20 Reasons I'm Blessed to Have Grant in My Life

1. He holds me accountable for my actions
2. He encourages me to better myself
3. He just laughs at me when I do something natural like fart, belch, or dig for gold;)
4. He puts up with my Peter Pan complex of never wanting to grow up.
5. He loves dogs as much as I do
6. Faith is important to him
7. Family is important to him
8. He loves our neices and nephews to the end of this world and took them in and loved them as well as let's me take off summers from work to be with them.
9. He is super smart which is good because well if you know me you know I need someone who makes up for my lack of
10. He puts up with my crazy shinanigans like inviting everyone to come and live with us;)
11. He makes me laugh by being goofy in many ways.
12. We both enjoy dvring many shows and watching them with not so good for us food and mt.dew
13. He has wonderful hygeine. I know this is funny but I think it's nice he showers, shaves and makes himself smell nice everyday.
14. He dressed up as a gnome with me at Halloween...c'mon y'all, that's pretty awesome;)
15. He sincerly puts up with my crazy family.
16. He's non-judgemental. He's going to like pretty much anyone
17. He does most all the laundry
18. He will put me ahead of sports on tv.
19. He let's me throw my karaoke parties and helps me out with them even though they can get a little spendy
20. He tells me aprox 100 times a day he loves me;) it's good to hear it!

Happy 6th Anniversary to the most fantabulous Man! I'm so truly blessed to have you in my life! It's so super to be married to my best friend and get to spend my life with you!

Life as I know it

This time of year really brings out all the emotions we can so easily bottle up the rest of the year it seems.  I see children excited at the music machine at work while listening to childrens Christmas music and I got tears in my eyes.  If a child smiles at me the right way I get tears in my eyes.  I just have this huge hole waiting to be fullfilled by a child.  Until we are in a stable place in our lives I don't want to start adoption beings I want to adopt a school aged child. 

Then there's the wishing my father was still here and remembering how he used to sit back in his chair watching all the kids open up their gifts just taking it all in.  I miss my father often and not necessarily more so on the anniversary of his death or birthday.  It's little things like not being able to pick up the phone when I want to discuss politics, or August, 15th when I would call and see how the day was going beings he was an accountant.  It's been two years and I know it will continue to get easier. As my sister Dawn said once, "I'm happy for him, just sad for us." Thinking of being with the lord and reunited with so many who passed before him and not having to use crutches does help.

Then there is the poor me has to live in Wi.  I'm suppose to be the positive "we are where we are suppose to be person" but that's just not working for me anymore.  I want to be with family on special occasions and not be held back by a job that pays very little. I was recently told I could not have Dec 4th off which is when my cousin comes from Mpls and we make soy candles.  I've never had a problem getting the first Saturday off, not even at the other target where sales are double!  I was also told I couldn't have the 26th of Dec. off.  Again I've never had a problem getting the week off after Christmas and being back to work new years.  From the get go I've been unhappy at this Target and don't know what I should do.  I plan to sit down one of these first nights and make out a resume so I can get something else lined up.  I used to love working for Target and never really thought about the horrible wage and the fact anywhere else will pay for experience and not start you out at the same rate as someone who is starting their first job.  But all the thoughts come into my head...what if we move again soon, I don't have a finished degree, and so on.  In my last post I stated I'm in the process of making a dream book and I need to keep cutting things that brighten me up and keep me dreaming that there is more.  It's not about living among all the crazy packer people, it's about being close to the people that are  my family and friends that I don't get to see more than once a year.  No job is worth it to miss out on special events in their lives anymore. 

I'm so blessed to have the husband I do to be my Best Friend and companion.  He hurts when I hurt and I know understands me and the things that I go though.  He said last week to me that it hurts him when I'm sad and feeling this way because he knows this isn't me. 

.........so to answer the question that I get asked often, "do you ever have a bad day or get sad?" "Your always so happy, you must just have the perfect life!"  There it is folks, I to have bad days.  Yes I may be blessed with a husband that is to me the best and two puppies who think I'm the best dog mom but I don't get to share the joys many of you do with a child, be with my family during holidays and special events, which yes do give me sad days and make me down sometimes.  I do consider myself a positive person and being able to try and look at things with the theirs a reason for everything outlook but that doesn't mean that every once and awhile I don't get down.  I can tell you though that my faith and Gods love has gotten me through the last 3 years here in Wi, the ups and downs with my family and has given me the strong relationship that I feel Grant and I have.

Dream Book

We all have dreams and aspirations...right?  Well my cousin Tricia was showing me her dream book she created and wanted to do more with.  I started cutting images and quotes of my dreams and things I would like to see myself become.  Tonight I will sit down, get out a binder, pretty paper, scissors, a glue stick and my dream pieces and put this together and hopefully watch my dreams unfold into reality. 

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."
--Louisa May Alcott

"Follow your dreams, for as you dream you shall become."
--Anonymous

"In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities."
--Janos Arany

DailyGood: 66 Ways To Grow Without A Garden

I have wanted to get into indoor herb gardens. I love the idea of being able to grow some things without having to have a garden

DailyGood: 66 Ways To Grow Without A Garden

Lessons on Life | Lessons on Life

HOw inspiring as Grant and I move forward to lose weight.

Lessons on Life | Lessons on Life

KarmaTube: Insight Prison Project

Thought this was amazing the way this program is helping to keep these men from becoming repeat offenders!



KarmaTube: Insight Prison Project

Description of an Ideal Life

So I've been going through this folder today that I have quotes and uplifting ideas and thoughts in. I came across a piece of paper that has scribble on it. I probably was watching a show and got these ideas...not sure. Anyhoo, it's called description of an Ideal Life:

*Be clear about what you want
*Live in the present
*Visualize with emotion what you want
(use great posture while doing so)
*Listen to uplifting music
*Dance around
*Take action
*become a manifesting magnet
*Write 5 things daily you're grateful for

So I'll go ahead and try to do these things. I do find that I know what I want but then make an excuse to why it cannot be done. Examples are: Adoption...the excuse is that it costs a lot of money and we just move around to much to see the process through. Finish my degree...the excuse is that we just move around to much for me to finish...see a trend=) Lose weight..the excuse is I'm just happy with who I am. I am working on the weight loss by joining the club and watching what I eat and choosing water over other drinks. The other two are things I need to work on because my life is at such a stand still. I definitely visualize with emotion what I want. I want more than anything to be a stay at home mom and wow does that bring on the tears! I want to get a job that to me has meaning and am finding it hard without a finished degree...the water fountain of tears starts again. With Grant's job and our main source of income I find it hard to go after what I want.
Listening to uplifting music is easy for me along with the dancing! I put on this sorta fairytale with you by Tori Amos or If you want to sing out sing out by Cat Stevens and I'm a dancing machine!
Take Action..YIKES, I'm not good at this...lets move on...........
Become a manifesting magnet...what in the world is this..let me google it...(5 minutes later) I didn't get much out of what this is...anyone care to explain. Moving on to Writing 5 things a day your grateful for. I used to do this and of course like most things I start..I don't finish. I will start today with this entry.

1.Grant! He is such a blessing in my life.
2.Lucy and Lola..they make me smile and make me feel loved when I'm home alone and feel so alone
3.Nieces and Nephews I would do anything for them. I want them to be so much more than I believe they think they can. The feeling I get from them is a feeling of accomplishment that I CAN make a difference in the life of a child and I do deserve to be a mother. I'm not always there whenever they need me but I do believe that every one of them does know I'd do whatever I could to the best of my ability to help them.
4.God! He is actually number one and is on my list everyday. Without my faith in God life would be empty and meaningless. I wouldn't have Grant, family, puppies etc without God making it all happen. Everyday he reminds me he is on my side and looking out for me!
5.computer...yes it's materialistic but I'm so thankful that I'm able to afford to have one to stay in touch through all the moves and hustle and bustle of daily life.

So as I continue to go through this folder and continue to find ways to uplift my spirit and go through life with optimism I will continue to share. Lord only knows we can all use a little help in our daily lives to stay optimistic and move forward with intention!

Cd's

As I stated on Facebook, I'm loading all our CD's onto itunes and getting rid of our cd collection. I find they just sit and collect dust and take up two extra boxes when moving. It's funny with the ipod movement how hard it is to find a "boombox" or personal cd player. Someone asked me if we had any personal cd players the other day at work and we had two, both clearanced.
My sister Dawn sent me my first cd boombox player on my 16th birthday. My mom brought me to the little best buy store in the Moorhead Center Mall and I picked out Simon and Garfunkel Bookends. My sister, along with the boombox, sent me the wooden box edition of R.E.M.'s Automatic for the people. I became a major R.E.M. fan in fifth grade and since have a collection of 30+ cds. I of course am not getting rid of that=D
So I'm open to suggestions on what I should do with all our cd's. I would like to get something from all the money put into it. Is a couple bucks each a reasonable price to expect if I were to pawn or bring them to a used cd store? I've never sold something on craigslist...if I were to go that route would I have to hand deliver cd's all over Appleton?? I know some of you want to know what I have before I figure out what I'm going to do with them so as promised I'll post the list of what I have in the next day or two.

Plastic

Many know that I try to live my life as green as possible. Not to long ago Grant and I were driving and we saw a man throw a cigarette pack out his window...I honestly didn't know people still littered...silly me! When I check someone out buying the big ol packs of plastic water bottles I litterally want to lecture that person and tell them to get a reusable bottle...they are super fashionable to boot=D So I came across this video and it made me realize there is one thing I don't conciously do all the time and that's bring my own bags to every store. I do a lot of the time but sometimes I just go to the grocery store and don't even think of it and then add about 6 more plastic bags to my recycling bin. I'm going to pledge to ALWAYS have reusable bags in my car for whenever I take those unexpected or expected trips and just plain forget about them. I have a lot of reusable bags, and like the water bottles I have some pretty cute ones to boot!

Story from page a day calendar

MYSTERIOUS WAYS
I was feeling pretty low. It was the week before I was scheduled for gallbladder surgery, and I couldn't’t escape my worried, gloomy thoughts. The surgeon was highly recommended but was new to me. My sister, an experienced operating-room director who usually put my mind at ease about my medical care, had moved away recently. This would be my first time facing an operation without her.

I was on my own. What if something went wrong? I tossed and turned all that night.

The next day, I decided I had to get my mind off everything. A good book, that’ll do the trick, I thought. I headed to the bookcase in my guest bedroom to get something to read. Next to the bookcase was a stack of novels I had picked up from a library sale over a year ago and had not gotten around to putting away. Right on top I spied a bestselling mystery novel. This will keep me distracted, I thought.

I sat down in the bedroom, opened the book, and began to read. I couldn’t believe it—the book’s prologue began with a woman awaiting surgery! She was also feeling worried, questioning whether she had chosen the right hospital or the right doctor.

“This is a team effort,” the doctor assures her. “We mustn’t forget someone very important,” he continues, “the most important member of our team. Do you know who that is?”

The doctor pats the woman’s hand gently and points upward. “God,” he tells her.

That doctor’s words stopped me cold. The connection couldn’t have been stronger or the circumstances more real to me.

My life wasn’t only in the doctor’s hands, it was in God’s as well. Immediately, I felt more confident and hopeful about the upcoming surgery.

And the most amazing thing? The character’s name. It was the same as mine—Grace.
Gracious Father, thank You for meeting me right where I am, right when I need You.
—Grace booth

Email quote of the week

I would love to say that my quote of the week is going to become a regular thing again but I cannot seem to keep that promise. I honestly check my email quickly on my phone and that's about it. Tonight I sat down at the computer, uploaded photos and got all caught up. I don't know when I last wrote so I hopefully will not be repeating anything.

We went camping the 8Th-14th with our friends from Moorhead, Sharon, Tom and Trevor and my MIL and FIL. Very fun times! Grant from there went back to WI and the kids and I went to ND. I saw my fathers gravestone for the first time, family and friends. Going to Fargo is not on my top 10 things I love to do but I have to admit I had a really good time there. I love to see the people that live there but I think I figured it out why I don't love the town...it's a part of my past that I would rather move on from...not the people, the place.

Catlin stayed back with my mom for a week and Just Amber and I came back. Logan and his friend Casey brought him back to WI the following weekend and we all went to a brewers game and had a fun family game night! Logan is growing into such a fine young man!

The kids and I have taken in a couple beaches and most recently have been going to the pool. I LOVE soaking up all the sun and I have to say I do enjoy the water! They love watching the Disney channel shows and texting on the phone. Both are growing up fast! Catlin has even been challenging me to his teenagerness which has been fun...honestly I love playing the role and am ready for anything he has for me=)
The kids and I are meeting Deane in Indianapolis on the 21st=( We plan to leave the night of the 20th, stay at a hotel there and then I'll drive back the next day. Just didn't want to do the whole big drive in one day. Grant unfortunately will not be able to come with us because he has to be at work so play my phone GPS gets us there=) I just keep in mind how blessed I am to have the time I do have with them and that I have them in my life period!

I've had acid reflux really bad since 2003 and it's gotten worse over the years. The last year I will vomit over the acid in my stomach frequently and the medicine I have is not quite been kicking the heartburn. So I've been getting somethings checked out and found out I have GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
I've had two of the same procedures where they stick a tube down my throat (after knocking me out) and check out my esophagus (EGD). I've been blessed with my fathers stomach (this is suppose to be facetious). After the first time and being told over and over how "severe" it was they gave me about 4 different medicines. The 2nd time of doing the procedure the dr. said the erosion had gotten a little better around the esophogus but I still have quite a bit (he showed us a picture of it) and I should have a surgery to close the bottom of my esophogus (sphincter) which is suppose to be closed and mine is open hence my horrid heartburn (acid reflux) My father taught me to not be a surgery happy person so I asked questions and will be going in tomorrow to talk with the actual Dr. who would do the procedure and question him. Before the surgury I have to do a 24hr esophageal Ph monitoring where they stick a tube through my nose down to my esophogus. I've already bailed on this and now it looks like I'll have no choice=\ The surgery can make it so I may not have to take any pills again and if I do have to still take some medicine they'll actually help...woot woot!

I will be staying with Target through this whole move. I am transferring to the Target in the Appleton Mall starting the 2nd week in Sept. There is one really close to us but there is no openings right now. I love working at Target so I will take what I can get. I am going to stick to doing comp shopping in GB which is only aprox 40 min, until then to stay in the system. Hopefully I can get the surgery done in between the kids leaving and me going back to work so I don't have to take a leave of absence.

So that is it. Hope everyone is having a fantabulous summer!
I did upload new pictures to my flickr so check em out!

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.
-- James Dent

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.
-- Russel Baker

Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun.
-- Kahlil Gibran

Dirty hands, iced tea, garden fragrances thick in the air and a blanket of color before me, who could ask for more?
-- Bev Adams

If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance.
-- Bern Williams

I know that "safer" products are more inexpensive but it's totally worth it to me to spend more on products I can feel good about putting on my body. I've switched to the yes to carrots/tomatos line and love it! I still also make my own cleaning products!

Deliverance and The Graduate

I saw some 2 movies I've wanted to see for sometime now...deliverace and the graduate. Loved the Graduate and deliverance was good but not great. I was personally expecting a little more backwards hillbilly action but with the one scene I guess I should be ok with it and not be a wierdo. I was pleasantly surprised with how good looking Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight were back in the day!

Capitalism: A love Story

Many people love to hate Michael Moore because he is so one sided and is so obviously giving his audience just a small part of the story. I have watched all his films and I guess love getting a kick out of this and love screaming at him through my television screen. Many people are kinda amazed when I tell them I watch the Michael Moore movies and here is why I do. I don't want to be one of "those" people who say I hate him and have never watched a clip of what he has to say. Yes I know I'm going to dislike him but now I have grounds in a conversation to say why he is wrong=) It's the same with all the liberals who bash Glenn Beck or Bill O' Reilly and have never watched an episode of either of them. What I find funny about this is, many liberals would probably agree with Bill because he is so neutral and is just giving us stories not bashing just one party but both for the idiotic things they both do. I've heard him bash Bush MANY times and Glenn Beck does the same... although I will admit he does lean more right than Bill. Yes, Hannity is our Michael Moore whom is completley one-sided and plainly hates the liberal ideas.
So enough about my rant but I did think that he does point out a lot of sad things going on in our nation that are not right and should be fixed BUT, for example the airline pilots making so little...I've never heard of the company they work for let alone never heard of a pilot making less than around 200,000....this is having a dad as an accountant by the way. Why didn't he pinpoint an airline that the general public probably has heard of? I did agree with the company sit in and was so happy that bank of america finally paid them what they had coming.
I do like capitalism and the idea of working your way up and getting what you put into it, but as Grant and I talked about, don't like the idea of the 1% making billions while the little cashier under them doing their work makes 7.00.
The forclosed homes that are happening in this day and age are yes due to some people losing their jobs and it is sad. But for the most part it seems people have gotten themselves into trouble with credit and buying more than they could afford. Yes the banks maybe shouldn't have given people so much but when making such a big purchase shouldn't you be responsible as well for knowing what you can afford? Plus many of these people live in such an instant gratification world and end up getting themselves into trouble...should I really feel bad for these people? I do a little, it's just human to do so but we all have to learn from lessons eh' Grant and I went through a period when living in the cities where we spent way more than what we made but learned our lesson and are back on track. I don't expect anyone to feel bad for us and give us handouts...we learned our lesson and moved on. Yes Grant makes good money but he worked himself up from making only 8.00 an hour to where he is now by hard work and dedication! THere were many other things in the film I could argue but am running out of time and probably lost a few viewers by now=D

Mothers Day 10'

Grant and I went to Eagle Bend for the big day. Saturday was my Mother in Laws annual church mother daughter brunch/program. This year was the first year that I've actually been sad and I'll admit it, a little bitter about not being blessed with a child like others are. Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy for all the woman who are blessed to be mothers, just a little sad for myself and others like me who aren't as blessed. I don't know if it's the fail in fertility this past year or just the more of the want to be a mom as time goes by and my biological clock is ticking.
I'm going to focus on having my 2 neices and nephew with me this summer and know that God has his plan for me.

More movies I have on the rent out for my time at home

Today on the way home Grant and I rented quite a few movies. Here is the list...
Coraline
Capitalism: a love story
The Ugly Truth
Good Dick
Seven Pounds
Yesterday we watched 2012 and I thought that was a good flick as well. Not my typical movie but I'd suggest it.
I'm currently half way through There will be Blood. And Netflix just sent me my first movie from my friends must see list; Rainman. I plan on catching up with scrapbooking as I'm watching these so I'm not a complete couch potato=)

whip it

Grant and I watched the movie whip it today and I loved it! I really want to go and see a real roller derby now! I know Ellen Page won't be there, and how do I love her, but I still think it could be a rather fun outing!

Today I went to the big town of Appleton to do some shopping and to get out of the house for awhile. I stopped at Atlanta Bread to have a sandwich and as I'm sitting there, there is this lady (yes, lady, mid 30's maybe pushing 40) with stilletos (did I even spell that right?) on. To me she looked so ridiculous first of all for wearing, them beings I'm all about comfort, and trying to walk in them. It looked like to much work to try and keep herself up. There was probably a time when I cared about what I looked like than if I was comfortable or not. I'm happy to report comfort wins and I can walk a straight line no problem=)

Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Milk & This is Spinal Tap

Planes Trains and Automobiles

This movie was hilarious and could be a movie I watch again. Maybe not a hundred times like others but it was good! Favorite part of the movie was when they wake up in the hotel and John Candy's arms are around Steve Martin and he starts kissing his ear and Steve asks "where is your other hand?" John: "between two pillows" Steve: "those aren't pillows!"
"So how about those bears(maybe it was cubs...I don't recall it was just hooolarious!)"
Another fave part is when he goes to the car rental lady and starts screaming about how there was no F@#& car in the F#%# lot......

This is Spinal Tap
Sorry Scott, but I just didn't get why this was a movie I HAD to see. Grant was right, I did not get it. Was it suppose to make me laugh? The whole time I kept thinking just get over so I can say I watched the whole thing. The only semi funny thing is when Nigel drew the stone hedge they wanted on stage and put 18" and the little people were dancing around the little 18" stone hedge.
I would really love to know what you like so much about it so much you consider it a must see?

Milk
Milk we watched in January so it's been awhile. I Liked it a lot & would suggest it to someone. Sean Penn was excellent in this movie! It's funny to me how we've come so far but to think that we were fighting for rights for GLTB's 30 years ago and still fighting to this day for something so simple as equal rights for another human being! I thought it was a deep and heavy movie and was really moved by it!

So I also have there will be blood and plan to watch that tomorrow. The rest I put into my netflix queue and will watch them little by little beings I won't be off work forever and have to go back to reality. Also I still have to squeeze in my favorites=)

ok, maybe I've lived under a shell and need to expand my horizons

I'm the kind of person who sees a movie, loves it, and watches it a million times. Don't get me wrong, I've seen quite a few movies but nothing compared to say my husband. Some of my favorite movies that I've seen a hundred times...give or take, include:
Reality Bites
The original Muppet Movie
Harold and Maude
Love Actually
The Holiday
Sixteen Candles
Pretty in Pink...among others

So my husbands friend Scott was here in January and made a list (on a napkin) of movies he feels I NEED to see. So I've watched 3 so far. I plan to give a little write up of how I liked each movie and would welcome any other movie suggestions!
Scott had also informed me of what a GREAT deal netflix is especially with the ps3 so last night I joined all you other netflixers out there and finally signed up.
Here is a list of the movies I have so far:

Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Rain Man
This is spinal tap
Goodfellas
2001
lord of the rings
war of the worlds
Milk
the usual suspects
the shining
hunt for red october
the truman show
schindlers list (which I did see in the theatre but don't remember it at all)
sound of music
la confidential
field of dreams
raiders of the lost arc

I'm Back!

I've been away for too long and I want to come back!
I found out Tuesday that I have a gallbladder full of stones and I will have to get it removed. I met with my surgeon Thursday and the surgery is scheduled for this coming Wednesday. I'm so excited to get back to life. Work, going out and about...SHOPPING! I'm trying to organize around the house slowly. I get tired out really easy and notice that my ill friend doesn't like a lot of standing. I also will be having a procedure done after that where they stick a camera through my throat to my stomach to check out my acid reflux situation. I've had it bad since 2003 and my dr. seems a little concerned. I also found out my triglycerides are high along with my bad cholesteral. I hate that I'm having these health issues at age 33 and plan to change my diet and start excercising more.
I'm still keeping up with my green living and had a Earth Day party. I showed how to make, laundry detergent, toilet bowl cleaner, all purpose spray, soft soap, and carpet deoderizer. All these recipes can be found in earlier blogs. I swear by them all. I personally have stopped making my own laundry detergent but use seventh generation.
Catlin, Amber and Samantha are coming to spend some time with us starting July 2nd and I'm so excited! I have many fun things planned and I'm sure we'll think of all kinds of fun crafts and stuff to do while they're here.

Quote of the Week 2.2.10

Hi Everyone!
I really don't have much of an update on anything. I've been reading through quotes this morning and just wanted to share some.
This past weekend we spent Friday night at my cousins Bonita and Tricia's. Saturday morning we left for St. Cloud to have our annual birthday weekend with Grant's parents, brother and his children. Grant's friend was also in a play, (Trial of the Catonsville 9), that we got to see Saturday night and it was wonderful...actually a learning experience as well! We ended our weekend in MN by visiting friends Danny and Wendy in Rice, MN. It had been a long time and was wonderful to see them and their growing children!
Hope this finds everyone doing well and staying warm!
Trudy Renee

“Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands: a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all, the assurance that you are not alone in the world.”

—Sidney Lovett
(-); minister

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
― Anonymous

“Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.”

—Henri-Frederic Amiel
(1821-1881); philosopher, poet, critic



“Love life and life will love you back. Love people and they will love you back.”

—Arthur Rubinstein
(1887-1982); pianist

“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”
― Berke Breathed


www.flickr.com/photos/trudyrenee

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”~Dr. Seuss

E-mail Quote of the Week 1.14.10

Hello Everyone!

Sorry I haven't written in sometime. I haven't gotten a lot done lately due to putting in many hours at work. I'd be a tish embarrassed if someone came into my house today. I finally got our new years cards sent out yesterday! I do enjoy work and like feeling productive hence why I probably tend to over due the time I spend there. Grant and I both have the weekend off and I vowed not to pick up any hours. I'm excited to catch up with some floor scrubbing etc. and some time with my hubby....and watch the vikings win their Sunday playoff game

Grant and I have talked and we have decided to stop playing God with my body and quit fertility. If it's meant to happen it will. It's sad for me because all I want is to be a stay at home mom, I don't aspire to be anymore or work a 7 dollar an hour job any longer. This year is about getting our finances completely straight and where they should be so hopefully 2011 will find us saving for an adoption. My faith is not shaken if God chooses not to let me be pregnant but lets me know that he has another door for me to walk through. What God has in mind for us is not always what we have in mind for ourselves but in the end he is the one who knows what is best! I cry as I type this because it is a very hard decision and just may be giving up a chance to have a child. We all know adoption could take years and is not always a pleasant process. I think of the ways I'm so blessed and that helps. I have a fantabulous husband, and not to mention 2 wonderful pups!

Not much else has been going on here. Grant's friend Scott was here and we got to spend quite a bit of time with him which Grant mentioned was "good for the soul" It made us realize that friends are so important and makes us want to be back in MN that much more.

Hope everyone is having a SUPER new year!
Trudy Renee




“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”

—Jawaharlal Nehru



“Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.”
― John Barrymore



“Elegance is a question of personality, more than one’s clothing.”
― Jean-Paul Gaultier