Teacher

For a lot of years I wore a lot of hats in the church. Sunday school teacher, youth leader, Director of Education, elder, small group leader. Recently someone asked me when I was going to start teaching again. I think it concerns people that I don't teach at the moment. I'm not sure why it is but today, I feel the Lord is impressing upon me to talk about this.

There was a time when I dreamed of being a Joyce Meyer. I thought the perfect career for me would be a teacher of God's word, a counselor for Christians. I've never felt called to the proverbial Africa but always to teaching other believers. I discovered within myself a surprise, that I loved to speak about Jesus in front of large numbers of people. As a lifelong socially awkward loner, I know this could only be the Lord. But what about now?

I won't pretend to know the why but for about 5 years I have felt no desire to do this teaching that used to so define me. In fact, I pushed myself for a bit to continue and realized that I was forcing something that was my own will being done. The last few times I taught I felt it, not the withdrawal of anointing but something else. The presumption of anointing.

I've worried, within my flesh, that others would see me as distant from God. I'm sure that is what compelled me to take those last few opportunities to teach. This is who I am and what I am expected to be. Around this time, God was making many changes in my life. My gramma passed away. I got a new job. We moved. Nothing I was seeking and yet; one thing after another was shifting. In the shift was the change; no longer was I compelled to teach as I had for so long.

It seems this would be a sadness but it isn't. What has also shifted is that I have discovered within a deep deep peace that I have never known before, even when I believed myself to be peaceful. There is a confidence in Jesus that I have never experienced, even when I thought I had complete confidence in him. The desperate prayers I used to pray have grown into intercessory prayers spoken in faith rather than fear. Even though I thought it had always been so.

My gramma loved Jehovah, God of creation. She loved Jesus and the Holy Spirit and salvation and the words of Paul but above all, she worshipped Jehovah. If you aren't sure what I mean, well, I'm not sure how to better explain it. Except that I love worship Jehovah too. Jesus promised that if we seek him, we will find him. I have a new sense of finding him over the last few years and it reminds me of the way my Gramma related to the Lord. She would hold an apple picked in an orchard and it would be a sacred moment to her. She would always have soup cooking or be anxious to make a cup of tea for me and on the coffee table would be her Bible open to 2nd Chronicles and it was the most church-like church I have ever experienced because she was so completely immersed in Jehovah. This is where I am finding my spirit leading me as well. God is all around me and like David, I feel the trees of the field applauding him.

I wonder, I hope, I pray I might become one of those women who intercede quietly and know deeply the things of the Lord.

And the teaching? I really don't know. This Jehovah peace I have found doesn't require knowing. I once fretted over such things, over tomorrow and in a year and what-if but it seems to have all melted away from me. Sometimes there are still moments to teach and I am always glad when they happen. Usually now it is one to one and never becomes more than that. When I, on occasion, think I should start a Bible study or a group or even sit down and write a spiritual blog post; the Lord gives me a quiet calm to be still. Be still and know.

Maybe all those years I was teaching myself and I have finally applied the lessons.

I feel that the enemy wanted me for a long time and worked very hard to tear me apart. More me than others? I don't know. What I do know is that I have always had a deep sensitivity to spiritual warfare and that my life in God has felt like training and combat and training and combat. Combat that was hard and bloody. Victory always came but was hard-won. I still have that deep sensitivity but the victory no longer feels hard-won, it feels already won. Fear is far from my heart. Worship is the language of my thoughts and the fragrance of the Holy Spirit permeates the air.

I see evidence of Jehovah God everywhere and, it is well with my soul.

Boo!

Jay & Paulina at Greenfield Village Hallowe'en Nights.

Beware, a little boy told me that the Grand Reaper was behind them in the darkness.

Heirlooms

We're knee-deep in heirlooms over here. Heirlooms for days. Heirlooms as far as the eye can see. Heirlooms as high as an elephant's eeeyeyyyyyyyyyyyyye!

The word heirloom starts to look weird after using it a few times.

We are living in the Smith-Trent-Meszaros-Mezigian-Gerhardsteinsonian.

Naturally, my first question is, do you have any family heirlooms and what are they? I need to know.

As you know, this family has so many heirlooms we rotate them through three houses and a cottage and still store the extras in our basements and garages.

I keep trying to sneak additional items into Jay's house but he insists he doesn't have room. Like I do?

From where I'm sitting, I can see the following heirlooms: china cabinet, all the stuff in the china cabinet (27 items I can see, more in the bottom.) small farm table, low boy, lamp, pie safe, Halloween decorations and that isn't counting the actual chair I'm sitting in and the house itself.

Heirlooms, squarelooms, double bear looms, I got heirlooms.

Occasionally the Mr. and I will run across some something in an antique shop that we have at home and he'll say something like, "Look, we have this exact pitcher and it's worth $200!" To which I will say in a screechy panicked voice, "No, it isn't the exact one because MINE IS PRICELESS BECAUSE IT WAS MY GRAMMA'S AND WHAT ARE YOU SAYING THAT I SHOULD JUST SELL MY GRANDPARENTS BELONGINGS SO YOU CAN BUY A BASS GUITAR???"

I always like to throw in the bass guitar part although he has never actually ever hinted at wanting to buy a bass guitar with my family's heirlooms. I feel it puts him in his place nicely.

I am amazed (and saddened) when people tell me they don't have anything from their parents or grandparents. Maybe they aren't sad but it seems sad to me.

So I wanna know the following:

1. Do you have any heirlooms?

2. What are they?

3. Are they important to you and why or why not?

4. Have you passed heirlooms on to your kids?

5. Are you creating heirlooms within your home for your kids to have someday?

6. Is there something from your parents or grandparents' that you wish you had?

Heirloom Hunt: Steamer trunk (from The Farm), Christmas music box on top of trunk (From my Grandma Trent who gave it to my parents when I was a kid), Blue couch (Gramma), Mirror above couch (Gramma), Christmas tree (Grandma Trent), Antique secretary (Grampa Gerhardstein). Not in photograph but on right wall: piano (Dean's mom.)

Trivia, this painting is of___________________?

1. Core head of cabbage, cover with water in a large pot and bring to boil.
2. As leaves soften and loosen, gently detach from head and allow to boil a for a few minutes then remove to cool.
3. After cooling, remove the large center vein from the individual leaves (leafs?) by gently running a knife along the top of the leaf from the top to the base.
4. Mix equal parts veal, pork, and ground beef (meatloaf mix) or any ground meat of your choice with rice, salt, pepper and garlic. I also add a dash of cumin. Add raw egg and mix thoroughly. Edit: One small finely diced onion is included in the meat mixture.
5. Form meat mixture into a roughly egg-shape of the size proportionate to your leaf.
6. Place meat mixture at center of the base of the leaf and begin to roll toward the top.
7. About half way, fold right edge of leaf over and continue rolling to seal the right side of the cabbage roll.
8. At the top of the roll, gently stuff the left edge of the leave into the center of the roll to seal the left edge.
9. Place prepared cabbage rolls into pan. I like a big black speckled roasted although stuffed cabbage can be made stove top, just watch for boil over!
10. I use tomato paste whisked with water or broth to a very loose consistency and pour over the rolls, covering all of them. Remember, the rice will need enough liquid to soak up and still leave "juice!"
11. I also include Dearborn sausage pieces in my pan, flavors the cabbage rolls and is just plain good.
12. I put sauerkraut over all, also optional. If you use sauerkraut, watch the salt used in seasoning your meat mixture.
13. Bake at 350 for about an hour or so depending on how much your making and check to see how done your stuffed cabbage is. I like to reduce to 300 and bake for a few hours longer.
14. Stove top, bring to a boil and simmer for an hour and check.
15. I use leftover meat mixture to make porcupine balls for people who don't love stuffed cabbage.
16. Serve with? Mashed potatoes and veggie. And always a salad around here.

Ingredients
Ground meat
Rice

Small onion
Head of cabbage
Egg
Tomato paste
Sauerkraut
Dearborn sausage
Salt, pepper, garlic, cumin

I apologize for the lack of measurements and exact directions! As you may recall, my gramma accused me of cooking like a peasant. It's all instinct! The good news is that stuffed cabbage is a forgiving recipe and personally, I've never met a stuffed cabbage I didn't like. I even like 'em slightly underdone with firm rice and if you are a true Hungarian-cold out of the fridge ain't bad either!

For the whole family (us four, girlfriends, my parents, Amy and Rob), I use roughly the following:
3 pounds meat
2 cups or so of rice (still I eyeball it)
2 eggs
2 large heads of cabbage
2 large tomato paste
1-2 cans sauerkraut
2 packages Dearborn sausage

I always prepare the cabbage leaves on the day prior so they are easy to work with and half of the prep is done. The two heads took an hour to boil, cool and de-vein. I make giant rolls, if you like them daintier, perhaps you are not a peasant, you can simply cut your leaves to the desired size. Mine are not uniform. You can also make unconstructed stuffed cabbage but that is against the law.

If you have any questions, put them in comments and my mom, Trish, Kelly or I can surely answer them. Try it! If your people are like my people (and your God is my God and whither I goest you will go); you will not have left-overs.

Trivia answer: the 1932 gold medal winning Hungarian water polo team.

Groovin~

This weekend we are finally celebrating Mac's birthday (almost a month late!) My mom and Amy were in Italy so we postponed and then trying to arrange a Saturday when nobody was working...so here we are!
On the menu per the birthday boy's request: stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and for desert-banana pudding. Weird. He comes by it naturally. Oh, and I'm throwing in chocolate peanut butter chip cookies for kicks and giggles. Maybe the rain will hold off and we can have a fire on the patio after dinner. It seems like FOREVER since we've had a family get-together although in truth I think it was just before the Italian cruise.
Next Friday Kelly is taking pics of us to celebrate our twenty fifth, I'm working next weekend and then we're off for a week-long Michigan road trip. Lots to look forward to in the coming weeks and before you know it, we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving.
God put lots of groovy stuff in life.

25

Today marks our 25th wedding anniversary! We are celebrating by going to work. :) We'll go out to dinner this evening and on our annual trip in a few weeks.
In 25 years, I have learned that no matter how very right I feel, I could be wrong. I've learned that if I am indeed very right, it might not matter. I've learned that love is expressed more often in quiet evenings watching the local news than in candlelit dinners and roses. I've learned that we make each other better people. That at some point you stop being bothered by getting older and realize that it is the symbol of something wonderful.
I've learned that it is happiness to have someone know what I would want from McDonalds or how I take my coffee from Dunkin' Donuts vs. Starbucks (because it's not the same.) It's a privilege to be important enough for a text just say say I love you. That most of the offenses weren't intentional and even if they are, it's still best to let it go.
I've learned a lot more than that but as I mentioned, I have to go to work!
Anniversaries are marked by romantic cards and declarations of eternal love, which is all quite lovely. But I find my heart full of gratitude to God more than anything, great things He has done.

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalm 37:11

10 stuffs that are not all that interesting including some questions that require your response

1. Sore throat! Argh! The other day as I was walking to my car in the rain I thought, "this is just what gets me sick!"
2. Tickets to Greenfield Village today and I reaaaaallllyyyyy wanna go!
3. Mani this morning. That's apropos of nothing.
4. How much Vitamin C are you supposed to use when you're sick?
5. Planning our anniversary trip. Did you know there's tons of fun road trips on Michigan.org?
6. Are Northface jackets worth the money?
7. Thanking God that the Mr.'s contract was ratified. A strike was looming.
8. Started doing a VERY gentle VERY elementary yoga in the mornings for my aches, working wonders!
9. Have identified lots of things that contribute to my insomnia: soda pop, chocolate/caffeine in hidden sources, artificial sweeteners, reading right before bed (tragic)...
10. Learning a lot about my management of stress and how it contributes to whatever this fibromyalgia-like condition is.

Love in an undusted house~

Last Friday I was off work and had taken my place on the couch with a heating pad when the Mr. announced that, if it was ok, a buddy of his was stopping by on Sunday evening to watch TV. Oh Lord. I had been laying on the couch with a heating pad all week with what is probably fibromyalgia and my house was the pits. I still wasn't feel well and was working on Saturday and Sunday so I told the Mr. that I didn't mind but, well, the thing is, this house...

Don't worry! says the Mr. He'll do all of the housework this weekend, laundry and groceries too. I need to rest.

Oh Lord. He doesn't really clean the house like I clean the house. And not that long ago, I wouldn't have been able to cope with that. I would have either asked him not to have his friend over or I would've gotten off of the couch and cleaned the house myself. Oh, and been an angry martyr in the process. God is doing a work in me because I thanked Dean and took a nap. So he went along over the weekend doing everything wrong. :) On Saturday evening when I got home from work he was on his way to the bathroom with an armful of cleaning supplies; none of which were the "proper" supplies. I stood in the hallway and told him a fun story about how I clean the bathroom floor by putting bleach and warm water in a bucket and then scrub it on my hands and knees! Isn't that great? Give it a try!

Nope. I don't know what process he used because I just walked away Renee. Whatever the method was, the results were mediocre. The fixtures were spotty. And and and...it was done. And it was ok.

Sunday afternoon he had laundry spread from one end of the house to the other, the kitchen was a mess and the furniture hadn't been dusted (or undusted, if you are Amelia Bedelia.) The floors weren't swept. There weren't fresh Scentsy bricks burning making everything smell pretty.

He did start putting the laundry away. The thing is, he shoves it all in the drawers and then kind closes them with stuff hanging out the tops. He never did undust or sweep. He loaded the dishwasher but didn't wipe down the counters or clear the table off.

So you know what I did? I had a bowl of soup, put on my jammies and climbed into bed to watch old movies.

Because it's ok. It didn't used to be but it is now. Don't get me wrong, I still love a clean and good-smelling house done "right." And I did get up on Monday morning and undust the furniture and sweep the floors. But I did not scrub the bathroom floor or polish the fixtures. I did straighten the dresser drawers but I did not worry about what hadn't been done the night before. I was instead, so thankful for what was done. So thankful for this house. So thankful that I am learning what is worth focusing on. And so thankful that I am finally starting to outgrow the need to do it all and then feel unappreciated and used. After all, that attitude doesn't glorify God and so it's no surprise that I don't feel blessed by my labors.

Grace.

Ramblings

Good morning from a very happy to report that I am feeling good today me! No, that is not a run-on sentence.

The weekend at work was a good one despite feeling less than wonderful. I thought I was looking rather chipper despite the body aches I've had but the staff saw through it and reacted with much kindness and concern. This was a surprise blessing to me, almost like God telling me, "look, you have more friends than you realize." It was almost worth working the weekend to feel such sweetness from unexpected places.

Today I am enjoying my day off in the crisp cool Michigan morning. I've slept so well the last few nights and awakened feeling...awake! The Mr. went out on Friday and bought a mattress topper in the hopes that it would ease my aches and help with this eternal battle with insomnia. Oh, it's wonderful! First of all, it makes my bed look like an old-fashioned over-stuffed feather bed on The Farm. Secondly, it is, as one of the reviewers online said, like sleeping on a cloud. I usually prefer a firm mattress but this is so heavenly and the proof is in the pudding. I am falling asleep easily and waking up rested. I'm thinking of buying one for everyone I know for Christmas! Thank goodness for those Bed, Bath & Beyond 20% off coupons :) In fact, today my errand list includes picking up another one for Mac's bed. If you're curious, it's the Wamsutta Cool & Fresh Fiber Bed. It's a mattress topper, just lays atop the mattress so there is no worry that the pocket will be deep enough to fit.

The weekend to come includes moving some furniture to my sister's house to make room here for a few changes. My grandparents' furniture was here when we moved in but we can't keep theirs and ours and over the last few years we've found our way to what we love and want to keep and what just doesn't work. My gramma's bedroom set is on the what doesn't work list. Mac would like it someday in his home but in the meantime, it will make a beautiful guest room at Amy's house. Likewise, the camel back sofa will go to her house and that will not come back to the Smiths-not our style. My grandfather's antique secretary (so beautiful but no room here) will go as well for temporary storage. It is actually my uncle's but he hasn't come to Michigan to take it home yet.

The infamous C.S. Lewis room will become a bit of a study/library/reading room and I think I will move my dining table into the nook which currently houses my computer. This is the original dining nook for the house. The computer will move into the C.S. Lewis room itself. An old wooden kitchen work table will move into the kitchen and I will put casters on the legs to raise the height to a more convenient work height and probably add a few small stools underneath.

Once the bedroom furniture is moved to Amy's, I will be working on Mac's room. Which reminds me...Mom, can I have the old farm dresser out of the basement?

As you can see, we just move our furniture around from house to house.

That just about wraps up what may be the most boring blog post you will find on the Internet today! Enjoy your day and go buy a mattress topper.

How great you are, oh Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

2 Samuel 7:22

Right now~

1. I absolutely love Autumn in Michigan.
2. It's rainy in the D.
3. 49 F in the Mitten.
4. Getting ready for work.
5. The Mr. put a Wamsutta mattress topper on our bed. OMGoodness, it's wonderful. Go get one.
6. Moving slowly but less achy this morning, praise the Lord!
7. If I continue to feel better, I might actually get this house clean. It really needs it!
8. Speaking of number 5, I slept through the night and woke up without an alarm feeling rested.
9. Coffee. Happy in a cup.
10. Much need for prayer today, dear old friends lost their 34 year old son this week.

Aching eyebrows and Hungarian mud feet~

Ah, I'm feeling melancholy. It comes naturally, in case you weren't aware, to Hungarians. It's more or less our default mood. It doesn't mean depressed, although some of us are particularly vulnerable to that as well.
I have the flu, or something. I ache all over, even my skin and my eyebrows hurt. No exaggeration, eye brow ache. It's uncomfortable enough to have me home from work for two days. Usually I love to be home from work but not today. I want to be there doing my job but instead I'm here with aching eyebrows and that is making me melancholy.
My Scarf Sisters are gathering one by one here in Michigan for a long weekend but I'm unable to participate because my work schedule has changed and that makes me melancholy too. I was going to spend a few hours with them but then this doggone flu or something struck and I truly don't feel well enough to haul myself out of the house and certainly don't want to make them sick.
Ah. Melancholy.
Tomorrow I'm praying to be back to work and that will help me feel more in control and less melancholy I'm sure. For me, melancholy feels like I have one foot stuck deep in mud and I can't seem to pull free and do what I want to do. I wanted to be with the Sisters but couldn't because of work. Well, then, I want to work but I can't because my skin hurts. My foot is good and stuck today.
I know my Sisters are having a wonderful time and for that I will smile and be glad. And it's really not as bad as it sounds around here, snuggled up on the couch and watching Cary Grant movies. But it sure will be nice when my foot gets unstuck from this mud.

Black & White

I remember as a little kid discovering old movies on Saturday morning. Do you remember the time when there were limited television channels and certain programs were only available at specific times? Those old black & whites; love at first sight. Better than cartoons, which were also only on Saturdays. I'd wrap up in an afghan on the couch and watch movie after movie.
What I remember about that time is that I was allowed to watch those old classics, every single one of them. And that's saying something because I wasn't raised in a house where I could watch everything on television. There were shows that were simply too adult for a kid, shows like Starsky & Hutch with drug references and prostitution inferences. And shows that were just unacceptable in our home, the ones that presented immorality as though it was common place.
Because back then, immorality wasn't common place.
We rarely went to the movies because, even though we only saw rated G films, it was difficult to predict what might be shown in previews. My parents took seriously what their daughters were exposed to.
Music was mostly Disney albums with a little bit of pop thrown in, Donny Osmond and Shaun Cassidy. You're probably giggling now about all of the archaic references? That's ok. I'm smiling too.
What I am really thinking of is how wide open we have thrown our arms to, well, to everything.
Desensitization. That's what my parents were actively fighting. How many parents think about densisitization any more?
For instance, how many young kids count themselves fans of singers who dress provocatively? That would've been an opportunity to discuss what we are not, not a source of I Pod tunes, when desensitization mattered.
Frankly, in hindsight, my parents edited things out of our lives that didn't need editing. They err'd on the side of caution. And none of that "stuff" that I missed out on had any negative impact. I'll tell you what that strictly enforced standard did accomplish.
The first boy that asked me on a date was one that I grew up with at church. We were in Sunday school classes since, well, since forever. After service one Sunday evening he invited me out with himself and a bunch of other church kids for pizza. My response? No.
No because my parents had not given me permission to date.
No because even after they did, I did not accept dates with any boy until they said it was ok.
A few months later a boy from my school asked me out. And I said no.
No because my parents did not know him so that made him unacceptable until they did.
No because he used profanity and was not a Christian and I (notice that my parents didn't even need to instruct me?), I would not consider dating a boy who was not a Christian. By dating, I mean going to a football game.
Desensitization. I could be casual friends with nonChristian kids but dating was on the other side of the standards line. I was not desensitized to the implication of dating someone. It means that person has entered into a closer position in life.
Yes it does.
Sex was not commonplace in conversation or television or music so it was certainly not easy for me to offer my body to a boy. I was not desensitized to sex.
That means my first sexual encounter was on my wedding night. PS, that was with the Christian boy from church that my parents approved of before I dated who fathered my children and with whom I will celebrate 25 years of marriage in a few weeks.
Of course, that 25 years of marriage thing has a lot to do with how far divorce was removed from my life. Divorce was not an option which left us with only one other option...staying married. I was not desensitized to divorce.
Has my life been perfect? Nope.
But the stuff that used to be called "the world" was hard to reach from the house I grew up in. It was a big deal, a decision, to cross the line because the line was very very clear.
The line saved me from a lot of pain.
Now it's called self-righteousness, to be separated from "the world." To call something wrong is politically incorrect. Immorality is almost gone, because nothing is immoral.
I think we need a few more Saturday mornings with an afghan on the couch watching old black & white movies. We are living in the gray areas now and movies aren't the only thing that was better in black and white.
Purity. Modesty. Morality.
In the Bible, it's still in black & white.

Interview Tips

1. Find out what the dress code is in the organization with which you are interviewing and dress accordingly OR dress up a notch.

2. Pay attention to the details of your appearance. No chipped nail polish. Clothing should be neat, clean & pressed.

3. Bring a copy of all of the paperwork we might need: resume, license, references. Preferably a copy we can keep so we don't have to go make the copies.

4. BE ON TIME.

5. If you don't know the answer to a question, tell me how you would find the answer.

6. Don't tell me you're a good candidate because my position is easier than the one you are currently in.

7. Update your resume. I will want to know where you work currently & why you are thinking of leaving.

8. If you have held positions for less than 2 years, I will ask you why you move around so much.

9. Don't criticize the organization you are leaving as a reason you want to join us.

10. If you are truly good at what you do, you should be able to answer technical questions. So be truly good at what you do.

D+S

Ah yes, it's time for the hokey anniversary month back ground change! On October 25, we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. So bear with me and my corny background for a bit please!

Feet shod with the preparation of peace

I am so excited, blessed, humbled and proud.
Last week, I mentioned my hospital's need for shoes and you took me seriously. People brought shoes to my house, the Mr. did some pick ups, wonderful people sent money and lovely people ordered shoes to be delivered.
Oh. My. Goodness.
I'm still hearing from people who are cleaning their closets and making plans to buy socks to go with those beautiful shoes.
Oh. My. Gracious.
Every morning our leadership team huddles to discuss the current hospital concerns. Yesterday I shared our progress.
Oh.My.Goodness. Gracious.
They couldn't believe it. People you've never met? Yup! Bags full of wonderful shoes (and clothes?) A box of brand new shoes? Yup and yup!
Your generous response and allowing the Holy Spirit to use you to touch lives has had a profound impact. In fact, it's started a revolution! I started with the hopes we could stock up, meet a few more needs. But now? Now, I think we can go bigger. I'm going to make a promise to our patients...NO ONE will leave Kingswood Hospital without shoes. NO ONE. I want to build an entire room of shoes. And a cash supply so that if we need a certain size, we can go buy it.
The Kingswood Hospital leaders are on board, they are amazed at the response so far and suddenly, the sky is the limit!
We are even changing the way we process our patient's needs. Our doctors have agreed to check the patient's property sheet for shoes and if they have none, they will write an order to obtain shoes for the patient. They are that sure we can do this, guaranteed everyone will leave with a pair of shoes.
Does this rock your world like it does mine? I'm crying at the moment, happy happy tears.
Guys, YOU have changed the way an entire system looks at what we can do for people. YOU have made them believe in miracles. And I think this is just the beginning. I will promise shoes but I think we can stretch that and provide socks and clothes and coats. Someday people will leave Kingswood Hospital with shoes on their feet and soft warm socks and maybe even a winter coat when it's cold out. Every patient, every time.
Forget mustard seeds, I'm sowing shoes.

Happy birthday Mac!

1. Brrrrrr!
2. I am going to have a little shopping day, picking up some this and that.
3. Some of this and that is at Ulta. I lurv Ulta.
4. I'm getting my hairs did on Tuesday and think I will go shorter, lower maintenance. Free your hair and the rest will follow.
5. Exhausted last night after a long week and at 10 p.m. I felt there was no other choice than...to give myself a pedi.
6. My pedi is surprisingly nice considering I was half asleep and doing it to the light from the television while in bed.
7. My mom and sister are ending their first week in the Mediterranean. I spent the week at 8 Mile & Woodward. Life is fair. :)
8. I am going to attempt to make giant cookies this week.
9. Mac's birthday is tomorrow. He's going to be 7. No? It sure seems like he should be 7.
10. To all of you who have contributed, will contribute and have prayed for support and help with my request for shoes (and clothing) for my patients; words cannot really express my gratitude. The staff are excited at the prospect that we may be able to actually meet all of the patients' needs. In fact, they are re organizing the clothing closet and method by which we identify needs this weekend.