I need a change!

I want to change my blog. I'm not sure how though. I know how to change the template, but can anyone recommend a site that will help you personalize it? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Christmas on the Bayou

So, I'm sure that you all are wondering how we celebrate Christmas here on the bayou. You would think that we can't have parades or anything... well, I'm here to change your mind. Check this out!

And yet another cool crafty site!

So, I just think that homemade gift bags and tags are the coolest... here's another cool site with fun stuff to print and put together! Enjoy!
http://www.dltk-cards.com/

Another Cool Craft Site

I just found another cool website with lots of "kid-friendly" projects. Check it out....
http://www.favecrafts.com/

Hooray for me!

Happy Birthday to me!! I deserve to be happy! I proudly say that I am 41 years young today. I've been through so much in my lifetime, I deserve to enjoy my life now. I have super-great kids (and step kids); wonderfully funny husband; awesome friends and family; and a God that loves me! What could possibly make my life any more perfect?

So, my 40th birthday, I was still in Crosby. DD surprised me by decorating my office in all blue balloons... yes, I said blue! My birthday falls right after Halloween - she couldn't find black balloons! I had black roses and tombstones on my desk. And lots and lots of blue balloons! AND posted reminders EVERYWHERE (including the potty) that I was 40! I miss my gurls.

Happy Birthday to me!

for Debbie!

Debbie - I am so proud to know you! I am proud of you! In honor of your return to work, I'm also wearing pink today. You have inspired people that you don't even know. You are an inspiration to me for sure. I continue to pray for you and your family. God is good..... and you are blessed!

Bar B Que!

So... Mr. Corona (superintendent) told me when I first started that he needed to bar-b-que again... now that a Texan was "among us". Today is the day! YUMMY! I brought chocolate eclair desert - Thanks DD for finding the recipe, yet again, for me! I already smell like bbq. I CAN'T WAIT!

Rainy Days

I'm having a sad day today.... I don't know if it's the weather or not, but I'm missing my extended family in Texas. I miss DD blessing me all the time when I sneeze! I miss Kari sending me IMs for hugs! I miss Ms. Wilma's advise. I miss Mr. Batman's silly jokes. I miss Kim's smile. I miss Mr. D waving to me from across the street. I miss Renee fussing at her kids on the phone. I miss Becky. I miss Joyce... being lost as a goose - I think she's figured it out now though! I miss Dorie walking by my desk to go potty. I miss Debbie's awesome attitude - no matter how she really feels. I miss Doris. I miss Ms. Jo telling stories about Mason. I miss Donna.... in all her seriousness! I miss Diane's "mommy" hugs. I miss Sheryl's beautiful Christian attitude - she still inspires me! I miss Sherry's bubbly laugh. I miss Su's "you're wonderful" encouragement! I miss Susan. I miss Tammy - she always knew (and I hope continues to know) that I am here for her - she always makes me feel needed as a friend! .... I miss Crosby ISD.

Update

Things are moving along over here... in the Sportsman State! Kevin and I are both busy doing things around our little house. Kevin and my dad are getting the pole set for the electricity. We should be moving the trailer to the "big tree" next weekend. I suppose it will depend on how long it takes the light company to do their thing.

Mom is doing well. Her recovery is amazing! Her therapy is going well. She'll be up running marathons before too long!

Bible study is almost over.... sad! I'll miss it! I may have been behind on our studies every week, but I sure did enjoy it. I'm thankful for Julie. She has been a God-send to me. She gives me spiritual strength... even if she doesn't know it! THANK YOU JULIE!

We're headed to TX this weekend. It is already a well-packed weekend. Kari is coming over Saturday night for dinner and movies. I can't wait to sleep late and snuggle with my Pootman. I miss him sooo much! He's an awesome young man. Usually Krissi works evening shifts, so we'll get to spend the morning with her and Cody. It will be a cheap trip, but that's okay by me!

Anyway, there's our update. We're doing great. I hope all of our family and friends are as well. God is good.... all the time!

Anthony's Grades

Reading 84
Math 90
Band 96
Science 77
Health 100

Another Monday

I made it through my first week at West Baton Rouge Parish School Board. I'm really enjoying my job and the people that I work with. My supervisor and I are working on getting me started on various projects. I'm sure I'll be super busy within a month or so - or at least I hope! We made another trip to Texas this weekend. We didn't get to see Anthony, but we did see Krissi, Kady and Josh. All of the kiddos are doing well. We spent time with Kari, Tammy, and Susan at Chili's and then the Comedy Showcase. What a fun time we had! I really miss my girlfriends! We are returning this weekend to spend time with Anthony. I'm thinkin we may just pick him up and come back to Louisiana. He wants to see his Gramma and Popo. He spent time with his step-grandparents this weekend and said he had a super time. That may be part of why he's missing my parents. Anthony will be with his dad for Thanksgiving, so there won't be any extended visits with my parents until Christmas. Anyway... that's our latest news... nothing exciting! YIPPEE!! I love you all!

I GOT A JOB!

West Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
Don't know the pay yet.
Grant Administrative Assistant
I work in the administration building in Lobdell (next door to where Kev works).
More later.....

Crafty ME!

I forgot that not all of my friends use FB, so I'm posting a few pics of the new window treatments in the portable apartment here.









This was my "challenge" window. It is the front window and is at a slope. I had to "tie" the drape down and then rig up a way to raise the curtain up and down..... IT WORKS! And I happen to think it looks good! (If I do say so myself!)















Ignore the mess.... crafts are messy! (and yes, Ruffles got in on the action)


Hope you enjoy the pics! It was a blast to make them! More crafty things to come... I'll keep working on them until I get a job! And that sure doesn't look hopeful at this point!

CraftBits.com

I found a really great craft web-site for those that are crafty... I guess, like me! Check it out for some fun stuff to do with your kids (or by yourself if you get bored). Enjoy.

www.craftbits.com

Tootin his horn

Stepping Up - Beth Moore

The ladies at the Grosse Tete Baptist Church have begun a journey together. We have begun the "Stepping Up" series by Beth Moore. It's a 7 week course where we will study the Psalms of Ascent. The Hebrew translation for ascent means "to go up". Just listening to the introduction today.... I SOO NEED THIS JOURNEY WITH FRIENDS!!! We are going to be studying Psalm 120-134. The scripture today that made the largest impact on me was Leviticus 9:22-24, "...And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." FACEDOWN! FACEDOWN! WOW! What an humbling word for me! I needed to share this with you all.... my friends and family. As things progress, I will keep you updated! I will be "stepping up"!

I am blessed!

So... look what was in my inbox this morning....

Church this morning

Kevin and I explored out of Grosse Tete this morning and attended a different church than Grosse Tete Baptist. We went to a church called Harvest Church, in Port Allen (about 15 minutes up the road). What a blessing! Their normal pastor wasn't there today, so I'm looking forward to next week so we can hear him teach; however, today's lesson was super! He called it "The Bible in a Nutshell". He told us how God created Adam as a perfect image.... body, soul, and spirit. Then how Adam ruined his accountability. And now, how we have to strive to regain that perfect image in God's eyes - body, soul, and spirit. What a blessing we received this morning. This pastor drew diagrams on a dry-erase board that I believe will stick in my head for quite some time. God is Good - All the Time!

Cajun Jambalaya

I try to keep tabs on Viv and follow her recipes! I love her photos! Kari is doing it some too. Man, if I would have only had my camera yesterday.... you gals would have gotten a treat!!! My cousin (Rhonda) and I made jambalaya yesterday - AND NOT OUT OF A BOX! OMG... YUMMY! My aunt kept fussin at me, telling me to keep my spoon out of the pot and let it cook. What a memory! (and a dinner!) I'll definitely have my camera from now on when I go over there... just in case. Oh yeh, for desert.... a german chocolate cake. Now, I don't like coconut, but it sure was fun toasting it. Thanks, Rhonda, for a super great afternoon and a memory that I won't soon forget!

For my surrogant Mother!

So, I've realized that a few of my friends are still blogging here. I thought since I have nothing but time on my hands I would blog again as well!

Here goes our latest.... We have moved to Grosse Tete, LA. We live on my parents' property (about 100+ acres) in our "portable apartment". Kevin has found working driving school buses for West Baton Rouge Parish School Board. I'm still searching. I don't mind our living arrangements, but I sure do hate not having a job.

Kevin and I have been attending Grosse Tete Baptist Church with my parents. It's not "home", but I have met a wonderful new friend (HI JULIE!). Don't get me wrong, the people are wonderful there and we feel welcomed, but I'm not being "fed". They continue to invite me to the bible study programs, but I just don't believe that's what I'm looking for. I need to be able to dance before the Lord and sing happy songs and clap and rejoice..... I usually fall asleep. It's not because I don't like the pastor. Pastor Billy is super for a Baptist preacher, but you guys know how I am.... I need to be entertained... even before the Lord! Just continue to pray for Kevin and I to find the "home" that we belong in. btw... the women's group is starting a new study program on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to it! Julie is leading us in studying "Stepping Up" by Beth Moore. Anyway... I'm really looking forward to it! (And YES, Tam.... I continue to read my devotional every morning! Thank you for the encouragement!)

Back to the job search (not my fave subject). I've applied for all sorts of jobs... NOTHING! I've done some interviewing but it seems like the job market here in Louisiana is about as bleak as it is in Houston... all of a sudden. There are no postings in the papers anymore. Continue to pray for the job that The Lord wants me in! I know it's there... the Lord just hasn't put me there yet.

I miss being in the schools! I miss my children! I miss Texas. Things are very different here. It's like a different world. People move slow. Things move slow. I'm struggling to adjust.

I've taught myself to knit... I've been crocheting for 20 years. I'm struggling with it, but I'll get there. I made curtains for the portable apartment and they look super. Still digging through photos that I can put up on the walls.... not a lot of wall space. We're going to be fixing the flooring in the trailer in the next few weeks and taking the couch out... that should be interesting. We're going to put some small recliners in instead.

Ruffles is wonderful! He enjoys being out here. He runs like crazy! Chases everything... from coons to birds and me! Gumbo (the red-eared turtle) has at least doubled in size in the last 6 months. He spends time outside in the dog kennel every day to soak up some rays. I don't know if he likes it or not.... turtles aren't real emotional. ~grin~

I'm going to go work on my last window treatment and clean up my mess. I love you all and miss you desperately! DD I will continue to update you here!