Weekend Recap {visiting Bubba}

This past weekend we went to see Jacob at ETBU!

Many of you will remember how I wasn't exactly thrilled with him moving

(as seen here and here)

It was a difficult emotional time for me.

Well, I've gotten over the emotional mess and readjusted to life with my brother 3ish hours away.

It was so nice to go and meet his friends and see his life there and how much he is enjoying his college experience! 

You can't really see him, but Hayden is Jacob's best friend, one of his roommates and plays on ETBU's football team! GO HAYDEN!!

Smile Jacob!!

Beginning of the game...

It was COLD!

(okay, cold for Texas!)

End of the game...

All bundled up!

Sunday we went to church with the brother,

then since it was family weekend Hayden's girlfriend's parents

and a friend and her parents all joined us for lunch at a local BBQ.

It was a great weekend!

{We're really looking forward to next weekend - we're headed back to LUBBOCK!!

We'll get to see old friends, family and Texas Tech Football!!}

{Political Rant}

{This is not FOR or AGAINST a particular candidate, it's just about Politics in general}

If you know me, you know I love politics!

I have a degree in Political Science for pete's sake!

I am a card toting, proud member of the, Err... I promised I wouldn't make this specific {but if you are curious, I'd be happy to share privatly}

BUT I pride myself on the fact that people can come to me (and many a friend does!) for unbiased information on a subject!

Inevitably, every time there is some major legal, political issue people turn out in DROVES to talk about it (particularly on Facebook)! People who on 360 days of the year don't give a darn what is going on in the House of Representatives or Senate floor. 

Usually this doesn't bother me, because - hey - at least they are showing an interest!

I think apathy is one of the BIGGEST problems in America!

If you don't care & you don't vote, you are forefitting your RIGHTS to complain!

because you had a chance to do something about it!

{and if I really get on my soap box, I'll start talking about a grassroots movement through political parties if you actually care about what happens in government}

But I also firmly believe in your right to not care. Your right to say and do nothing.

Because this is America.

But nothing gets my blood boiling MORE than what I saw on Facebook this morning.

A "friend" (who shall remain nameless) posted:
"The debates are making it easy for me to clean out my 'friend' list."




How shallow and awful this is to think that you can't be friends with people of differing opinions. Better yet, how un-American!
Yup, she has the right to say it. Doesn't make it right.

And she isn't alone. There are people all over (on both sides) saying similarly uneducated things.

That concludes todays rant... BUT in all seriousness - PLEASE REGISTER TO VOTE! You still have time to get registered before the election next month.
Do your American duty, people died so that you have this right. Use it!

WIWW - a monumental accomplishment for me!

I'm pretty awful at posting my What I Wore Wednesdays...

but this week it is more than that for me!

It's a big enough deal, I'm even willing to post an AWFUL picture of myself for it!

OKAY, so for the monumental accomplishment part!

I got this dress last December maybe early January. I had gained quite a bit of weight, but I'm not sure exactly how much because I was adamantly ignoring the scales. : )

I bought the dress because I really liked it but it didn't really fit... at all.

it was on sale - and it was already a very frustrating shopping trip so I wanted something to show for it. 

That miserable shopping trip has been in my mind since then. 

And I never even took the tags off the dress, much less wore it until this morning.

I decided "what the hay" and gave it a whirl

(I seriously need to do laundry in other words!)

It not only FITS, but it's a little too large!! : ) !! : )

(In this picture I was *trying* to demonstrate the "wiggle" room in the dress by pulling my hand forward in the pocket... all that accomplishes is making it look bad.)

Sometimes it takes time! It takes a chance to step back and look at all the work you've accomplished!

I had NO idea I had lost this much weight

(especially since I didn't know what I weighed this time last year)

 

I intellectually understood I was smaller although I'm great at beating myself up because it doesn't seem like I make great big huge strides in the weight-loss department.

But it is so great to be shown the success you've had!

Ironically enough, I'm also so sore I can hardly move from yesterdays workout!

Customer Appreciation

I haven't posted about Thirty-One recently...

but I am still selling Thirty-One and loving it!

~~~~~~

I'm having a quick sale for Customer Appreciation from now though Saturday (9/29).

For every $31 spent you will earn a voucher for $5 off of a future purchase of $31 or more in October or November! 

This is a great sale to help you make Christmas shopping more affordable!

Don't forget that by spending the $31 you are eligible for our monthly specials!

This months customer special is, for every $31 spent, you can pick any* item in our catalog for HALF off!

This is a great way to afford one of our many popular bags that may usually be a little splurge!

We have a brand new Fall Catalog with tons of new products and prints!

you can check it out at my website or feel free to leave a comment or email me and I'd be happy to mail you a catalog!

(*this does exclude the very few items we have with licensing reqirements)

Desire to Inspire: Taking Time out of your Day

I stay pretty busy.

okay.. Very busy.

Sometimes I let my negativity get in the way of the bigger picture, in the way of what is really important. I really can be quite the hypocrite... or at least contradictory (don't believe me? Read this follow this link and look at what I said about my time right off the bat)

A couple of months ago I was asked and agreed to take a soon-to-be vacated spot on our counties Child Protective Services Board.
A couple of months ago, I wasn't quite as busy as I am now.

I had forgotten how much time being the Childrens Choir Director took up once school started

and I had forgotten how much time rehearsals for our church Christmas Production would take
(yes, they've already started!)

I was so resentful that I had said yes to such a wonderful cause.

My heart was an ugly place.

When I drug my grumbling butt down to the meeting I was rewarded and blessed beyond measure.
I saw first hand all the good that this group of people does.
I saw how they provide for these beautiful children who have done nothing wrong but have been given a terrible hand in life. 

No worries, I was set straight.
Some things are just a God thing.

I have the time to give to them.

I just need to stop thinking about me
I need to recognize the opportunities God is giving me and embrace them
rather than frown on them and check my watch or refer to my slightly abundant calendar.

My time is important to me, but I should recognize this blessing and offer my time as an Offering.

I want to encourage you to embrace the Blessings you are given,
make time for the things that matter.



{Come link up with us at Royal Daughter Designs every Thursday for Desire to Inspire!}

Lessons

My learning curve has been in full swing as of late. Here are my most recent lessons.

If you don't have time say NO! Because when you don't it usually ends up requiring more time than you thought.  

That is how I most recently ended up on not just one Board but on it's sister Board too!

Oh - did I mention they're a minimum year commitment??

(don't get me wrong if you're reading this & you're on the boards too - they're for an amazingly great cause - I'm excited about them. I'm just incredibly busy!)

~~~

The dentist is expensive. Period.

Even with dental insurance, and the fact that we do take care of our teeth.

John is having a series of appointments to fix an array of painful issues that could no longer be ignored.  It's taking up our entire expendable income (and then some) for two months time. 

~~~

Septmember is almost over.

How did that happen??

~~~

My house is a disaster zone. 

 I seriously don't know when I will be able to clean it.
It is making me crazy!
{can you tell?}
I'm thinking about taking a day off work just to clean up the clutter and junk!

Does anyone else ever feel this way??

~~~

On that note... I'm headed back to work.
20 days until the final tax deadline of the year!!

It's OK Thursday!

I am in need of a venting session - so It's OK Thursday it is! 

It's OK...

... that I have worked 16 days straight, right through the weekends.

But that means I have survived another tax deadline at work!!

... that I am choosing to be ignorant about the fact that we are only 25 days from the next tax deadline.

... to have a small melt down because you can't run to the store to buy the next book in a series as soon as you finish the last one.

... to have decided life may not go on without purchasing an e-reader. {I read a book on my phone a couple of weeks ago and LOVED it, I'm now addicted}

... to feel so shut off from the world without my phone. Some stupid jerk stole mine last week and I can't get it replaced until tomorrow. : ( 

... to really, greatly, HUGELY dislike said jerk for stealing my phone.  Oh, and the police who refuse to do anything about it.

... to not really be looking forward to my class reunion this weekend. Does anyone really enjoy these??

... to be ecstatic about Christmas already! {hey! I get a free pass - we started Christmas production rehearsals last week, it's impossible to not feel festive if you're singing Christmas songs!}

...to not understand why dental visits have to be so expensive!!

What's OK with you this week?