefully. Cause it's Monday and there is never enough time in the day to get everything done that should be done on Monday.

Please don't call the cops

Some random thoughts...


I've recently become completely addicted to Pinterest and I blame my sister... ;)  Seriously, you can just go for hours and hours roaming from board to board and page to page finding all sorts of things. Things that are pretty and beautiful and hilarious.

I'm addicted to hats!

So hilarious!

Anyway, I also think it's a fantastic way to keep all your ideas in one spot.  And you can have a board for anything and everything so that your ideas and inspirations stay sorted and organized.  For example, I don't have my own home currently but hope to someday.  This way when I'm perusing the internet and run across a fantastic idea for my future home, instead of saving it to a file on my computer, which I may lose or accidentally delete, I can save it to a "pinboard".

Look at the pretty colors!!!

 Amazing right?  Anyway, it's pretty addicting so if you decide to try it out be careful, it will suck you in like quicksand!

I recently made this pasta salad for a womens night at church.  It was easy and delicious and I highly recommend it.  I'm sure if you threw a little chicken or beef on top it would make a pretty fantastic and healthy meal too. 

YUM!

On another note, morning traffic (and after work traffic) has been driving me completely crazy!  I know our rush hour here in little 'ol Lincoln, NE is nothing compared to the big cities but I swear the drivers here are dumber than in the big cities... seriously...


Ok, so every morning our office at work is completely freezing no matter the temp outside!  I feel a little ridiculous sitting here in a jacket, with my space heater on, drinking coffee when it's mid 70s outside but it's seriously that cold back here!  Ok, so maybe I get cold kinda easy but it's hard to work when your fingers are like ice. no fun!  Soon enough it will be cold outside too and I won't look so funny walking into work with a sweater on. =)


Does anyone else have trouble sticking to a study?  I mean I have this terrible habit of starting a book of the Bible in my devotions and somewhere along the way in my cross referencing I get totally sidetracked and am suddenly studying another book.  I mean I guess it's not terrible, but then it kinda is.  I have studied the beginning of so many books so many times and hardly know what the end says, the conclusion that wraps it all together. (my Bible is all marked up for the first 3-5 chapters of so many books and the closer you get to the end of the book the less and less the notations in the margins appear).  So this week I started 1 Corinthians (I know, shoulda picked a shorter book, oh well) and I am determined to make it through this one this time!


Last night I layed down AWANA color lines with people at church, after study, we started at about 10ish.  Apparently though, when we got to church, somehow through people coming and going someone, who shall remain nameless (mainly because we aren't entirely sure who is responsible) set off the alarm... it's a silent alarm... so we weren't aware that we did this until the maint guy showed up in a tizzy cause it woke him up at 10:30 at night. whoops!  He said he almost called the cops to come check it out but decided to investigate it himself, thank goodness!!  Though we all stopped when about 10 min after Kevin left we heard sirens outside... no worries, they didn't stop at the church they kept going. =)
Have you ever layed out an AWANA circle before?  It goes something like this...

Let the games begin!

Anyway, it only took us til about 12:30 to lay out two of them... ya I know.  Never realized the amount of work that goes into games!  But then we had to cut and measure and label all the lines because it's the first time this year we did them.  So hopefully when these are pulled up in a month for whatever event is going on the family center at church it will be easier and quicker to put them back down... hopefully. 

OH and how could I forget?  My boys in scarlet and cream start conference play this weekend!  We open against Wisconsin AT Madison, eeeeh!  I believe the Badgers favored by 10, no good.  I truly hope that we are able to beat the odds and come out on top, it would pretty much make my weekend.  Especially since so many people are doubting the talent our boys actually posses.  Ok, I'll admit I'm even a little skeptical.  I mean I know they have the ability to win but it's a matter of them actually playing to their full potential which sadly, they often do not. =/  But no matter, I will be firmly planted in front of the television yelling my encouragement from 496 miles away. !!GO BIG RED!!

Our boy REX, he's my favorite. ;o)

Get pumped up!

Just some lyrics

Ok, I've started two separate posts and don't have the brain power to finish either at the moment, so for now you get some lyrics. (side note... sorry for the lame post titles, I just am not the witty brilliant blogger than comes up with the title to peak your interest, it is what it is.)
This is one of my favorite praise songs, or is it an old hymn redone? Anyway, I like it much!  It's beautiful and the lyrics are completely saturated with doctrine. I love how it goes over the entire story of salvation and the peace that Christ will bring us when we accept Him into our hearts.  I hope this song encourages you as much as it does me. =)


In Christ Alone lyrics
Songwriters: Getty, Julian Keith; Townend, Stuart Richard;

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand


Quick side note-> We had pizza for lunch at work and the smell seems to have permeated the entire building...