Christmas Season

I procrastinate...good grief do I procrastinate.
Thus why I haven't written on here in a while...

I am not yet finished with my Christmas shopping, even though I started in early November. I have a few last minute gifts for family members, but I also haven't hardly shopped at all for the 2 most important people in my life...Justin and Faith. I guess I figured I'd get everyone else done with and then I'd be able to focus on my own family when I was done. Yet, here we are, just a few days from Christmas morning and their stockings are not filled. We've talked about just doing stockings but it probably won't end up quite like that. It's hard to stick to the stocking when you have such a sweet little girl ;)

In the midst of buying gifts, I seem to get frustrated with crowds, how much things cost, the cold...the snow...the COLD!!! And I forget what really "makes up" Christmas. Christmas used to be so "magical" to me as a child - baking with my mom, listening to Christmas music, decorating the tree, making ornaments, and even going shopping. It was all so fun and care free. I realize now it was because I didn't have to do any of the work! I want to make Faith's holidays magical and special and if I get too frustrated with everything I have to DO, it won't come across as a whole lot of fun :)

I'm not one for making New Years resolutions, but if I had to make one, I'd vow to have a better attitude. It's so easy in this life, day to day, to be negative - a lot of other people are, why shouldn't I? But I want to be different in stressful situations, during the hustle and bustle - I want my life to radiate God's light, to truly carry the Christmas spirit with me all year - I know, I'm starting to sound like "The Christmas Carol" :) - but just giving to others, spending extra time with family and friends, and reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas...and of life. That we are here only because God sent His son, and He then died to save us. I don't have to right to have a bad attitude.

God, thank you for all that I have, and forgive me for allowing myself to become stressed and for my negative attitude at times. Help me to be thankful and to trust you through every season of life.

Merry Christmas! I truly hope and pray that we can all keep the joy of Christmas with us all year long. Enjoy your family and friends and remember to be thankful and to cherish all that you have this year.

President Obama

I'm so glad the election is over...can I get an "amen?" I was so tired of the nasty ads, commercials, rumors, and what not about each elect. It's hard to tell what is true and what isn't - our media isn't exactly friendly or truthful all the time.

In the end of our election, Barack Obama was elected as our next president of the United States. And though I didn't vote for him...which I guess is now irrelevant :)...I am happy we have a new leader. I believe it is a new season, a new day...

"To everything there is a season,a time for every purpose under the sun.A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;a time to kill and a time to heal ...a time to weep and a time to laugh;a time to mourn and a time to dance ...a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;a time to lose and a time to seek;a time to rend and a time to sew;a time to keep silent and a time to speak;a time to love and a time to hate;a time for war and a time for peace."
ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I have read this scripture over and over and never has it seemed so alive to me - it IS a new season - how exciting that God made seasons!

Though I don't agree with some things our new president stands for, I am humbled in that I know God Himself has placed this man into office, for this time, this season and He has a purpose for him. God has always been on the throne and He knows better than me...that's for sure!

I pledge to pray for our new president - he is about to have a heavy weight on his shoulders and I pray that God gives him strength, wisdom, discernment, and grace.

Halloween

I spent this Halloween at work, which I actually didn't mind since it's not my favorite "holiday."

Growing up, our family didn't celebrate Halloween the way many do. It usually consisted of doing a little bit of trick-or-treating - just to close neighbors and friends, and then attending our churches "Halloween Alternative" party. It was a Fall harvest party with games, candy, prizes...and we all dressed up as different Bible characters. My mom was very strict on the "nothing scary" on Halloween - we never decorated with spider webs, goblins, or ghosts, and I was usually dressed up as an angel every year instead of a witch :) I know the origin of Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, and knowing how it all started, I don't want to participate in the "fire and brimstone" part of it.

However, I couldn't pass up putting Faith in an adorable costume. Last year, for her first Halloween, she was pink lepord. This year she was Tenderheart Carebear...sooooo cute! Like I said, I was working at the hotel that night, but Justin dressed her up and brought her in so I could see. She had her Halloween candy bag which was already filled with some treats from her Great Grandma Lucy and Great Aunt Emma, who both live in our apartment complex. I had some candy waiting for her when she came to visit as well. She knew exactly what to do with candy - it went right into the bag. I think Justin let her taste a few :) I took some shots with my phone...

7 Random Facts

I've been tagged and as a result I am to list 7 random facts about myself...that you may or may not know. Here goes...

1. I'll eat just about anything...really, I'm NOT picky at all. There are a FEW things I don't like though...they are very random things. I don't like mandrine oranges, green olives, or radishes...or beats.

2. I used to get mono all the time as a kid. The doctor would always say, "You only get mono once. It's not possible to get it again." But yet, every time, I would test positive for mono. I would get it at the beginning of every school year. I wouldn't get a lot of sleep, I'd be stressed out, and I'd just get really sick one day and be out of school for 2-3 weeks. I would literally go to sleep for over 48 hours. One time I even got a 105 degree temp.

3. We own all the the SpongeBob episodes on DVD...Justin REALLY likes it, and now I really do too.

4. I generally DO NOT eat fast food - unless it's like a deli type sandwich like Subway or something. But my favorite "fast food" meal is a Mushroom and Swiss burger, curly fries, and a chocolate shake from Hardees *insert GIANT smile.* Oh my goodness I LOVE it!! When I gave birth to our daughter, Faith, I kept saying, "When this is over I want a mushroom and swiss burger, curly fries, and shake!" And that's what I had...immediately after :)

5. I have never mowed a lawn...and I have no idea how to run a lawnmower. I mean, I could probably figure it out...but yeah, never used one. That's kind of embarassing...

6. This one IS embarassing...I sucked my thumb until I was an early teen...not in public or anything, but I'd wake up in the middle of the night at like 13 or 14 and I'd be sucking my thumb! My mom told me that when I was born, I didn't cry because I had my thumb in my mouth. It was black and blue and all wrinkly too.

7. In junior high I got sick of my bangs one day, and I cut them off at the root! How stupid was I? Good grief...so I had this 1 in by 1 in patch of hair at the top of my forehead...which eventually I had to let grow out. It looked ridiculous - I just had to part the rest of my hair over top the patch as best I could and clip it so it would stay.

I love the FALL!

Oh how I love this season. I love the smells, the breeze, the crunching of leaves, changing of colors...my favorite season indeed. I really do enjoy seasons more than I used to. I used to merely like summer - that was it - I waited all year for summer and moped about the weather the other 9 months (hey, this IS North Dakota). But something has changed in me and oh how I love the seasons - I'm even looking forward to winter...which is crazy for my to say. Here are some fun summer pictures to remember that lovely season, as it is officially gone.

Justin and I had our anniversary! We celebrated in Minneapolis, MN

at Falleyfair, the Vikings training camp, and of course did some shopping!

We went on lots of biking trips...that is,

before one of our bikes was stolen :(

Faith turned 1 July 24th!
And we took lots and lots of trips to the park for picnics and to fly our kites!

Amy's new phone!

Did I mention I got a NEW phone?!

It's about time is all I can say. Faith is sitting on my lap as we speak, playing with and drooling all over the old one! I GLADLY handed it over - it hasn't worked right since the day I got it. For example, random alarms would go off in the middle of the night...nearly every night - it didn't matter if I set one or not, it would still go off. It also constantly changed my ringtones that I had set for people - I never knew who was calling just by listening.

Needless to say, I HATED that phone. It was the freebie phone from my cell company, so maybe I can't complain. Well, Faith loves it...which I'm sure will not last long because as soon as she can have something that she couldn't before, it is no longer exciting. She's not getting my new phone, that's for sure. Can I just say that I LOVE my new phone?! It's great! It's a Palm Centro - to keep me

organized.

It's got the keypad that's like a keyboard and I've started to text again :), and it's so sleek and stylish! I just love it. We were due for an upgrade - well, Justin's phone was, but since his was perfectly good, he graciously let me get the new phone ;)

I thought I used to be pretty good with technology, but since having my old phone, I think it has switched my brain in the other direction and I'm having to learn about all this "new stuff" again.

Either way, I sure am enjoying my new celluar device :)

Faith at Grandma's

Faith was...you guessed it...at Grandma's this weekend. It was my weekend to work and so Justin's parents happily took Faith for us. I know she has a lot of fun when she goes to their house because she's always pooped when she comes home :)

I worked Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and we went up after my shift Monday to get her. We pulled into the driveway at the farm, and there was our little girl - peeking through the window of the house at mommy and daddy. Oh how my heart melts when I see her after not being with her for more than a a few days...or a few hours..or minutes :) Jerry and Kim have 2 dogs - 2 big golden retrievers who like to bark when visitors come. Faith now imitates them - a high pitched "ruff, ruff!" comes out whenever she sees a puppy now :)

We spent the night at the farm Monday night. Justin's brother, Jalen had a football game...which they unfortunatly lost, but it was still fun. The weather is still awesome out - if it wasn't for the mosquitos.

We headed home today, and on the way we stopped and looked at some homes in a little town just 13 miles outside of where we live now. We are not homeowners yet - but we are getting sooo anxious to have a home of our own - and it doesn't hurt to look! Jerry and Kim mentioned a new development and we went to look at it. We LOVED it. It's this little community of homes - lots of families - kids playing everywhere - beautiful houses. If we were to purchase or build a home in this area, Faith would be able to attend a much smaller school rather than the quite large school district in which we now live. Like I said...and as my husband reminds me...we were JUST LOOKING! But it doesn't hurt to look and see what it is we're looking for! We really did love it - small neighborhood - everyone waving as we drove through :) - cute little playground - and it is away from the "hustle and bustle" of a larger city. Awwh yes, I'm dreaming of my house even more now. Someday...soon, hopefully ;)