MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs
They say that my hubby looks like Rivaldo?Saturday, March 8, 2008
They say that my hubby looks like 
This is weird...
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Influenced...
This past week, El made a perfect illustration of how things we watch (on TV in particular) can make a difference in what we do. She received an amazing Elmo's World DVD collection for Valentine's Day from Grammy Wendy (I think we, as parents, were actually more excited that we didn't have to keep watching and listening to the Pets one). Last Thursday was the first time she had seen the video below and had never had an obvious affinity to anything listed in the title.
On Friday at breakfast, she kept pointing to the kitchen counter where the bananas were. I finally realized that it was a banana that she wanted- I happily obliged and she ate the entire banana (a first for her). At lunch, the exact same thing happened and she ate another entire banana. Finally, dinner came and I figured that I would be able to give her a pear or orange...boy was I mistaken! By then, she started saying, "Nana!" and pointing to the counter again. So, by the end of Friday, she had eaten 3 ENTIRE bananas...that has got be some kind of record, right?!?!? Which brings me to this video: thanks to Jeremy and Ashley for introducing me to this quite some time ago! Why not use technology to reinforce good eating habits?
On Friday at breakfast, she kept pointing to the kitchen counter where the bananas were. I finally realized that it was a banana that she wanted- I happily obliged and she ate the entire banana (a first for her). At lunch, the exact same thing happened and she ate another entire banana. Finally, dinner came and I figured that I would be able to give her a pear or orange...boy was I mistaken! By then, she started saying, "Nana!" and pointing to the counter again. So, by the end of Friday, she had eaten 3 ENTIRE bananas...that has got be some kind of record, right?!?!? Which brings me to this video: thanks to Jeremy and Ashley for introducing me to this quite some time ago! Why not use technology to reinforce good eating habits?Saturday, February 23, 2008
It's the small things...
Can I just tell you that I have been getting excited lately about little things? My latest and greatest discovery has by all accounts, literally changed my life! What, you ask? It is a little gadget called the Swiffer Sweeper-Vac! We have pergo floors throughout the living/dining room and kitchen so I find myself getting down on my hands and knees either with a paper towel or dust buster on a daily basis. This beautiful invention allows me to get all the dust bunnies, crumbs, dirt pieces, and random chunks of food off the floor while standing up straight! On top of the swiffer cloth, there is suction to pick up the bigger debris. The past few days I have actually looked forward to sweeping the dust bunnies up although please don't expect that to last forever. (By the way, how can 3 relatively clean people create daily dust bunnies?- I will never know)
I also just had to share this picture with you of El. I love it because it has a couple of her favorite things and is just so her with her rosy cheeks, blue eyes, and her smile that we love. She adores Elmo and can't ever seem to get enough of the book, "Boom Boom" or "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom". She is in her reading nook where we often find her when she is playing by herself and pretending to read the words to all of her favorite books. We are blessed!
I also just had to share this picture with you of El. I love it because it has a couple of her favorite things and is just so her with her rosy cheeks, blue eyes, and her smile that we love. She adores Elmo and can't ever seem to get enough of the book, "Boom Boom" or "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom". She is in her reading nook where we often find her when she is playing by herself and pretending to read the words to all of her favorite books. We are blessed!
Friday, February 15, 2008
To Dream Again
I can clearly remember dreaming when I was little...I used to dream that I was an Olympic jump roper (is there such a thing?), an NBA basketball player (or WNBA nowadays), a professional beach volleyball player, and a teacher (mostly because I liked to write on the chalkboard). Three of the four of these were very big dreams for a little girl but I remember how real they were in my mind back then.
When I went to college, I really started to dream about how I was going to change people's lives and the eternal impact that I longed to have. This drove me to my majors: Christian formation and ministry and Bible/Theology. From the outside looking in this might have seemed foolish because it was costing a not-so-small fortune to put me through a Christian liberal arts college. Wouldn't it be better and more practical to become a business major or something that would look good on a resume? These are questions that I struggled with because although I knew that I loved my majors, I also knew that worldly speaking they may not be the best resume builders, but I didn't really care. Somehow I was still thinking that the Lord had a purpose for my doing what I did in college.
My post-college jobs were varied. I went from data entry girl at a Chicago mortgage company to Christian College Admissions Counselor. After moving back home to Colorado I was the program director for teaching children gymnastics and motor skills, then the personal assistant to the owner of a fitness club. By the end of this time, I felt like my dreams were dying; sitting at a desk doing different mind-numbing things, washing and filling his car with gas, and getting his daily tall, triple shot americano just wasn't doing it for me. By this time I was also Ellie's mom...which is truly a dream come true!
Out-of-the-blue, last summer I was invited to an Arbonne party that one of my friends was having. I knew nothing about Arbonne except that it was skin care and I hardly ever went to those in-home parties because I was a big skeptic. I decided to go just because I needed some time out of the house. For whoever knows me at all, growing up I was about as much of a tom boy as you can get. I didn't wear makeup until I was in college, my mom did my hair for me every morning until I was a sophomore in high school, and I just didn't care about "that stuff" in general- oh if only I had a picture to post. Anyway, I didn't purchase any products from the party that day but the lady doing the party, Margaret, talked about the incredible business opportunity with Arbonne and how the Lord was using it in her life and the lives of those around her. I went home, did my own research on all aspects of this business, and jumped in! It has caused a huge amount of growth in me already and I am dreaming big dreams again. This time though, my dreams are filled with visions that the Lord has given me about this enormous piece of art that tons of people are looking at in awe and the only words I have are, "It was all the Lord, I didn't really do anything!" This is the dream of the masterpiece I see Him creating in me and through this business He has given to me.
When I went to college, I really started to dream about how I was going to change people's lives and the eternal impact that I longed to have. This drove me to my majors: Christian formation and ministry and Bible/Theology. From the outside looking in this might have seemed foolish because it was costing a not-so-small fortune to put me through a Christian liberal arts college. Wouldn't it be better and more practical to become a business major or something that would look good on a resume? These are questions that I struggled with because although I knew that I loved my majors, I also knew that worldly speaking they may not be the best resume builders, but I didn't really care. Somehow I was still thinking that the Lord had a purpose for my doing what I did in college.
My post-college jobs were varied. I went from data entry girl at a Chicago mortgage company to Christian College Admissions Counselor. After moving back home to Colorado I was the program director for teaching children gymnastics and motor skills, then the personal assistant to the owner of a fitness club. By the end of this time, I felt like my dreams were dying; sitting at a desk doing different mind-numbing things, washing and filling his car with gas, and getting his daily tall, triple shot americano just wasn't doing it for me. By this time I was also Ellie's mom...which is truly a dream come true!
Out-of-the-blue, last summer I was invited to an Arbonne party that one of my friends was having. I knew nothing about Arbonne except that it was skin care and I hardly ever went to those in-home parties because I was a big skeptic. I decided to go just because I needed some time out of the house. For whoever knows me at all, growing up I was about as much of a tom boy as you can get. I didn't wear makeup until I was in college, my mom did my hair for me every morning until I was a sophomore in high school, and I just didn't care about "that stuff" in general- oh if only I had a picture to post. Anyway, I didn't purchase any products from the party that day but the lady doing the party, Margaret, talked about the incredible business opportunity with Arbonne and how the Lord was using it in her life and the lives of those around her. I went home, did my own research on all aspects of this business, and jumped in! It has caused a huge amount of growth in me already and I am dreaming big dreams again. This time though, my dreams are filled with visions that the Lord has given me about this enormous piece of art that tons of people are looking at in awe and the only words I have are, "It was all the Lord, I didn't really do anything!" This is the dream of the masterpiece I see Him creating in me and through this business He has given to me.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Our new furry, red friend
It is amazing how quickly a child can take a liking to something and what once was an innocent introduction becomes a daily obsession. Let me explain...a little over a week ago, Graham and I were at Target looking for a DVD to buy El that was something different than Baby Einstein. Let me preface this by saying that we don't allow her to watch very much TV or videos, but they do come in handy from time to time.
I noticed around Christmas that there was an Elmo Christmas special and anytime she would see that commercial on TV, she would giggle, point and get really excited. We came home from Target with an Elmo's World Pets DVD, placed it in the DVD player and the rest is history.
Ellie loves Elmo. I don't know whether it is his bright red fur, funny voice, plethora of animal friends always by his side (including the faithful fish friend, Dorothy), or just his overall charm. Whatever it is, she goes over to the TV cabinet often, points up, and says, "ehmo," and we know exactly what she wants. We had to put a limit on the amount of Elmo being watched so we agreed that she could only watch it once a day...after all, that is just about all of Elmo's World that a person can handle.
I noticed around Christmas that there was an Elmo Christmas special and anytime she would see that commercial on TV, she would giggle, point and get really excited. We came home from Target with an Elmo's World Pets DVD, placed it in the DVD player and the rest is history.
Ellie loves Elmo. I don't know whether it is his bright red fur, funny voice, plethora of animal friends always by his side (including the faithful fish friend, Dorothy), or just his overall charm. Whatever it is, she goes over to the TV cabinet often, points up, and says, "ehmo," and we know exactly what she wants. We had to put a limit on the amount of Elmo being watched so we agreed that she could only watch it once a day...after all, that is just about all of Elmo's World that a person can handle.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Reflections on Christmas
This Christmas was a very relaxing, low-key time together. We missed seeing our family across the country but judging from our recent flights with Ellie, we decided this year it was better to stay home. We didn't have much of an agenda except to have a big Christmas dinner on the 23rd with my parents in Montrose. A couple of my dad's co-workers came to enjoy it with us. It was a great time full of wonderful food and a lively game of Balderdash. (in the picture you will notice that Ellie was not present at the table as she was napping- perfect timing, I'd say!)
Christmas Eve day we treated like Christmas day with my parents by opening presents in the morning and hanging out until we came back to Grand Junction that evening. Ellie ripped a few packages open but quickly lost interest when there was an open box in which she could get into.
The big gift of the year was my dad planning a trip and getting my mom time off from work for a 7 day cruise in Hawaii in May. My parents have never really been on a big trip together so I would say that after 34 years of marriage, it is just about time.
This year we are reminded that Christmas calls us to reflect on the fact that we are called to look forward to Christ coming again and making all things new. Sometimes it is really hard to imagine all things being brought back to perfection because this world is so far from that, but I think we get glimpses of what is to come. For me they have come in the laughter of family and friends, the beauty in my daughter's face, freshly fallen snow reflecting the light of the sun, and a beautiful sunset- just to name a few. After all, doesn't creation tell of the glory of it's Creator? What a blessing it is to bear witness to that- a glimpse of the Almighty. I think we get these everyday and we get to choose whether we see them as invitations to worship or just pass them by in the busyness of our daily routine. What if we could see our To Do list everyday as a "blessing list"? After all, isn't everyday a blessing that we have been given and every task that we are able to do also part of that? As I begin 2008, I resolve to intentionally view everyday through this true hope and Joy of Christmas... My prayer is the same for you.
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