It's my last day of work before I'm off for 10 days. 4pm. Want. To. Go. Home.
I have changed my voicemail greeting. I have changed my out of office assistant on outlook.
I have replied to all of my emails. Completed my "to do" list. Had lunch with the majority of the staff. Had one meeting. I think everyone is just watching the clock tick down to 5pm.
So, here are some random things about me that you probably couldn't care less about.
1) Most of my friends already know this, but I can't stand the word "moist". At. All. Like, it's even hard for me to type it.
2) I have never broken a bone.
3) I have a very deep fear of enclosed spaces and I need to be sedated when getting an MRI or PET scan.
4) I have to sleep with a white noise machine or fan. I panic slightly if I'm sleeping somewhere like a hotel or someone else's house. Jimm will never forget when we were staying in a hotel and I discovered a box fan in the closet & acted like I found a suitcase full of money.
5) I pick at the skin around my fingernails on my thumbs until they bleed. Stress= very bad habit, I know. I'm a therapist, remember?
6) I have traveled to about 13 different countries...maybe more. Not sure, I lost count somewhere along the way. But I also haven't been back out of the country since my honeymoon over six years ago. That's what kids will do to ya :-)
7) Canada and Mexico are not part of the 13 different countries I have been to.
8) I have never read nor watched Twilight or Harry Potter and nor do I care to. Zero interest.
9) I did not grow up playing any card game except for Uno, so if I play a card game I have to pay serious attention because I get confused about the ranking/order of the face cards.
10) I can usually recall where I have seen an actor or actress before but if I can't I rely on IMDB to refresh my memory and then I have an "aha" moment.
11) I don't really swim. I have a great fear of deep water...meaning over 5 feet deep. :-) But I have tried to water ski, I have been tubing several times and I have also gone parasailing. I will also go in boats as long as I have a life jacket on or nearby. Oh, I also went snorkeling....sort of. I didn't venture out too far.
12) I only like white Christmas lights. Nothing against the multi-colored lights, I just like the look of the white, with green garland and red bows.
13) Diet Pepsi.
14) Jimm and I do not officially have a "freebie" list but if we did I would probably put Bradley Cooper and Adam Levine at the top of the list. And my husband knows this. He actually will let me know when one of them is on TV and let's me gawk. But he also knows that he is the only love of my life ....which is why I think he is actually laughing at me as I gawk at them :-)
15) I can't stand when people say "eX-specially" instead of eSpecially. Or eXpresso instead of eSpresso. It sometimes affects my opinion about their intelligence.
16) If I see guacamole or avocado on a menu I will usually order the meal that it is a part of.
17) I don't like steak.
18) I am a music geek. I have played the piano since I was in first grade and actually took lessons at a conservatory for quite some time.
19) I am a sap at heart and love cheesy romantic comedies. Much to Jimm's dismay.
20) But I also love quirky, bloody, violent movies such as The Usual Suspects and The Departed.
There you go. It's almost time to go home! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Through Our Children's Eyes
innocence.
discovery.
excitement.
joy.
fun.
As they watched the snow fall quickly from the sky their little voices raised higher in pitch and their excited talk became squeals of delight. Snow angels! My new shovel! My new snow pants! SNOW! SNOW!
Walking into the zoo their play by play commentaries crack their parents up. Running ahead, looking at their maps they shout "wow, they did a really good job decorating!". "Look at the decorations!" "Wow, look at the lights!". "Let's go see the dolphins!" "We're right here by all of the Christmas trees!". "Let's run in the snow!"
The youngest sits quietly looking around and then shouts "Ohhhhhhh", "SNOW", waving her arms around frantically encouraging daddy to catch up to the boys.
None of them notice the crowds, the annoyed parents, the fact that some are angry about the "Happy Holiday's" signs- They are just experiencing joy. Pure, innocent, uninhibited adventures.
Each day counting down by adding ornaments to our Jesse tree/Advent tree. Reiterating the story of Jesus' birth and the people who paved the way for His life. Understanding what Christmas is about with their own amazing interpretations.
Listening. Taking it in. Appreciating.
Through the eyes of our Children.
discovery.
excitement.
joy.
fun.
As they watched the snow fall quickly from the sky their little voices raised higher in pitch and their excited talk became squeals of delight. Snow angels! My new shovel! My new snow pants! SNOW! SNOW!
Walking into the zoo their play by play commentaries crack their parents up. Running ahead, looking at their maps they shout "wow, they did a really good job decorating!". "Look at the decorations!" "Wow, look at the lights!". "Let's go see the dolphins!" "We're right here by all of the Christmas trees!". "Let's run in the snow!"
The youngest sits quietly looking around and then shouts "Ohhhhhhh", "SNOW", waving her arms around frantically encouraging daddy to catch up to the boys.
None of them notice the crowds, the annoyed parents, the fact that some are angry about the "Happy Holiday's" signs- They are just experiencing joy. Pure, innocent, uninhibited adventures.
Each day counting down by adding ornaments to our Jesse tree/Advent tree. Reiterating the story of Jesus' birth and the people who paved the way for His life. Understanding what Christmas is about with their own amazing interpretations.
Listening. Taking it in. Appreciating.
Through the eyes of our Children.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Do you Believe in Miracles?
I do. I believe that God still performs and works miracles in today's age. Sometimes they are small and may go unnoticed by most. But I feel that I am one of God's walking miracles.
After my surgery in 2007 the doctor's told my dad, brother and husband out in the hospital waiting room that if the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes they would have given me maybe 3-4 years to live tops. Those doctors were fully expecting to find that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes because of how big the tumor was and how advanced the cancer was. I was diagnosed at Stage 3.
I remember receiving a telephone call in my hospital room the evening after my surgery and it was from the nurse who had assisted during my surgery. He told me that he was out celebrating with his friends on my behalf because he never would have expected to get the incredible results that they received after testing the lymph nodes. He also knew that I was a brand new mother and that I needed to hear that a miracle had been performed. I have no idea if that nurse was a Christian or not, but he understood what he had seen, heard and witnessed.
I did not know what my family had been told out in that waiting room until quite a few weeks later. They didn't feel it was necessary to tell me and worry me until we absolutely knew that we were on the right track toward getting rid of this horrible cancer. When they told me that news I sat in shock and then tears streamed down my face as I looked at my little newborn boy thinking about how much I would have missed out on in his life as his mommy.
______________________________________
I am begging and pleading with you today to join with me in prayer for two situations. They both need a miracle. And I believe that God will perform them if it is meant to be.
My friend Stacy is currently 26 weeks pregnant. She and her husband Jon just found out that their baby boy is in heart failure. It is too early to deliver him as his little heart is too small and too weak. But doctors fear that his situation is only going to worsen. Do you believe in Miracles? Stacy and Jon are Christians who do. Please pray for them and their little boy.
Jimm's cousin, Michelle and her husband John are the parents of six children. They live in southern Illinois and John was recently transferred down to St. Louis after doctor's found a large tumor on his frontal lobe. They are completing a detailed MRI today to find out what course of treatment will be needed and if the tumor is, in fact, malignant. Michelle is with John in St. Louis and Michelle's parents (Jimm's aunt and uncle) are now down in southern Illinois taking care of the six children. Please pray for John, Michelle and the entire family as they go through these tests and are presented with information and treatment options. Pray for a MIRACLE for this family. Michelle and John are also Christians and I know that they believe in miracles.
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. -Wikipedia.
After my surgery in 2007 the doctor's told my dad, brother and husband out in the hospital waiting room that if the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes they would have given me maybe 3-4 years to live tops. Those doctors were fully expecting to find that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes because of how big the tumor was and how advanced the cancer was. I was diagnosed at Stage 3.
I remember receiving a telephone call in my hospital room the evening after my surgery and it was from the nurse who had assisted during my surgery. He told me that he was out celebrating with his friends on my behalf because he never would have expected to get the incredible results that they received after testing the lymph nodes. He also knew that I was a brand new mother and that I needed to hear that a miracle had been performed. I have no idea if that nurse was a Christian or not, but he understood what he had seen, heard and witnessed.
I did not know what my family had been told out in that waiting room until quite a few weeks later. They didn't feel it was necessary to tell me and worry me until we absolutely knew that we were on the right track toward getting rid of this horrible cancer. When they told me that news I sat in shock and then tears streamed down my face as I looked at my little newborn boy thinking about how much I would have missed out on in his life as his mommy.
______________________________________
I am begging and pleading with you today to join with me in prayer for two situations. They both need a miracle. And I believe that God will perform them if it is meant to be.
My friend Stacy is currently 26 weeks pregnant. She and her husband Jon just found out that their baby boy is in heart failure. It is too early to deliver him as his little heart is too small and too weak. But doctors fear that his situation is only going to worsen. Do you believe in Miracles? Stacy and Jon are Christians who do. Please pray for them and their little boy.
Jimm's cousin, Michelle and her husband John are the parents of six children. They live in southern Illinois and John was recently transferred down to St. Louis after doctor's found a large tumor on his frontal lobe. They are completing a detailed MRI today to find out what course of treatment will be needed and if the tumor is, in fact, malignant. Michelle is with John in St. Louis and Michelle's parents (Jimm's aunt and uncle) are now down in southern Illinois taking care of the six children. Please pray for John, Michelle and the entire family as they go through these tests and are presented with information and treatment options. Pray for a MIRACLE for this family. Michelle and John are also Christians and I know that they believe in miracles.
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. -Wikipedia.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Happy Holidays!
I recently read a blog post by someone that explored the whole "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas" war; you know, don't take "Christ" out of "Christmas" and keep saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays.
I really liked what she had to say and I wanted to jot down my feelings on it too.
I believe that the saying "Happy Holidays" originated not to eliminate or get rid of Christmas, but to combine Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve ....Happy Holidays (more than one and all inclusive if you will). And also to be sensitive to those of the Jewish faith who don't celebrate Christmas (amongst other faiths). It was not to take Christ out of Christmas, merely another alternative saying to celebrate the holiday season no matter what faith you were (or were not).
I think if we get too hung up on this, we will continue to alienate those non-Christians who already think that ALL Christians are wacky, right-wing, judgemental, intolerant, stingy and non-compassionate people.
Instead, maybe just go with the flow and if someone says "Happy Holidays" to you, take it for what it is: a stranger, friend or acquaintance being NICE. Don't go into some long diatribe about how you only say Merry Christmas because you believe that Christmas is Jesus' birthday (which really isn't even December 25th, but I won't go into that part of the argument....) and that you don't want to take the Christ out of Christmas. Because then what did you do? Make the person feel like an idiot for trying to be NICE and wish you happiness?
I also don't think there's anything wrong with trying to be sensitive to the fact that not everyone celebrates certain holidays. I know some Christian faith denominations that do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, birthdays, etc. And I've heard the reasons and arguments behind this and think that there is definitely some relevance to be considered.
What is it saying about Christians if we are the ones who get stuck on saying Merry Christmas and show inflexibility and intolerance for those who might choose to say Happy Holidays instead?
And really, aren't MOST of the traditions on Christmas purely exaggerated American traditions instead of actual Christian rituals? Christmas trees? Santa? Presents? Ok, the wise men brought Jesus presents but do you think that God really wants us to go into debt on Christmas so that we can make our kids happy?
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to be sensitive or *gasp* politically correct. It's not just about the language or whether Christmas is really Jesus' birthday. But this holiday season can also be a sensitive time for many if they don't have family to celebrate with, or if they are single and wish they were in a relationship, or if a loved one died around this time of year and it brings back very difficult memories.
Maybe we can just be NICE and say "Happy Holidays" back to someone when they say it to us instead of getting upset that they took the Christ out of our Christmas. Because honestly....you're the only one that can do that for yourself.
Happy Holidays People!
I really liked what she had to say and I wanted to jot down my feelings on it too.
I believe that the saying "Happy Holidays" originated not to eliminate or get rid of Christmas, but to combine Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve ....Happy Holidays (more than one and all inclusive if you will). And also to be sensitive to those of the Jewish faith who don't celebrate Christmas (amongst other faiths). It was not to take Christ out of Christmas, merely another alternative saying to celebrate the holiday season no matter what faith you were (or were not).
I think if we get too hung up on this, we will continue to alienate those non-Christians who already think that ALL Christians are wacky, right-wing, judgemental, intolerant, stingy and non-compassionate people.
Instead, maybe just go with the flow and if someone says "Happy Holidays" to you, take it for what it is: a stranger, friend or acquaintance being NICE. Don't go into some long diatribe about how you only say Merry Christmas because you believe that Christmas is Jesus' birthday (which really isn't even December 25th, but I won't go into that part of the argument....) and that you don't want to take the Christ out of Christmas. Because then what did you do? Make the person feel like an idiot for trying to be NICE and wish you happiness?
I also don't think there's anything wrong with trying to be sensitive to the fact that not everyone celebrates certain holidays. I know some Christian faith denominations that do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, birthdays, etc. And I've heard the reasons and arguments behind this and think that there is definitely some relevance to be considered.
What is it saying about Christians if we are the ones who get stuck on saying Merry Christmas and show inflexibility and intolerance for those who might choose to say Happy Holidays instead?
And really, aren't MOST of the traditions on Christmas purely exaggerated American traditions instead of actual Christian rituals? Christmas trees? Santa? Presents? Ok, the wise men brought Jesus presents but do you think that God really wants us to go into debt on Christmas so that we can make our kids happy?
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to be sensitive or *gasp* politically correct. It's not just about the language or whether Christmas is really Jesus' birthday. But this holiday season can also be a sensitive time for many if they don't have family to celebrate with, or if they are single and wish they were in a relationship, or if a loved one died around this time of year and it brings back very difficult memories.
Maybe we can just be NICE and say "Happy Holidays" back to someone when they say it to us instead of getting upset that they took the Christ out of our Christmas. Because honestly....you're the only one that can do that for yourself.
Happy Holidays People!
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