June Days

This weekend I have the pleasure of having a friend hang with me. Which is GREAT. She's going to be leaving soon to head out to California, so it's nice to have time to hang together! Tonight we went to Cheesecake Factory (oh my word- so good) watched a movie, chatted, etc.... You know fun girl stuff.

I'm sure not all of you remember this, but I previously (previously as in, before school and new job) I liked to pull out one of my many cook books and try cooking something new.

I've tried my hand at that again a few times.

The results turned out, well, I must say not too bad.

Ingredients for chocolate covered strawberries and stuffed peppers:
(And the glasses in the back? I like drinking milk out of those!)

Chicken Asparagus Pasta:
And one of my best memories with Lou. A little shoe shopping!

'Nite to all.
Talk to ya,

Way to Go!!!!!

Last night I was a little distracted by this so no blog post as a result.
Will post again tonight!

Just to prove I've not forgotten

I have a new kitchen cabinet. I love it. I took a picture and had planned on posting it here, but it's not uploading on my computer.

So..... soon. I realize I've said it multiple times, but soon I'll get the pictures posted!

Night all!

Monday, Monday

I decided to take weekends off from writing. I'm hardly back in to the game, but I'm forcing myself =) Not that I have too much to say.

I decided to write 10 random facts about myself that you may, or may not know.

1. Red is my favorite color. Always. I like that it's bright and vibrant and bold. All the things I would like to be myself.
2. I bought a picnic basket today. Sometimes I hate Target. They have such bright colors and fun outdoorsy items, I had to buy it. It screams me. Can you hear it from where you are at?
3. When I write out a to do list, I always include things I have already done, just so I have something I can automatically cross off.
4. One day, I would like to go to Greece. I would also like to do an Alaskan cruise, and a Mediterranean cruise. One day.
5. Currently I am reading two books at once.
6. The one item I lost in my most recent move was my keyboard pedal.
   
7. I love eating tomatoes with salt.
8. I keep forgetting to buy a scanner for my computer. But, as soon as I do, I have plenty of pictures that will incriminate a lot of people. You know who you are. There were plenty of Bible Quiz trips, camps and choir tours to take down just about all you Calvary kids. As I said, you know who you are. =)
9. Super Mario Brothers is my favorite video game.
   
10. When I was growing up, my favorite band was Petra. Look them up. They were COOL.
    

All for now.
On to Tuesday!

Writing before midnight....

Giving myself a deadline for posting has actually worked well. This was started before midnight on June 4th, so I'm counting it for today.

Summer (while it's not actually here yet, it's here), is starting off quite nicely. The weather has been wonderful, a mixture of hot, and humid, cool, breezy and thunderstorms.

Tuesday night, my friends and I met at a restaurant in a nearby town. The weather was perfect. The bugs, while they appeared to enjoy eating up my friends, stayed away from me. We sat outside eating, talking and laughing, until it was definitely past the time to go.

Tonight, I was off to Six Flags. The beauty of a season pass, is you can show up for an hour, and ride seven rides. Parking is free. The park is free. And, hey, the laughter is free.

The night was perfect for driving with the windows open. So, we did.

Happy summer everyone!
Life is good.

And, I'm back

That hardly was a blog post. however, I figure, my blog, my rules.
So I'm modifying my goal to be 30 posts, in 30 days. I figure this will be a good way to keep my mind working while not in school.

I could use writing prompts that the website offers up. The other thought I had was to google writing prompts.
That led to all sorts of fun and interesting topics. None of which were standing out to me for tonight, but maybe during one of these 27 remaining days.

Tonight, the weather is beautiful. It's cool, and beautiful. The sun is setting, and the first day of summer is quickly approaching.

I am happy.
How about you?

Ciao friends,

Not one to quit....Well, not really anyways....

Well, as I said this blogging M-F (which I checked the "rules" and it's really every day of the month) would be a challenge. I made it one day in. So I decided today I'd write twice.

So. I'll be back!

National Blog Posting Month

I was around thirty feet. I had sixty more to go to reach the top, and I didn't want to move. I had repelled down, just about an hour previously, 120ish feet. At that moment, (the moment I reached the bottom), I was relieved. Adrenaline was pumping through my veins like a pulse. I was done with my challenge. My "fear" of heights didn't beat me. Then, I was grabbed, the rope was hooked to my harness.
"You're going back up."
Ummm...
I was gonna hike up the trail to the top.
But now. I was strapped in. Helmet was firmly in place. Belay was on, and I was going up.
The adrenaline was pumping again. That's when I found myself thirty feet up standing on a ledge. Stalling.
I didn't want to move. So, I didn't...at least for a while.

The cries from below were loud. "Stephanie, you can do it! You can do all things through Christ!"
That wasn't the point. I didn't want to climb.
But, would it be possible for us to get a rescue squad to get me down?
*****

I signed up for National Blogging Month. I signed my name to the commitment. What's the commitment? I am required to write each day, Monday through Friday (I think just M-F). I may only make it through one day. Maybe two. Regardless, here's a toast to my best effort.

Updates:

• I finished my last term for school, (this could be old news, but oh well). I decided to take three months off. Settling in to my new apartment, and into my new job have been taking up much of my time. August will come, and I will start again. For now, my brain is enjoying the break.
• In the mean time I have been reading. Books and books and books. Fun books as I call them. I have enjoyed losing myself in the stories. Practicing piano. Hanging with friends. Putting up pictures. Relaxing.
• May closed out with a visit from the family. The 'rents and my bub came for a visit. We ate. Played games. Watched movies, and over all had a great weekend.
  
• Over the next month, I'll be doing much of the same. Interjected with a trip to Texas, to a family reunion. Concerts and Six Flags. Hopefully some beach time with Party Barge II and some trips to the pool.

*****
By the way, I did reach the top. We all celebrated. We danced and high fived as each person came up and over the top. There were tears. There was laughter.
I am glad I decided to move. And, it's been said before, but the view is always better from the top.

That's all for today.
Wish me luck on writing tomorrow!
Love to all,

Mi Casa, Su Casa (and the Final Cruise Update-Day 8)

It has only taken me, oh two months to post this last final update from my cruise way back when, but here it is! (You'll note that it is much shorter, but it was the final day to take in the view!)
***********************
Final update from the sea.
Today we're in the Bahamas. I had fully intended on para-sailing or kayaking. My plans were thwarted. Not that you can read the disdain in my voice (especially since I'm writing this down), but I am rather annoyed. It was too chilly, and rather windy, so kayaking was out. The jet skis would have been great, but they don't rent those out, "Only for the life guards." Then I thought, okay, I'll para-sail, but it was $85 for 5 minutes. I decided to pass.

The rest of today was very uneventful. We went back to the ship and sat in the hot tub for a few. Then I decided to take a little nap. (Nothing like a little sleep time!) I packed up and hung out with the family.

Tomorrow we'll be back on land, and Monday back home.


Other news:

• I am....in! And, actually more than just in, I'm all unpacked and settled. I am still slightly confused, and not sure what to do with myself. I have SO MUCH room. I know I've said that, but I can't quite wrap my head around it. Pictures of the new place to come.

• In addition, now the fun stuff to come! I have a pile of decorations in the corner, and now to determine where they go!
  

• Anymore, I'm not sure what normal is, but I feel like I'm approaching normal again. (Fingers crossed on that one.)

Oh the Places You'll Go!

I am sitting in my apartment, literally surrounded by boxes of.. STUFF. I am moving. I feel like I should say, moving again although I guess it's not really been so recent as to say again, but it feels that way. Three years ago I moved to my apartment, and I was extremely excited. It was a new little place, cute and perfect for me.

I am just as excited to be moving, this time, ten minutes from where I currently live. I always find it amazing to look back and see what's changed. Yes I moved three years ago, but more than that, life is different now. New job, back to school, new decade. In the middle of all of this "chaotic-ness" I have been riding a bit of a roller coaster. I tend to not do so well when I feel like things are in an upheaval. That's what they have been as of late. But, here I am looking into next week, knowing that things will be okay, they will calm down (as much as life can be calm) and it will all be good.

Just a few weeks ago, my friend Cindy, looked at me and said, "Why do you think God can't give you good things?" I was at that moment experiencing anxiety. Waiting to hear about my new apartment. Waiting to start my new job. Waiting. Waiting. Worrying. It struck me, at that moment, that she was right, I don't always expect good things from God. While I hope, and sure even pray, for something good to happen, I find I rarely expect it. Why? I don't know. And yet, His awesomeness does surround me. He does bless me with good things- family, friends, good job, good car. His Word even says that He has plans for those who trust Him, follow Him and commit to His ways.

Psalm 81:6
He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket."

So as I pack, and move, I am reminded that He will continually have good things in store for me.
What about you?

Quick updates:

• This is the big move weekend! Today I picked up my keys, and tonight I begin the transfer of objects! Tomorrow I'll be all set! Maybe not unpacked, but at least moved in!
• My new job started just a mere five days ago. So far, so good. Lots of reading and meeting new people, learning new things, and it'll be a challenge, but I'm up for it.
  
• My term is almost up for the school year. I've finished all my exams. I will be taking a break for a few months as I get ready for the next term to begin.
• I have ONE more day to post about my cruise journey, but I've had a bit going on. More to come very soon.
• Time to change the blog template. Despite the snow we had just a few days ago, I'm pretty sure spring is about to settle in. Spring, for me, always comes with hope. Who doesn't love hoping that warm weather, sunshine and flowers are on the way!