I'm surprised to still be awake considering I need to be up early tomorrow morning. I couldn't turn out the lights until I shared my first day on the job. I walked in to the job and began filling out the necessary paperwork when it all of a sudden hit me, "I have a job!" This journey has been almost 2 years of tears and worry and doubt and discouragement and ten billion applications and resumes sent. Yet, when I was losing hope, He gave me reason to hope once again. Being the new kid on the block isn't always easy but I'm reminded that it eventually passes and before long, things and people become quite familiar. I don't take this blessing lightly at all. When I think about how many people are facing or have faced unemployment, I know that it's nothing short of a miracle for me. True, I've taken a drastic cut in salary but there's no worry there. It will be okay. For every prayer, thought, word of encouragement, card and phone call as well as e...

I'm trying not to be a Bah Humbug but I'm having a hard time understanding the need to camp out at Walmart for 7 hours or more to get in on Black Friday sales. I don't understand the spending of money or maxing out credit cards for one day out of the year. Trust me, I understand the joy of giving but does it need to be gifts that will break your budget, your credit card or your spirit? I don't know too many people who shop for Christmas without walking away with a little bit of buyers remorse or a sick feeling from over spending. Years ago, when my ex and I struggled after he was laid off from a job of almost 11 years, we knew that we had to make the most of the holidays without going broke. We decided to spend time making traditions. Every day, there was a new adventure to look forward to until Christmas arrived. We made ornaments, surprised unsuspecting neighbors by doing them favors like putting away their trash cans and raking their leaves, having the girls choose t...

I was thinking today about that particular word...thanks or thank you. When I was little, one of the first thing my parents instilled in me was to be say thank you. If it was for a stick of gum, a compliment or a good meal, we were taught to say, "thank you". Before we dug into our food, no matter if it was nasty liver and onions, we still gave thanks to God for blessing us with food on the table, no matter how gross it was going to be. On a side note, I literally thanked God for mustard to smother the liver and onions so that it wouldn't taste quite as gross. As unbelievable as it sounds, I try so very hard to make my "thank you's" count. I want people to know that I appreciate them. If I need to change lanes and someone allows me the spot in front of them, I wave my hand and say, "thank you". If I sneeze and someone says, "Bless you", I say, "thank you". When I'm handed my receipt at the store, I say, "thank you"...

1) Mmmmmm....pear apples are GOOD!! 2) This is the epitome of true love... 3) I've been saying the word, "espresso" wrong for all of my life. I won't even tell you how I've been pronouncing it. 4) The day that I step in dog poop is also the day that I get locked out of my house. Disasters come in twos and threes. 5) Items returned from Target can be found at my local Goodwill Store. Thank you God for a brand new dinette set in just the color we wanted, for $75.00!! 6) Meeting a blogger face to face equals having a new face to face friend. I had the joy of meeting Kris from Shelter From The Storm for breakfast this past week. I immediately felt at ease meeting her. We chatted freely and then went to the thrift store and talked books and browsed. Looking forward to another chance to get together. 7) Oatmeal is becoming the new "gotta have" breakfast choice. Even Mickey D's is getting in on it. Time to start making my gourmet oatmeal once again. 8) Mon...

Being in a movie theater, after the movie comes to an end, it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the light and my surroundings once again. The credits start to roll. The smell of popcorn lingers in the air as I step through the sticky aisle, bumping into the seats as I walk. Suddenly, the doors to the theater open and I'm blinded by the reality of the light. I squint first and hesitantly walk towards the exit. By the time I'm outside, I suddenly acclimate myself to where I'm heading, with certainty. That's been my life the last few months...almost two years to be exact. I have bumped into more walls, tripped over my mistakes and landed face first into consequences with a hard landing. I have cried out to God so many times, He's probably lost count of just how many times I've yelled, "Help!" In fact, I'm sure he now realizes that my life is more drama and comedy than it is suspense and mystery. I moved to Oregon as a leap of faith. Never had I ...

My twin sister and I were the luckiest little girls in the world, growing up. We had a mom and a dad that truly loved us but another set of parents...godparents who loved us tremendously. They didn't have children of their own at the time so we were their "Cookie and Candy" as they nicknamed us. My godparents went to the same church we did and it was a known fact that we would sit in our godparents lap during service. My godmother had the most richest, wonderful singing voice. My godfather held both my sis and I on his lap at the same time. He would hand us each a piece of candy to keep the wiggles away. We also spent time with them at their house where we loved tickling our godfather. He would pinch us and then we'd pinch him back. Eventually, it became our way of reminding him that we loved him, always writing on birthday cards, "Pinch Uncle Herschel for me." They brought joy to us as much as I know we brought joy to them. One memory that I hold close to m...

1) Never microwave caramels in a plastic container unless you want a hot, sticky mess all over the microwave and counter tops. 2) Chocolate covered cinnamon bears are the perfect fall snack! 3) Veterinarians should charge for their services by the pound of the animal. Single Boo's kitty, Amelie weighs barely a pound. For something so small, her appointment was a bit on the pricey side. 4) Never watch a scary movie (one that you claim is pretty corny) and then get lost in some dark mountains, climbing in the middle of nowhere. You will start seeing Godzilla, King Kong, Chucky and the clown, It. Note to self...laughing is so much better than crying. 5) A good book is one with characters that come alive. I'm reading a manuscript right now that has the perfect combination. Look out publishers, it's on it's way! 6) Elderly people are so cute! I hope that I'm a cute old person! 7) I know this is going to be one of the most stupidest comments and I promise...I'm not sa...

I haven't gotten lost in blogland, although there are times when I admit I don't know whether I'm coming or going. I'm still here though and plan to get back to regularly visiting all of you soon. In the meantime, I wanted to share a glimpse of fall weather here in Oregon. I'm so very blessed to have a beautiful palette of colors splashing before my eyes. Some of the pictures are right outside my house but the majority are from the Japanese Rose Gardens in Portland. Enjoy!

It doesn't matter if you speak a different language, you still can communicate loud and clear. It doesn't matter what color you are or what shape your nose or ears are, you're still loved just the same. It doesn't matter if you are afraid of things like the vacuum cleaner, thunder, people who don't like you because of who you are, that friend has your back. It doesn't matter if bark loudly or talk softly, whether you're the belle of the ball or the wall flower, your friend will never leave you to face it alone. You will understand that certain quirks or habits are what makes a person unique. (Even if it means licking your paws instead of using a napkin.) You have to have strong shoulders for carrying one another's burdens, listening, reaching out and lending a hand. Sometimes a surprise pounce out of nowhere can wake up the sleeping, oblivious person. Sharing comes naturally. Apologies are easily expressed by actions sometimes more than words. You can...