Jace's Nursery

This past weekend, we worked on Jace's nursery room!  Rach wanted bright colors and an argyle wall, and after a lot of hard work by Mom, me, Malori, Josh, and Rach... with Dad bringing us lunch and dinner every day... we finally finished it, and it turned out really cute!! =)

 We bought the 20x20 canvas, not realizing they would literally fill it floor to ceiling!  They're not putting furniture right there, though, so it turned out okay. =)

These diamonds were about a 20-step process, so feel free to be very impressed! lol

The alphabet wall was fun and fairly simple by comparison. :)

In other news:

• Brittany moved to The Mansions apartments (aww, memories from my first few months in Tulsa), so I'm readjusting to living by myself now.  I do miss the company at night, but hopefully I'll fill that time with writing for at least the next month or so!
• I'm also moving offices at work either today or tomorrow, and will probably be in the new one for the next 6 months or so while they do major construction on our courtroom... blah.
• I hate construction!  (At work and on the roads around my house.)

Thankful Thursday (45)

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever."  ~I Chronicles 16:34

Today, I'm thankful for...
1.  Finally being done with the super-sucky task of moving old (1964-1979) exhibits!
2.  For my Mom (YAY, Mom!) and Marlene and my judge helping me out!!
3.  For Josh's awesome new job ~ a definite answer to prayer!!
(...just a random-celebratory-looking picture from Josh and Rach's wedding day!)

4.  Fun new CDs ~ Kelly Clarkson, Coldplay, and Scottie from AI.  (Loving Coldplay... I'm sure I'll get to the others eventually.)
5.  Getting to see Taylor Swift in concert... really great and fun!!

6.  My cute new black bow headband! :)  I love it. =)
7.  The books of Timothy and Titus -- Paul (Driver) encouraging his Amiable-personality friends!  (Really obvious in some of what he says, and really helpful for me personally!)

Song of the Week = Princess of China by Coldplay, featuring Rihanna

Thankful Thursday!!

Well, last night was our first real snow this winter... so pretty!  If only work had been cancelled, but oh well... I actually proofread 294 pages today (which was tedious, but I'm very glad it's done).  I drove to and from work on the icy roads successfully, thank God, but when I finally made it home, I couldn't get my little car up my super-slanted driveway! lol  I tried about 7 times to get a running start and really push, but every time, I just slid back down.  I was afraid to gun it and drive through my garage wall.  It was kind of hilarious to be that close and not make it, but oh well! lol  So my car is safely parked out in the cul-de-sac, and I made the ridiculously slow walk inside.  And now I'm cozy and warm and about to curl up in a blanket and watch TV for a bit, then go to bed early (because I stayed up late last night on the assumption that I'd be off work today.)

I've been so happy lately, but haven't been in much of a blogging mood... so I'm attempting to change that and at least keep a record of the great memories and fun people and encouraging verses that are on my heart!  So hopefully for the rest of 2011, every Thursday, I'm going with 7 things I'm thankful for each week, and a song of the week!!  

So today, I'm thankful for...

1. "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare of the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I am trusting Him!"  ~Psalm 91:1-2  "And I am trusting Him"... love this verse!
2. Being challenged by God, and that He's patient and still working with me!  ......I've seen home videos of my sister and I when we were little singing, "He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be!  It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.  How loving and patient He must be... He's still working on me!"  I'm sure we had no clue what it all meant back then, but so true, and one of few home videos that doesn't make me cringe. :) 
3. The King's Speech -- I've seen it 3 times now -- excellent and uplifting movie, and who doesn't love Colin Firth!?  "My brother, David, said to me -- do-dah, do-dah!"
4. New Years Eve, driving down 71st Street and seeing a guy walking beside us listening to his iPod and belting out Britney Spears, "Tell me, baby, cause I need to know now all beca-ause" ...Megan, Malori, and I joined in, of course! :)  Hilarious, and perfect timing!
5. Having relaxing movie nights at Malori's apartment, and for her new cooking resolution, because it's been fun and educational for me! :)
6. Deciding not to have a big wedding if or when I get married.  (I realize I don't have to make that decision now, and I reserve the right to change my mind, but for now, I'm really loving the pressure-free plan!)
7. And finally, because it's been a while.... a few Christmas 2010 memories!!  Mom wrapped a series of presents for Emily and Carter and Triston, an intense present hunt that ended with this box, filled with 50 individually wrapped $1 bills (which I placed in the boxes, thank you very much)! lol  Very memorable... and time consuming, especially for my awesome Mom!  By the last box, it was a group effort and we were all helping her unwrap them. :)



Rachael and Josh got engaged officially!!  So the wedding planning was in full swing. :)

And of course, Rach made the traditional Christmas morning pancakes for everyone...  well, everyone but me - pancakes haven't been my fav since I threw them up a while back, so I went with chocolate cake. :)

And that's about it for "Thankful Thursday!"

Finally, my song of the week = Sunday Morning by Maroon 5, a song I'm semi-obsessed with lately. Not sure it's my favorite, but it's definitely in my top three Maroon 5 songs (this, Better that We Break, and Won't Go Home Without You)!  Enjoy...

Tribute Tuesday ~ WINTER!!

"It's the MOST WONDERFUL TIME of the year!"  =)

Winter is my absolute favorite season for oh so many reasons...

 Ice skating outside + being pulled around by friends + sweatercoats + scarves + cute hats!

 Chickasha Christmas lights + family + my red coat + turtlenecks + boots!

 Mom's glittery Christmas bows + the cousins + Dirty Santa game + Texas family Christmas!

My favorite hoodie + great decorating ideas + the magical Christmas wonderland that is North Pole City!

Cute sweater vests + family fun + Justin making sure we all know this pic was taken at Christmastime!

 Eugene Field Christmas parties + fun with cute kids+ my red sweater vest in the background!

 Great friends + Rhema Christmas lights + HATS + my snowflake earrings + adorable wintery cute clothes!

 Family Christmas fun + Dirty Santa game + Snuggies + Ugg boots + being cozy!

 Major blizzard + being snowed in + taking cute pics outside + family fun!

Adorable kids + unsuspecting Rachael + hilarious snowball fight!

 Making and decorating Christmas sugar cookies + comfy hoodies + being snowed in + sister time!

 Awesome Chesapeake lights + another fun winter coat!

Taking fun snow pics +comfy turtleneck + blizzard + watching the dogs play in the snow!

 My hot pink/turquoise/lime/purple decorations + decorating with Mom + hoodies (I love them)!

 Decorating Rach's house + Christmas stockings + Pottery Barn candles + cozy fireplace!

 Starbucks nights with the girls + the adorable tiny cups + caramel hot chocolate or cider!

Christmas Shenanigans party + cute winter PJs + hot chocolate in cute coffee mugs + fun with friends!

 Superbowl Party fun + long time family friends + all the new commercials!

 My February birthday + chocolate cake + friends and family!

 Watching You've Got Mail, The Holiday, A Christmas Story, etc.  The Family Stone is another favorite.

Christmas carols + playing these songs on the piano + general Christmas cheer!

And one important thing I left off this list:  NO BUGS!!!  =)

MM ~ "Changie" Lifegroup!

This is really several memories, but they all jumble together in my head as the Changie Lifegroup days.  Chad and Angie were the leaders -- they were engaged when I joined the group and are now married and have an adorable daughter.  I didn't get very involved with the group until right around mid-June of 2007, when it became my lifeline. ❤

I'm thankful for the memories and friendships that formed out of that group!  I'm also very aware of how quickly things tend to change in singles groups... couples form and get married, people filter in and out, friendships fade, friends change jobs and move away, etc.  (That is my least favorite thing about singleness... but then, I guess nothing but God and genuine love is ever really permanent in this life, where not even death itself can touch it.)  Annnnnyway, I'm thankful for the love and all the great memories I have with this group.  I feel like Amy Grant's "Oh, How the Years Go By" should be playing behind this one. lol 

Our awesome leaders, Chad and Angie Classen!

Angie and puppy Piper

Lovenburg, me, and Marcy (they were roommates)

Waffle Night at Chris Cullins' house

Chad and Jack - that dog always kinda scared me

The girls

Grace and Angie (and my strawberries)

At WalMart getting a bundt pan for one of our many movie nights or The Office watch parties

Markalie before they were official (now married)

Allie and Piper

Natalie (my best friend at that time) - and her house in the building process!

Shane & Shane at Riverwalk - I love how awkward Chris looks here. :)

Changie and two precious dogs

 Caleb & Alli before they were official (now married)

Before we were co-leaders! lol  (My bday at Elephant Bar)

The girls at Natalie's

The ORU girls - Hannah, Angie, and Kim

Cassie and I with Duke... Malori with Duke

Bobbi's housewarming party 2007

The LG couples at LifeChurch

Me and Chris at Johnny Carino's

Group pic at Woodward Park

Group pic after our Micromission

Kristin and Chris at his going away party (moved to TX to be a worship leader)

Game night at Natalie's

"Skim" painting at the Micromission

Kristin, Bobbi, me, and Alli at Chris' party

Playing Rock Band with Natalie and Megan at Mark's place

Shopping for LifePacks

4 Girls in a bathtub... because that's totally normal. lol

Dave, K-Lamb, and TLT with Kristin's new scooter

Chad and Angie at Bobbi's Thanksgiving party

Our first LG bonfire at Camp Loughridge... so fun!

Halloween Party (nurse, Christmas tree, Pam from the Office, Mike Gundy, doctor)

NLG and I passing out flyers for the upcoming LC South Tulsa campus!!

Jenga at my Christmas party

Cute wintery fun on ice skating night!

K-Lamb ice skating =)

Alli, Bobbi, and Angie at my NY Eve Party

Me, Natalie, and Mark at Natalie's soon-to-be new house...

So many great memories with them!!

And last, but not least, our Bourne Trilogy night during the major ice storm of 2007!!

Tribute Tuesday!

Well, why not finish off the work week? lol  It's doubtful that I'll write every day every week, but on the days I have time, it's always fun to me! 

So now I have Memory Monday, Tribute Tuesday, Words of Wisdom Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, and Photo Friday. lol  This time, the tributes will probably be shorter and may be about a person... or a place or event or something else totally random! =)

Today's tribute goes to one of my favorite couples, Dentist Neil and Gina!! 

*They were "bed bugs" for Halloween last year.  So cute. :)  They are both kind and have a great sense of humor... they're very much Jim and Pam, as evidenced by this plaque Neil made to commemorate a random giant paperclip Gina found in the corner of her office. lol

Neil has been my dentist for about a year now... we all call him "Dentist Neil."  Kinda like Tall Kyle and Brother Blake.  He's fantastic and I would highly recommend him!  He's also quite random and hilarious, and a great story-teller!!  Always hard not to laugh sitting in that dentist chair.  =)

A few reasons they are awesome:
Gina is a big OSU fan... Neil, not so much.  Gina is pregnant right now, and they're naming the baby Adam Thomas Hasty.  ("It's got such strong, pointy letters!  Not stupid O's and stuff like that." -Neil) =)  This bib is cute and one I'm sure Rach would appreciate! 

They did a "test run" with their cat, Charlie! lol

Neil loves to find ridiculously oversized things, and Gina made a FB album of those pictures. Hilarious!

Even though he "phoned it in" this year, he has won a trophy at his own Pumpkin Carving Contest two years in a row! lol  (I admit he deserves it, but with her parents judging, it does sound fishy...)

And last but not least, they made a snow picnic table last winter and actually sat out there in shorts and capris for this picture! lol  Precious!!