Casting Crowns - East to West

As far as the east is from the west...

Court Reporting Contest - 280 Words Per Minute!

Now...this is fast...I can't even speak this fast (I'm southern, ya know!) much less write this fast!!

Grace Like Rain

A new venture...

Today I opened a new chapter in my life. I've been worried about my job security with the postal service, so I've taken two steps: 1. STOP WORRYING AND TRUST GOD TO MEET MY NEEDS. (Thanks Holly!) 2. Do something about it.
So today, daughter number three and I signed up for court reporting class. We are very excited about this move. We went to a "meet and greet" today and then sat in on a class of students who are four months into the program. The instructor has been doing this for 20 years and has recently opened her own firm and is working on an accredited school. Her prices and schedule are reasonable and her methods and tips from years of experience are outstanding! I'm truly impressed. We're also bound by no long-term contracts, so if either my daughter or I decides it's not for us or we can't afford it, we can just walk away. I got some really good deals on our machines and books on eBay. Yippee!

Resolutions

I'm not one to make to many resolutions, b/c I never keep them. lol However, this time of year sure does lead to a little introspection. I've narrowed my resolutions down to a few things I think are important enough to warrant change in my life.

1. I really don't like my job, but since Im there, I need to make some changes in my attitude. My plan this year is to "bloom where I am planted" so to speak. Maybe God has me there for a reason and I'm so busy disliking it that I can't see or appreciate the reason. I'll also be open to other options if they become available.

2. I usually make all these diet resolutions. I don't make exercise ones b/c I get enough of that at work. Anyway, the only change I'm shooting for this year is to cut the amount of sugar I consume. I have quite the sweet tooth and I need to cut it out. I'm afraid I'm asking for trouble if I stay on my current path.

3.Finally, I want to do better with my finances. I want to get to the point where I "owe no man nothing except to love him". I'm almost there...I don't owe too much on my house, but my old, old van is on it's last leg. I have to be careful b/c I have no job security (oops...refer to resolution #1). Anyhoo....I want to be completely out of debt.

I think that's about it...attitude, sugar and debt....that'll do it. lol

New Year's Eve

Here are a few pictures of the Tater Tot doing sparklers for New Year's Eve...

Taylor always likes it when Uncle Brett plays with her...

This child is forever entertained by bubble wrap...she LOVES it! What ever works...

I hope you all have a safe and prosperous new year. God Bless!

Christmas Day

Well, I made it through Christmas Day. I didn't have to work for too long. I was able to cook before and after, so I got all of my contribution to the dinner done. I've put up pictures of the dress I made for Tater Tot. I never did get a chance to try it on her...I just went by her measurments. Good thing it fit! The few days that I sewed on this dress it was in the 40's and 50's. Our average temps in Dec are ususally in the 60's....soooooo.....I made this corduroy dress to be worn with a white turtleneck shirt and tights. Well, who would have thought it would be near 80 degrees!!! Good grief! lol We had to switch things up a bit. Tater wore the dress with a t-shirt under it instead of the turtleneck. She had to keep the tights b/c we had no light weight little summer socks for her. lol oh well... She was proud of her dress, tho.
We had Christmas at my brother's house. Here he is on the front porch with Taylor. I love my brother...he's a cancer survivor. At 38 he was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. He had three rounds of chemo and finally went through a bone marrow transplant. Those were tough times, but he's doing really well, now.

Tater wants to go cruising on the scooter.

More posing...I love the way they're looking at each other. lol