I know that you and I have been at odds since 1985. But seeing as how USC is out of the NCAA Tournament (and we all now how much I follow SC basketball right? ha ha)....do me one thing;
If and when you make it to any protion of this Tournament and meet UNC (aka Carolina Tarheels)...BEAT THE TAR OUT OF THEM!!!!!
To Carolina,
It's considered a bit arrogant in my book to be at a very comfortable spot in a game with a HUGE lead, knowing full well that you are going to win, to continue to shoot 3's and run up the score. You knew you were going to win. Play dumb. Or are you just trying to run it up so you can run your mouths and say "Well look what we did? Look what Duke did." I bet that's it. Over compensate much???
Please spare us UCLA....oh wait, even if you do beat Carolina, they'll find SOME WAY to make excuses rather than own up to the fact that a better team beat them. But beat them anyway. Please?
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
I did ALOT today...HOly CR*P
This morning after Marisa woke up, had her breakfast, was dressed, had a "fwesh cween diaper", and I had my shower and was dressed, we ventured over to Wal-Mart and went shopping. I picked up stuff for dinner for Derek and myself and for my friend A, from my mom's club who just had a baby on Monday. I also picked up a few things for the treats I wanted to make for our vet. Oh and I got some ham steaks for Sunday.
Marisa had fallen asleep while shopping and so when we got home she was ready to eat. After that I got our dinner thrown into the crock pot and Derek came home and I started making an apple pie...HOME MADE mind you, for A and her hubby. Chopped up some veggies and made meatballs for their dinner.
We ate and I put together the spaghetti and meatball stoup, and breadsticks, grabbed the pie and off we went to deliver the food. (I got to hold her sweet baby girl briefly too....YAY)
Then we went to a Holy Thurs (Maundy Thurs) service at Derek's church, got Ice cream, cane home, got the girl to bed and I started making 2 different homemade muffins. Chocolate cheesecake and Cinnamon Apple cider streusel.
The muffins are going to the vet's office since they took such great care of Latte last month. It's the least we can do.
I feel like Paula Deen today. YAY ME.
Oh and my house smells AMAZING
Marisa had fallen asleep while shopping and so when we got home she was ready to eat. After that I got our dinner thrown into the crock pot and Derek came home and I started making an apple pie...HOME MADE mind you, for A and her hubby. Chopped up some veggies and made meatballs for their dinner.
We ate and I put together the spaghetti and meatball stoup, and breadsticks, grabbed the pie and off we went to deliver the food. (I got to hold her sweet baby girl briefly too....YAY)
Then we went to a Holy Thurs (Maundy Thurs) service at Derek's church, got Ice cream, cane home, got the girl to bed and I started making 2 different homemade muffins. Chocolate cheesecake and Cinnamon Apple cider streusel.
The muffins are going to the vet's office since they took such great care of Latte last month. It's the least we can do.
I feel like Paula Deen today. YAY ME.
Oh and my house smells AMAZING
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Change, Change, Change
No, I am not talking about the kind in yor pocket, or the stuff you find in the couch cushions. I'm talking abotu the change we keep hearing about in the world of politics and even change that occurs in our churches.
Change happens. There's no way around it. Some people like change and adapt very well to it. I like to think I am that kind of person, but in some instances I am like those who HATE change. I guess it's my own fault really, I just get comfortable with how things are and fall into the "This is how we've always done it" routine.
Would I like to see change in this world? Absolutely, but with that comes the clean up process. In all honesty, I don't believe this world...this country will be canged by one single candidate. So all of you Obama and Clinton supporters who have this vision of the US being changed within 4 years need to get your head out of the clouds. It simply is not going to happen. It will take years. Now, I know you will all laugh and say "Well it didn't take Bush long to screw things up." But let's be honest here. All that is wrong with the world didn't happen in 4 short years. Presidents and leaders before Bush also helped make things as bad as they are today.
Not acknowledging responsibility for actions of political leaders of the past is a step in the wrong direction for this country. No one is perfect and I think it is safe to say that many of our leaders have screwed up. The problem from my standpoint? Supporters who want so badly to be RIGHT about how their candidate is going to change things, that they will excuse, deny or even dismiss the wrong doings of 1. Their own political party 2. Their so called "Golden Child".
This happens in ministry as well. In fact It happens all the time, and I too have been blinded by the Truth. Don't believe me? Then I will happily share my examples with you.
Example #1: The Perfect Youth Minister-Or so we thought.
In my 11 years of volunteer ministry I had 2 Youth Ministers that I volunteered for. For any of you that have spen t any extended time in Youth Ministry, you know how rare this is. My first 9 years in ministry were under the leadership of my own Youth Minister. She's the reason I am in Ministry, and was an exceptional leader. Yes, she was stuck in the "this is how we always have done it" mindset, but was always open to change. However, at the ripe age of 55, she felt called to retire and pass the torch.
Her torch was passed to a vetran youth Minister who, on paper, and yes in person was the best possible person for the job. He was exceptiobnal in getting youth to come to Yotuh Group, he drove home the message of the Gospel, he introduced the most Amazing retreat I have ever been on...however. What kind of leader, brings forth change but is not reliable? There were times where we would be depending on this person to be at an event...THE YOUTH MINISTER OF THE CHURCH...and we never knew if he was going to show up. Sometimes we'd be left hanging on retreat, or even on Confirmation Day. We were told that the Pastoral Administrator approved one thing, only to find out we'd been lied to. Being lied to was a common occurance with this leader. Someone we were supposed to trust. I understand delegating responsibility to your leaders, but when we needed this person, he wasn't there.
I found myself becoming angry as the years went by. Angry that when I needed to deal with issues going on, I was feeling blown off. I also began to feel used. I was only good for providing one thing: An outlet for this person to use my talents, which left him time to goof off and not do his job.
His changes were good, but the execution and leadership he brought forth were HORRIBLE. It has taken almost 3 years to get the program back on track and into a good working routine.
Example #2: The new pastor
At one of my ministry jobs, our pastor had become burnt out. Well, you try leading a flock of over 2000 families single handedly and tell me how enthusiastic you are after 4 years. I digress. So in walks the new guy one day. He came to meet with us all. I was looking forward to meeting him. Word on the street was that he was very supportive of the youth, which was something I was very happy to hear.
When he arrived officially as the pastor he began to make so many changes, and brought on so many people to help, that the entire church and different ministries began to look messy. No I am not talking about thekind of Messy that Yac speaks of. I mean a literal shambles. He questioned the leadership of every ministry and wanted to replace them with "his people". Meaning he wanted to bring people from his former church and employ them in our places. He wanted more change than our church could handle. Again, change is good, but not when you are hurting and using people. He hired someone to run the entire formation aspect of the church, only to fire her a year later because he got what he wanted from her (a decent foundation for Religious Education) and then dropped her on her butt.
What kind of leadership is that?
I am happy to report, that although the church has gone through alot of drastic, unnecessary changes, somewhere out of the ashes, the Youth Ministry program has risen, and thrived. I can only say that it is because of the Youth/young adult leaders who were there before I got there and the ones added during my 2 yrs as YM, that this has been possible. I am so proud of them....yet so disappointed in the adult leadership currently in place.
Change. It's good, but please, please don't be decieved. Look at the big picture. Sometimes the best leadership can be hurtful, deceptive, and manipulative. I am sure Bush-haters around the world will attest to that. So will the Nixon Haters, Reagan haters, etc etc. Well, let's not forget the Clinton Haters...we have our own issues with him too.
Look at the leaders of every aspect of your life and ask yourself if their change they promise really is for the better of the people. Will their change bring good or bad to the world around you. If you can answer "Yes, yes they can." I'd like to meet them and shake their hand(direct me to their blog, website etc too while you're at it). The world needs more people like them.
Change happens. There's no way around it. Some people like change and adapt very well to it. I like to think I am that kind of person, but in some instances I am like those who HATE change. I guess it's my own fault really, I just get comfortable with how things are and fall into the "This is how we've always done it" routine.
Would I like to see change in this world? Absolutely, but with that comes the clean up process. In all honesty, I don't believe this world...this country will be canged by one single candidate. So all of you Obama and Clinton supporters who have this vision of the US being changed within 4 years need to get your head out of the clouds. It simply is not going to happen. It will take years. Now, I know you will all laugh and say "Well it didn't take Bush long to screw things up." But let's be honest here. All that is wrong with the world didn't happen in 4 short years. Presidents and leaders before Bush also helped make things as bad as they are today.
Not acknowledging responsibility for actions of political leaders of the past is a step in the wrong direction for this country. No one is perfect and I think it is safe to say that many of our leaders have screwed up. The problem from my standpoint? Supporters who want so badly to be RIGHT about how their candidate is going to change things, that they will excuse, deny or even dismiss the wrong doings of 1. Their own political party 2. Their so called "Golden Child".
This happens in ministry as well. In fact It happens all the time, and I too have been blinded by the Truth. Don't believe me? Then I will happily share my examples with you.
Example #1: The Perfect Youth Minister-Or so we thought.
In my 11 years of volunteer ministry I had 2 Youth Ministers that I volunteered for. For any of you that have spen t any extended time in Youth Ministry, you know how rare this is. My first 9 years in ministry were under the leadership of my own Youth Minister. She's the reason I am in Ministry, and was an exceptional leader. Yes, she was stuck in the "this is how we always have done it" mindset, but was always open to change. However, at the ripe age of 55, she felt called to retire and pass the torch.
Her torch was passed to a vetran youth Minister who, on paper, and yes in person was the best possible person for the job. He was exceptiobnal in getting youth to come to Yotuh Group, he drove home the message of the Gospel, he introduced the most Amazing retreat I have ever been on...however. What kind of leader, brings forth change but is not reliable? There were times where we would be depending on this person to be at an event...THE YOUTH MINISTER OF THE CHURCH...and we never knew if he was going to show up. Sometimes we'd be left hanging on retreat, or even on Confirmation Day. We were told that the Pastoral Administrator approved one thing, only to find out we'd been lied to. Being lied to was a common occurance with this leader. Someone we were supposed to trust. I understand delegating responsibility to your leaders, but when we needed this person, he wasn't there.
I found myself becoming angry as the years went by. Angry that when I needed to deal with issues going on, I was feeling blown off. I also began to feel used. I was only good for providing one thing: An outlet for this person to use my talents, which left him time to goof off and not do his job.
His changes were good, but the execution and leadership he brought forth were HORRIBLE. It has taken almost 3 years to get the program back on track and into a good working routine.
Example #2: The new pastor
At one of my ministry jobs, our pastor had become burnt out. Well, you try leading a flock of over 2000 families single handedly and tell me how enthusiastic you are after 4 years. I digress. So in walks the new guy one day. He came to meet with us all. I was looking forward to meeting him. Word on the street was that he was very supportive of the youth, which was something I was very happy to hear.
When he arrived officially as the pastor he began to make so many changes, and brought on so many people to help, that the entire church and different ministries began to look messy. No I am not talking about thekind of Messy that Yac speaks of. I mean a literal shambles. He questioned the leadership of every ministry and wanted to replace them with "his people". Meaning he wanted to bring people from his former church and employ them in our places. He wanted more change than our church could handle. Again, change is good, but not when you are hurting and using people. He hired someone to run the entire formation aspect of the church, only to fire her a year later because he got what he wanted from her (a decent foundation for Religious Education) and then dropped her on her butt.
What kind of leadership is that?
I am happy to report, that although the church has gone through alot of drastic, unnecessary changes, somewhere out of the ashes, the Youth Ministry program has risen, and thrived. I can only say that it is because of the Youth/young adult leaders who were there before I got there and the ones added during my 2 yrs as YM, that this has been possible. I am so proud of them....yet so disappointed in the adult leadership currently in place.
Change. It's good, but please, please don't be decieved. Look at the big picture. Sometimes the best leadership can be hurtful, deceptive, and manipulative. I am sure Bush-haters around the world will attest to that. So will the Nixon Haters, Reagan haters, etc etc. Well, let's not forget the Clinton Haters...we have our own issues with him too.
Look at the leaders of every aspect of your life and ask yourself if their change they promise really is for the better of the people. Will their change bring good or bad to the world around you. If you can answer "Yes, yes they can." I'd like to meet them and shake their hand(direct me to their blog, website etc too while you're at it). The world needs more people like them.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
A year ago today
Derek and I embarked on a new journey.......
I don't know what we did before this day. i mean, I KNOW what we did, but compared to now, with all the new discoveries and things to bring smiles to our faces. I can't imagine life without her. She's my morning sunshine, and I love watching her sleep, hearing her "voice her opinion", seeing her look at the world with amazement. I love seeing her interact with her daddy.
i just love HER...I love being her mommy. I thank God for the gift of motherhood each and everyday. I thank God for giving us this gift, I thank my husband for being the daddy he is. The most important man in her life.
A year ago today, our world changed forever...for the better.
I don't know what we did before this day. i mean, I KNOW what we did, but compared to now, with all the new discoveries and things to bring smiles to our faces. I can't imagine life without her. She's my morning sunshine, and I love watching her sleep, hearing her "voice her opinion", seeing her look at the world with amazement. I love seeing her interact with her daddy.
i just love HER...I love being her mommy. I thank God for the gift of motherhood each and everyday. I thank God for giving us this gift, I thank my husband for being the daddy he is. The most important man in her life.
A year ago today, our world changed forever...for the better.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Things I like to do for my husband
I like to cook for him. I'm not a bad cook, so no one should find that funny. I'm also not the greatest cook. I mean, you won't see Emeril Lagasse knocking on my door begging for recipes for his show. My husband, however seems pleased with what i bring to the table.
This week though has not been very opportune for doing as such. Work was crazy and demanding. I worked Mon-Weds "late" each night. not getting home until 8-ish or so. Granted, Tuesday i didn't go IN until 5:00, so it's not like I was working 12 hours straight.
I just miss cooking. It makes me so happy to see a smile on his face or hear "Mmmm this is good honey". It's one of the many ways I know he loves me. When he appreciates a new recipe or an old stand-by.
hey he's even said something I burnt was good. Let's be honest. It tasted like crap. He still ate it though (shudder)
This week though has not been very opportune for doing as such. Work was crazy and demanding. I worked Mon-Weds "late" each night. not getting home until 8-ish or so. Granted, Tuesday i didn't go IN until 5:00, so it's not like I was working 12 hours straight.
I just miss cooking. It makes me so happy to see a smile on his face or hear "Mmmm this is good honey". It's one of the many ways I know he loves me. When he appreciates a new recipe or an old stand-by.
hey he's even said something I burnt was good. Let's be honest. It tasted like crap. He still ate it though (shudder)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Today....
...All you can eat pizza, only I left the table to chat, so they took my cup away. You can't eat pizza without a drink.
...a clean sink. It's the little things that make me happy
...meeting mom's in the area.YAY
...being caught up on laundry. The folding will now begin
...baby shots, not fun, necessary, heartbreaking
...12lbs 5oz and 23 inches of love. Bliss
...singing "In My Life" and being smiled at. The kind of smile that let's you know, someone loves you unconditionally.
..."meow, meow, mmmeeeeoooowwww" Pele, you are so cute. You are a good surrogate mommy (she walks with the baby and I when we walk around the kitchen/dning room/living room.
...ramen noodles with chicken, veggies, garlic cooked to perfection and soy sauce. Mmmm, thank you honey.
.....bed...it's calling, I need to answer (why not, baby went to sleep on her own tonight...YAY BABY, I deserve a few good long hours of sleep don't I?)
...a clean sink. It's the little things that make me happy
...meeting mom's in the area.YAY
...being caught up on laundry. The folding will now begin
...baby shots, not fun, necessary, heartbreaking
...12lbs 5oz and 23 inches of love. Bliss
...singing "In My Life" and being smiled at. The kind of smile that let's you know, someone loves you unconditionally.
..."meow, meow, mmmeeeeoooowwww" Pele, you are so cute. You are a good surrogate mommy (she walks with the baby and I when we walk around the kitchen/dning room/living room.
...ramen noodles with chicken, veggies, garlic cooked to perfection and soy sauce. Mmmm, thank you honey.
.....bed...it's calling, I need to answer (why not, baby went to sleep on her own tonight...YAY BABY, I deserve a few good long hours of sleep don't I?)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Some people
Come into our lives and quickly go, other stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never again the same.
I loving memory of
Deacon Gaston and Vickie Diem.
May God bless you always as you journey towards heaven. You will be missed.
"I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he were dead, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me, will never die."
I loving memory of
Deacon Gaston and Vickie Diem.
May God bless you always as you journey towards heaven. You will be missed.
"I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he were dead, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me, will never die."
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Happy Birthday to me........
I want to thank you all for your well wishes on my birthday today. They did not go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated.
how dod My day go you ask? It started with Derek waking me up at midnight to wish me a happy birthday. That was sweet. Well wait. I was awake with Marisa tryin to get her back to sleep (her stuffy nose woke her up).
Marisa's gift to me was sleeping until 7am. BLISS!!!!! Though I did wake up at 6;30am and went to her room to make sure she was still breathing. LOL Then after she ate, i got ready (got her dressed, fixed my hair, brushed my teeth, etc), and off we went to my work. The girls loved on her, the kids all wanted to hold her (she cried), and I got a bit of work done.
We left work in the early afternoon, and came home. Derek took us to Red Robin for my bday...YUMMMMMMMMMM, and then to Wal-Mart to get my cricut. I got the personal one, not the big old expressions one.
Then we came home, I fed the baby, and was off to my mom's night in. For those of you who do not know I joined a mom's club and I'm loving it. One of the mom's volunteered to open her home and teach us the tricks of her trade....cake decorating. She taught us some basic stuff on icing a cake, and taught us some easy borders and how to do roses, etc. Her cakes are sooooooo good. She makes them all from scratch. No boxed stuff for her and let me tell you....her cakes ROCK. So we learned how to frost the cake, and what not and here are the results:
My cake:
All the cakes (there were 9 of us total at her house)
To satisfy your curiosity, and for me to give credit to one of my fellow mommies, here is her website (she does a millennium falcon cake, but the pic of it is not on the website).
It was a good day.
how dod My day go you ask? It started with Derek waking me up at midnight to wish me a happy birthday. That was sweet. Well wait. I was awake with Marisa tryin to get her back to sleep (her stuffy nose woke her up).
Marisa's gift to me was sleeping until 7am. BLISS!!!!! Though I did wake up at 6;30am and went to her room to make sure she was still breathing. LOL Then after she ate, i got ready (got her dressed, fixed my hair, brushed my teeth, etc), and off we went to my work. The girls loved on her, the kids all wanted to hold her (she cried), and I got a bit of work done.
We left work in the early afternoon, and came home. Derek took us to Red Robin for my bday...YUMMMMMMMMMM, and then to Wal-Mart to get my cricut. I got the personal one, not the big old expressions one.
Then we came home, I fed the baby, and was off to my mom's night in. For those of you who do not know I joined a mom's club and I'm loving it. One of the mom's volunteered to open her home and teach us the tricks of her trade....cake decorating. She taught us some basic stuff on icing a cake, and taught us some easy borders and how to do roses, etc. Her cakes are sooooooo good. She makes them all from scratch. No boxed stuff for her and let me tell you....her cakes ROCK. So we learned how to frost the cake, and what not and here are the results:
My cake:
All the cakes (there were 9 of us total at her house)
To satisfy your curiosity, and for me to give credit to one of my fellow mommies, here is her website (she does a millennium falcon cake, but the pic of it is not on the website).
It was a good day.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
man, If I would have known
If I would have known that posting something angry would have brought back my stalker from Walnut Creek, CA (The San Jose stalker has ALWAYS been around despite the fact that he/she is a tattle tale and can't be trusted).....
Maybe I would not have made those posts a few days ago (see below).
Then again, I don't take kindly to Walnut Creeks myspace threats he/she made to me about how "until he/she KNEW for sure that I was no longer talking about him/her, then he/she would continue to read my blog until I either deleted it or made it private"......
Well, that isn't happening and I'm still blogging, but it isn't about you (save for this post) Is it?
In other news......remind me to tell you how crazy Pele is. I love that cat so stinking much. She's so smart.
Plans are in the works for some awesome trips this year and...Tomorrow is my birthday and suddenly I'm feeling kind of old. I don't knwo why. 34 is young, but I just felt not so young today.
I'm sure I will cure it during my cake decorating class tomorrow. I'll try to post pictures of my "masterpiece" after tomorrow. Mmmmmmmmm cake.
Maybe I would not have made those posts a few days ago (see below).
Then again, I don't take kindly to Walnut Creeks myspace threats he/she made to me about how "until he/she KNEW for sure that I was no longer talking about him/her, then he/she would continue to read my blog until I either deleted it or made it private"......
Well, that isn't happening and I'm still blogging, but it isn't about you (save for this post) Is it?
In other news......remind me to tell you how crazy Pele is. I love that cat so stinking much. She's so smart.
Plans are in the works for some awesome trips this year and...Tomorrow is my birthday and suddenly I'm feeling kind of old. I don't knwo why. 34 is young, but I just felt not so young today.
I'm sure I will cure it during my cake decorating class tomorrow. I'll try to post pictures of my "masterpiece" after tomorrow. Mmmmmmmmm cake.
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