Thursday, August 30, 2007

eclipse and 2 things!


i finished!


last night i finished eclipse! oh my goodness! sooooooooooooooo good! loved it!
it was so captivating... i was going to go to bed a little early, but it was so good! i couldn't put the book down!


my heart was so involved... i felt like i was right there too! ok.... really incredible!

i am going to read them again soon! if you haven't read twilight, new moon and eclipse yet... you have to!
ok... here is another meme...
2 things!
Two names you go by:
1. jen
2. jellybean
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. blue shorts
2. old blue shirt
Two things you would want (or have) in a relationship:
1. love
2. laughter
Two things you like to do:
1. have another week of vacation
2. scrapbook/craft
Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. a shower
2. a clean house
Two things you did last night:
1. started my christmas cards
2. finished eclipse!!!!!
Two things you ate today:
1. water...
2. nothing...
Two people you last talked to:
1. kevin
2. ann
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. work
2. scrapbook/craft
Two Favorite Days of the Week:
1. saturday
2. sunday
Two Favorite Holidays:
1. my birthday
2. christmas
Two favorite beverages
1. diet pepsi with vanilla
2. water
Two things about me! Things you may not have known.
1. i always wanted to be an elementary school teacher
2. i grew up in a tee pee
Two jobs I have had in my life:
1. hallmark store manager
2. pampered chef consultant
Two movies I would watch over and over:
1. count of monte cristo
2. pretty woman
Two places I have lived:
Two of my favorite foods:
1. fettuccine alfredo
2. roast beef
Two places I'd rather be right now:
1. visiting family in indiana
2. on a tropical island

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

middle name meme...



Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name.


J oy... life should be full of it!

O ptomism... is something i try really hard to have

A nn... is my very best good friend!

N ice... i think that i am

N aughty... sometimes

E ager... to help others


If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a message to let them know you tagged them.


I tag:


holly- because she doesn't have a middle name and it will be fun to see what she does


lisa- because she is so stinkin creative


maryruth- cuz she loves stuff like this...


melissa- just because! :)


have fun!




oh... and happy birthday to my aunt paula! wahoo!

Monday, August 27, 2007

i am back!


hello there! i had such a great weekend in tulsa! we had a great show and encountered many fun adventures! here are just a few...
* i was asked to teach part of the album crop just a few hours before it started. it went well, but i was a little nervous at first. i seemed to get lots of compliments about it later... so i guess it went well...
* we took a taxi to a restaurants just down the street... twice!! (we were tired though! -worth every penny!) hee hee! oh... turns out we got the same taxi driver both times! even though it was 2 different nights!
* our flight out of tulsa was delayed for almost an hour because a bird got "caught" in the engine the night before. they had to clean out the engine and make sure it was 100% before we left... good thing... oh... and we only had an hour layover in phoenix between flights. ya... a bit of a hustle between flights, but since there were 7 of us making that connection, they waited for us... yippee! oh.... and both flights coming home were not completely full, so we got a little extra room! very nice!
anyway... tons of fun! thanks kris and dick! i had a great time... thanks to you!
it is nice to be home too. probably because i didn't have to go back to work this week! ya rah!!! it was wonderful to sleep in! i also stayed in bed for a bit this morning and read! i started eclipse yesterday on the plane home from tulsa. wow! i am loving it!


my cute mom sent me this really cool email about moms/women and how important they are. anyway... i was touched and wanted to share it with you!



Perspective: The Invisible Woman

By Nicole Johnson


It started to happen gradually. One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, "Who is that with you, young fella?" "Nobody," he shrugged. "Nobody?" The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, "Oh my goodness, nobody?"


I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family - like "Turn the TV down, please" - and nothing would happen. Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote. I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, "Would someone turn the TV down?" Nothing.


Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We'd been there for about three hours and I was ready to leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, "I'm ready to go when you are."He just kept right on talking.


That's when I started to put all the pieces together. I don't think he can see me. I don't think anyone can see me. I'm invisible. It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not! No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.


Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."


I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going she's going she's gone!


One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .


I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees. "In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:


* No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.


* These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.


* They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.


* The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.


A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."


I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make everyday, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."


At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.


As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.


When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table."


That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."


As mothers (and women), we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.


this is for all of those beautiful women in my life.... you know who you are! thank you. for making a difference to me.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

wow...

ok... i have been a slacker! so so sorry! i think that i was so busy before inventory and now i just am lazy!! hee hee!

so.... what is new? how are you? things are good here!

here are just a few random thoughts...

* i love laffy taffy/tangy taffy! one of my favorite candy's! yummy!

* i have a weird sore on my toe! it was really tender last week. thought it might have been an ingrown toenail... maybe gout... bumped it... wasn't very sure. well, we ruled out the ingrown and gout theories. just not sure what happened. it is very red and tender. there is also a white spot on it, kinda like a blister... but not. anyway... very random and ouchy!

* i am flying out to tulsa, oklahoma tomorrow for another scrapbook show. i haven't traveled since june and i am missing it. i love the thrill of it all! the flights, the friends and the work! love it all! i also have never been to oklahoma, so now i can cross it off my list of states to see! wahoo!

* big brother 8!! love it! i have to admit, that i look forward to this reality show all year round! it is one of my favs! anyone watching? who are you cheering for?

* work is going well. one of my associates was recently promoted to another department in the club. so, that meant that i had to start searching for another person. there weren't many options internally, so i interviewed a few people outside of the club. no luck. i mentioned it to my best friend, ann, and she said that she was interested. so i told her to apply. after a few big talks about hiring friends, my manager agreed and hired her for my department!!! i am so pumped! she is an incredible worker and i know that she will be a great asset to my team. plus, i love hanging out with her. my other associate, colleen, knows who she is and is excited to have her on board too! can't wait! so cool!

* i am officially on vacation! as of 2pm today! i don't have to go back to sam's until next friday! wahoo! i have needed this break! and i am looking forward to it very much!

* i am going to spend a lot of my time off scrapbooking/crafting! i need to design my christmas card for this year. and decide what i am going to make for gifts too! it will be fun!

* kevin might be getting a new job soon! he is applying for flying j. they are a convenient store and he might be hauling fuel for them. it would be very good for our family. he would be home almost every night! that is so good, cuz right now i am only seeing him on saturdays and part of sundays. let's hope he gets it!

* my cute friend, holly, just started a great blog! check it out! she is amazing!

well, i hope all is well! let me know one of your random thoughts today!

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

My Very Best Good Friend!

Happy Birthday, Annie!
Today is your day!
You never have been a very big fan of your birthday, and you might kill me when you see this post... but I wanted you to know that I am very Grateful for this day!
It is the day that I Celebrate you!
August 8!
ann and i have been best friends since we were 8 years old!


my teenage years were the very best, thanks to ann!


she is one of the most kind and genuine people i have ever met...



and i am honored to be her best friend! we have been through so much together and i look forward to what the future holds for us!

annie,

yesterday, today and tomorrow...

my very best good friend... forever!

i love ya annie!

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

did ya miss me?

ok... did you miss me? i sure missed you!


it has been awhile since i have posted, so in order to fill you in on everything that has been going on, i am going to post this as a "sweets and sours" post!


get some snacks and something to drink... this is a long one!


Sours:


* joshua jackson (see previous post) doesn't even know that i exist. that is ok. i still am in love with him. he is so stinkin' cute! i just finished the 3rd season of dawson's creek and am anxiously awaiting the 4th...


* kevin's job moved him to moab utah, which is about 6 hours from home! yuck! he is hating it and looking for another job. normally i would encourage him to stay... but he is so miserable. and so am i...


* because he has my new car!!!! our old yucky car won't make the 6 hour drive, so he had to take the new car. i am so bummed! i literally cried when he told me that he was going to have to take it. i want him to be safe... but geez... my new car?!?


ok... enough sours... let's move on to the sweets! shall we?


Sweets:


* INVENTORY IS OVER!!!!


* inventory is over! hallelujah! and the best part is that is went really well! we had great numbers. i got a personal email from the district of operations. ( he is my managers boss) how cool! my regional manager was also very pleased. and, if the truth be known, it really matters to me what he say. he is a big, mean looking man. but when he is on my side, life is good.


* eclipse came out today! i was on the wait list at the library, but i decided that i couldn't wait and bought it today! i bought book #18 out of #20 at seagull book! i am so excited to read it!! i just got a call from one of my friends who borrowed my copies of twilight and new moon. she just bought it too!
how fun!
oh... and at yw girls camp, which i will chat about in a minute, i found out that several of the girls have read them too!
more people to chat with about them!!! very cool!
seriously, if you haven't read them, you need to!
check out this site. so fun!
* ok.. girls camp! loved it. i wasn't really sure that i even wanted to go. it started the day after inventory and i knew that i wouldn't be able to go the entire time. i remember last year someone saying that when they came up just part time that they felt out of the loop. they weren't there for all of the bonding and they felt out of place. so... i wasn't sure if i wanted to do that. i talked to linda, the yw president, and she said that she was doing the devotional that first night and it was going to be really neat. i should come up.
well, i decided that i would. if nothing else, to support her. when i got up to the camp tuesday afternoon i was greeted with a room full of... "sister little! you came!" "hi sister little, i missed you!" "we are so glad you came!". ya! that was great for my nervous, will i fit in, soul.
to be honest, inventory had taken up so much of my time, thoughts and schedule that i hadn't been to any of the activities the month of july. i was even working many sundays, so i couldn't go to church very much. i wasn't even sure if the girls would notice if i was there or not.
one of the girls, lindsey, had told one of the other leaders that she missed me. someone noticed. she was the first one to come over and give me the biggest hug when i got to camp.
does a girl (leader) good.
* i love girls camp! we had so much fun that first day that i went back up every single day as soon as i got out of work. the theme was the olympics and so we played fun water game. they were divided up into 4 group and each group chose a country. we had egypt (the leaders), norway, jamaica and madagascar. so fun!
i think one of my favorite parts of camp is sitting around the camp fire singing camp songs and playing games. there are so many great songs! here are a few:
MILK
mormon boy
mormon girl
boom boom
i love the mountains
lemme
jell-o
princess pat
boom-chic-a-boom
sippin cider
do your ears hang low
tooty ta
the list goes on an on... but i thought i better stop...
* the games! one of my favorite games is big booty! love it!
here is my list of games:
signs
adams family
big booty
ride that pony
team tag
snipe hunt
* ya... i am really glad i went. the great devotional that i went to was amazing! it one of the most spiritual and bonding moments we had the entire week.
* of course testimony meeting was amazing. we did something a bit different this year. we passed a flashlight around and you had the choice to share your favorite camp experience and/or your testimony. every girl said something, as did each of the leaders. very cool. it is a great feeling to know how much the girls learned about themselves and how strong they are. it is also nice to know that they appreciate our efforts.
* i have been scrapbooking quite a bit this week! i have really missed it and it feels great to do something creative! i made a really cool album for my best friend, ann. tomorrow is her birthday and i am excited to give it to her. it has been in the works for over a year. i thought of it and kinda have been trying to put it all together! it is probably the best project that i have ever done! i sure hope she likes it.
* i am taking 10 days off at the end of the month! i have vacation days that i have to use or i will lose them! darn! hee hee! i am going to tulsa, oklahoma with scrapbook pal during part of it. but i will be scrapbooking most of the other days. i am just feeling crafty!
* can't wait to see all of my travel friends too! i haven't seen them since june when i went to new york! it will be great! and... i have never been to oklahoma! so i can cross that state off of my list.
* i am so excited that big brother is on! i look forward to it all year round! i know... silly! but i really like it! do you watch? who are you rooting for?
* oh... the day of inventory since it went so well i was able to come home early. i was home around 10:30 am! i had called and left ann a message that things had gone well and that i was going home. well, soon after i got home i get a call from her on her cell phone. she was happy for me that all had gone well with inventory and asked what i was doing... she said that i should come to the door and see her!
she came over to surprise me and i ruined it by being home already! hee hee!
she brought me "dinner" since i worked so hard for inventory....
spaghetti o's!
and some really cool, very bright daisy's! the label said crazy daisy's! and that they were! so bright and cheerful!
oh... and she works for pepperidge farm, so she brought me a huge variety thing of cookies! so yummy!
she is my best, good friend! thanks ann!
well, i think the list is long enough... i am sure there was more that i wanted to tell you, but i am not remembering at the moment. so... until next time! enjoy!