Sprouts

22 Alyssum

6 Marigold

6 Cosmos

2 Catnip

9 Snap Dragon

17 Mountain Phlox

4 Red Zinnia

1 Fox Glove

I had to count... it is just too exciting...

Still waiting for petunias, impatiens... lots more

Probably in late march / april it's time to start on the veggies!

Wow, time is flying by and I have lots to do!

Look at the snow... everyone drive safe today!

New Bundle!

A grand welcome to the newest member of the Stenglein and Armbruster Families. Maxwell Armbruster was born on friday night and weighed in at 7lb12oz. Mike and I went to visit the little guy on Sunday afternoon all he wanted to do was sleepy sleep... very cute! Finally! Tom isn't the only guy in the house! From right to left... Kristen, Mike's oldest Sister holding Max, next to her Molly their oldest daughter, Next to Molly is Tom, Kris's hubby with little Lucy on his lap. Aren't they a cute family! I love the names they've picked too!

Appropriate

I received this in an E-Mail this morning from a ministry that has me on their list...

“So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

and this was at the end...

“Father, you know my days. You know the life you want me to live. Give me the strength to embrace life so fully that I live as though each day is a precious commodity.”

This is how I need to be living .... I get down on myself that I waste time... or am not as productive or as proactive as I wish I were... I am the only one who can make the choice to spend my time more wisely.

Yesterday turned out to be plenty busy... I didn't get to cross anything off the house-list... but I was able to chip away at some things on one of the other lists. Ya know laundry, check books... go to the bank... make dinner... samples, quotes... dilly dally a bit...everything takes time.

Anyway... Mike is still sick, stayed home again... a real doozie this one... Yikes.

I had an errand to run down south today... so I stopped by that "Eurofresh" on 159th and Harlem... have to say I'll go back... whizzing through the produce section and glancing at a few things, prices looked pretty... lunchmeat lower than Jewel and of course Dominicks... Suprise! (note the sarcasm)
Most importantly they had the chihuahua cheese... I figured they would... that's the main reason I went in there...
For anyone who is curious about chihuahua cheese... it's the white cheese on your burrito, taco enchilada etc when you go out for Mexican (not taco bell). It's what gives it that "you couldn't make it this good at home" taste. That and the corn tortillas... never use flour... I don't know why the recipes say use cheddar cheese and flour tortillas.
Maybe the people who write the recipes are in co-hoots with the people who own mexican restaraunts.
Some of my seeds started to sprout today... Exciting... I went and got more plastic things (I don't know what they're called) to start more... ridiculous... I know.

I have been feeling like I need to seek God more... am I looking too hard? Things seem to be going fine actually, I just feel a little alone. I have been led to read 1Chronicles during my morning time... this is interesting because David really did earnestly seek God. I am hoping to get some insight on this state

Today...

Lots to pick from... what should I do?

I started a job yesterday and finished..... how great... I get a bonus day off. I love finishing a job... It's fun to see a happy and excited customer... but I love getting paid too! :)

Mike is home sick today... it started with a cough... I think it's more flu-ish... he is tired an achy. (Let sleeping husbands lye)

I have a list of to-do's around the house a mile long too... Maybe I can cross something off. Going to look at another job at noon... YAY!... Hopefully more work!

I finished Anne's scarf... I hope she likes it... just gotta take it to the post office.... then decide what to make next!

HMMMM... anyone know where I can get Chihuahua cheese around here? Enchiladas are just not the same with cheddar ... or whatever else?.....

Good Bye Heath

I'm sure this shocking news was sad for everyone to hear...

It seems like everyone really liked this guy.

I know Mike and I really enjoy the movie Knights Tale.

Prayers to his friends and family.

American Idol

I watched American Idol last night..... I really haven't watched that show since pretty much the first season, and even then I only saw a portion of an episode or two. I don't know why I just never really got into it. But anyways, Mike had lots of homework to do and there wasn't really anything else on so I watched the whole thing.

WORST PARTS:
1. When they laughed at that guy. He really seemed like a nice guy, and he believed in himself. That's about one of the worst things you could do is discourage another person from anything.
2. When the hippie chick lashed out with the middle fingers and all... why did they have to show so much of that? It was disturbing and the show is not live, so they purposely took up air time with that.

Now I remember why I never got into that show. It's over all, not nice.... and that Simon guy is full of snide remarks. I doubt he's happy in real life either.

BEST PART:
When Paula and the other guy hugged that 16-year old girl that cried. Then they walked her out and hugged her parents too.
Why couldn't they have been encourageing and compassionate like that with the others?

I don't know maybe, I just don't get it.

By the way, apparently Mike didn't need harrassment to get his blog going... however he's got to change his settings so that we can view it.

Where is Mike's Blog???

I had myself a chuckle the other day.... and I thought... let's have some fun! I'm sure that I am not the only one who has noticed how Mike (my husband) has all this fun reading and making comments on everyone elses blog...
Then I started to think...... who does this guy think he is? (written with sarcasm and giggles) Where is Mike's blog???
Anyone wondering the same thing??? I'm sure he'll stop by and visit sometime today... feel free to leave comments, words of encouragement [tee hee], or just simply HANG HIM OUT TO DRY!!!
Have a little fun... he can handle it... after all.....

Where IS Mike's Blog???

Strengthening the Bond at "Inconvenient" times

Why do bad things happen to GREAT people? We will never have all of the answers or understanding until God's perfect time.
Although it is most difficult to get a handle on the concept when we are hurting: God uses painful experiences in our lives to draw us (and those around us) closer to him. Using these experiences to seek and understand God's will in our lives will prepare us for the next mountain we have to climb.
Not only so, we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Rom 5:3

May difficult and painful times in your life be accompanied by comfort and a renewed spirit.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Mt 5:4

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Ps 51:10

NIV

The warm weather we HAD (and is now gone) gave me just enough of a taste for spring...

I should finish my current painting project this afternoon... I am happy about how things are turning out... now I just have to get over there and finish! It's kinda silly for me to get there before 10 anyway... It'll only take me 1/2 hour or so to base-coat the bathroom... then while that dries I will go stencil and srtipe the conference room... but I can't get in there 'til 11 anyway. Yada Yada I'm rambling... (or justifying my traditional late start.)

ANYWAY where I was going with this whole spring thing...... I got really excited on sunday about getting my seeds started! This weekend I am going to put up some shelves by the window in the laundry room.. last year I had a card table there. This year I want to do lots more!!

Last year was my first year, and I did all annual flowers. Some I had luck with and some not so much. A couple things I learned... start them earlier... do some veggies too... and don't use those "mossy" containers... they got moldy and started breaking apart way before planting time!

It is so fun to watch them pop up!

I'm off to paint! YAY! I just have to do a couple sit-ups ( I need to get into a routine) and load up my car! I'm getting a bit of a late start... but they don't want me to come 'til 10 today anyway... however I still have to make a stop at Home Depot! YIKES!!

So far this week has been one blessing after another... on monday I got almost everything done I had planned for monday AND tuesday... and on top of that I got 6 referrals in 2 days! I don't think I had that many in one MONTH in 2007..... I hope this keeps up for 2008!

New Years / New Me?

Although we have the opportunity and power to change the way we live or make decisions on a weekly, daily, instantaneous basis the new year is often viewed as an opportunity to get a fresh start. This year there are (as always) lots of areas in my life that I would like to either improve on or eliminate.
I want to serve God in every way and parts of me have to die in order to do so.

We are all given the freedom to choose the types of changes we will make. How comforting to know that we don't have to go through change alone:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Php 4:13
I am the Lord your God "I will never leave you, I will never Forsake you" Heb 13:5

If you haven't talked to God in a while, know that he has never left your side and he never will. How absoultely amazing!

No other God promises so many things : unconditional love, forgiveness, strength, courage, healing, redemption, ETERNITY, happiness, peace, everything that is good, everything that is right, everything that is just.

Help me to be more like you Lord, how could I desire anything else?

I'm back!

I actually got back on Friday afternoon... but I needed a couple days to catch up with Mike and get organized... No, I am still not finished with laundry...YIKES!
My mom and I had a great time on our Florida Adventure! .... We had a few stops, but there was lots of excitement.... not much R & R... We went down for a wedding... long time family friend Molly Blackburn. And also to visit with and help my mom's aunt and uncle... it went something like this.....
Day 1: Fly Down to Orlando, Check in to Hotel and go to Blackburn's for Dinner
Day 2: Up early to a church service dedicated to my late father,
Ladie's tea/Luncheon (Really for the birdesmaids, but we were invited too :) )
A bit of shopping with my mom, a short nap and out to dinner with all out of town guests. (Then my mom and i went to see "Enchanted")
Day 3: the Wedding... as usual an all day and evening event... very nice though!
Day 4: Check out of hotel and drive to the shore, where we were invited to spend New Year's with the Entire Family... aunts uncles... everyone... They were a very welcoming and wonderful group!
Day 5: New Years Eve... a busy day for the Blackburn Family... Not only did their Daughter get married a couple days before... but they baptized their first grandson, and their middle son got engaged... all 3 siblings had huge events in one weekend! Then of course food and festivities to ring in 2008!
Day 6: we drove down to Lantana where Aunt Mary and Uncle Art live... we haven's seen them in a few years... they are hardly getting around... We went out for Mexican dinner and took them home and went back to the hotel where my mom and I began researching assisted living.
Day 7: Up early to check out a retirement home... went to Mary and Art's where they rejected the idea... ran a couple errands with aunt mary and had lunch... Then my mom and I spent 6 hours or so trying to clean their house... It was pretty bad... let's put it this way, she cant get around so he cleans... but he is totally blind, so he can't see the dirt... my mom spent the enitre 6 hours in the bathroom... YIKES! We were POOPED!
Day 8: Slept in a bit, had breakfast, drove around a bit, and went to Mary and Arts to help with a couple more things, and out to dinner.
Day 9: GO HOME!!!!!!!
So, when does winter break start?? Anyways I think we'll talk about New Year's resolutions tomorrow......