S'mores, Friends, and What Fibro Feels Like Today

I had so much fun last night after dinner making s'mores with hubster! It was such fun to have an excuse to eat s'mores and be silly.
__________

I got a card recently from my bestest friend (remember this post?), and it was such a sweet, cheerer-upper kind of card. You know, regular mail. Remember what that is? ;)

So I just had to share it with you...

You know how there are some friends
who can come over
when your hair is dirty
and your dishes are piling,
and they still love you...

And there are some friends
who start nodding
when you're three words
into your sentence,
because they know what
you're going to say,
and already agree...

And there are some friends
you can tell
"That really hurt my feelings,"
even though it's scary
but you care about them
so much it's worth resolving...

And there are some friends
who you can giggle with
about anything,
because you happen
to have the same
sense of humor.

You and I
are ALL those friends
and more!

(c) American Greetings

I love it! It made my day, brought a smile to my face, and a tear to my eye. It's so special to have a friend like that, who knows when you need to hear stuff like that. And I'm so thankful to have such an array of close friends who lift me up when I need it, encourage me when I need it, and tell it to me like it is when I need it! :) I'm so blessed and so thankful. And I'm thankful for all of you blogging friends and the way you've touched my heart and life too! So thanks!!!
________

Today I had to get a 32 oz. Pepsi to help me stay awake. Today I feel like someone jumped on my back. Today I feel like someone stuffed my nose full of kleenex and I can't breathe. Today I feel like my neck is on backwards. Today I feel drowsy, fatigued, exhausted, perplexed, but not despaired. I know God is in control. I have to stay positive so I don't feel worse. I want to remain positive and not let Satan get the best of me. So...

Today is another great day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it [even though I feel like crap]!!

:)

Organizing Our Hallway Closet

After getting deeper into the blogosphere earlier this year, I was feeling quite inspired by the organizing whirlwind out there. Everyone seems to be into the organizing spirit.

I love it.

I just don't do it very often because it takes so much work and energy I normally do not have to spare on something like organizing. Years ago before Fibro, loved it. Now I love it in spirit, hate it in body.

So on January 30th, I started a project that took a lot of time and energy, but it was well worth it. A dear friend and coworker, Sherah, took me around to local resale shops, Good Will, and a nifty store around here called Deals. It's all under $5. They had some pretty spiffy storage containers that I fell in love with.


Looking back now, I wish I had done a few things differently... like measure the space, really search for the right containers instead of just grabbing what I thought I liked best because it was the first set I laid eyes on, and colorize.

That's right. I did not measure the space so that I would know how wide the containers should be or how they would fit next to each other [did not work out the way I envisioned]. I did not ever see any anywhere else that I preferred, but I did wonder if I'd looked a little harder, would I have found something I liked better and worked more effectively for my strange space? I did not match colors super well either. {sigh}

But despite my mistakes on it, I'm still super-duper happy with it.

And given that I got sick right in the middle of it, I'd say it's not too shabby that I finally finished it about 3 weeks later in mid-February.

BEFORE: (yes, it's embarrassing....)

You can't tell completely, but this is one funky closet. It goes over our stairs to the basement, so it gets deeper and deeper at each level. It's very oddly designed. There's not a whole lot you can do with it, but I think I did a pretty good job.....

AFTER:

(And yes, now we intentionally buy smaller packages of toilet paper and paper towels.)

Come on, let me hear all the horrahs!!! :)

TA DA!!!! :) I'm happy!! What do you think? It is soooo great to be able to go in, grab a container or an item, and not have to rummage around for forever to find something or ultimately give up trying to find it! [I found a lot of things at the bottom of some layers in here that surprised me! Like, "ohhhh, that's where that was all this time!" Doh!]

And yes, next time I will not buy containers with jagged edges so that my labels actually STICK!

Have you recently organized something and would like to share it with others? Check out the I'm an Organizing Junkie blog, and join in on today's post.



HAPPY ORGANIZING!

I love, love, love event planning...

...but it doesn't always love me.

Before fibro, I loved event planning immensely. Helping people on a special day means a lot to me. But now, it's a bit more difficult and sometimes so incredibly painful that the planning becomes almost impossible. I haven't quite figured out a way around this, except to just slowly back away from doing as much event planning as I did previously.

That makes me sad, but I'm not sure how else to handle it for now. The hardest is wedding planning on the day of the actual wedding. I haven't done one since I have fibro, and since I know that even without it, it was utterly exhausting, I doubt I'd be able to handle it as well. But I hope to give it a try someday, and be successful at it.

With that said... I'm so excited to share with you a website called Moments of Elegance. I found it through one of my favorite new blogs 30 Days Homemade.

Please go check out both sites! They have phenomenal stuff, and I'm really excited about it... I hope you are too. And especially if you're planning an upcoming event, definitely check out Moments of Elegance!!

Hubster's New Toy

Tim got a new toy in the mail today... a laptop he purchased with money he got for Christmas. I love seeing him so filled with glee. He's so excited to not have to "fight" over my laptop for looking at Facebook and what not anymore! ;) He is so cute. But I had to wonder if this means I will see him and talk to him less... hmmm... but ah well. He's happy, so I'm happy. I'm sure it'll be great. And that thing is TINY! It's unreal. And the battery lasts like 6 hours... mine lasts about 20 minutes. Good gravy.

Neat Christmas Lights Videos

I love these videos of neat Christmas lights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTbpuQzMnxA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szLmAPW39uE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot-B4V8oqPQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgrQdxzFAtM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PthNHQbxyWg

I cannot believe how much work so many people put into this! It's amazing. I think they all look/sound wonderful. Enjoy!!

ESV Study Bible, Now available

The ESV Study Bible officially releases today! This is VERY exciting!!!

If you preordered a copy somewhere, it should arrive shortly. Otherwise, hopefully your local Christian bookstore has it in stock and you'll be able to get it that way.

For more details visit www.esvstudybible.org.

Not much longer for the ESV Study Bible official release!

Remembering Rich

It was 11 years ago today when my favorite Christian singer and songwriter, Rich Mullins, was killed in a tragic car accident. He felt like a close, personal friend almost, and it was devastating to hear the news. Eleven years later, he's still greatly remembered and recognized as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. To Rich though, he was just an average person following God's lead and seeking after his final home in heaven.

This morning on my way to work the people on the radio (John & Sherry Rivers on K-Love) were talking about him, remembering him as a friend of theirs, and playing a lot of his songs. That was a great way to come to work and to start my day... listening to Rich Mullins songs never really gets old to me. I may forget sometimes and may put his CDs on the shelf for a while, but whenever I bring them back out they're as wonderful as always. I'm so thankful John & Sherry mentioned him and remembered him this morning. I think it's good to remember people like him. He had an impact on so many lives, and he definitely touched my brother, my mom, and me.

I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. A bunch of friends and I had just come back from our college president's house for an ice cream social. My roommate and I walked back into our dorm room and saw the message light blinking on our answering machine. Then I heard my mom giving me the sad news that Rich had died. It was hard to hear it that way, but also such a shock that I fell to the floor sobbing. I couldn't believe it. I went into the hallway and told some of our floormates.

I remember the first time I saw Rich in concert and how surprised I was that he came out on the stage in jeans and with no shoes on. I thought that was pretty great that he felt comfortable enough with himself to do that.

I remember how amazed I was the first time I saw him playing his hammer dulcimer. What an amazing instrument. And oh man, could he ever play it!

I remember the first time I read the story of his life and how simple of a life it was. He truly was a remarkable man... a sinner after God's own heart, saved only by grace.

I remember hearing him make fun of his singing and his voice. I loved it. I think he was so talented and gifted, and I'm glad he started singing (at first he just started writing, like when Amy Grant first sang his song "Sing Your Praise to the Lord"). He really ministered to a lot of people through writing, speaking, and singing. He was very down-to-earth, real, and heavenly all at the same time.

I remember his interesting music videos, how unique they were because he was so unique:

Hold Me Jesus

The Color Green

Here in America

I remember some of his live performances, now remembered with some live video captured and shown on YouTube (of course :)):

Screen Door [one of my favorite things EVER!]

Concert Part 1

Concert Part 2 [playing the lap dulcimer about halfway through]

Concert Part 3

Concert Part 4

Concert Part 5 [this is the best one for listening to him talk for a while]

Concert Part 6

Concert Part 7

Concert Part 8

Concert Part 9 [this one seems to be missing :( ]

Concert Part 10 [good message about salvation!]

Concert Part 11

Concert Part 12

Concert Part 13 [repeats a little of the end of part 12]

I remember his contagious laugh. I remember the interviews that I saw or heard and he sounded so simple, yet so in love with Jesus.

Rich on Love

Be Assertive

Driving without Headlights

Sensationalism

Sex and Self Confidence

I remember visiting his gravesite on a vacation with mom & Tim (brother), many years ago now, as we went through Indiana. I remember how sad that was for me.

I remember his face. I remember his writing. I remember his songs. I remember his legacy.

I remember him not as being this fantastic person that flaunted what he had (didn't have), but instead this amazing guide and resource to point us to the God he believed in. I'm sure Rich wouldn't want to be remembered. I want to help use this as a time to remember Rich not because of Rich, but because of who he was in God and how much he did for God.

Today, Rich, we remember you. We remember the legacy you left us of seeking after God and yearning for heaven. And we are reminded that all our lives are a little less "Rich" without you. We look forward to the day we again see you in heaven. Remembering always that Our God is an AWESOME GOD!

A final word from Rich's close friend, Mitch McVicker.

For more information, visit the memorial website set up for Rich.

Picture taken from his memorial website, not sure who the photo originally belongs to.

ESV Study Bible

There are a number of online resources related to the ESV Study Bible. Please help us spread the word by sharing these links with others.

You Tube Video (5-minute clip)

Official blog

Official webpage

Facebook group page

Order your ESV Study Bible today!

Death by Love, by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

Get this book!!!!! (To be published in September.)

Death by Love, by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

http://www.crossway.org/product/9781433501296

And this audio book of the same name!!!!

http://www.crossway.org/product/9781433505782

I personally prefer the audio book, especially in this case. I am, at this very moment, sound-checking this audio book before it goes to the duplicator. It is POWERFUL & AMAZING!! I think this could be a life-changer for many people. I am very excited about it. But know that it is blunt, real, honest, and in some cases, brutal. I like the approach because I think it's needed in our day. And I enjoy listening to Mark Driscoll's voice.

Weird Holidays

I cannot help but laugh sometimes at the weird daily holidays that someone made up. Here's a site I found that contains all the information I want to know to give me a good laugh, or to just celebrate something because it's fun.

www.holidays.net/dailys.htm

Today this site is choosing to celebrate National Pizza Party Day. I think that's a great idea! Dig into some pizza everyone!! Here are a couple of my favs:

www.giordanos.com
www.ginoseast.com
www.dominos.com
www.pizzahut.com
www.loumalnatis.com
www.californiapizzakitchen.com - no delivery
And then of course I have some local favorites but they don't have web sites.

And in other news, I get to go to the dentist today for my semi-annual cleaning. Yippee.

Bolsa Chica Website

My good friend and coworker, Monica Gee, just started her own business (on the side, of course). She's a seamstress specializing in bags and purses. I'm so excited for her in this new adventure! Please go check out her site and show your support!

www.bolsachica.etsy.com

Thanks!

Beautiful video on Ecclesiastes 3

A friend of mine sent me this link and I just had to share it with you, it is so beautiful. Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this!

http://www.biblesociety.ca/free_scriptures/escriptures/ecclesiastes/

Click on "View". You'll need Flash Player and if you don't have it, they provide you with a link where you can download it for free.

Be blessed!

Amazing Video

We watched this amazing video in church this morning. It was on this skit that a group did apparently at Winterfest in Knoxville, TN, in 2006. You may want to grab a kleenex or two.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5