Since I haven't done a random post in a while......

Even though I feel awake and alert now, I know I am going to crash later. Last time I checked, 3 1/2 hours of sleep just doesn't cut it for me.

I can't believe that I made it to the final table in poker. Beyond that, I can't believe that I made it to the top 3 with a friend of mine.

I am so stoked that S and M are getting along so well. (I love when my friends become friends.)

I am almost as equally as stoked that S decided to change her availability at work so that we can play every Monday. (If anyone is interested in playing Holdem' on Mondays, let me know and I'll give you the info.)

I don't think it's possible to wait until Saturday to see the kids at the orphanage. I am so excited to see them. I miss them so much and am ready to show them more of God's love.

I realize more and more that commitments can cause you to miss out on amazing things. I have to miss my cousin's first communion because of traffic driving school, and I am missing Ella's first birthday party because of next month's Mexico trip.

I hope and pray that people continually want to go down to Mexico months down the road and that God continues this ministry for a long time.

Can me and DD get Maraca Munchies out of our minds?... Nope. We are so stoked that we're doing the snack room during VBS. It's going to be incredible.

Between Jessica's bachelorette party and my cousin's baby shower in July... I hope that they are both blessed and that the celebrations never cease after the party.

I can't believe Jessica and Patrick are finally getting married. It's unbelievable, and it's amazing and exciting to witness and be a part of their wedding.

I have tons of good friends.

How can a dog take a huge crap outside and then take 3 more poops inside on the same night?

It isn't fun to walk in at home at 1:30 in the morning, kick of the shoes, only to step in a pile of fresh dog crap.

For Jen... from a month ago...
Oh, and sidenote. Is there anyway Jen that you can put a link to the Holocaust article on your blog? I meant to buy a copy of the paper, but like a dork forgot, and I really want to read it.
2nd sidenote, if you just joined myspace like your sister, you would see all the surveys I do like this all the time. :)

Four jobs I've had
1. Server/ Bartender at LoneStar Steakhouse (2.13/hr and 3.50/ hr, + tips.. usually $50-70 a shift)
2. Respite provider through TCH ($9.35/ hr.)
3. Temp through Pridestaff at Insight ($9/ hr.)
4. CSR and Sales Rep at Insight (asking for more....)

Four TV Shows I love to watch...
1. Sopranos
2. Big Love (I know, so bad)
3. Prison Break
4. 24

Four Places I've been on Vacation
1. Canada
2. Oregon/ Washington
3. DC/ WV
4. Entire southwest, Hawaii...

Four favorite dishes
*I'm going to do what I'm making this week... b/c of all my cravings on Sunday while I was grocery shopping.
1. Monday - BBQ Chicken Nachos
2. Tuesday - Meatloaf with green beans and potatoes
3. Wednesday - Chicken Enchiladas, beans and guac.... yum.
4. Thursday - Brisket and mashed potatoes.

Four Web sites I visit daily
1. my intranet
2. www.myspace.com
3. www.gmail.com
4. www.blogger.com

Four Places I'd rather be
1. Sleeping at home, b/c our system is down and I can't work anyway.
2. At the orphanage playing with Ramon and Arnolfo.
3. At the hospital in Romania with those babies.
4. At the gym.

Four Blogs like to see do this
1. You
2. You
3. You
4. and You

This weekend, my cousins went to Mexico to celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary. They have 3 kids, so their kids were with their aunt or me the 2 days they were gone. I went over there at 2 on Saturday and they came home at 1 on Sunday. It seemed like a lot, but I was so looking forward to it. I love these girls. I decided to take the opportunity to spend some more time with my niece as well. So often, I feel horrible because I know my 2nd cousins more than my own niece. So, I had the 4 of them. Oh my gosh, it was amazingly fun. We watched Beethoven 4 (I didn't even know that it existed...), played on their swing set, went swimming, ate dinner took showers & got into pjs, rode their bikes, played in the park, played games (I taught the 8 yr. old how to play Monopoly - the real way), and then went to bed at midnight. That was just on Saturday....

Let me just expand on a part of it if I may... Swimming. First, the water was freezing, but it was worth it. I had 4 kids, ages 2, 2, 6, and 8 that I was watching. I had told my sister that I thought we may go swimming, so I had everything for Lily. I had her amazing floaty installed swimsuit plus arm floaties on her, and I knew that she would be fine. For Macy, the other 2 year old, I found one floaty. Well, I was helping Kylie put the hose on the slide when I looked in the pool to check on Macy and Lily, and I see Macy face down on the water. I went over to her, picked her up and squeezed her so tight. She was crying, and she was so scared, and she coughed a little bit with hardly any water that came out. Amazingly, I didn't freak out, I stayed calm. I totally felt God's peace. She didn't want to go back into the water after that, but I remembered the teacher I used to work with and how she told me:

Never let a child end on a failure. Make them do something again and again
until they end on a positive note. Other wise, they won't ever want to do it
again.

I not only applied that to Macy, but to myself as well. I was scared, I almost let my cousin drown. There is nothing worse than that. The horror and fear to have to tell her parents, my cousins. So, for her to get over her fear of water and for me to get over my fear of someone drowning in my presence, I just held her tightly and went back into the water. I decided to take one of Lily's floaties off of her and put it on Macy to try to give them equal protection. Yet, because of what happened to Macy, I subcontiously started to pay more attention to her. I then looked at Lily (it had maybe been 5 sec. since I last looked at her), and her face was half way on the water... Too scary...So, I put the 2nd floaty back on Lily so I would could just hold Macy and know that they were both okay at all times.

Here's a pic of their cutenesses the next morning when we went to go swimming on the 2nd day... Lily is on the left and Macy is on the right.





Then, here's a pic of the the four of them when we were at the park. Got to love these girls.

Just a reminder....

Tomorrow

On April 8th, I am participating in a walk for Autism Speaks. It raises money for Austism research. It's only a 1 mile walk, but it's because they have it at a city park that is free so that all of the money goes to the research and not the hosting location. One place actually asks for $32,000 to use it for a walk like this. So, as you can see, the point of this walk is to raise money more than the walking. If you would like to donate money to this cause, you can click on this link: http://www.autismwalk.org/site/TR?px=1469342&pg=personal&fr_id=1191 . Also, to get more information about the organization, you can go here: http://www.autismwalk.org.

Thank you for your help and donations for this cause! :)

Believe not that God is in your heart child, but rather that you are in the heart of God

I have always thought it's good that we believe that God's in our hearts and that we teach it to children this way. Yet, then I heard this line in a Mraz song. I think he's right. Just the picture that it creates of Him being in our hearts versus us being in His heart. I think us being in His heart puts Him as the larger being and shows it more correctly. After all, the only reason that we are even able to have Him in our hearts is because we are in His.

What do you do.... when God moves through you?

The songs on my MySpace profile always correlate with the lessons that I am learning in life at the time. (I think I'm going to start putting them on here too) Right now, it's how to move along. Yet, to be honest, I don't know what I'm moving along from quite yet. I only know that this song speaks to me and encourages me, everytime I hear it. Well, I guess I am still trying to figure that part out. Yet this is what I do know.

With a little self control, or sometimes a lot of self control, all goals can be met, and I can get to where I want to be. See, it's not always easy to not give in to wants or desires, but if they cause me to not be the person I want and need to be, than it's not worth it.

I think, in life, people in general don't realize how much we all effect one another. It's not something that we even necessarily try to do or prevent, but it is inevitable. See, no matter how much we try to not let people, they effect our moods, the outcome of our days, and sometimes even our goals, dreams and perspectives in life.

I think I like this song so much becuase it teaches about hope. It explains that no matter what, you can pick yourself up and move along from whatever place you got yourself into, as can I. Me.... myself.... I get myself into all sorts of crappy, stupid situations. Then, sometimes, I don't even beat myself up for them, but they go down as good, happy, amazing memories of mine. Yet, we can even make it through times like these. I can move along from that way of thinking to where I can actually be healthy and honest with myself and where I am. That, my friends, is a scary thing. Yet, it's necessary sometimes. So, continue on, and move along with the rest of your day. :)

Move Along by All American Rejects

Go ahead as you waste your days with thinking
When you fall everyone sins
Another day and you've had your fill of sinking
With the life held in your
Hands are shaking cold
These hands are meant to hold

Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
Move along
Move along

So a day when you've lost yourself completely
Could be a night when your life ends
Such a heart that will lead you to deceiving
All the pain held in your
Hands are shaking cold
Your hands are mine to hold

Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
Move along
(Go on, go on, go on, go on)

When everything is wrong we move along
(Go on, go on, go on, go on)
When everything is wrong, we move along
Along, along, along

When all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
[x3]

(Move along)
(Go on, go on, go on, go on)
Right back what is wrong
We move along

Even though I started working at 6 a.m..... at least I have a job.

Even though I will have to talk to car insurance companies all day long..... at least I got hit in the same spot as last time, so this time, I don't have to pay for it to look better.

Even though I am still waiting to hear back from the girl that hit me.... at least she gave me her right information and is totally sweet about it.

Oh, it's the little things that make life grand and that I sometimes forget to be thankful for...