Worship and Praise Sunday: Bring The Rain

Bring The Rain

MercyMe

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

~~~~~

I haven't posted any Worship and Praise Sundays in a few months but I want to get back to doing it regularly so today is the start.


I've got a bunch of turmoil going on in my head right now so to hear this song was a great reminder that He is here for me.  While I know that, I still struggle  with turning to Him for all things.  It's something I continually need to work on.


I hope this song encourages you today.


If you'd like to see previous Worship and Praise songs, you can do so here.

Lazy, Snowy Saturday

It's been snowing off and on since Tuesday.  I don't think I've left my house since Sunday.  So I guess it's been more than just a lazy Saturday.  It's been a lazy week.  My DVR has nothing on it.  Zip.  Zero.  Ziltch.

Last night Kyle hooked the Wii up to our tv upstairs and we streamed Netflix to that tv.  His reason for doing that was that he wanted me to watch a movie with him.  A specific movie. Previously, I thought that Pieces of April was the Worst Movie Ever Made.  I'm now amending that though to put ThanksKilling at the very top of the Worst Movies Ever Made list.  The acting is HORRIBLE.  I guess that's what you get with a low-budget movie.  This movie cost only $3,500 to make.  It's obvious.  I mean seriously, I was tortured with a movie that had a TURKEY killing people.  I'm warning you.  Don't watch it unless you want to feel what real torture is.

Then after that movie we watched The Ugly Truth.  I love Katherine Heigel so I thought it would be good.  It was alright but it was kind of boring.  I made Kyle sit through it because of the previous movie. {Although he slept through most of it.}  And if two movies in one night wasn't enough, I then decided to watch The Last Song.  Miley Cyrus bugs me to NO END but I liked the movie.  It made me cry and then I got a headache from holding in the tears.  I'm not a good crier.  {It doesn't happen very often and it takes a lot to make me full on cry, which I didn't do.  The tears just started coming out of my eyes in streams.  :0P}  I think that if I had read the book first I probably wouldn't have liked the movie but I haven't read the book yet so it's going to be even that much better when I get around to it.

Yesterday I wanted to bake something so I eventually decided on cinnamon rolls.  I made these ones and they were SO GOOD!!!  I wouldn't even had known they were gluten-free if I hadn't made them myself!

Chewy and I are hanging out while Kyle's at work.  We're doing a whole lotta nothing.  A little bit ago I let Chew out to go potty and decided to take some pics.  As you can tell, he's thrilled.

I wanted a picture of Milo in the snow too but as you can tell, he's pissed and wasn't cooperating.

And to end this snowy Saturday ramble-filled post, here's a picture of my neighborhood.

What are you doing today?  Anything more exciting than me?

What Frat Boys Do With Too Much Time On Their Hands

These guys obviously had nothing better to do with their time but you've got to admit this is both impressive and hilarious! 

I Got My Hair Did

Oh my goodness!  It was SO overdo!

I haven't had my hair done (cut or colored) since the beginning of December, I think. 

I had about an inch of grow-out and all of my ahem silvers were glistening. 

At Evan's birthday party my sister saw how bad it was and told herself that she needed to do something about it asap. 

I can't afford to go and see her at her salon right now so, Thank God, she decided to call me up and tell me she was going to do it for me today, at her house.

She forgot her sheers at work though, so she just did the color for now.  The cut will have to happen at another time.  I think this is the longest my hair has been in a LONG time and I'm SO ready for a cut, too!

But honestly, I'm just SO HAPPY to have it colored again.  I was looking like a ragga-muffin!

I suppose I don't need to, but I'm gonna point out that my make-up has all but been washed off do to rinsing my hair in the kitchen sink and my shirt is on backwards cuz it's ugly so that it didn't distract from my hair. :0P

Also, this isn't a new color-combo but it's a bit different.  For the past, however long, I've gotten black underneath, red/burgundy on top with black foils on top.  This time, she did an all-over dark, dark brown with red/burgundy foils.

Fragging Thru Friday - Come Join Me!

My Friday Fragging and blogging, in general, has been a bit scarce so I thought that I'd play a little catch-up today.  The sun is shining and I'm in a pretty good mood!  So let's get this party started!

*****

Evan, my {formerly} itty-bitty, but now so grown up, nephew turned FIVE on February 2nd!  His birthday party was last Sunday at Alfy's Pizza.  Where has the time gone?!

*****

The other day while I was looking for some nail clippers, which I could not find ANYWHERE {I swear, they grow feet and walk away all. the. time.} I found something that made me laugh.  Buried in the depths of one of my many make-up bags was a condom.  A CONDOM!  Guess when it expired?  2006. Ha!  I had no idea that there were any condoms left in this house!  I mean, we haven't used them since the first year that we were married.  I kept it out to show Kyle later.  It made us chuckle.

{Courtesy of Google Images}

*****

I got a my new test date.  The one in which I will be PASSING my skills test on this time!  It's on March 6th.  They're making me wait a whole month. *sigh*  I likely will not be posting about it on that day or the day before because I don't want to be embarrassed and humiliated again if I don't pass.  But I'm gonna.  I AM, gonna pass.

*****

Dealing with infertility can get monotonous.  Sex while trying to conceive can get monotonous.  And because we've been TTC for 8 stinkin years, our sex lives have not always been the most exciting, and at times almost non-existant.  I mean, when you try to schedule around ovulation and whatnot, it kind of takes the spontaneousness out of it.  However, I try not to tell Kyle when I'm ovulating and just jump him instead because I don't want him to feel like he's just a piece of TTC meat.  I have to admit too, that I don't exactly track my ovulation any more.  I generally have a good idea of when it's happening but I don't take my temperature and I don't chart for ovulation but we {and I'm sure we're not alone} can always use a little spicing up in the bedroom, right?

For years I've tried this and that {book-wise} to get ideas.  Recently a book caught my eye on the Free Kindle Books list and it's called Sheet Music.  It's written by a Christian author, whom I really like.  I downloaded it a few days ago and I started reading it this morning, I'm only on the second chapter.  But I wanted to recommend it already because I think it's going to be a good one to help us, not only in the bedroom, but also with our relationship with each other, which while good, can always use work to make it great. {He does state in the beginning though, that this book is intended for married couples or engaged couples, just a heads-up.}

{Even if you don't have a Kindle, you can download it for FREE right now onto your PC with the Kindle for PC app on Amazon.}

{Courtesy of Google Images}

*****

I had a phone interview yesterday for a plasma donor center.  It's a Phlebotomy position and I would love to get the job, one because I really want to be doing Phlebotomy over anything else and two, it's CLOSE TO MY HOUSE!  It would be SO GREAT if I didn't have to drive over an hour to get to and from work every day.  

However, I still haven't heard back about the EKG position that I interviewed for at the end of January.  I know that the position is still open because it's still on the website and my friend Megan is actually cleaning the lead techs house on Saturdays.  I would love to have that job {EKG, not cleaning} too but the commute would definitely be brutal.  Either way, I just NEED A JOB like, yesterday.

A week or so ago I heard back from the position at Children's Hospital and they decided to hire someone that had 8 years of experience. *sigh*  Oh well.

*****

My DVR has one show on it.  Glee.  From right after the Super Bowl, so I've seen it.  I could delete it and have a completely empty DVR but I want to watch it again.  My life is SO exciting, lemme tell ya!  Any other Gleeks out there?  Love this show!

*****

We're actually going to get out of this damn house tomorrow!  We're going to my SIL's "Not-so-secret-surprise-party" for her 25th birthday {which was on the 15th}.  I'm excited to go and DO something since I rarely leave the house.  But, and this just makes me feel OLD, we're not supposed to be there till 8:30 PM. Yup.  Feeling OLD since I'm normally planning on being home around that time. Ha!

*****

If you haven't already, you really need to go over to my cousin Eve's blog Tranquility...and Turmoil and enter to win a STARBUCKS GIFTCARD.  Who doesn't love Starbucks, right?  Plus, it would make her really happy to see the traffic go through.  She's trying really hard to get her blog back up and running after taking somewhat of a hiatus.  For me?  Will you go over and say hi and enter her giveaway?  Muah Muah!!

Have a GREAT, GREAT weekend everyone!!


Visit Half-Past Kissin' Time for more Friday Fragments.

Calling All STARBUCKS Junkies!

{Courtesy of Google Images}

Do you like coffee?

Do you like tea?

Do you like tasty treats?

Do you like all things STARBUCKS?

Well.

You MUST go over and visit my wonderful and beautiful cousin, Eve, because she is having a STARBUCKS GIVEAWAY right now!

It ends SOON so don't wait another minute!

Go. 
Now.

To My Valentine; From My Valentine

This year for Valentine's Day I made Kyle an extra special Valentine's Day gift.  An edible gift.  They were a huge hit!  And oh-so-yummy!!!

{And my sister-in-law's birthday was yesterday and she wants me to make her some too, so if anyone has any ideas on how to package them I'll be making and giving her some on Saturday.}


Kyle got me something too.  However, he's been skimping on the card lately!  What's up with that?  He didn't get me one for our anniversary either.  Punk. :0P  We're broke so I'm happy with my single rose this year.  It's a very pretty one, too!

{Don't mind some of the Christmas stuff still sitting out on the table. Ugh!}

And yes, that's SUN you see coming through the window.  It's shocking, really.  We've had so much gray and rain that it's refreshing to see some blue sky!!

Hunka Hunka Burnin Love

I just got a text from my Honey telling me Happy Valentine's Day.  **hearts**

I guess it's official.  February is already halfway over because today is

Valentine's Day!

How did that happen, again?

{Courtesy of Google Images}

Today I'm going to make dinner.  Nothing utterly romantic but it should be yummy anyway {potato bacon soup}.  I'm also going to cover strawberries in chocolate and then we'll eat them together tonight. I might even wear something sexy for the occasion. {Sorry, TMI? teehee}

I got him a card and some Hot Tamales and some chocolate.  Nothing extravagant.


What'd you get your Hunka Hunka Burnin Love?


Are you doing anything fun and romantic with your Honey?  Dinner?  Movie?  If you don't have a Significant Other, are you going out with a group of friends?  Staying in and eating your weight in chocolate and ice cream?  What are your plans?

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you, my bloggy friends!!

The Results Are In

{Courtesy Google Images}

And they're not good.

I Failed.

So frickin PISSED!

I passed the written.  It was easy and I knew I'd do well with it.

I missed a bolded step on one of the skills and that's an automatic fail.

I am so disappointed in myself and I can't believe that I frickin missed it!

Tomorrow I'm going to, hopefully, get my application in for a new date and get it taken care of asap!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!!

Pray For Me!!

{Courtesy of Google Images}

Tomorrow is the day that I'm taking the State exam for my CNA license.

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can I just tell you that I've been freaking the hell out all week?

I've been anxious and moody and stressed beyond belief!

At the same time, I've been so scared that I'm going to fail this exam that I've been sabotaging myself.

Thankfully, I realized what I was doing and I prayed that God would get my head in it and that I'd figure out a way to get motivated and get to studying.

I got out of the shower, cuz that's when I was praying, and I texted my sister and asked her if she wanted to help me.  I was going to be watching the boys for a little bit while she went to the doctor anyway, so I ended up going over to her house a couple of hours before her appointment and she ran through things with me and I practiced on her.

Thank You, God, for helping me figure out that I was accomplishing nothing at home just thinking about the exam and that I needed to get out of the house and practice on someone in the flesh!

I also stayed for a couple of hours after she got home so I got some good practice in there.

Then I called my dad the next day and asked him if I could go over to his house on Friday and practice on him and the old people there.  He said to come on over.  I practiced on him and my grandparents and a couple of others that were hanging around. {He does home health care.}

More good practice time.

Kyle also was quizzing me last night.

Today I've been reading and reading and whenever he feels like it, Kyle's been quizzing me more, too.

I also talked to a friend that's already been though it and she gave me the low-down on what to expect so that was comforting.

While still extremely nervous, I'm feeling more confident.

SO...

Sunday morning, 8AM PST I'll be taking my written exam.  70 questions, common sense.  I feel good about it.


Sometime between 10AM and Noon, I'll be taking my skills test.  I have to do five skills, including washing my hands, in 25 minutes.

THEN...

Somewhere around 2:30 or 3:00 PM I should know if I've passed and I can do a sigh of relief and a happy dance or if I failed and will have to retake it.

Obviously, I'm praying to pass!  I have so much riding on passing that I CAN'T fail!!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be praying for me!  I would SO appreciate any and all thoughts and prayers that you could throw my way!!

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

XOXO

Wordful Wednesday: Baptism

11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure -- the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. Colossians 2:11-12 NLT

The church that I grew up in believed(s) in water baptism.  Infants were not baptized but dedicated to God.  Water baptism was left for those that could make the decision for themselves later on.

Here is a great explanation of what Baptism is if you're not sure.  It explains it better than I can.

In July of 1984, I was baptized by my dad and our pastor at the time, in a lake.  I was five.  While I don't fully remember it, it's just a vague memory, I do know that I made the decision to be baptized with my parents guidance.

Pastor in the foreground and my dad in the background.

Over the years I've thought about getting baptized again, as an adult, but I haven't made that decision yet.  I know that I want to do it eventually, as a renewal of my faith in Jesus.  I think it would be awesome if Kyle and I did it together.  Maybe this summer we will.

The point of this post is that my brother-in-law, Tyler, DID make this decision recently.  He was baptized in the church that he {and we} grew up in and that he and my in-law's still attend.  He was getting ready to go on a missions trip and felt that he should finally do it.  We went to support him that day.  Baptisms always make me emotional because it is such an awesome proclamation of your obedience to Jesus.  I love it!

Talking about why he has decided to be baptized.

Being prayed for.

Getting ready to go under.

And back up.

The guy that baptized him was / is Tyler's mentor.

Have you been baptized?  Do you remember making the decision to do it and do you remember the baptism itself?  What does your church believe about being water baptized?

For more Wordless Wednesday go to the WW HQ here.

For more Wordful Wednesday go to ParentingbyDummies.

The Waiting Game

{Courtesy of Google Images}

Don't you just hate the waiting game?  I certainly do!

Yesterday I had my interview for the EKG position.

Oh. My. Word.

It was the most nerve-wracking interview I think I've ever been on!

Thankfully the person that wants the "big boss" to hire me was in there, too.

First he went over a survey I had to take for the hospital that basically tells what your strengths and weaknesses are.  I believe it's what they use to determine of you're a good fit for the hospital and/or the position you're applying for.

The shocking thing, to me, was that he said that I scored low on a bunch of things that I really shouldn't have like: compassion, kindness, and all the things that you need to have as positive characteristics to be in health care.  I have NO idea why I would score low on those because when I was filling out the survey I didn't feel that I was being negative in my answers.  Anyway, I'm just glad that he gave me a chance to "explain myself".

I've got to tell you though, I just really suck at interviews, in general.  I try to be confident and think my answers through but I just always feel like I'm not answering in the way that the interviewer wants to hear.

While I was answering his questions, and he was asking difficult questions, I felt like I was pulling answers from thin air.  I mean, my answers were truthful but I don't know it was just really tough.  I was visibly shaking, if I was to hold up my hand.

After all of the questioning, I had to take a little test to show that I know about the heart, EKG's and heart rhythms.  He gave me 20 minutes and when they came back in the room, I still wasn't done!  That was way nerve-wracking, too, because I had to try to finish while they were basically watching me, although they were talking to each other.  I didn't even finish the last three rhythms because I ran out of time, they needed to get on to their next interview. *sigh*

He corrected my test right there and I became even more nervous / anxious.  The first question was a picture of the heart and I had to label five parts of it.  I knew the first two but I didn't know the last three.  I know the anatomy of the heart but this was the electrical part of the heart.  I completely forgot it and felt like a frickin idiot while he was trying to prod my answer out of me!  I got the rest right on that page.  But I missed some of the rhythms.  Altogether I got 18 out of 27.  He said it was "within the parameters" so I guess that's good.  I still felt stupid though.

If they hire me, I'm definitely going to be having to review, review, review.  As he said, the nurses are going to know jack cheese when it comes to the rhythms so I'd have to know them like the back of my hand in order to let them know if it's something they need to follow up on or not.

Anyway, I left there full of anxiety.  He said that they'd make an decision in a few days and I know that they were only interviewing four people.

Next up, my exam for my State CNA license.  That's on Sunday so I need to study, study, study but I'm such a procrastinator that I haven't done much yet.  I NEED to though because I HAVE to pass.  I can't take the EKG job, if offered to me, without my license.

Please just pray for me.  I'm nervous and anxious.  I'm trying to remember my own words from a couple posts ago, but I'm still struggling.  My anxiety is through the roof right now.