Thursday, July 31, 2008

MEXICO!!!





Grabbie

Monday, July 28, 2008

Home

Well, I'm safe and sound at home after an amazing trip to Cancun's Gran Caribe Real Resort and Spas, but I'll be honest...it was very difficult coming home to 103 degree heat from the 91 with an ocean breeze I've grown accustomed to! The only bad thing is that I've gotten a stomach bug. Thankfully, I didn't get it until the middle of the night last night, so I still enjoyed my glorious vacation, just not the journey home. So, I'm going to rest this evening, but I will post some pictures tomorrow!!!



Grabbie

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Anniversary

Well, It's official.....


I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR!!!!

Yes, as of Sunday, July 20th, Brant and I had been married for one year - and it has honestly been a GREAT year! We have been so blessed and have truly fallen in love with each other since that day. I actually heard it said best by a friend of mine just the other day. She said "I loved my husband the least on the day I married him."

So on Friday evening, we went out for a steak dinner at Hoffbrau Steakhouse - it was delicious. For an anniversary present, I got Brant a new wedding band...if you haven't heard the story, Brant los this ring while installing a sprinkler system about 3 months after we got married...so, I got him a new band from James Avery. I got a size too small, so we went to exchange it before dinner and I found a rign that I wanted. So here are a few pictures from our anniversary date!


On Sunday (our actual anniversary) we went to church, then to see The Dark Knight at the Studio Movie Grill - a place where they serve you from a full menu while you watch the movie...its GREAT! Then our good friends Ryan and Kristy had a special birthday celebration at Pappa's Bar-b-que then went to ride go-carts at Speed Zone. We had a blast.

We leave tomorrow morning for our Mexico trip! Kristy and I have been emailing each other all day long talking about what we are packing and how excited we are to be going! We can't wait to get there.

I hope everyone is having a great week and I'll put up pictures as soon as I'm home!!


Grabbie

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Karaoke at the Oasis

Well last night, mom, Jess and Jess's mom all went out to the Oasis for Karaoke night! We had so much fun together. Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment.

Ok, so this wasn't at the Oasis, but Dax was being so sweet while I was getting ready to go. I just love this pup!!!


Me and Jessica!!!


Our moms! Take a guess who's mom is who!


This is my mom doing the twist! She can out-twist just about anyone!!


Me and my mommy!


This is Jessica singing "Family Tradition"! It was hilarious!




Grabbie

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

A Great Morning

Good morning readers,
Well I had a meeting with a recruiter yesterday, he sent me on an interview yesterday afternoon, and then called with another possible job...it was a great meeting to say the least. I know that I didn't get the job from the first interview because I didn't have quite enough experience, but Carol (the lady I interviewed with) did say that she would hire me in a second if she had a legal secretary position open...but she doesn't! Hey - I don't have a job yet, but at least I know people like me!!!!

Anyways, I had an wonderful morning with the Lord. I have been doing the Breaking Free study by Beth Moore. I have had the book for years, but never taken the time to read and study the Word with it - boy am I glad I picked it up.

This morning's study was about fully experiencing the benefit of peace that the Lord has to offer. Many people have asked how I am doing since I lost my job and several can't understand that it has been a blessing rather than a curse. I have had an incredible peace about the entire situation; yes, sometimes I think about "what ifs", but then I turn my eyes upward and they all fade away. It is unexplainable. Well this morning in my reading, I ran across this and it is exactly what I needed to see:

"He is God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the supreme Author of all existence. He reigns over all, and in Him all things exist. He is Lord, the Master and Owner of all living creatures. He is the covenant Maker and Keeper. He is holy. As Lord, He will never ask anything of us that is not right, good, and open to the light. He is perfect and undefiled. Lastly, He is Redeemer, the One who bought us from sin's slave master so we could experience abundant life. He bought us to set us free. 'What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Rom. 8:31)"

Read the bold part again - He will never ask us to do anything that does not bring Him glory. Therefore, I will wait until HE brings the perfect job my way because I KNOW that HE will put me exactly where He wants me to be. This, my friends, is why I have a peace! Oh, how it brings me such excitement to know that my God and the God of all the universe is watching out for me and is taking care of everything!

Grabbie

Sunday, July 13, 2008

updates

I'm sorry its been awhile...I've been relaxing and busy all at the same time. This week was an interesting one. To say the least, I haven't just "stayed" home in years...I'm a busy body. So to be home alone and by myself has been different. I've cleaned, I've read, I've scrapbook'ed, I've exercised, I've walked and I've job hunted.

I have only had one job interview and it went extremely well. However, the company did decide on another candidate, but also told me that if this candidate did not accept, or if they did not work out, then I would be receiving an offer. I know it stinks that I didn't get the job, but it did make me feel better that I was "runner-up". I do have an interview on Tuesday with a legal recruiter so I hope that goes well. I think I have sent my resume out to 20 different companies and I just keep on sending them.

But I actually doing really well. I've enjoyed my time off - my time of relaxation. My house is nice and clean and I get to make my bed every day. Brant was usually still in bed when I used to leave the house, so my bed was never made...and I hated it.

I'll update more throughout the week, but I'm going to go relax with Brant for now.



Grabbie

Thursday, July 3, 2008

This is this, and that is that...

Oh - I have so many things to say...thoughts, news, recipes...all sorts of things.

First of all - a great new recipe...for the CrockPot of course. I got the basics from Crockpot 365, but I added a few touches of my own. These are crockpot chimichangas!

First, I got a "hunk'o'meat" (as described by Crockpot 365). I just used an oven roast. Salt and pepper it, add about a cup of water and let it cook for 8-10 hours on low. I cooked mine for 10 hours and it was amazing!

Once that is ready, take two forks (or fingers) and shred the roast - you wanted to make shredded beef so it is easy to eat. Leave about 1/2 of juice from the roast in the crockpot. Once shredded, add a packet of fajita seasoning, one can of diced tomoatoes and a can of green chilies. Cover and cook on high for 30-45 minutes until heated. I also made refried beans to go in ours.



Get burrito-sized tortillas and butter. Put in your "stuffing" and as your role your burrito, smother it in butter. Once they are completely rolled, make sure the top is covered in butter as well and bake at 375 for about 15-20 minutes, or until they get crispy.








I smothered these in queso and sour cream. These were delicious...the meat was tender and so flavorful. This is definitely a new favorite in our house!


On the "News" front...I got fired yesterday! Don't panic..I think it has been more of a relief than anything. I was miserable at my job and completely disgusted with what the company stood for, so they just made a decision that I had been debating for a year. It was a rough morning though - more than anything a blow to my ego. There are a ton of details and "stuff" surrounding this and yes, I feel that it was unfair...I had no warning, I hadn't gotten in trouble, hadn't been given a review, hadn't been told that I was doing ANYTHING wrong...but I still got fired. So I cam home yesterday morning, fell to knees, and lifted my eyes. I prayed that I would have an unexplainable peace about my future and about my families' finances. Let me just tell you that our God is an amazing God and He is faithful...I have an unexplainable peace. I KNOW that He will not leave us "high and dry" and He WILL provide. I KNOW that what is unknown to me is already written by His Hands...I KNOW that He is THE FAITHFUL ONE.

So now I begin the job hunt. Its exciting though - a new chapter, a new beginning. And just in case you were wondering, yes, we are still going to Mexico because that is already paid for!!!

Now for my thoughts...I love John Grisham!!! I am a big fan of books, movies and stories that are about law, crimes, politics...all of that stuff! But I had never read a John Grisham book before last week...now I'm hooked! I read "The Summons" and couldn't put it down...so now I am on to "The Chamber". I guess I have some reading time!!! So, to those of you who are John Grisham fans...what is your favorite book???


Grabbie