I want, I need, I love

I don't have time to say much, so here are a few things that I want, a few more things that I need, and most importantly, the things I L-O-V-E.

Have a good week. I'm sure I won't be back before the weekend.

I want: (in no particular order)

1. A new car. No reason, just a want that I always have. (Thanks Dad)

2. Blonde Hair

3. A Baby

4. A million dollars (cause I mean, who doesn't?)

5. Straight A's

6. An awesome job

I need:

1. A secretary that writes my blogs.

2. A haircut and color

3. Some miracle cream that cures dry skin forever.

4. To loose about 20 pounds.

5. A piece of cake.

6. Lots of kisses from my husband.

I Love:

1. My husband

2. My parents

3. My cat

4. My nook

5. My Ang and Dylan

6. The 4 new to me pairs of pants from consignment.

7. Netflix

8. Paula Deen and her casserole I am having for dinner.

I enjoyed this...it may become a regular thing.

J's Barn...still going....

I mentioned a while ago that Jordan was building a barn in the backyard. I was going to take pictures and post alot sooner, but then the snow came. And it came. And it came. Poor Jordan started this project and the floodgates opened with bad winter weather. He didn't pout as much as I had expected, but he was definitely going a little stir crazy.

So last weekend was his FIRST weekend in forever to actually get to work on it. He was in 7th heaven. I have never met a man in my life who loves to work. Ok, that's a lie. My dad loves to work. You would think I would understand this mentality because it is all I have even known. Yeah, I don't. Sorry.

He got quite a bit accomplished and decided he was just going to take Monday off and do a little more. The news said it was going to be a nice day again......bahahahahaha. I can't believe we fell into their trap. We BELIEVED the weather guy. We were idiots. Needless to say, we woke up Monday to the sound of pouring rain. He just went on to work. Poor Jordan again.

So, this week ended with a ton of salt on the roads, crazy people at walmart, and cancelled plans for many. We were going to get more snow. yahoo. But imagine my surprise (yeah, whatever) when the snow never came and it was 50 degrees outside today.....which meant another chance for Jordan to run out and work (God love him). He, again, got quite a lot done, so I went out and took a few snaps.

I'm so proud to be his wife. I don't even have to give an explanation as to why. I just am. (ok, one explanation...He's leaving these boots in the garage without being told.)

They Say It's Your Birthday.....

FINALLY! Happy Birthday Dylan (which seems like it happened 6 months ago, but oh well)!!! I know that D will forgive me for the lateness. We celebrated Dylan's last year in the 20's with some of his favs, and I don't mean people. We had pizza, some awesome cheesey dip stuff, and a monster cake that was requested by the birthday boy. It was a good time, as always.

But, I know that you want me to really get to the point of who was there. Well, of course, Pursey was. He had a great time. I mean, look at all the chips and wine he had in that picture! He was a total party animal. I'm so proud.

Also, Lucky the cat was there. He also had a good time and seemed a little hung to me over before the night was even over! Gosh Lucky, hold it together! (Look at those eyes, he may have even stoned! What a crazy cat.)

Happy Way Way Way late Birthday Dylan. I hope you had as much fun getting closer to 30 as Pursey and Lucky did!

WOW

Sometimes, I think people use blogging to vent. Sometimes I think they use it to keep people up to date with their lives (i.e.--they live out of town from most of their family and friends). And, I am also the person who thinks people use it to brag. Sorry, but I do.

I am going to use today's blog to do a little of all of that.

My grandmother died of cancer 10 years ago. Wow, I can't believe I have been without her for 10 years. She was awesome and I didn't see all of her awesomeness until she was gone. She was very honest and very much to the point. Pretty much, if you didn't like what she had to say then too bad. She had a not so great childhood and a just ok adult life. But let me tell you, she loved with her whole heart. I mean, every single inch of it. No matter what happened. She was a lover. She was proud of her kids and her "grandgirls" (grandgirls because it was just 3 of us girls in the end....she called us that too, grandgirls). She was the absolute best at sending cards. And not just because she had a list of people and she mailed them some generic card. She thought about it. She put love in it. My childhood best friend once told me that she got a card from my grandmother every birthday with 5 dollars in it. It was always signed "Ma". Man, I love her. I don't say loved, because that is past tense, and there is no way I have stopped my love for her.

After the death of my Ma, my grandfather went a little.....ummmm.....we'll just say wild. That is the most appropriate way to say it. That is the most Christian way to say it. Cause if I said it the way I have felt for the past 10 years, I'm sure it would scare some people and they would never talk to me again. I've been angry. I've been disgusted. I've been hurt. I've been fed up. I've never hid how I felt. I have never tried to be one of those small town people who try and cover up their "secrets" when it came to bad family behavior. I've been quite honest. He did his fair share with women, with drugs, with alcohol, and I'm sure with other things that I have no idea about. My mother and my Aunt have had a hard time with this. They have done all but spit in his face and tell him flat out what they were really thinking. We all distanced ourselves from him, because just when we would think he was coming back around, we would be let down one more time.

Then, he was diagnosed with Leukemia. Yep, you heard me. So, how do you cope with that when it's someone who was an ass when his wife was dying? When his son was dying? Someone who found other people's illnesses a burden? Someone who flew off the handle when things weren't going his way? Do you find compassion? Forgiveness? Love? Well, I have struggled with that. I have tried so hard to find it within myself to forgive. And I have. I have forgiven him. Not because I am ok with his actions or his attitude, but because I'm not going to lose myself in hatred for him. I'm not going to suffer losing my soul so that I can be angry with him.

The past few weeks have been an eye opener for him. He has made a friend who has actually been able to talk some sense into him (or at least that's what I think). He has been coming to church. (I can't go back and tell you everything, but this man was raised in the church and he never felt the need to be baptized....ok, now I really don't have time to get into how the Church of Christ do things, but we baptize for the remission of sins.....ok, let me get to the point where I tell you that he is like 77 years old and never confessed that he believes that Jesus died for his sins and that he wants to be washed clean of those sins.....are you following?)

Wednesday morning, My father baptized him.

How's that for a shocking ending? I am happy as a granddaughter. I am happy as a daughter of his daughter. I am happy as a Christian who believes he had to do this to go to heaven. I am happy......yet, skeptical. Is that wrong? I mean, who am I to judge if his heart is in the right place? I'm not that person and I refuse to be her. I am going to be the wonderful granddaughter who believes that for once in the last 10 years, he made a great decision and I am proud of him. And that's where I'm going to leave it.

I'm proud of him.

Pursey...Jobs....Earthquakes....

1. I have pictures of Pursey on Dylan's birthday that I promise I will post soon. To be totally honest, I am too forgetful to get my camera out of the car in the afternoons and I am too lazy to go back to the garage and get it out once I'm inside. I know, it's sad.

2. Well, I did it. I applied for a job. That's right, I applied for a job 4 months before graduation. I asked a ton of people about it before I did it and everyone had the same answer: It's not too soon and DO IT! So, I did. I applied for a job as a Community Representative at the American Cancer Society. This is exactly the kind of job I am looking for. It's pretty much going out into the community and forming relationships with people who support ACS and with people who have been touched by ACS. The other part of the job is helping with events and programs that ACS is involved in. This job is PERFECT......which is why I am being a Negative Nancy and a Debbie Downer when I tell myself that I will not even be called about the job. I know that they will see that they can't "have" me until May and move on. But man, I really want this job.

3. I would tell you about what I've learned this week at the HD, but I don't want to scare the general public with earthquake junk that scared me during a workshop this morning. So, just a little FYI, we will have an earthquake eventually in this part of the country. Who knows when and who knows how bad. But.....know that to be prepared, anchor bookshelves and other heavy stuff to your walls and to the floor. (This has been a public service announcement from Kelly Strunk for future earthquake safety). Your welcome for the info and the love.

4. Have a good week. Pray about my job. It's the least you can do after I gave you earthquake infomation. :)