The girls

I am kind of emotional right now, as i sit down to write this. I am overwhelmingly thankful, hopefully refreshed, and somewhat sorrowful. gail and Lori came to visit this weekend. I didn't realize how much i needed time with them, how my spirit needed to be refreshed by them, how my being needed to laugh until i hurt, how i longed to listen to them and how i longed to be heard. I am sad this morning for many reasons. I know that even though that time together was much needed for everyone, it will be a long time before we have it again. That makes me sad. I am sad because even though we don't live vast distances apart, it is enough to hinder our visiting. BUT, i am overwhelmingly thankful, too. I am thankful for their love and friendship. I am thankful for their sincere hearts, their hilarious facial expressions, the sound of their laughter, their stories and their encouragement. I cannot even begin to express how thankful i am that God put those two women in my life

This weekend, we ate. We shopped. We ate. We shared. We watched The Breakup. We talked. We ate. We laughed. I cooked! We hugged. We said goodbye. It is sad how we don't often enough take a break from men and our busy lives to have deep, sincere, meaningful conversations and to nurture our relationships. We need to do that more often. . . even if it is on the phone.

Before the girl headed out, i asked TJ to take our picture. As we posed, Lori started tickling gail's knee, so then i started. We were laughing so hard, we had tears in our eyes. Luckily, TJ captured this moment. gail actually went down on her knees so we could no longer tickle them.

Before and After

It hasn't been this short since my brother played barber with my hair when i was little. I went drastic so i could donate it to locks of love. I feel 10 pounds lighter.

Trying new things and having fun doing it!

See what i mean about the star shaped tooth pillow? It looks like the arms are different sizes in the picture. They are not, but i am not happy with the thickness of them. My moon doesn't really look like a moon on the pocket, either. Oh well, i tried something new and now i think i know how to make it better. I am most happy with my crazy pillow. I tried to make the ribbons on the front random. . .and the squares random. It is harder to be random than i thought it was.

I got out of class a little early tonight. Hooray!

What is my deal?

I get home from school after a staff meeting, and i have such good intentions on getting caught up with papers. I didn't touch them. I did manage to make myself write up my fall festival letter, but that is about it. Instead, i sewed my little heart out. Yesterday i finished a very cute loopie pillow. It has loops of ribbon sticking out around the edge and from the front of the pillow. I used my scraps from all the blankets i have made to make it out of squares. It is small, like the size i have seen in stores. It is more for play, than to lay on. Tonight, i tried to make a tooth pillow, which was suggested by a friend of mine after she saw one in the store for $40.00. This was not so successful. . . well, i guess i shoudln't say that. Now, i know what to do differently. I wanted it to be star shaped, so i made a tracer for my fabric by hand. Next time i need to make the arms and legs of the star more stocky and rounded. . . i thought i did, but once i sew in on each edge, it turns out to be lanky and spindly. Now i know. I made the star out of blue bumpy fleece, with a green bumpy fleece pocket that has a furry fleece yellow moon on it. Out of each arm tip is a ribbon (one is very crooked) I think i will bring it into work, to hear their suggestions. As long as they understand it is a trial one, i will be fine. In fact, once i saw how ridiculous it looked, i didn't take a lot of time to sew the closing shut after i stuffed it. Maybe i will post pictures later. . . instead of doing school work. I have class tomorrow and do you think i did my reading? What has gotten into me. No wonder i feel so behind this year. . . i am!

On another note, i talked to my brother Jason today. It was good to hear his voice and hear all the exciting plans for his upcoming wedding in May. It sounds like it is going to be a beautiful, small wedding. I think he said the place only holds 70, so no cousins or random people or great once removed hairdressers. I'm sure for some, that is a relief that they don't have to travel across the U.S., for others. . . they will just have to deal with it! I am sure they will understand. It sounds so nice. It reminds me of the toast that Jason gave at my wedding. Stinkin' hilarious!

Well, i am off to bed. Goodnight.

WHAT??!!

So, my doctor's office LOST my chart. . .it is so unbelievably frustrating. I am so ready to switch doctors, but the thought of repeating tests and starting over seems overwhelming. Then again, i feel like i am starting over every appointment i go to. My ultrasound came back normal as can be. . . lining good, no masses, everything is fine. That was the message i got. No next step. No promised prescriptions called into walgreens. No chatting with a knowledgeable person. Just Carol. . . a perky nurse who knows nothing about me or about medicine. Tomorrow the drama continues. Hoepefully, they found my chart and i can talk to the doctor and get some questions answered.

On a happier note, on my way home from class in G.R. tonight, i blasted two of my new CDs. . . Wicked and Pursue Me. Both are awesome. And since i have seen both "performed" it made it even better.

Promised Pictures

TJ with a Lego man


Me with a Lego lady

oops, i forgot to turn some pictures around. . . sorry



Notice the price for this warm bottle of water!
















Our beautiful Hotel

Chicago

Five years. Five fabulous years.Wow. . . five years filled with celebration, cheek-hurting-smiles, joyful laughter, an unbearable sadness, dreaming, comforting, cuddling, peace, unbelievable love, committment, enjoyment, and friendship.

TJ and i went to Chicago to celebrate our five year anniversary. We decided to do something a little different than our "normal" cedar point anniversary. We enjoyed a relaxing train ride into the windy city and took the bus to our beatuiful hotel. We relaxed, took a nap, went out to eat at a rustic italian place that had phenomenal homemade pasta and delicious bread dipping oil. Then, we went back to the hotel and changed for our evening at the theater. Wicked was an outstadning show. We loved it. I have been humming the songs ever since i saw it.

The next day we went to The Art Institure of Chicago. TJ has never been there, and i went so long ago with my dad that i could hardly remember anything but the lions and American Gothic. The building itself was beautiful and the sunlight poured into the windows. After that we went out and about shopping and admiring the architecture. We ate at the Cheesecake factory.

The last day we checked our bags at the hotel and checked out. We had 4 hours until we needed to be at the amazing union station. So, we of course ate, and walked around. This is the only time we had the camera. I, of course, wanted to be comfy on the train, so i wore a hoodie sweatshirt. But during the trip, i honestly looked decent. . . really i did.

The trip was fantastic, humbling, peaceful, much-needed. TJ and i needed to spend some time together away from the stresses of work for a couple of days. It took awhile for school thoughts to be replaced with peaceful happy thoughts. The weather, besides the first snowy cold night, was absolutely beautiful. Coming home, i have such a feeling of content. I am blessed with so much. i have so much. So many people don't. It is such a different world over there. Nothing is in hiding. There are people begging for a meal outside of shops selling expensive furs. Oprah and Bono visited the Gap for a launch of clothes that will feed the world, while people are sleeping in a nearby park. Theater goers rush past street performers who are hoping to make some money. Bush visited our hotel and was welcomed with angery picketers. I wonder if he ever gets used to seeing that and hearing that hatred? I ate the most delicious food while others beg for change for their next meal. We were the minority in our train car. Different languages were being spoken all around me, but there was so much love and happiness between families being shared. I couldn't understand the words being said, but i understood.

We made it home at 11:45 P.M. . At 1:00 i was so uncomfortable. I couldn't fall asleep. I had a slight fever. I was getting a ragging bladder infection. I had forgotten to take my one antibiotic that i need to take to prevent this from happening. It was too late. At 2:00 i was sitting in the emergency room begging for some pain medication and antibiotics. At 11:00 this morning i was still sleeping and i have taken two naps since then. My body is tired of fighting, but it is winning!

I'll post pictures later. Blogger is not cooperating.

Sunday Afternoon

How we spent our Sunday Afternoon. . .

TJ got a new toy for school and for play. It was an open box special.

The cats took a long nap on their thrones.

I played with my toy and made five more blankets. I do special orders, so let me know if you need one for a special little one!

Soon, i will fold the pile of laundry on the bed and begin to correct my pile of papers. I think i will sew a bit more.

Perfect Day for a Football Game.

Autumn Crisp

I love this weather. Yesterday, after work TJ and i wanted to grab a bite to eat. We were off to Famous Daves. Then, TJ said we could go eat at New Holland Brewing Company and go shopping. He never has to ask me twice. I love shopping in Holland. We welcomed her into the house. . . Hello Vera!

Hooray! We also got some Christmas presents and i found a set of book ends that they stopped producing. If ound them on sale for half off. I almost bid on them on ebay months ago, but they were way too expensive.

Today, we already went to the Farmers market for some honeycrisp apples and a mixed half bushel to make apple sauce with. I am going to clean the house. It needs it desparatley. I need to run to petsmart and the bank. . .and do some things outside too. I am glad it is sunny!

Back to my old self

This weekend, my old eating habits showed their ugly face again. For awhile, food lost its power and hold on me. I no longer turned to it for comfort or for celebration, but this weekend i so easily slipped back into giving it that hold on me. I ate. Friends, at times, encouraged me to eat because of my crappy wekend. I promised myself that i was going to do better today. I broke that promise. As i slipped on my new skinny pants this morning, i knew that i was going to stick to my promise, but after work as i took them off, i ate. And ate. And ate and then went out to eat at a buffet of all places. Tomorrow is a new day. I believe that (as long as i don't say that every day for a month.) I might gain a few when i weigh in this week, but i need to get back on and stop looking at the past and focus on the future. Never give up, especially when i have come so far. Tomorrow is going to be a constant prayer for strength, so i can get back to my new eating habits. . . when i turned to healthy things for comfort and celebration.

Skipping Church. . . again

The intention was there. I was going to wake up today and go to church, do school work, make some blankets, clean and watch Desparate Housewives with friends. The church thing is aready not happening. I feel like staying home, sipping chai and cuddling up with a book or something. Today my mom would have turned 59.

I am glad that the rain has stopped. The sun is rising. Yesterday, TJ and i went to grand Rapids. It was exciting. . . just what i needed. To spend some money, eat out, and enjoy TJ's company removed from the house that needs to be cleaned and the stack of papers that needs correcting. I got some clothes that actually fit. I am down 4 sizes and all my clothes were looking frumpy. I found some good deals. Then, we just made it to a surprise birthday party filled with babies. Normally, TJ and i kind of prepare ourselves, pray, and then go. . . BUT we forgot to prepare ourselves for all the babies. Our car ride home was pretty much silent and sad. Once home, we did Soduko(i ate my leftover chocolate chip scone) and fell asleep.

So, i guess i will get my day started, void of church. I was really looking forward to going and heairng the songs again, but i think i will stay home for now.