This Month Is A Difficult One

This has been a hard month.

I haven't had much to say so I guess I haven't.

November is supposed to be the month when you remember everything you're thankful for. And I wrote a post about the things that I AM thankful for, but it was hard to write. And not because I'm not thankful. I'm just having a hard time feeling anything very positive.

If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you likely know that this is the month that we began trying to have a baby...that was now seven years ago. SEVEN.

I didn't think that it would be any different than last year or the year before. It's another year. It sucks. But by now, I'm used to it. I guess, though, that I've been more depressed about it than I thought.

This month I've been rather weepy. I'm not a crier so I haven't had any episodes of falling to my knees and bawling my eyes out {although it would be nice if I could actually do that every once in awhile}. But things have triggered the internal sob / chin quiver and the misty eyes. I wasn't really understanding where it was coming from. I thought that I was just PMS'ing. Which, some of it probably was, but I tried to think about what was making me this way. And then, as if I hadn't already known it, I realized that it was just being in this month of November that was making me this way.

I also found out this month that I've officially been left in the dust. Aside from me, the last friend in my group of friends to get pregnant, is now pregnant. And while I'm happy for her {you!!}, I'm still having the selfish feelings of whoa-is-me. I am now, no exaggeration, THE ONLY ONE of my friends without a baby. And I'm the oldest of all my friends. I'm just sad.

Kyle and I have, finally, I think decided on which direction we're going to go, but I still don't feel comfortable talking about it. One, because I don't want my friends and family that read my blog to find out FROM my blog what we're going to do and two, it's still going to be awhile before we can do anything unless we suddenly come into a large amount of money. Plus we have more research that needs to be done. We haven't even told anyone yet...ok, that's a lie. I told one person only because we were having a discussion right before Thanksgiving and she knows that boat that Kyle and I have been riding in, herself. Our parents don't even know our plans yet. And while I don't exactly want to keep it a secret, I don't want to put it "out there" until we're 100% positive and have a plan of action.

I can say though, that while this has been a trying year and month, I've got more hope and faith than I did at this time last year. I'm not sure what has changed, but while I'm sad and rather depressed this month, I'm also in a better place.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

---

Mary Stevenson, 1936

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, on this Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful for many things.

I'm thankful for my hubby and my aminals. They make my life bright.

I'm thankful for my family. They're always there to lift up and encourage me.

I'm thankful for my friends. My life would be boring without them.

I'm thankful for all of you. You make me laugh and cry and I enjoy spending my days with you.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head and a vehicle to drive.

I'm thankful that I've been able to get unemployment and keep us afloat while I've been jobless the past 9'ish months.

I'm thankful that Kyle's company is still keeping busy and while he doesn't get paid on a regular schedule, he's still able to bring in some money.

I'm thankful that we're able to continue to pay our bills.

I'm thankful that I'm able to go back to school pretty soon in order to get a better job / career.

There are many things to be thankful for and I hope each of you are able to find something to be thankful for as well today.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

Eat and drink till you have to be rolled out the door! ;0P

Just A Couple Months Late...

My 30th birthday re-cap, that is.

The day before my birthday, everyone that was able, gathered at my mom's house to celebrate me turning 30. I had family that came from over the mountain and friends and family from the area there. I was so lucky to be surrounded by so many people that I love!

My mom made this for me at Costco.com.

BFF Jewel and me

This is the only picture Kyle and I have "together" from my birthday. =(

Uncle

Aunt...my mom's sister.

Cousin's wife and son.

My Grandma's...Dad's mom and Mom's mom.

My #1 favorite nephew, Evan.

My Grandpa...Mom's dad.

BFF Riika, me, SIL Heidi.

My cousin Eve's husband Mike and our cousin DJ.

My other #1 favorite nephew, Kingston.

Friend Laura with two of her three kids.
The cake my dad got me...chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate frosting.

My other grandpa...Dad's dad.

Cindy, I used to work with her.

Cousins other son {his wife and oldest son are up above}.

My aunt and cousin Eve.

The huge bouquet of flowers Kyle got me.

My crazy-faced aunt from just above made me the bracelet I'm wearing here.

This quilt. This crazy quilt!

My mom and I started working on it about 2 or 3 years+ ago. But the past year or so we hadn't really touched it. So my mom got her best friend to help and they completed it for me for my birthday!! It came out a little differently than we were aiming for, but they had to make some decisions on it in order to get it completed for my birthday. I love it though! I'm just afraid to actually use it. It needs a little bit more reinforcements on some of the patches and I'm afraid the animals will tear them apart with their nails if I put it on the bed. We'll get it all fixed up though and eventually I'll start using it. I'm just happy to have it {basically} done. My mom said she's going to make me a couple of shams to go with it, too.

Evan made me this card!

Eve gave me this book...I had to try to tell everyone I had no idea what a blog was! LOL {Most don't know I have a blog!}

My daddy and me.

Evie-Wevie and me.

My birthday was more than I could've asked for! I loved having everyone there, especially because this is the first birthday party I've had since I was a kid. It was so much fun!!

Not Me, Monday!

MckMama's got all the rules for "Not Me!" Monday posted so if you haven't participated before, click on over and find out the scoop on all that is "Not Me!" Monday!

I am, physically, NOT feeling better!

I have NOT, however, been feeling rather weepy this week.

Being sick and dealing with PMS will NOT do that to me.

I am NOT feeling beyond boring.

I am NOT and have NOT been a bad blogger, neglecting my blog, email and the blogosphere.

My funny bone has NOT taken a vacation and left me behind and I do NOT feel like I have nothing interesting or funny to post about.

I do NOT have to be at my sisters at 6:40 this morning and I am NOT irritated with her about it.

Saturday, the "mega-tree" did NOT get put up...32 feet tall this year!! It is NOT a different set up this year and I am NOT amazed by my husbands brilliant mind time and time again!

We did NOT spend yesterday afternoon with my FIL's side of the family for Thanksgiving.

I did NOT make Paula Dean's Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle and it was NOT fantabulous!

We did NOT manage to get the entire family into a picture.

I did NOT suggest that we get a large family photo that included the grandparents because Kyle's grandpa's health has NOT been failing more and more, recently.

Yesterday did NOT turn out better than my MIL and I were thinking it would {because Kyle's uncle {60'ish} brought his "girlfriend"{75!} that Kyle's grandma "hates"... they did NOT actually seem to like each other, which surprised us all considering comments Grandma has made in the past few months}.

Today will NOT be another blogosphere neglection day since I'll be at my sisters watching my nephews.

Hopefully I do NOT pull out of this funkified mood soon!

I know you're NOT looking for a Secret Santa Gift Exchange to participate in, right? I do NOT know of the PERFECT one for you to join!! Just click on over to Tranquility...and Turmoil and jump on the bandwagon. The more the merrier!!

What have you NOT done this week?

Wordfulless Wednesday: A Sign

A sign my mom and I saw, at the base of someones driveway, when we were driving through Eastern Washington a few weeks ago.

For more Wordful Wednesdays click here.

For more Wordless Wednesday go to the WW HQ here.

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I know you're looking for a Secret Santa Gift Exchange to participate in, right? I know of the PERFECT one for you to join!! Just click on over to Tranquility...and Turmoil and jump on the bandwagon. The more the merrier!!

Blah

That's how I feel.

Stuffed up nose.

Runny nose.

Headache in my eyes.

Dizzy.

Cough in my chest.

Tired.

Blah.

I've been trying to think of something to write all day, but I don't have the motivation or energy to put much thought into a post at the moment.

So I told you yesterday that my sister had an interview with the advanced training salon that she just graduated from. It went well and they basically told her that she was 'IN'. Then she got a call from another salon that she applied at a week or so ago {and that she used to go to before going to school...she LOVES this salon} and they wanted her to go in yesterday for another interview. So she did. And they offered her the job on the spot. And she accepted that one!

Now, my mom and I both thought that she should go to the ATS because 1. the school pays for it and it's only an additional 4-5 months and 2. then she's guaranteed a job there for the next 2 years. Dawn and I only texted about this last night, but she said that she accepted the second salon job because the ATS is in Seattle {and she lives pretty far north of Seattle...about 20 minutes east of me}, doesn't pay, expensive parking and she'd have to drop the boys off at my mom's {approximately 30'ish minutes from her house} and get down to Seattle all before 8am. Very stressful. Hopefully she made the right choice. She hasn't told people yet {so fam, don't say anything...} I'm sure she'll be telling soon since they want her to start next week. I'm excited for her and I'm sure she'll get some great experience there, too.

Awhile ago, my dad gifted to Kyle and me one of his timeshares that he's had for a gazillion years. All we have to do is pay the annual dues. We're very excited to have this. We get 120 points a year to use and we can use it a day at a time or a week, or however long 120 points gives us. We weren't planning on using them this year, but we forgot to bank the points in August {and the deadline is the 31st} so I pretty much freaked out on Kyle. Such a waste, blah blah blah. I guess I sort of forgot that we could still use them this year. Anyway, it's almost the end of the year and we haven't used them yet. But today, after lots of finagalling, we have finally decided on a couple days that we can take and we're going with the inlaws up to Whistler, B.C. It's going to be a quick trip, but at least we won't be wasting the points. Although we'll still only be using 86 of the 120 points, which is a bummer, but this is what's going to work this year. We're hoping to bank the points for the next 2 years and then use those points to go to Mexico. The resort there looks AMAZING!! And it's a crazy named place so I have no idea what it's called at the moment.

This post isn't all that thrilling, but I'm not feeling like myself so this is all you get for today. I think I'm going to go and lay on the couch and try to read since I've got a HUGE stack of books that I want to read yet haven't made the time to actually sit down to do so.

Ta-Ta!

Not Me, Monday!

MckMama's got all the rules for "Not Me!" Monday posted so if you haven't participated before, click on over and find out the scoop on all that is "Not Me!" Monday! And Stellan is home from Boston, SVT FREE!!! Thank you, Jesus!!! He is such a little miracle baby!!

This week was NOT a busy, busy one.

On Monday, I did NOT go and take the placement test at the college, which I already mentioned. Then on Thursday, I did NOT register for all of the prereques to start the Patient Care Tech program at the local community college. I am NOT officially a college student! Wowzers!!

Then I did NOT eat way too much hummus and pita chips...meaning, I did NOT eat the entire container. Nope, I have better self control than that.

I did NOT make my very own blog button, which you should all NOT grab and put on your blog. That would NOT make me very happy!

One day this week, I did NOT go over to a friends house. We did NOT take her kidlets and the dogs to the dog park to get nice and muddy. After the dog park, we did NOT go back to their house, eat lunch and watch the movie UP. It was NOT a cute movie that I'd never seen before.

While hanging out at my inlaws the other night, I did NOT finish my scarf...sort of...I am NOT going to add another thing of yarn to it to make it longer...once I figure out how to do that. This scarf is NOT a mess and I am NOT refusing to start it all over...AGAIN...no one will be wearing it except Kyle or myself so it will NOT be just fine the way it is.

Yesterday I did NOT start feeling like crap and get progressively worse as the day went on. Because I was unshowered and because I had no tissue near me, I absolutely did NOT use my sweatshirt sleeve to catch my {stuffed but} dripping nose. I also did NOT put it in the wash before I went to bed. I am MUCH more clean that that. Seriously! I do NOT still feel like crap and I will NOT be using tissue tonight for my poor nose.

Pam at Country Mouse, City Mouse did NOT post about her prize that she won from my One Year Blogversary giveaway. You should NOT go check it out and say 'hi'.

Today my sister did NOT have an interview at the Advanced Training Salon for the salon she just graduated from. She has NOT unofficially been accepted as the next Gene Juarez employee. That does NOT mean that she'll be doing the advanced training for the next 4-5 months {starting some time the beginning of the year} and then have a job with Gene Juarez for the next two years. We are NOT very excited for her!

I know you're NOT looking for a Secret Santa Gift Exchange to participate in, right? I do NOT know of the PERFECT one for you to join!! Just click on over to Tranquility...and Turmoil and jump on the bandwagon. The more the merrier!!

What have you NOT done this week?

Weekend Wordle / Six Word Saturday

To create your own Wordle, go here. And then download MWSnap to save the image. Easy peasy!

Join in on the Week-End Wordle with Shannon at Last Shreds of Sanity. Link up and see what everyone else is coming up with.

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Six Word Saturday:

Neighbor dogs barking for HOURS. AAAAHHHH!!!!!

Join Cate at Show My Face for more Six Word Saturdays. She's got lots of groupies that like to play along!
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Even though the neighbor dogs are driving. me. INSANE. today, I do love most dogs...

Things We Can Learn From A Dog...

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure

ecstasy.

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps and stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle him or her gently.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and

pout...run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joys of a long walk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Upon entering a small country store, a stranger noticed a sign saying DANGER! BEWARE OF DOG! posted on the glass door. Inside a harmless old hound dog was asleep on the floor beside the cash register.

He asked the store manager, "Is that the dog folks are supposed to beware of?"

"Yep, that's him," he replied.

The amused stranger inquired, "That certainly doesn't look like a dangerous dog to me. Why in the world would you post that sign?"

The owner responded, "Because, before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over him."

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Looking for a Christmas Gift Exchange to join? I know of the perfect one! Go here for more details!

Aloha Friday: Where Would You Rather Be?

It's Aloha Friday over at An Island Life!

Answer my question and make sure you post one on your blog!

After that, go relax because today is Friday!!

Question for you this week is:

If you could transport yourself to somewhere else right now, where would it be?

My answer:

Somewhere tropical. I need a nice, sun and sand-filled vacation right now.

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A little boy stops in front of a church with his bike and he sees the priest come out. The priest says "Come inside, I want to show you something". The little boy says to the priest, "But somebody will steal my bike". The priest says to him "Don't worry, the Holy Spirit will watch it".

So the little boy goes inside and the priest says, "Let me show you how to do the sign of the cross. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Now you try it". So the boy says, "In the name of the Father and the Son, Amen". The priest says, "What happened to the Holy Spirit?" The boy replied "He's outside,
watching my bike".

~~~~~~~~~~~

Once upon a time there was a pastor. He was driving down the road and his car broke down. He got out and started walking. Soon, he came to a farm. He asked the farmer if he could borrow a horse. The farmer agreed, but warned:

"Sir, this is no ordinary horse. You have to say "praise the Lord" to make it go, and "Amen" to make it stop".

The pastor said "Oh, that's easy, I'm a pastor.

So he jumped on the horse and said "Praise the Lord!" and the horse took off down the road. About an hour down the road (close to his destination), a rattlesnake came out in front of the horse, and the horse, rather startled turned and ran off the road, through the woods, straight for a cliff.

The pastor forgot what to say, so he said a prayer, and at the end of the prayer, of course, he said "Amen".

Screech!! The horse stopped right at the edge of the cliff!

The pastor looked down and sees all of the thousands of feet down that he had almost plundered... and to give thanks to God, he yelled out "Praise the Lord!!!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Three older ladies were discussing the travails of getting older. One said, "Sometimes I catch myself with a jar of mayonnaise in my hand in front of the refrigerator and can't remember whether I need to put it away, or start making a sandwich."

The second lady chimed in, "Yes, sometimes I find myself on the landing of the stairs and can't remember whether I was on my way up or on my way down."

The third one responded, " Well, I'm glad I don't have that problem; knock on wood," as she rapped her knuckles on the table, then told them "That must be the door, I'll get it!"

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Looking for a Christmas Gift Exchange to join? I know of the perfect one! Go here for more details!

"Last Chance" Secret Santa Gift Exchange: About Me

To participate in this gift exchange, put on by my cousin Eve at Tranquility...and Turmoil:

Blog about this gift exchange with an introduction of yourself and some of your interests or hobbies (bonus: this will give your partner a little reference for their gift search), then sign into the McLinky at the bottom of this post (link to your 'Last-Chance' gift exchange post).

I am sort of going to cheat on this a little bit and copy some of the questions and answers from when I've participated in other exchanges that have taken place with the help of Elfster.

How do you like to spend your free time?
Online; with friends / hubby / dog; reading; watching tv; new hobby of knitting; at the beach; sometimes shopping...

What is your favorite color?
greens, blues, browns / earth tones, dark burgundy

What colors do you dislike?
I don't like pink and bright red (darker reds are ok).

What are the first names of your family members in your immediate family?
Megan (me), Kyle (dh), Chewy (yellow lab), Milo (black & white cat)

Do you collect anything?
Yes! We collect moose. Some day we plan to have a "log cabin", which will not be a cabin at all, but a huge log home and we plan to have lots of moose items.

Oh, I also "collect" cookbooks. I have an obsession with them, actually.

I hope that this gives my partner in crime the gift exchange a good starting point.

Also, you should really think about signing up!! It's going to be a blast!! Just hop on over to visit Eve and sign up!!

Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop: I Picked Up The Phone...

...and I could not believe what I was hearing...

**Ring, Ring**

Hello?

Meg! I have THE BEST IDEA!!

Who is this?

Your most favorite cousin in the world, silly! Listen, I have the best idea! Do you want to hear it?

Oh, hey!! Definitely!! What's this idea you've got?

Well, I wanted to participate in a Secret Santa Gift Exchange, but there's NONE LEFT to join!! I'm SO sad about it because I LOVE Christmas and I REALLY wanted to do something fun like this!

That's a bummer. All the deadlines have already come and gone?

YES! Can you believe it?! So my idea is to do one of my own and I'll call it the "Last Chance" gift exchange!

That's awesome! Go for it!

You think? Do you think you'd want to help me out with it?

Sure!! Anything for you!! I'll share it with everyone I can think of!!

Yay Yay Yay!!! I'm so excited!! Here's the details for signing up if you want to share them with everyone. This is going to be SO MUCH FUN!!!

To sign up:

Send Eve an email with your name and mailing address by November 25th - that's two whole weeks left to let your friends and family know!
(the only other person who will see your address is the person Eve partners you with).

Oh, and grab the button from the sidebar {or below} - share the last minute fun!

For the rest of the nitty-gritty details, visit Eve at Tranquility...and Turmoil.

You should definitely participate. It will be a ton of fun to see what kinds of things we all receive from our Secret Santa!!

This gift exchange is open to anyone living in anywhere (but please let Eve know in your email if you feel that you can only ship to a certain area and she will partner you up accordingly).



<a href=" http://steintranquility.blogspot.com/2009/11/join-me-for-last-chance-christmas.html " target="_blank"><img src="http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/mangoritacolada/button.jpg" border="0" alt="Tranquility… and Turmoil" /></a>


To see more of Mama Kat's prompts and participants, visit her at Mama's Losin It and link up!!

Veteran's Day: Always Remembered

Hardly a day goes by that we don't hear of more soldiers being injured or killed. It is because of their ultimate sacrifice that we're able to have the freedoms that we do. For that, I am forever thankful and grateful to our Veterans.

Thank you to all of our men and women out there that have or currently are serving in the military. You've made this world a better place!!

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Scroll down...two posts today. =)