Change

I thrive on change, but at the same time I hate it. This past week was a time of change. My grandfather left his earthly body and went to be with God. There were moments of anger and moments of joy. He is no longer suffering, and that is a relief. However, the wake was Friday and the funeral was Satruday, so this meant that our plans to attend a marriage retreat were shot. We had intended to go with 3 other couples from our church, and we were really looking forward to it. So I was disappointed in that change in plans.

Being with my mom's entire family was good, though, because it doesn't happen often. Although it was for a sad reason, I am thankful that we all could see each other. We took lots of photos, thanks to my persistence. The funeral was beautiful, and many people were there to honor my grandfather. I felt so blessed to be a part of his legacy.

So, my feelings about change continue to be mixed. I guess the best thing to do is just keep going, and accept that change happens. And I hope to take a lesson from my grandmother, who has dealt with this change with dignity and grace. I pray that I can be that graceful in dealing with the many changes I will face in my lifetime...

A stormy night

After a highly unusual January week where we hit 50 degrees, things returned to normal today here in Maine. The snow came down all afternoon, and we decided to cancel youth group. Although I miss seeing the kids, this turned out to be a good thing. My grandfather is dying, and tonight we were able to go see him. It's hard to see someone you love so much in that stage of life. I'm thankful, though, that I know he will soon be in a better place. I'm also thankful that I have had the chance to say goodbye. When I lost my father, I did not have that opportunity. It was sudden, and after the accident he never regained consciousness. So, although it's hard to see Grampy this way, I know he will soon be with our Savior and seeing my father, amongst so many others he knows.

Movie

I can't say I'm much of a movie buff. I enjoy watching them, have a few that I've bought, but I don't usually remember all the details and analyze every character, etc. However, this is a movie I plan to see: www.endofthespear.com. You can find where it will be playing near you, and I recommend checking it out. For those of you in Bangor, it'll be at the Odlin Road movie theater, but doesn't appear to be going t Hoyts. It opens on January 20th, so check it out!

Cheap Tickets

I'm going to Minneapolis in February - that is, if I can find cheap airline tickets. I'm not going to Minneapolis for pleasure - there's nothing pleasurable about Minneapolis in the dead of winter. (I know - I used to live there). I'm going for my business, and thankfully there's someone else going with me. The problem is that I'm having hard time finding cheap enough tickets. I don't understand how you can fly from Maine to California for half the price of flying from Maine to Minnesota. Don't they realize that it's half the distance, so it should be half the price!?! I've flown from Maine to Michigan for $130. I've flown from Maine to Guatemala for $500. I've flown from NH to California for $200. So I really don't get how flying from Maine to Minnesota should cost $400!

Anyway, I'll probably end up going and just writing it off as a business expense (which it is). But I just would like to find a way to get there for a decent price. I'm open to suggestions!

How Do You Know I Can't?

I heard this question asked by Creative Memories Director Martie Byrd at the Regional Convention last year in Rhode Island. That question was my mantra throughout 2005. It inspired me to push forward even when others were not quite as encouraging as I would've liked them to be. It also reminds me that sometimes it's a good thing to be stubborn. This question got me through the year and resulted in 2 great payoffs: I accomplished my goal to promote to Unit Leader within Creative Memories, and I am going on an all-expenses paid trip to Monterey, California!
So when you set a goal that others don't necessarily think you'll achive, ask them this question: "How do you know I can't?" Then go ahead and prove them wrong!

Freedom!

As of about 3:30pm today, I was free. Free from the controlling, micro-managing, oppressive supervisor with whom I've worked for the past 14 months. Through circumstances arranged by God, I believe, I landed an interview for a new position as a supervisor (elsewhere within my agency) and was offered the job that very same day. Now, I haven't yet started that job yet, but I do believe that it just may be a better fit for me. In fact, I am guaranteed to not have Mr. W. standing over my shoulder watching my every move anymore!

There are times in your life that you recognize that nothing you say or do is going to change a situation or another person. This is one of those times for me. And when the stress of dealing with that person or situation begins to affect the rest of your life, you know it's time for a change. I am thankful for the bresh of fresh air that I will be having every day from now on since I do not have to get up and face Mr. W. I recongnize that no job is perfect, and there are challenging people everywhere you look. However, I also recognize that there are situations and opportunities which are better suited for someone than others. All I can do now is pray that I do not EVER become a supervisor like Mr. W.!

Lost

One of my favorite shows is back! (Lost, in case you didn't catch that in the title). It's been hard waiting so long for a new episode. I find it interesting some of the Biblical connections made throughout the show. It is also fun to try and make the links between all the different characters. I'm not very good at that kind of stuff - usually I have to watch something about 5 times to catch all the hidden meanings and the connections. Oh well, it's fun anyway. Now I'm off to stay up late even though I should go to bed! (Only 2 more days of my early-morning job.)

Controlled Chaos

A few weeks ago, I was checking my bank account online, as I do frequently. I noticed that a check I had written had not cleared - the one to my other bank where my husband's truck loan is and our car insurance is automatically withdrawn. I started to wonder what had happened, because I had sent it over 2 weeks previous. By that time, the loan payment was late and there would barely be enough in the account for the car insurance. So, I called that bank and they confirmed they hadn't received the payments. Then I called my other bank and had them put a stop payment on that check so that it couldn't be cashed by some crazy identity-stealing maniac. Later that same night, I started to clean up around the house. And what do I find??? The check that I was sure I had sent!
This is when you know you living in controlled (or maybe not so controlled) chaos. Time to make some changes. Part of my New Year's Resolution is to do this de-cluttering technique I learned from Fly Lady (see the link). She says 15 minutes a day is all you need to start lowering the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) in your home. Let's see how it goes. I have exactly 16 minutes until 8:00 when it's time to sit down and relax...

Pizza Thief

Pizza is one of my favorite foods. Unhealthy, yes, but tasty. That's why I ordered one last Friday at work when a few others were ordering out. So I had some at work, but I still had quite a bit left to take home for the weekend. Upon walking through the door at home, I realized I had left it at work. So I figured a co-worker would politely place it in the fridge for me and I'd have it Monday (today).

So I got to work today and around lunch time, I checked the fridge. No pizza. At this point I'm getting a little worried... So I went and asked my supervisor (he's usually the last one in the classroom) if he had seen my pizza on Friday afternoon. He gave me a blank look, then said he "yes...." I said, "Well, I realized when I got home that I had forgotten it, and I thought maybe someone would have put it in the fridge for me." He said, "It's gone." He didn't say why it was gone, he just said it was gone. At that point, I started to get a bit upset. Not because of what I paid for the pizza (only $3), but because of the principle. Then I had to drive to McDonald's and get some other unhealthy yet tasty food for lunch.

If you see someone else's food, and you realize that they forgot it, would you a) throw it away, b) eat it, or c) put it in the fridge? I hope most people would do option c. This illustrates one of the MANY reasons that this is the last week at my current job, and I was even more thankful today that there's only 4 more days to go!

Places I Want to Go

I've been thinking a lot lately about where I'd like to go on vacation. It's winter here and it was below zero this morning when we left for church. It made me wanna leave... Here are a few of the places I want to go:

• Casa Santo Domingo - Antigua, Guatemala. This place is amazing! The first time I saw it was during a study program in Central America. We visited Antigua and toured some of the historical landmarks. Then our tour guides took us here http://www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/english/index.html and I said to everyone "This is where I want to come on my honeymoon." One of my classmates picked up a rose petal from one of the rock basins filled with water, handed it to me, and said, "Bring it back when you come." The next time I went was on a missions trip the following year. Again I was with a group of my friends, and all we did was walk through the place at night. I was reminded of how beautiful it was and how I'd love to be there with my husband-to-be on our honeymoon. Amazingly, it worked out for us to actually go there for a few days and this time I got to stay in one of the enchanting rooms. Now, in the frigid weather here, I'm thinking it may be time to go back!
• Washington, D.C. - I don't know why, but I love that city. It's probably because there is so much to see and most of it is FREE! Again, I've been there 2 different times, but never with the husband. And never for long enough to take in all there is to see.
• Colombia, South America - Okay, okay, I know it's one of the most dangerous places to go right now. But it's always been my dream to visit. My dad grew up there - at least part of his life - and I remember the stories about being so high up in the mountains that the clouds would come into his room at the boarding school. I also have an affinity for Latin America and Spanish-speaking cultures. I guess I'll have to wait until the drug lords and guerillas get under control!

Cats and Dogs

Once you own both a cat and a dog (mine are shown below), it makes you really appreciate the reality of this! And, watching the movie "Cats and Dogs" at work yesterday (I work with kids) makes it even more real...

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG' S DAILY DIARY
8:00 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite
9:40 am - Oh Boy! A walk! My favorite!
10:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!
11:30 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
12:00 noon - Oh Boy! Kids! My favorite!
1:00 pm - Oh Boy! The garden! My favorite!
4:00 pm - Oh Boy! Kids! My favorite!
5:00 pm - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!
5:30 pm - Oh Boy! Mom! My favorite!
6:00 pm - Oh Boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6:30 pm - Oh Boy! Sleeping in mom’s bed! My favorite!

EXCERPTS FROM A CAT' S DAILY DIARY
Day 183 of My Captivity
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair, must try this on their bed. Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan. There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of " allergies. " Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.
I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches.
The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time...

Elephant

Well I said I like photography so here's one of my favorites. This was an amazing experience - being within 10 feet of a huge African elephant. This was taken during a a recent trip to Zambia - but we were actually in Botswana for the safari. God's creation is amazing!

First Post

Well I've never done this before, so hopefully it'll work. I am finally succumbing to the world of blogging. All my friends are doing it, so I guess it's my turn.

I plan to use this as a way to share my thoughts about life in general, as well as let friends and family know what's going on around here. I also might post a few photos once in a while, since photography is a hobby of mine.

I never realized how easy it was to create a blog, or I might have done so sooner. Anyway, I'm off to work on sending out newsletters for my business, and maybe watch an episode of Smallville with my husband.