What If....

Any time the Powerball reaches a big number, Brenden and I entertain ourselves with "what if"s. What would we buy if we won? Where would we travel? What opportunities would open up for us? We'd want to travel, of course. We'd want to buy a home and pay off all our debt. We'd want to help our families and volunteer our time to good causes. I'd want to take up hobbies, like sewing, and I'd love to adopt a child or two.

It just dawned on me...I don't have to win the lottery to do these things! We can travel (albeit, we can't travel all over the world but we can travel!). I am learning how to sew now and we are paying off debt every month. Although we can't give our family money, we can help them by encouraging them and loving them. And we can volunteer our time to good causes now. And I am gathering information on adoption. It's always, always, always been on my heart to adopt a child from India. I can't tell you why exactly, it's just something I've always dreamt of doing. And it is obtainable within my life!

Who needs the lottery? Certainly not me.

"What can make me feel this way..."

Brenden, Brenden, talking 'bout Breeeeenden....

I love my husband so much. I know I say this a lot on my public venues but I can't even begin to express how much I love him. I won't go into any details (we can save that for a face to face conversation) but after being so horribly treated by a couple men, I never thought (or even imagined) I would have a strong, loving husband. I accepted that if I did marry, I would marry someone abusive. And it amazes me how much God has given me, how much joy He has blessed me with, even through all the past pain. Brenden was the biggest, most wonderful surprise of my life!!!!

My Favorite Old Song

This song is an old, old classic French song and it means so much to me:

Dansons la capucine,
Y'a pas de pain chez nous,
Y'en a chez la voisine
Mais ce n'est pas pour nous

Dansons la capucine,
Y'a pas de vin chez nous,
Y'en a chez la voisine
Mais ce n'est pas pour nous

Dansons la capucine
Ya de plasire chez nous
On pleure chez la voisine
On rire toujours chez nous

It's a short little ditty and translates as:

Let's dance the capucine (which is a type of flower),

There is no bread at home,

There is some at the neighbors,

But it's not for us.

Let's dance the capucine,

There is no wine at home,

There is some at the neighbors,

But it's not for us.

Let's dance the capucine,

There is happiness (directly translated as "pleasure") at home,

There are tears at the neighbors,

There is always laughter at home.

:)

This song reminds me that no matter what happens in life, happiness should abound. We could be straving for food but where there is love, happiness and laughter will always be present! Ask me and I will sing it for you :)

School Days

Brenden and I recently were discussing our different schooling. He was home schooled and I went to a variety of public and private schools. I thought it would be fun to see some pictures of all my old schools! I went to 10 different schools, all over the country. Some were amazing (Wheaton Academy and Lake Geneva Middle) and some were horrible (Centennial High and Community Christian School). But overall, I think I had a great education.

1. Crestview Elementary School, Ogden, Utah (my very first school! I remember my teacher, Mrs Paige clearly, and my classroom was so fun!):

2. Sherman Elementary School, Sherman, Illinois (seeing this school brings back a lot of memories. I could tell you my teacher's names and I could show you each classroom. Elementary school was good!):

3. Williamsville Middle and Jr High, Williamsville, Illinois (Most of my school memories come from this school which was your very typical small town school):

4. Powell Middle School, Littleton, CO (I can't say much about this school because I was only there for a few months. Half of the school was underground and there was an indoor swimming pool! I did have the opportunity to perfom a skit in front of the whole school. That was the start of my love of acting and theater!):

5. Lake Geneva Middle School, Geneva (the best middle school I attended, great programs):

6. Wheaton Academy, West Chicago, Illinois (linked with Wheaton College; a very prestigious and hard to get into high school. With a price tag of $11,000 a year, Wheaton was the absolute best school I attended):

7. Centennial High School, Bakersfield, CA (this school was MASSIVE and also the worst public I attended; lots of gang activity so we were not allowed to leave the classroom alone during class time):

8. Community Christian School, Shafter, CA (no picture available because they school no longer exists...for good reason, the worst school for academics)

9. Bakersfield Christian School, Bakersfield, CA (no picture available because the school moved)

10. Des Moines Christian School, Des Moines, IA (I really don't remember much of my senior year. I was the new kid-again-so I didn't really connect with the students or programs) :

Wow, I went to a lot of schools!

And then I said

To my mom: "Any man who would frown at you is obviously gay...or has been castrated."

It's strange when divorced parents begin to date.....

Coffee

How do you know when you've had entirely too much coffee? When your pee smells like a fresh brew. And I am there!

Miss me?

I don't understand when someone says they miss me and then asks me to call them (unless of course it is on a voicemail which requires a return call out of politeness). If you miss me, shouldn't you call me? Why should I be responsible for making sure we chat/catch up? You know, I might not even miss you. And if our relationship is important to you, why don't you put forth the effort to keep in touch? *





*This is not about anyone in particular so please don't read into anything. Just an observation :)

Oh the Place You'll Go!

My dream vacation list:

1. Quebec
2. Spain
3. Greece
4. Hungary
5. Italy

My realistic-budget sensitive vacation list:

1. Whistler, Canada (it's only 6 hours away)
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico
3. Aspen, Colorado
4. Maine
5. Montana

Where would you like to go?

Welcome to Life

"Welcome to life, where hard, honest work doesn't get you any more pay or respect; where some dreams are sacrificed in hopes of fulfilling others; where formal education is more valuable than intelligence and those without 'papers' are doomed. Welcome to life, where there is more toil than joy; where cheaters prosper; where honesty is for the foolish. Welcome to the anarchy that is masked as society. " -Anonymous

I love how this quote accurately describes this world of sin. As a Christian, I would counter this with Titus 2:11-13:

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.."