What I Learned From This Years Thanksgiving Pictures

The outfit which I am wearing in the above picture makes me look pregnant. Which I most certainly am not. In the slightest. It would have to be the second immaculate conception, ya know??

I also know for a fact that I was sucking in my stomach here, which is considerably smaller these days than it has been in days past which only aids to my argument that it is, indeed, the outfit that is offending.

I cant remember whether this was pre- or post- meal so perhaps I am just bloated with my "thanks" feast.

....Now that Im thinking about it, Im sure that bowl of cheez-its I just inhaled kind of makes this post a moot point.

Letter To The Holder Of The Pay

Dear Mrs.Boss,

I know you like to put out bowls of candy for the holidays (every holiday) feeling that it adds festivity to the house. I understand this completely& my lack of will power & pestering sweet tooth appreciates this.

But for the love of vampires, my waist & lack of a gym membership makes me plead for you to stop doing this.

Sincerely your faithful blahdiblahblahblah,

Miss Stefani, the individual formerly known as Stefani

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, in a neighborhood far, but not so far, away, I used to be called "Our miracle worker" & "Our lifeline" & "The reason our family runs."

Now...Im called "Miss Stefani"

Oy

I should give myself some credit that I stayed on top of the daily posting for a good portion of the year. It hasnt been until very recently that I have come up with a lack of pictures & some skipped days here & there. I figure, its almost the end of the year, it was bound to happen.

I went in to work last night just about an hour before Tiny Love's bedtime. Mom had reported the day had been fine, that she was a happy baby & naps had been good. I bathed her & layed her down...

& the hysterics began. Not just whimpering, but "someone is cutting off my arm" screaming. I had to put Mr.J to bed also, so I did that, Tiny Love screaming the whole time. When I went back to "check" on her (though I knew why she was screaming) Mom was in there & she said I should calm her down a bit. Tiny Love stopped crying the moment she saw me coming towards her crib.....oy. Rip my heart out much?

As of late I am immersed up to my patellas in end of the year schoolwork, prepwork for my final presentation & work for my fieldwork class.

Notice, that I did not say immersed in work at fieldwork. The other day when I was there they had me clean out the refrigerator. I happily did it for them, eager to lend a hand where needed, but deep down whilst scrubbing away I could help but think, "ummm, this is not what Im here for, yo!"

Beyond school huge changes of growth are happening with me personally. I wont bore you with the soggy details of it all, but I will say that it is, once again, amazing to be reassured in God's plan for my life (even without knowing it) & to be able to go to Him exactly how I am without the pressure to change or hide anything from Him is crippling (in a good way).

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse dvd drops a week from yesterday (next Saturday). Who else cant contain their excitment?

I read this yesterday in a magazine & liked it a lot. I felt it was very relevant to my life. If I could print it out onto a T-shirt I would.

"Being happy with your life doesnt mean walking around all day with a smile plastered on your face. It means that at the end of the day you can sit down & have had moments of joy, peace, contentment & passion in your day."

Or something along those lines, I may have paraphrased a bit...my memory isnt quite what it used to be.

If Wishes Were Dollars

I wish I could say, "happy weekend!" but the sad fact is that I have to turn around and be back at work tomorrow. Really I havent had a true weekend since 2004. Such is my life.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go run on a treadmill for 5 hours to reverse the effects of yesterday.

Piece Of Pie

Giving Thanks

Tomorrow families & friends around the country will gather to share a day of thanks.

I was reading "Madeline in London" to Spunky Punky this week & the final words from Miss Clavel rang very appropriate for this weeks upcoming holiday. ~"Good night, little girls. Thank the Lord you are well."

It also goes on to say, "now go to sleep!"...but that throws off the mood of thanks & giving a bit!

Bless us all this Thanksgiving. Enjoy & give true thanks.

The Life & Times Of Flat Amber

First Installment:

Here are Kim, myself & Flat Amber at the Harry Potter premiere. Good times...freezing times...but good none-the-less

1 behind

Im a post behind...oops!!!

Here is a picture of a group of wizards & witches from the Harry Potter Premiere the other night.

Beautiful, Wonderous

A beautiful church in San Rafel.

Wednesday

This is the only picture I took today

I almost titled this post Thursday, but then realized that its Wednesday...so now you see where I am. Heres what I did today.

*3 hours of fieldwork in the morning

*Surrendered my maladjusted kitty to the SPCA before going to work

*Worked for 4 hours

*Ran 2 errands before coming home

*Still need to do some homework

...oh yeah...& eat if I get a chance

Tomorrow I go to Dominican University for a school event before a Harry Potter midnight showing

Going, Going, Gone GaGa

Ive been in a bit of a GaGa mood today.

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah-ah

A Whole Lotta Nada

Ive really got nothing for yall tonight.

I could dig deep into the depths of me & find something about the new Harry Potter movie or my fieldwork at a Dementia Day Center or possibly the melodrama that is my life & the lives of those around me...but in all honesty...Im a tad too worn out for it after working 10 hours caring for 4 children in 2 different houses.

Peace.

Remember The Mother

Its time to start planning for Christmas! Not yet Thanksgiving & I have already scoured Etsy & other sites finding "perfect" gifts for friends & family. Then it hits me, ya' know, everyone has already received the perfect gift.

Ive thought about Mary (Mother, not Magdalene) a lot the past few winters. While its debatable as to what time of the year Jesus was born I always try to remember her as well these months leading up to the day we celebrate His birth. She was so young & had to have been scared; scared of the prophecy for her life & of the life of the baby inside of her. I see pregnant women & it makes me think of her walking through the sandy dessert lands, over mountains & hills, riding on donkeys or mules. I load the dishwasher or washing machine & I imagine her cooking or washing linens in a land far away from mine. I can feel her enduring people's hurtful & judgemental stares & comments...

& shes doing all of this while carrying our savior in her womb.

Living Without Waiting

I found this book at the Christian bookstore (it was 50% off...woot!) & while the cover & title may seem a tad on the cheesy side it seemed like exactly what I have been needing to read for a while now. A while meaning years.

So I spent the whole $7 on it without hesitation. What can I say, Im wild.

Ive decided to do a chapter a day & have gotten through two so far. Im not in love with the style of writing, it isnt horrible, but the authors tend to repeat themselves a lot. I have found many useful & relative bible passages in just the two chapters Ive read through & thats encouraging. Theres also a journaling section at the back of each chapter which I like a lot, it lends to the whole accountability & diligence thing.

They are using Ruth as a marker for the entire book, as the woman to look to as the lady in waiting. Ive always loved Ruth's story. Its full of heartache but you can tell that she was such a strong willed fighter, pressing on for what she knew she needed to do.

Here are a few quotes that whacked me as I read:

"Is your life on hold until you have someone to hold?"

"Almost as dangerous as neglecting the word is the habit of taking it in but not putting it into practice...Impression without expression can lead to depression."

Here comes an AHA moment y'all....
"Some women put their lives on hold, each waiting for some guy to come riding into her life on a white stallion. They have no china, no decent furniture & no pictures on the walls- none of the little extras that make a house inviting. They make minimal investment in what they hope is a temporary condition...These precious women have settled for the generic version of life. How unlike Jesus' statement in John 10:10, in which He said He came so we might have a more abundant life. Do you believe that the abundant life is only the married woman? Do you think that a woman with a husband, two children, a nice home...is more satisfied with life than you are? Life is satisfying when you diligently serve the Lord, whatever your circumstances."

For pretty much my entire adolescence I have thought "when I get married & have kids it will be like this & I'll be this way & my life will be like this..." & then at some point this week (or last, ya know I cant keep track these days) it hit me that I have no idea what anything will be like in when Im married. I can hope that my marriage & motherhood will be all that I dream of it, but theres never a guarantee who I will be or what others will be & instead of focusing so much on "I just want to get there because I will be happy then" I should be using this time I have to focus on living life, deepening my relationship with the Lord & enjoying.

God has given me all of this "free time" that some people dont ever get for a reason, I shouldnt be wasting it!

Update

A quick update on Lola the cat. See the story here It turns out that she DOES have Cystitis. So she will remain a member of the F family after all. Oh happy day for Ms. G!

Nanny Doll

I saw this doll at the bookstore the other day & couldnt resist picking it up for Tiny Love, I thought it was just too cute. When Mr.J got home from school I was showing him the dolly & showed him how she has a camera around her neck the way I always have mine. His response is, "ohhhhh, so she's a nanny." Hehehehe. I die.

Links

To some of my new favorite things ***Big Smiles***

Watch1st

Watch2nd

Watch3rd

I will for now & evermore go here if I am in a bad mood & need a good pick-me up.
God bless America, home to the free & the Hillywood Show.

Good Pictures Happen At The Park

I dont usually post pictures of the kid's faces, but this one was too good to not share of my sweet girl.

Everybody Sing Your Heart Out

These bands, their songs, they wake something up in me. They sing to me (no pun intentended) & I relate to the level that can sometimes bring me to the brink of tears because of the relatability. "Yes!" I'll scream at the radio, "oh my goodness...its so true!"

If you don't already know them, you need to run right out & discover them pronto. In no particular order...
*Skillet

*30 Seconds To Mars

*Relient K

*Angels & Airwaves

*Bruno Mars

*Duffy

*Lost Prophets

(Yes, I am in a bit of a "shout your feelings out" phase, cant you tell, ha!)

Goodness, I Started This Post Over An Hour Ago

Has anyone else made themselves so "strong" that its hard to cry even when you need to? Im about there...so tonight Im turning to my two main sources of strength, inspiration & information...the Bible & Twilight.

...I can hear you judging me...stooopppp itttttt...

On living & life...Im pretty sure homeboy James & the Vampire girl got it right on this one...

"You dont know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, 'if the master wills it & we're still alive, we'll do this or that.'"~James 4:14

"Death is peaceful, easy; life is harder."~Bella Swan in Twilight

On patience...Me & Bels, oddly similar experiences, in some twisted way, somehow it works, trust me

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."~Romans 12:12

"He thought time & patience would change me & though I knew he was dead wrong, I also knew that I would let him try."~Bella Swan in New Moon

And a few I love just because...

"Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled & aflame. Be alert servants of the Master cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even, that's not for you to do...Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good."~Romans 12:9-22

"After 18 years of mediocracy I was pretty used to being average. I realize now that Id long ago given up any aspirations of shining at anything. I just did the best with what I had, never quite fitting into my world...the idea made me want to laugh but it also made me want to sing. I had found my true place in the world, the place where I fit, the place where I shined."~Bella Cullen in Breaking Dawn

Sad Day

Lola kitty hangs her head in shame for the all the peepee shes done

Everyone, meet Lola the cat (who lives at work #1). It will be a sad day for Lola the cat if the veterinarian deems her "peepee" problems to be of the behavior sort & not, in fact, actual bladder problems.
Because, see, my boss will not put up with those sorts of dealings.
So Lola the cat (a birthday present to Ms.G) will be sent back to the veterinarian's office from whence she came.
So naturally my boss was then asked by Ms. G if they could get Kini the cat (short for Bikini) who currently resides at the veterinarian's office in lieu of Lola (in the case that Lola would need to be returned).
Does anyone else see the revolving door?

Best Buds

These two go way back...see?

About as far back as a couple of 1 year olds can go :)

TippyToes

I will forever love pictures like this one I took the other day.

My shoes, Mr.J's feet. I just adore everything about it.

In The Air

I love their holiday cups.

Christmas is in the air!

Wooooooh

Praising God for a few things tonight.

First: glad my life skills presentation is over (big woohoo there). I can breathe normally again, ha!
Second: that this girl has arrived safely & been settling into her new home easily.

Third: for new things I learn every day.

Fourth: just blessed to be where I am.

Thank you for my frustrating, crazy, unpredictable, rich, beautifully designed life.

New Favorite

I do believe I have found a new favorite dessert.

Undiagnosed

~for lack of better picture inspiration I default to Twilight~

Every month I go through a short phase where I seem to be either on the edge of some giant cliff:

here & here

or Im completely loosing it:

here

....& Every month I think to myself, "what the heck is going on? This so is not me!"

....& Every month a day or two later the cramps set in....ohhhh yeeeaaahhh...

Ya know, I think I have PMDD.

I also think I have undiagnosed OCD, RLS, either an under or overactive Thyroid (insane hair & weight loss...not sure which) & some level of Diabetes (the sugar variable migraines).

I think I have Hypochondriasis.

Does This Post Make My Attitude Sound Bad??

Just a few words tonight.

I thought I didnt have class this evening & I was wrong, so I dashed there late (forgetting what was going on in class was group leadership night)...lovely...

I packed away about $1000 worth of Halloween decorations at work today (my boss', not mine)...please stop me if I ever begin to acquire that much stuff...

Im sick & Im beginning my fieldwork tomorrow. This probably is not the best but its too late to get ahold of my coordinator now soooo....

Im running away on Wednesday (temporarily & just for the day)...my choice destination is also going to be hosting a celebratory parade for the winning team of the World Series...hopefully I wont get trampled by hoards of fans donned in black & orange

My house is due for a major cleaning...I was going to do that this evening (my night off from class), but alas...

But above all...I simply adore those little hands & the munchkin they belong to!