Buried!

Oh my goodness it has been 4 days since I have blogged!
I have been buried up to my eyeballs in to do lists and crafts.
It's not all bad, but it sure is exhausting!

Let me catch you up on the past few days!

SATURDAY:
Cleaned house & then escaped the confines of the house to enjoy some 78 degree weather and do some photos for my 1st commissioned piece!

After I got home my friend HD came over and we made Rag Wreaths.

My Christmas Rag Wreath.

Bud was studying at the library, but after he got home we met up with friends across the street.  They played washers.

SUNDAY:
Church!
Afterwards we finished up our Thanksgiving grocery shopping and headed home.
I did some more cleaning and then convinced the hubby we should get some fresh air.
We went out and I got a few final photos for my commissioned piece.
When we got home I did a little cleaning and worked on Christmas gifts.
Want to know what they are?
Too bad...not yet....but here is are a few hints, can you guess?

Hint #1

Hint #2

Hint #3

MONDAY:
How did the weekend pass so quickly?
Last night was the final night of my photography class.
If I had to grade this class I'd give it a B. 
I felt that we focused too much on software such as photoshop and not enough of capturing a good picture from the start. 
That was frustrating. 
But I did learn some great things that I didn't know before so that's a plus.
When I got home I finished another craft I started this past weekend

I repainted this rock to say our last name and... 

to reflect Bud & I's favorite NCAA Teams!

I've been a Busy Biz to say the least and tonight is not promising any less busy!
1.) I need to pick up the pictures I took this weekend and go pick out framing and matte board.
2.) Pick up pet food
3.) Change sheets
4.) Do 2 loads of laundry and put away about 5 loads total!
5.) Vacuum & Mop
6.) Make the mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving
7.) Try to squeeze out a few of my Christmas gifts that I'm hand making.

So in case I don't get to back here until after Thanksgiving:
here is wishing you a Blessed Tuesday, a Wonderful Week, and a Very Happy Thanksgiving!

Bible Verse Friday #4

Psalm 1:1-2
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night".

Who do you surround yourself with?
Do you hang out with mean-spirited people?
Does the group your involved in leave you feeling torn down instead of built up?
Why do we allow people's negative attitudes to affect our positive ones?
It's amazing the power people's words have on us and others, most of the time without either party fully realizing it.

God wants us to uphold his law day and night.
When we wake up we should be filled with God's love and we should do our very best to spread that love throughout the day and night.
Now don't get me wrong, we all have bad days and this is what makes us human.
God is the only true perfect being.

He tells us in Leviticus 19:18
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the LORD".

Again in Matthew 5:43
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy'.

Mark 12:31 says
"The second is this:: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these".

And finally Galatians 5:14
"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself".

I could go on and on...
When we realize we are in a situation where our attitude is impacted negatively we must escape.
We must not allow others to harm our loving hearts.
I'm positive that you know that person.
The one who no matter what SOMETHING is going wrong in their life.
Do you know a person who no matter what is going wrong in their life they still give God the glory?
Are you that person?  Do you strive to be that person?
It's hard, trust me I understand.
Someday I will explain the worst day of my life and I will explain how despite everything I praised God.
I'm not saying it was an easy task by any means.
I'm just saying that God is good all the time and if he brings us to it he will bring us through it.
A co-worker shared something with me:

"It's how you react to being in the fire that defines you", "Some people will say, 'God why have you forsaken me' others will sing his praises".
People are ALWAYS watching us whether we know it or not and they are waiting to see how we react.

So check yourself.
Check your surroundings.
Whose footsteps are you following in?
Whose company are you sitting in?
Should you change paths or switch seats, maybe.
But I also think that these are opportunities for us to remember God's law and to minister to those wicked sinners and mockers.
That is what God would want for you.

I hope everyone has a blessed Friday.

BUNCO

Yesterday a lady I go to church with celebrated her birthday.
For her birthday she invited a bunch of ladies over for BUNCO.
I had never played before.
When I worked at a bank back in Kansas there was a group of ladies who played monthly.
I honestly had no idea what it involved, but I knew that everyone who played it always had fun.
So last night I went to SS's house and learned BUNCO.
It's a very simple concept and it's fun.
The only downfall is that while your playing you can't really hold conversation, because you are too focused on the game and counting.
The only real times to chat are when you first get there and your waiting for everyone to show up, during the short break, and after.
I stayed a while after to chat with D, she was super nice and I felt a real connection with her.
She seems grounded, she is one of SS's oldest friends.
I wish I could have stayed later, but it was a 25 minute drive home and already 10 pm.
I have to get up at 5:45 in the morning to get ready for work.
Let's just say I'm dragging today : P

And tonight is not looking promising for sleep either.
It's good though!
After work I have to shower and get gas in my car before I drive to Waco.
If I would have known yesterday that I was driving to Waco tonight I probably wouldn't have chatted late last night and I def. would have gotten up earlier today to shower before work.
Anyway.....why am I driving 2 hours to go to Waco tonight?
Well my Colorado friend JM is in Dallas this weekend and Waco is the half way point. 
The other great thing is she is bringing with her Dallas friend JP!
We are going to meet for a "quick" dinner, I need to be home bound as close to 8:30 as possible.
That'll get me home at 10:30 and hopefully in bed by 11, yawn!
I'm tired just thinking about it.
I will have to miss small group tonight, but Eric will apologize for me and I will def. see everyone the week after Thanksgiving.

I think that's all for now, I have a busy afternoon so I hope everyone else has a blessed Thursday!

Bliss

Right now I am hanging out in a very mellow state.
A wonderful lady who works with Bud also does massage therapy on the side.
Fortunate for me, Bud booked me an appointment with her.
She came to the apartment (yes I didn't have to go anywhere!)
And she massaged all of my baggage away.

I could feel the tension in my shoulders and she spent a lot of time focused in that area.
This is my 3rd massage with her and she said this was the worst she had ever seen my shoulders.
I know that's where I carry all my emotions so that wasn't a surprise after the week I had last week.
The 1st & 2nd worst days of my life as well as other drama that is since resolved.
I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders and let's just say my shoulders were done!

So I'm in my comfy pjs, with my big red robe, and hubby's Tempur-Pedic slippers.  Candles are lit and I'm about to make some hot tea to soothe this sore throat I'm fighting.  I'm not sure if it's allergies or a cold, but I want it gone, hopefully the massage will flush all those nasty toxins right out and I'll be right as rain by the weekend!

Sorry I haven't had many pictures to post lately.
Last night was my photography class and we covered a lot of information about editing.
I know a good amount of that, but I did still learn somethings.
I told my instructor that I was sorry I had missed last weeks class, but my situation limited me from being there.
They had talked about spot metering and I understood the concept when he re-explained it in class, but I didn't know how to do it on my camera.  He took all of 5 minutes to graciously explain it.  I don't have the ability to spot meter with this camera, but I can do partial metering which can yield similar results.
Our homework is to go through existing photos and find our worst pictures, next class he will diagnose and see if there is anyway to fix the pictures, that'll be our last class!
I have my own homework assignment that involves getting out and capturing so cool letters for my first commissioned piece.

Another random subject, I think I know what Bud is getting for his birthday.  I know that Christmas is first and right around the corner, but January 20th is his Birthday and I will need all the time I can get to try to make this!  I'm hoping I can pull it off!  Can't mention what it is, but I think he'll be happy.

I hope everyone has a blessed Tuesday!
I'm off to lounge on the couch and watch mindless television until the hubby gets home!

Bombarded...

but in a good way.
After last week, being bombarded is helping me feel normal again!
So seriously my To Do List is growing by the minute and I'm texting and emailing and planning and plotting like never before.
Let's take a look at my week ahead (excluding all things work related)-

Monday- Photography Class tonight from 6-8 and then a movie with the husband...I know it'll be a late night!
Tuesday- 1.5 hour long massage (at my apartment, which means no driving home afterwards)- I will be the opposite of productive after the massage, haha
Wednesday- Clean guest bathroom & the hall floorboards. Possible dinner with an out-of-state friend and if that falls through then I may go learn to play BUNCO for a lady a church's birthday.
Thursday- Deep Clean Living room & Small Group
Friday- AFROTC TGIF
Saturday- In the morning I have BIG plans to get out and take some pictures for a friends Christmas Present to her husband, in the afternoon I have BIG plans to hang out with a co-worker/friend and teach her to make a Rag Wreath, while making my Christmas one.  We will watch a movie and tie a lot of knots!
Sunday-Church, Deep Clean Our Bathroom & Bedroom, learn how to use this contraption my Mother gave me to convert VHS to DVD (I promised her I'd have all her VHS converted before I came to visit at Christmas!)

See what I mean....it's a busy week, but I'm so excited because it means my Dad will be here before I know it!  It means that Christmas will be here shortly after that.  And it means that next semester is just around the corner, which in turn means Bud will graduate and commission in approx 185 days from today!!!!  So Super Exciting!

I hope everyone else is just as excited for the hustle and bustle that the holidays bring.
Have a Blessed Monday!