The same old things

It has been a long week.

By Tuesday I really was wishing for Friday.



Mike is having job stress again. Or should I say still... it really never goes away. He is absolutely miserable in his job and that is a big stress in daily life for us. My job is great. I have no stress. Except for his job issues so I can't even imagine working like he does and being unhappy. I've just never been there. I've had seasons of discontent in jobs but nothing like this.




This week we were teased with a mention of a job back in the Dallas area. I didn't want to get my hopes up and glad I didn't as it turned out to be only that, a mention.


I know we are here for a reason. I know the right job will present itself. One day. I know it's not this week. I know it's not from lack of prayer on my part.


When this job interview came up I called my praying friends. I love that I have that support! I knew the issue was well covered in prayer and I am so thankful for that.


Speaking of thankful.

Last night I got a text from a friend. I've mentioned her before... we worked together at the school in Flower Mound and she lives out here now also... her husband is on staff at a church in an even smaller town outside of Lubbock.



We met for dinner and coffee tonight.
We went to Rockfish and had the Ahi Tuna Nacho's. I wish I had taken a picture to post.
They were soooo goood!
We spent a long time there and then moved to Starbuck's to continue our time talking about what we miss, how different it is here and about adjusting to smaller town life.

It was just what I needed. It's amazing how refreshing it is just to visit with a friend.
I wish Mike could have a dose of that! 


So, if you've had a long week, call a friend, go to Rockfish and please please order the Ahi Nacho's. I may have to go back tomorrow and have them again.



Want to meet me there?

If I have it at 11 and call it lunch they won't know it's a tea party

When the girls were little I gave them a valentine tea party almost every year. 

The last few they have not allowed it, it was way to childish. 

So, this year I gave them a "luncheon".  It was very much the same thing but we called it by a more grown up name...We still had tea and fancy dishes, they wore dresses (which was completely their own idea) the were served girly food. 

So, it was really a tea party, don't tell them...

They all ate the soup and salads just to get to this...

Elvis stayed close by the chocolate fountain and drooled A LOT

sweet niece Jesse stopped by when she heard about party food

This is my sweet friend from work who when she heard about the party asked if she could come help serve... I turned around and found her doing dishes.  That's a sweet friend.

You can put them in dresses but you can't make them sit correctly

 (those are shorts by the way, she had already lifted up the dress to show us)

I just thought it was funny when I started looking at pictures and found this...

and we sent them home with a cute 'oreo pop' (wrapped up cute of course)

I think they enjoyed it.  I did.  Just wish they had left me a little chicken salad....

I wish I had known him better

I went to a funeral today.  I walked in without a tissue because I didn't know him terribly well and didn't even think about crying.  Now, I'm not sure why I didn't plan better since it would be a miracle if I didn't cry even if I had never met him.  Weddings, funerals, baptisms, school programs, 8th grade orientation, ok, pretty much anything, I might cry...

So, I cried.  I didn't cry for loss because, as I said I hadn't know him that long.  I cried because it was sweet.  I cried because he lived a life that made a difference and you could tell by the people who spoke about him.  He loved Jesus and  they celebrated that.  They told stories of a wonderful man who loved life so much that all the people who knew him seemed to have no choice but to have that same love.
I felt so proud for his children to hear what they already knew.  And I imagined how proud they must have been to be his child....It made me sad I didn't know all about him or know him longer...

Let me tell you how we met. 

One night shortly after moving to Lubbock an older gentleman called and inquired about who we were and did we spell our name the same as his... We had visited a church and someone there saw our unusual last name and decided we must be related to his friend so he called and gave him our phone number.  I was quickly learning that we had moved to a smaller town.

We did have the same last name and of course, my husband wasn't home to talk to him.  So between me naming the few in-law's I knew and him talking about some, we discovered that he and my husband were cousins.  His grandfather was also my husbands great grandfather.  That grandfather had a millon (or 17) kids so it's no wonder that they don't all know each other. 
A couple of weeks later, he called again.  This time he did visit with Mike and they discussed all the family.  He lived about an hour from here and we talked about going to visit him sometime...
He continued to call us about every two weeks "just to check on us".... Mostly talking to me.  He was a charming man and easy to talk to and with every conversation I learned more about him and his family. 

Several months into this he called to tell me that he and his wife had moved to Lubbock to an assited living apartment.  This is the first time I realized how old he was.  He certainly didn't sound that old.

Since they were right here in town, about a mile away actually, I made Mike and the kids come with me to meet them. 
There were the grandparent type people who made you feel like family from the first time you met them.  He was so interesting to talk to that Mike loved to go and sit and just visit with him.  He told him all about their grandfather.  He told him WWII stories.  He had been mayor of Plainview for years, he owned a business, he had children that he was so proud of... we enjoyed all the stories. 

We continued going to visit on a regular basis, enjoying every visit and every story.  We knew they appreciated the visits but we were doing it for us.  I'm thankful that we got to know him for a little while.  I'm amazed how much I learned about him today. 

I hope that one day I've left that sort of impression on people, on my kids, that I've made a differnce and lived for Jesus like he did.

I look forward to visiting with you again one day Gene.

Super beauxl food

I grew up in South Mississippi where everyone is a Saints fan.  I was so excited to see them make it all the way to the super bowl!  And since I can't often talk the family into the good food I grew up on... in honor of my home area we had some cajun food for ballgame snacks. And it was SO GOOD!
Fried shrimp and Jambalya were the main things, Mike had to throw in some wings just for good measure.

Jambalaya

(and it's worth the effort)

1 lb chicken chopped

1/2 lb sausage

1 lb shrimp peeled

1 onion chopped

4 cloves garlic minced

1 green pepper chopped

1 C chopped celery

1 lg can diced tomatoes

3 cups chicken broth

2 cups uncooked white rice

2 tbsp parsley

1 tsp tabasco

3 tbsp oil

Slice sausage into thin slices.  Brown in skillet and remove. 

 Heat oil in dutch oven.  Sautee onion, green pepper and celery for 5 minutes. 

 Add chopped chicken and con't cooking on low for about 15 min.  Add can of tomatoes (do not drain) and 3 cups chicken broth.

Simmer for 45 min.

Add 2 cups rice, garlic, parsley, tabsco sausage and shrimp.

Bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover, stiring occ. for approx. 30 min. or until rice is tender.

It was almost like being in the French Quarter

Except we were home and Kellie made cookies

A cute new book and a photo shoot

We've had a very routine week around here...Mike has been so busy with work however, that I have done all of the kid stuff... which compared to what he's doing is easy, but I was ready for the weekend.

Friday afternoon I got to spend a couple of hours out with a friend.  That was such a treat!  No kids with us and I only had one phone call from them.  That's a record!  Both girls had a friend spend the night so that kept them busy and that made for a relaxing night for me. 
Today is 'favorite' kind of day, there is a pot of soup on and I'm trying really hard to not leave the house! 

Then this morning a friend came over and we worked on making us each a new address book.  Of course I am copying the idea from another friend...

Now picture this with holes punched and all put together....

I didn't really need a new address book but really, really loved Kim's so I needed to copy it!  So here we are... I enjoyed using some of the Christmas card pictures we have gotten in it...

Everytime I go to upload pictures I find some pictures that I didn't take... seems there are frequent photo shoots going on by my girls....

who's this kid?

  no, just kidding, she's one of the friends that I think might be living here....

wonder what this was about????

A crafty kind of snow day

Oh, how I love a snow day!  A bonus day.  A gift of a day.  A nothing planned because I should be at work day.  That is what today was. 
I've already covered how much I love snow... that's one of the reason I loved today.  I watched a lot of snow ball fights and playing in our back yard.  But the best part about today was getting to do some fun crafty things. 
Since my dining table was still covered in craft things from last weekends fun, I decided I could clean it up today or keep playing in the mess... I chose the mess.  We ate popcorn and watched movies in our P.J.'s while we crafted...

I am forcing a "Valentine Luncheon" on my girls in a couple of weeks.  When they were little we had a Valentine tea every year but the last couple of years they wouldn't agree to it... but this year I told them I was giving them a lunch for their friends and they couldn't stop me.  They have come around some, I think they are even getting excited about it now.  So, one of my projects I needed to get done was the invitation...

I had ran across an idea for a cute wreath made from burlap and since I have a love of burlap I knew I needed to make it...

When I looked back at the site today, she is having a "valentine party" with links to other blogs with valentine crafts.  That may take up the rest of my night tonight...

                                                    

It was very easy and basic but I really like it hanging on the mirror...

I also made a little Love garland for the entertainment center...

And while the glue gun was on.... when Jennifer was here with her cute headband she had made, the girls asked for me to make them a few ...

I guess tomorrow I should really clean the dining room....

I think maybe I am part Eskimo after all

I was born in Alaska and adopted at birth by my very pale, very Southern parents.  They then sent pictures of their sweet new baby back to their family and the family thought by looking at the pictures of the not so pale, jet black crazy haired baby that they had surely adopted an Eskimo.   We left Alaska when I was a toddler to go back to South Mississippi where I'm not sure if I ever saw a snow flake. 
 
I realize that my favorite memories of places I have lived have been places with a real winter...in Iran and in Colorado Springs I remember the winter as my favorite time!  And now in Lubbock.  Who knew I would ever say that??? 

I heart snowy weather!!!

 I know I won't like it when we have a day to make up at school but I am glad we are having a snow day tomorrow. 
I stopped by the grocery store on the way home for a few things.  I quickly realized that everyone in the area must also be having chili for dinner tonight as the mix I usually buy, or any mix for that matter, was gone from the shelf...

So, Chili from scratch is on the stove, the fireplace is burning, and two wet dogs are asleep by it.  (The dogs also love the snow)

shortly after this picture, my oh so sweet girl was babbling about a problem with getting snow out of a "crack"

Do you see these brand new boots?  Why did she not think to wear the old boots????

"they have to get old sometime" was her reply

gotta love her...

And I'm going to spend my unexpected day off looking for a new job for us in Alaska or Canada or Maine.  Oh, and a new igloo to live in...