tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89378218714794558262024-03-05T02:33:16.692-05:00Clarissa's Creative CornerThis is a place to flow and ramble, so if you're interested in the things that cross my mind, keep reading...I won't promise that it will always make sense though.Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-43771607614703862782010-04-04T22:28:00.002-04:002010-04-04T22:33:24.912-04:00Easter 2010Just sitting here pondering the day. I have been out of the saddle so to speak for quite a while and was just sitting here thinking about my little blog. If I were a reader of this blog I would have given up on it by now, but I'm back, and who knows what I will have to say. It's Easter 2010 and I am so grateful for a Father who sent His ONLY son, who was perfect in everway. His son who knew NO sin, came to earth to become sin, so that we could be FREE from sin! How great is that?<br /><br /><div align="center">GOD IS GOOD!</div>Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-51086681033465959352009-10-03T20:13:00.004-04:002009-10-19T14:24:20.023-04:00Extremely Powerful, Praise God for His Faithfulness!I just wanted to take a minute and post a link to a video. I know that it's long but it is so touching. Brian is my cousin and he was burned very badly at age 19. The doctors gave him 1 tenth of 1 percent for survival, and through the prayers of family things began to change. The doctors saw that this GOD that we were allpraying too was truly powerful and one of them was saved 9 years later. Brian had prayed for her every day. Brian has been through so much, this just goes to prove that God truly does have a bigger plan than we could ever imagine. Here is the link, my prayer is that this would touch lives. Brian holds a special place in the hearts of our family and we thank God for him and the life that he leads every single day.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.therocksandiego.org/messages/2009-09-27/">http://www.therocksandiego.org/messages/2009-09-27/</a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">God Bless!</div>Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-56034492184241151422009-05-11T19:08:00.003-04:002009-05-11T19:17:50.545-04:00March ended with a circus in town!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcphwbzcieK6YujagfJvYMtXoonAqJ_4Mmu3GNvN3VL4WzG20NjGhiyBw12aDxIS67YsRWbqN-GOVix22pfTQf75NfHzM7gchbBdVPF9eYoUNvxYd1B4-TzMlUyrzz51NEsyVHot7mhDvv/s1600-h/100_1201.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334708121634590370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcphwbzcieK6YujagfJvYMtXoonAqJ_4Mmu3GNvN3VL4WzG20NjGhiyBw12aDxIS67YsRWbqN-GOVix22pfTQf75NfHzM7gchbBdVPF9eYoUNvxYd1B4-TzMlUyrzz51NEsyVHot7mhDvv/s320/100_1201.jpg" border="0" /></a>The opening ceremonies.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrP7vk2h9694AOc_u57xV1-BFT6U64w3nxwEbHGQtAb8Iu0_PChct9x1l6JGkQ9IaSlWJxjupDigHtgSxdnxMpJ2CjnDFOkDKekHz3mCSzmEdA-SBRMROH-LYQvp_v8kUL8bjr_4Wyq7mF/s1600-h/100_1214_00.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334708118313298850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrP7vk2h9694AOc_u57xV1-BFT6U64w3nxwEbHGQtAb8Iu0_PChct9x1l6JGkQ9IaSlWJxjupDigHtgSxdnxMpJ2CjnDFOkDKekHz3mCSzmEdA-SBRMROH-LYQvp_v8kUL8bjr_4Wyq7mF/s320/100_1214_00.jpg" border="0" /></a> Jocelyn kept wanting to sit on Isaac's lap.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe4yR-f3g4mZ1gXw4lp5St9P5SB2rFbck5BCTo0Io1iBCf_8PapgqagkFUPcL9JQQOUSFr3U-MNXjqZFuAp7sanSvszA0iXKLEet3EpBJ5XKyE18jogUO3U4WhSJYCqSXoFJeF51bwR8n/s1600-h/100_1196_00.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334708112980234514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe4yR-f3g4mZ1gXw4lp5St9P5SB2rFbck5BCTo0Io1iBCf_8PapgqagkFUPcL9JQQOUSFr3U-MNXjqZFuAp7sanSvszA0iXKLEet3EpBJ5XKyE18jogUO3U4WhSJYCqSXoFJeF51bwR8n/s320/100_1196_00.jpg" border="0" /></a> All of us waiting for the circus to start, Jocelyn was afraid<br />she would miss something if she looked at the camera.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmbUfO6W2-wh1o_FkRiiLt-_xwGaaj81YVGE1pO4oOXx5BlWYL7BTiClpuxSeerQaKSkS41WXIWUIYYPNx9Yk4hqRnYwVCyEb6kStVok3Hg2GqGks5CvmYaYv83j882binfaS42IjfRj1/s1600-h/100_1195_00.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334708109967071090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmbUfO6W2-wh1o_FkRiiLt-_xwGaaj81YVGE1pO4oOXx5BlWYL7BTiClpuxSeerQaKSkS41WXIWUIYYPNx9Yk4hqRnYwVCyEb6kStVok3Hg2GqGks5CvmYaYv83j882binfaS42IjfRj1/s320/100_1195_00.jpg" border="0" /></a> Once again Jocelyn didn't want to miss anything,</div><div align="center">this was when we first got there.<br /><br /><br />Jocelyn got tickets to the circus for her birthday. We almost forgot about it, but decided to take my cousin Isaac with us while his brother was at school. It was fun, but Jocelyn got really antsy, so we ended up leaving during intermission. I forgot how expensive the circus is, we got 2 drinks and 2 popcorns and it cost us 10 bucks! Good thing Jocelyn wasn't big enough to want a circus light! She was so funny, whenever we weren't looking she would sneak the popcorn out of our cups! Too cute, after we left there we headed to Max and Erma's for an early dinner and then back home for an evening together.<br /></div><div></div><br /></div>Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-24990012923528419292009-05-05T18:47:00.003-04:002009-05-05T19:07:23.727-04:00An overdue update<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto4XYe7Yl3nSlZjlWBHdJg_h8fGulHfw6cYbh-4EQT5Vrx5DoZQ0uMZfJm0YAlsjpZWfyY47mnCs6g3ADJ_HYrkAiEvYISfgNXQN0_jLI0PxB5deEOicpVaQ2rqpnZhsKQZj4YkGA5wA4/s1600-h/100_1336_00.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332477955039631106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto4XYe7Yl3nSlZjlWBHdJg_h8fGulHfw6cYbh-4EQT5Vrx5DoZQ0uMZfJm0YAlsjpZWfyY47mnCs6g3ADJ_HYrkAiEvYISfgNXQN0_jLI0PxB5deEOicpVaQ2rqpnZhsKQZj4YkGA5wA4/s320/100_1336_00.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Saturday we went to the Cleveland Zoo. It was a great day to be at the zoo, but the elephants are at Columbus while Cleveland redoes their exhibit. By 2011 there will be a 5 acre home for the elephants that will be able to accomodate a herd of up to 10 elephants. Although we miss having the elephants up there, we can't wait for the new exhibit to open. We were there all afternoon and loved every minute of it. Jocelyn had a blast, she was so alert and ready to see everything! So here are the pictures:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332477938808173442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aJ7ULAeXWEoc43moYGsRqhjs9-vs7P4gXDOcppthCmMKMurd2U1qUdjKB_OKGzAKcMIsqbWhesM-eKFAayU_iNtZk_IdY-DCcbv2-3E8qxuU2W1LB26sgM2sbGrR28q59hH5E4vjrZW_/s320/100_1300_00.jpg" border="0" />Jocelyn and daddy looking at the fishies at the beaver exhibit!<br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332477943073397010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3tiQGjCMQpz5W1hBgQr_1IHs2kjpXJ8EgObQl8fFC0r8lwMqzD8y48STuJSJki4mzPBDxad53tBUSq3gsl3jC0R_y35EpOozIUJ5iGlkEGs_WJUaPfTlkTF13VvGgtqiIj1pWCqrNqL_/s320/100_1304_00.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Jocelyn was pointing at all the animals, this was by the camels</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332477946514671874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEMCxmA9bbUEisBbFqgRcmcd1cvlqDGZPpDWBDMaADzgEu-WD5DID9DsMT9lvUDGKS-BYrurDlWZvFEvE5oxsfMNt-BiP22-fr5DaSE3MVNSnOLJMSHp9vRclJa6cgKEvuknduSWSHbDD/s320/100_1314_00.jpg" border="0" />She loves her daddy! The loves of my life!!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332477951790449234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPwkj4zJqcWMkmVaGfLNDNb664-xfcuJNX_ZRGBlHNvxemgAAsanybsfzuwTDVzDnWl6vkMwkSA_GogHMJOQpuUvLXKNCPdXScwdtL1WxynriFlYRVcPTYqD9OdDzoE9oshh9Ez4fL9Mp/s320/100_1330.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Me and Jocelyn by the bears, she was a bit distracting by the blossoms on the trees!<br /><br /></p><br /><div align="left">We love going to the zoo, especially when it is gorgeous out! I uploaded a ton of pics this weekend from the past few months so there will be more to come in the upcoming week or two! Hang in there with me, I have a lot on my plate right now at work and don't always feel like blogging when I get home.</div>Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-57159719450365519662009-04-14T19:52:00.002-04:002009-04-14T20:15:33.138-04:00finding myselfToday I went to a seminar titled The Indispensible Assistant. It was at the Grand McKinley Hotel. This is a seminar that I asked to go to. I learned a lot of useful information, ways to better manage my time, ways to say no to projects when swamped, how to talk to the boss, how to be more productive, amongst many others. The speaker, Gwendolyn Hawks-Blue, also talked about how we, women, are empowered. I went to this seminar thinking that it would bring a lot of good ideas back to the office with me, however, I walked away with a new meaning for myself.<br /><br />One of the biggest comments that stuck out to me was from the beginning of the day. "I am the only person responsible for myself." This was a big point throughout the day from trying to control the uncontrolable at work whether it's other people or tasks at hand, to deciding how I am going to react to a situation. It is up to me if I'm going to be happy. I am the one that can change the outlook for me and if I'm unhappy in a situation that I can change then I need to be the one to change it. Whether it's changing jobs, taking a different route to work, shopping at a different time, confronting someone in a tactful way or just saying no when I really can't do something. We did a little visual thing where we closed our eyes and looked at ourselves down the road. Seeing our success if we become the person we want to be with the career and family and home that we dream of. There is a study that was done and they found that the brain cannot distinguish between doing something and just thinking about it, so if you are always thinking about your future success and taking action to gain that life, you can become that.<br /><br />I am going to write a mission statement for my life and I am going to start taking the steps necessary to become the person that I want to be. I want to work at home, but that can only happen if I research it and start planning for it. By sitting back and waiting for that job to come to me, I am getting no where. I have to go after what I want and be intentional about getting there. So yes, you are going to see a more assertive version of me, a version who isn't afraid to speak up and say how she feels about things.<br /><br />More later, I just thought that I would give an update. I'm also going to get back into the exercise routine, I kind of gave up if you all hadn't noticed yet, but I'm getting back to it for myself.Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-1108573564527061772009-04-12T21:22:00.003-04:002009-04-12T21:34:44.912-04:00Happy Easter!Today is Easter! I took a ton of pictures at grandma's house, but I really don't feel like upgrading right now. I've been working on getting the house cleaned up and it's gone well, but now that I can sit down and scrapbook...I'm blocked! I'm just worn out and tired, but I guess I should probably update you all on my biopsy results.<br /><br />My doctor said she couldn't tell if there were more cells or not, but that the level of the cells that are there are still at a level 1. It hasn't progressed at a rate that should make us alarmed. This was good news. She also told me that if she were to do the procedure it could, and most likely would, lead to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pre</span>-term labor in future pregnancies. Because I am only 21 and Mike and I plan to have another child down the road, she is not comfortable taking this risk right now. She said that sometimes it takes 18 to 24 months for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pre</span>-cancerous cells to clear on their own, so she wants to take another look in October. This will be 24 months in this long journey that I've been on since detection of the cells in 2007. I'm praying for them to clear up on their own, but I'm not God, and I don't really have a say in His work. It will be whatever God wants it to be, and I trust in Him to get through everything. My life is in His hands!<br /><br />Lately I've put a lot of thought into another child. I do want to have another one and the more I've thought about it the sooner I want to have one. However when I think about it, I want to get a house and be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">settled</span> in before I think about another baby in the house. Anyway, I think I'm going to head on to bed, back to work tomorrow!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-67111849174471414072009-03-25T19:09:00.002-04:002009-03-25T19:14:37.686-04:00biopsyToday I had another biopsy. Tests seem to be showing that things are getting worse instead of better so we had to take a closer look before we decide on a treatment plan. I am sore and worn out, but I have put this in God's hands. Whatever happens to me is part of His plan and I will serve and honor Him no matter what!<br /><br />I've been busy and haven't had the time to update, but I do not go back to the doctor until April 9th. I appreciate the prayers and the support. I am praying that God would give me the strength to deal with whatever is ahead, and I am constantly praying for peace. Everytime I think about what could be ahead I think of Mike and Jocelyn and what I could miss out on. It makes every minute with them more precious to me and I love them both very much!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-84713468730104736052009-02-25T21:09:00.002-05:002009-02-25T21:12:51.961-05:00Extraction!Well, I went to the dentist yesterday because I have been having severe tooth pain. I knew that I needed my wisdom teeth pulled, and I've know this since last year, however...I have been puttin it off, but now it is to the point that I can't stand it any longer! I am having all four wisdom teeth pulled on Friday afternoon and hope to be okay enough to be in the Warehouse on Sunday morning. I'm praying that all goes well, and I'm not worrying about the procedure. I will be out for it, which is a plus because I hate all the grinding sounds of a dentist office. I just thought I would let everyone know what was up!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-54479662884588602472009-02-21T10:33:00.003-05:002009-02-21T10:41:11.146-05:00walking to birthdays galloreWell tonight is Clayton's birthday party. He turns 7 Sunday and is having a bowling party tonight. I just called and reserved a lane for tonight for Mike and I. We don't bowl near as much as we used to, so maybe this will be a shocking night and I'll finally beat him! Yea I know, not in my lifetime, but I can think that I can beat him. We have been working on plans for Jocelyn's birthday party which is coming up on March 7th. We are getting her pictures taken on her actual birthday, March 6th, and this will include an updated family picture...hopefully. Lots of pink and purple, and of course a tiara for the little princess. Still trying to figure out what she's going to wear. She's starting to walk...doing really well now. I told her that she walks like a chimp because she takes little steps with her arms up in the air. It's funny to watch her. This morning Mike held up one finger and she mimicked it and put her pointer finger to his. Too cute and growing away! I'm going to have to take new pictures/videos and get them on here. Everyday there is something new, it's hard to believe a year has already past.Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-89814881839928967712009-02-17T08:30:00.004-05:002009-02-17T09:17:24.834-05:00Dumping Debt and a little bit of LOVE!I have some wonderful news to share. We got our tax return and put some money into savings and then paid off not 1, not 2, but 3 bills! It feels so good to know that we are on the right track. We also paid some monthly bills so that they are out of the way before the end of the month so that we can focus on paying on more bills next pay. A our hard work is really paying off. Even if we hadn't got our return back we would have already paid off one of our bills just with the normal paycheck. It feels so good to know that we are really chipping away at the mountain that we have built. We've been working so hard and have given up all the wants until we can pay this off and so we even took a little out to splurge on ourselves.<br /><br /><br /><br />Valentine's day was Married Life Live and once again, we were blown away. My parents went with us. We bought them a ticket and they really enjoyed it! Dad laughed through the ENTIRE scenes from a hat game, and then of course we all loved the cheesecake for dessert. Can't wait till the next one. Thanks to the whole creative team and all the volunteers and camera guys behind the night! It was great and I had a wonderful evening with my husband!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-4565352791177008562009-02-15T15:45:00.002-05:002009-02-15T16:01:11.902-05:00So I haven't posted in awhile. I didn't post the results of my weigh-in last week, so I thought I would let you know that last week I just maintained, no loss or gain....and this week was the same. I've been really bad lately with chocolate, cheesecake and brownies, so it's time to really tighten up this week. It's time to get serious...back to all the diet food!<br /><br />I sat in on MSM and HSM this morning, I'm totally excited about working with the 8th grade girls in MSM. During HSM I actually had to lead a group this morning. One of the group leaders had to leave early and so Matt said that he was confident that I would do fine...I was not at all ready for that one. And to top it all off...the topic was sex. Not a bad topic, but when I was in school that was the silent word. We just didn't talk about it, so I still feel a little uncomfortable when talking about that topic. You could tell that it was a little uncomfortable. I had two girls and it's not always easy to talk about something that personal with a complete stranger. Needless to say, I survived and it's all good. Looking forward to next Sunday with the 8th grade girls...I'm psyched!<br /><br />A little saddened knowing that this was the last week of XCELR8...it was a great series, who knows what will be next...no matter what it is...count me in! It's so good to know that we serve a God, a great BIG God, who loves us all unconditionally, no matter what we do. He's always there waiting for us to return to him. I'm so glad that I don't have to put on a mask or be someone else in order to come to God. I'll try to post again this week...maybe something with a little more thought involved.Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-10508551600115985192009-02-01T21:31:00.002-05:002009-02-01T21:53:40.632-05:00When it Comes to Money...I'm FREE!Last night I finally broke down. I have been really stressed over money...as I've said before, my focus for the year, and the rest of my life is getting out of debt and staying out. Well, last night I just had to cry for a while. Mike was great and totally understanding of what I had to bring to the table, but he didn't let me give up. I wasn't completely okay when we went to bed, but I wasn't as down as I had been. Then this morning at church during the praise service we sang "You Never Let Go" and I lost it, tears just streaming down my face, because the song is so true! God is always by our side, he never gives up on us and we can see a light at the end of the tunnel thanks to him. He's always by our side no matter what happens and we should always praise him even when the trials come. This song tends to stick with me and I refer to it a lot because of the truth it holds. Everytime it pops into my head I find a different area that God is pointing out to me and showing me that it will be okay. Today it was regarding our finances. It's been so heavy on my shoulders and I just couldn't shake it, but today it came to me, and I've heard it a million times, but today it was completely different. The money we have isn't ours...it never has been. I don't have to worry about it because with God's help it will be managed the way he sees it to be and I'm giving it all back to him. I should be grateful that he allows me to use what he has rather than be stressed over not having enough. God is faithful and he will provide what I need. I'm done stressing, when it seems like the ends will never meet he always sees me through and I am putting it all in his hands.<br /><br />DIET UPDATE:<br />This was a stressful work week...OK now it sounds like I'm making excuses, but I gained back the 3 pounds I had lost so I'm back to where I started. I was actually surprised to see that it was only 3 pounds and not more. We had audit at work this week and I didn't stick to my diet at all! I will try harder this week! I've also been working 6 on with 1 off the past couple weeks so I'm glad to know that I go back to a 5 day work week with only some overtime this week!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-91954791477594597972009-01-27T22:14:00.004-05:002009-01-27T23:00:43.996-05:00Giving it up for God!How many times do we say that we are going to give our lives over to God, only to let life get in the way. Something happens and we do what WE want to do, or WE don't like what GOD has in store for us, so we walk away in the opposite direction. Maybe we don't walk away from God entirely, but we turn away from what he really wants for us and we decide to walk our own paths.<br /><br />I am only bringing this up because I've been there. I've listened to what God had to say and then decided for myself that it was just too hard, or too scary, or too bold for my lifestyle. Telling God that I thought he was wrong and that I just couldn't possibly do what he was asking. I'm not afraid to admit my mistakes, and I'm not afraid to talk about my past. Not anymore! God wants the best for us, and if something was bad for us, or wasn't worked into his plan, he wouldn't ask us to do it. I've never heard anyone say that they didn't listen to God because he asked them to jump off a bridge, or because he asked them to crash their car into a tree. You hear stories about how God just didn't understand. Growing up, I may have even said this. I was wrong. God doesn't try to harm us, he wants the best for us, and he's right there to pick us up if we fall. He's there to carry us when we are too weak. He's there to lean on when we need to rest. But most importantly, he's there to comfort us when we need him the most. He gave us his word that his plans are to prosper us and not to harm us.<br /><br />I am ready to give it up. Not just my life, but everything I have. I'm not holding back anymore. Wherever he leads me, I am ready to go, no more excuses! I am his child and I will honor him in all I do. How much can you really hold back when you think about God giving his ONLY SON so that we could live. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, and I don't know what God has in store for me, but everything that I have is his. I've gotten to the point that I'm tired of people living two different lives. There are a lot of people out there that are all about themselves until church time on Sunday. It's like they sober their lives and as soon as service let's out, they are back in their own world. I don't want people to look at me on Sunday morning and say to each other, "Just wait until after service, watch what she does when she leaves here." I want to be real!<br /><br /><div align="center">"Therefore if any man be in Christ,</div><div align="center"> he is a new creature: </div><div align="center">old things have passed away, </div><div align="center">behold, all things are become new."</div><div align="center">2 Corinthians 5:17</div>Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-21042534484284742162009-01-26T23:29:00.007-05:002009-01-26T23:59:33.307-05:00small group, XCELR8, update on 2009I really must say that I love my small group! I really look forward to it every other Monday. I just think that it is so cool that we are such a diverse group and yet we can be so open with each other and speak what's on our minds. Everyone has struggles in their lives and it's good to know that no one is perfect. We all struggle in different areas and because of that, we can all help each other in different aspects.<br /><br />I'm really excited about the current series at New Pointe, they always know how to speak to my heart and share what God has to say on so many different areas. With FAITH being first and foremost, knowing who our faith is in and that we should still pray and ask God to meet our needs, but not to focus our trust in the stuff that we want. He provides in his timing and he knows exactly what we need. Then in FUN, how many times do our non-christian friends pull the fun card on us? Growing up friends would always say, "You go to church? You must not get to have any fun!" It instilled a belief at a young age in the kids because a lot of people go to churches that have old ways, and in a lot of aspects, church wasn't fun as a kid, that's another reason that I love New Pointe. It's fun to go to church, God is so real at New Pointe, so alive, and yet the atmosphere is always changing...wonder what will come this Sunday...<br /><br />Just a small update on how 2009 is coming along. As you probably know I have lost 3 pounds since starting my diet. Still going at it, no matter who decides to jump on the temptation band wagon! I also said that I was going to work on getting out of debt in 2009. Mike got a raise and we are working together to pay the bills which has cut down on arguments and all is going well. It's a slow moving process, but we didn't get into the mess overnight either! I've been reading my Bible, still working on getting through it in a year, a got off to a slow start, but I am going to catch up and I am going to try my hardest to make it this year! Then for the BIG prayer of the year. Reaching out to single moms. I have been praying a lot about this and have felt led to expand this into more than single moms. I feel led to start volunteering in the Warehouse with the middle school and high school kids. I know what it's like to go through the rough patches in school and I feel inspired by the youth of America. I've also been praying about how to get involved with the single moms, where to start, and I am going to be contacting my old Sunday School teacher in the upcoming weeks to see what kind of things they need volunteers to do right now. The youth of our country make mistakes, and that youth is also in the churches, I believe that they need people to stand up and speak out about mistakes that they have made and have become stronger by learning from those things instead of acting like kids didn't do that kind of stuff when they were younger. There has always been sin out there...and there's no point trying to cover up the rough patches in our lives. God loves us no matter what, I'm sure he doesn't want us hiding our lives under a rock when it could be used as a learning tool for so many people around us! I really just want to be a light in this dark world, and I think that has to start by shedding some light on the darkness of our own lives. After all, we are human, we make mistakes, but that's not saying that we have to be stuck with those things for the rest of our lives.Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-39962933881241602282009-01-25T21:28:00.002-05:002009-01-25T21:37:16.870-05:00Weigh in after first full week of dieting!So I did good all week long and stuck to what I was going to eat...up until Saturday, I cheated and was really feeling guilty, but I over ate at dinner today too. So I was sure that I either maintained or gained, but when I got on the scale I was surprised to see that I had LOST 3 POUNDS!!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />All the hard work has paid off and I'm very excited about it! With a loss of 3 pounds that puts me at 282...the countdown has begun and there is still a long way to go!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-64994253881678050612009-01-21T18:40:00.002-05:002009-01-21T18:47:17.193-05:00Hump day in the first week of dieting...I think I have done pretty good this week. I have been taking my lunch to work instead of ordering out and I've been taking healthy meals with me. I have gotten back into eating yogurt which I love when I have it on hand, and I'm trying not to overeat when I'm at home. I have started eating at least some form of breakfast before I go to work and I did the excercise bike last night, I haven't found my Billy Banks Tae Bo DVD, but I think I might look into pilates, simply because I've done some before and since I haven't worked out in a long time, it might be the easier option to start with, I can always build back up to Tae Bo after a few weeks, or months, but I feel that it would be better to start off with a lower impact workout for now.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm not weighing in today, I am going to wait until Sunday, so that it is a full week for results so that I won't feel bad if it's not anything yet.Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-91375019805200086952009-01-18T19:47:00.004-05:002009-01-18T19:59:50.789-05:00It's time to start that diet!I hate to say it, but it is, everyone has been talking about their diets and how much they have lost so far this year...so curiosity tried to kill this fat cat!!!! What did I do you ask? I decided to hop on the scales and see where I stand. My eyes bulged out of my head as the scale went around to 285 pounds. I was at grandma's and her scale only goes up to 275, so at first I was confused to see I weighed 5 pounds, but then reality sank in and I was about to cry. It's not what others think that gets to me, and I know that God loves me no matter what, but I have been extremely unhealthy ever since Jocelyn was born. She is now 10 months old and I started thinking about her growing up. As it is I'm too tired to play with her when I get home from work and I rarely have any energy. I want to be the mom that has the energy to run around with her kids and play with them. I want to be that mom that sets up the coolest birthday parties (on a budget) and has the most time to spend with her kids. I want to be the mom that lives to be a great-grandmother, not the kind that dies of a heart attack before her firstborn even graduates high school because her arteries were completely clogged with junk! I had Jocelyn last March, and after I gave birth to her I was just 210 pounds. Now, that was heavier than I wanted to be but I had a very positive outlook on it, because I was going to lose that weight, but I lost focus and got lazy about it. It's to the point that I don't even enjoy shopping and I got mad at myself this weekend because I went to get some new work clothes and had to buy a bigger size than I've ever worn before. I want to be able to shop in the stores that everyone else does instead of feeling bad when a friend asks me if I want to go shopping and then I can't get anything at the store, and I know better than to even try it on.<br /><br />I look for this diet to be a success, because I'm not doing just for me or for my husband, I'm doing this for my child. So that when she looks back on her mom, it isn't memories of a woman coming home from work, sitting on the couch, eating ho-hos and drinking a can of pop. Not that that's the picture I've painted now, but you get the idea.<br /><br />Wish me luck, it's time to get serious!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-62802219779803994092009-01-13T22:14:00.003-05:002009-01-13T22:38:16.205-05:00Gazelle Intensity!Last year we took Financial Peace University and were really positive on paying off some bills. However, life's distractions got in the way, we lost focus and things didn't go as planned. This year for 2009 I have dedicated my resolutions to gazelle intensity. I am getting serious about getting out of debt...no matter what life has to throw in the way! Do you know why I'm so sure that this is going to work? Because I have God on my side, and I am praying for some really BIG things this year!<br /><br />First of all, getting out of debt! I am praying that God would help us pay off bills one step at a time and stay focused, but the BIG part is that I am praying for him to give us a miracle. I have asked him to make it possible to pay off hospital bills, credit cards and at least one car by the end of the year. I serve a mighty God and it's about time that I start acting like it!<br /><br />Second of all, there is someone that I work with that is struggling in life. This person has had a really rough time in 2008 and is to the point of throwing the towel in on family and church! I have had the privilege of talking to this person throughout 2008 and ended up coming to a stand still around Christmas. I felt like I hit a brick wall, but I am not giving up. Why? Because God can do absolutely anything!!<br /><br />Next, I am praying to become "nothing". Now, to a lot of people, this may not make sense, but the thought here comes from New Pointe. God created everything out of "nothing", and until I am really able to become "nothing", he doesn't have "everything" to create with! It's all or nothing in this world, and I don't want to be the person that people consider half-hearted, not that I care what people think of me anyway, I think I've made that quite clear over time!<br /><br />Then, I plan to read the Bible all the way through this year, I've tried this many times, but I never get all the way within the time frame of a year, but this year is going to be different, because I'm praying BIG! I believe that there is always another aspect to pick up on and something new that God is trying to tell you, and I can never hear enough of God's promises.<br /><br />Finally, I am praying to have the opportunity to get more involved with single mother's, I mentioned this one before. If only one "what if" had been different I could very well have been among this crowd, and they need to know that God is there, there is hope in tomorrow! Everyone sins, but there are some that can't be hid as easily...man I wish someone had been there to tell me this when I got pregnant out of wedlock!<br /><br />I decided not to do the resolution to lose weight this year because I never follow thru with it and always let myself down. I do plan to lose weight, but I don't need to start the year off starving myself, only to crash and burn in a few months, so instead, I want to do it the right way, it's time to start watching what I'm eating and exercising more, but who wants to exercise in the snow anyway? So...I am going to start walking more when it gets warmer, but in the meantime I'm going to start taking all the extra steps at work that I try to put off until I have more than one reason to get up from my desk and go down the hall.<br /><br />I just thought you guys might want to know about my BIG IDEAS for the year of 2009, and with God on my side, I can't lose, because even if I fall, he will be there to pick me back up, no matter how hard I fall or how badly I'm hurt. Isn't it great to know that we have a God who loves us, no matter what happens, or how bad we mess up. There was a time in my life that I thought I was just a ruined person, but God has shown me that there is a reason for everything in life, and I can shine as a brighter light in the darkness of the world because of those trials.<br /><br />Thought of the day: Every trial has a tribulation...you just have to keep going, and trusting, and believing to get to it. Eventually you'll get there, and the results will be even BIGGER than anything that you could have imagined. Trust in God and let him be your guiding light...he's always there, and you'll always be stronger when you walk with him instead of against him!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-32844441019244806622009-01-04T23:11:00.003-05:002009-01-04T23:45:14.601-05:00What If...?Normally I'm not the kind of person to sit and think about the "what if"s of life. It just tends to lead to discontentment and makes us think about what could have been. However this morning's sermon Dwight gave on What If really got me thinking. His point is to get us to think BIG and go to God for something BIG that we are passionate about and not to give up on it. So, before I got to the BIG part I just started thinking about "what if". The past year and a half have been radical in my life.<br /><br />1. I started working a lot more and was depressed that the church I grew up at was falling apart, there weren't many people there anymore and I hated the fact that everyone that I was knew and loved were pretty much gone...so I almost completely quit going to church and just blamed it on the fact that I worked midnights and needed to get some rest.<br /><br />2. I met Mike and fell in love...because my family is very big in the church, I invited Him to go with me, he went willingly and saw it as another opportunity to spend time with me.<br /><br />3. I got engaged to Mike...I was settling down and starting a new life...marriage was truly in my future and my dreams reached for the sky.<br /><br />4. I got pregnant...my whole world was coming uprooted and I didn't know what to do. This was not a part of my plan and I had no idea what God could have in store with this circumstance. All I knew was that it was about a month until I turned 20, I wasn't ready for this, I was scared to death...most afraid of talking to my parents...I knew that this was not a part of their plan either.<br /><br />5. I got married...planned the wedding in a month. It was a very stressful month, but we pulled it off, had a beautiful outdoor wedding, I wore my dress from senior homecoming, Pretty in Pink is the title that sums up my wedding pictures. I was sick and exhausted with the pregnancy and we pretty much quit going to church, I just wasn't up to it, and I was kind of trying to hide from God.<br /><br />6. Jocelyn was born...it was the happiest moment of my life next to my wedding day, and the start of something completely new. We were living in our upstairs apartment and I had to have an emergency C-section...more fear... so when we came home we lived with my grandma in her ranch home for a few weeks. I kept putting of the date to go home because I really enjoyed being with grandma, especially since I wasn't working, it was nice to have her to talk to and share my time with. She encouraged us to go to church the week after Jocelyn came home, but I still wasn't happy there...we were the only young couple, not to mention the only couple with a baby...but where else could we go?<br /><br />7. Easter Sunday...we went to Mike's sister's house after dinner at grandma's, she and her family had just started going to New Pointe a few weeks prior and when I shared how discouraged we were at the church I grew up in, she shared a bulletin with us and told us how amazing this church was. We went the next week and I wasn't sure, but Dwight greeted us in the foyer before service. We went back the next week...Dwight greeted us again, but I still wasn't sure, I just didn't think that this church could ever feel like home, but that week was First Wednesday so I told Mike that we would give Wednesday a shot, but I really just wasn't sure about this. Wednesday I knew there would be fewer people and I said I would see how it went. I was moved to tears that night, I can't tell you exactly what that night's topic was, but I was amazed at the way God moved at this church, but I still said I didn't think it would ever be as personal as the church I grew up in. That night as we were leaving service, Dwight met us on our way out, shook our hands and told us that he was really glad to see us there that night. It just hit me all at once that this was like home already, it was so welcoming, I had just been resistant because it was different. I'm so happy that we found New Pointe.<br /><br />So WHAT IF I hadn't started dating Mike and come back to church? WHAT IF I had gotten pregnant before I got engaged? WHAT IF I had made different decisions after I found out I was pregnant? WHAT IF there had been different complications with the pregnancy? WHAT IF something had happened to Jocelyn and we never got to hold her in our arms? WHAT IF I didn't have a husband at all and I was left to raise a baby by myself?<br /><br />There are a million what ifs out there, but when it all comes down to it, I could have ended up a single mother at the age of 20...I could be lost, not knowing where I would go if something happened to me, out in the streets, just hoping to survive the night. I could be living a completely different lifestyle that isn't fulfilling in the least... but I don't.<br /><br />My BIG thought and prayer for 2009 is for God to give me the single mother's of the area...whether it's just putting care packages together...or being a mentor...or just being a friend...the possibilities are endless with God and I want Him to work through me. The new year's resolutions are the norm...lose weight, get out of debt...but it's time to step out of the box and do something worthwhile! In 2009 we WILL get out of debt...and we WILL pray for BIG things...may the Lord use us in ways that we have never imagined before. May I move a mountain with God's help.<br /><br />Lord, give me the single mother's, let me be a light in this world to lead them to you, because whether they had a rough beginning as a mother, or they are already years into it, you love them, and it's time someone showed them that kind of love coming from a person they don't even know.Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-8468958668179146342008-12-22T21:08:00.002-05:002008-12-22T21:42:22.138-05:00cupcakes and duct tapeThis morning while I was at work, my husband stopped in with Jocelyn. He brought me dessert for lunch that ended up being my breakfast. It was from the Amish Door bakery, and it was really good. It is a chocolate Happy Holiday cupcake!!!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282803997715972882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDx0vCkAdjITU6as0heGI5fozCAQ_kZ9Oi5BYyKfSnDjxAU5pccUDVPr_PXbrQ2fRoG_h9wp0Hbpk-tnyu9sRViHJzw1r5A9p_FZSFQ26lV5wcF80V2oR-LDf_2PSospUKK0Kiw9EwDbB/s320/100_1026.jpg" border="0" /><br />It even had cream filling!!! What a great family to bring me a chocolate, cream filled cupcake at work!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDfHzppdST7QuLn-O53bfm-q3UHLCe0mGQ6Y7NUUOxrO22K4RvJHnXuWXBcUXCDcUtBApMmYru-PCXh_bykivrlZb9Er1g65vqe2sIwMPbYsX7pD9bSKEoAvyMF7mY9KekX_iTbEpTkFi/s1600-h/100_1028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282804004539012018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDfHzppdST7QuLn-O53bfm-q3UHLCe0mGQ6Y7NUUOxrO22K4RvJHnXuWXBcUXCDcUtBApMmYru-PCXh_bykivrlZb9Er1g65vqe2sIwMPbYsX7pD9bSKEoAvyMF7mY9KekX_iTbEpTkFi/s320/100_1028.jpg" border="0" /></a>Anyway, I ate the whole thing and went back to my work. I worked all day and we had a meeting at 1:00PM for first impressions in the nursing home and on the phone. A lot of interesting topics came up. It was pretty much a refresher for me from receptionist boot camp, but it brought some new light to a few things. One of the things that stuck out to me most was an example brought up from another nursing home. There was a lady who ended up at her second choice nursing home due to her being in the hospital and there not being an open bed at her first choice facility and it was a weekend. She asked her nurse for the newspaper because there was supposed to be an article about her grandson in the paper about his sports that he was involved in. The nurse had told her that they didn't get the paper on the weekend, and there wasn't any office staff there. Well a dietary aide had been walking past this woman's room and overheard this conversation. She went back to the kitchen and got on the internet and printed off the sports section of the paper. Then, she returned to the woman's room and introduced herself as a member of the dining staff. She then proceeded to give this woman the printed off papers and told her that she hoped the article about her grandson was there. She wanted to make sure that her time with them was enjoyable and knowing that her grandson was very important to her, she thought the papers would brighten her day. The woman was so grateful and "wow"ed by this act that later in life after she had went home for a while and had to have some surgery and go back to the nursing home, this place was her first choice. This story got me to thinking, what have I done to "wow" someone lately? Not anything big, just something small that would really brighten the day of someone else. I am really going to pay better attention to my surroundings and find a way to be more receptive and show someone how much they really do matter.<br /><br />I ended up working until about 6:30. I came home and started wrapping Christmas presents with my brother. Somehow duct tape came into the picture...so this is my creative side for the day!<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5x71PVfmiR-d4PRLFzP3VWezFmouE1GIIZOnmF5tfQQ6I8Y68yRu7-fjGZUe6Oqme7c3as0H6lLL5HodJnr3sKTyhVms8jGyzLFSDIy7frW6lXeHCN3xlZDoFSEPLSJmgaTqDPgUtZjj/s1600-h/100_1029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282804009840861618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5x71PVfmiR-d4PRLFzP3VWezFmouE1GIIZOnmF5tfQQ6I8Y68yRu7-fjGZUe6Oqme7c3as0H6lLL5HodJnr3sKTyhVms8jGyzLFSDIy7frW6lXeHCN3xlZDoFSEPLSJmgaTqDPgUtZjj/s320/100_1029.jpg" border="0" /></a> It took me forever to get that bow to look just right.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282804018628249746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnluGFYh09hFdZcIACpM6yGbv3-uNwSiWz4AOqsuMAkJiZNCIdIagoRmrGGn3ZpLLwghVL3ivjZMefZi4kNkLrJXR6eW1Yp8wyPU559TnckMcMm41qXav6zt0TJQyVBXm3PpzV8_JwrlkA/s320/100_1030.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282804022737135282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaM-L7q0IbpBqIFTUJJr9Q8uHpc24TjARl1-15Sm1HitgXw3nvNzGgRiijBU7WA5s0iKvmGO11598vXrwuOrlj_4_zhD_zkyZTcApAaoZ40GVfyevI0aiuYb4X5wlMsOkbGgEvuQ_RHMzj/s320/100_1031.jpg" border="0" />I almost forgot about the Jeff Gordon stocking that I got to go with this gift...I like the duct tap ribbon after all. It was really cute when I finally finished and just gave a little added pizzazz to this gift for a very original "country boy".<br /><div></div></div></div></div>Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-48845910343541771682008-12-01T05:06:00.002-05:002008-12-01T05:16:21.683-05:00OUCH!Sunday morning at 2AM-ish, I can't really be sure, I was sleeping...my husband sent me a message that he was being taken to the ER because he had cut his finger pretty bad. I asked him if he wanted to meet me there and he said no, that a guy from work was taking him and that he would bring him back to work to get his car. So, I did exactly what he told me to do and went back to sleep. Well, several texts came from him and then I think it was sometime after 5AM that he came home.<br /><br />When he got home I was asleep and the first thing he said to me was..."Want to see my finger? I had to get 7 stitches!" NO, I didn't want to see his finger, if you're alive and ok, lay down and go to sleep, Jocelyn gets up when she wants to, and that will be too soon when it happens (that's what went through my head). I don't even know if I was responsive, it was like I was so tired that I could hear what was going on, but I couldn't really tell if I was talking back or not.<br /><br />Later, after I woke up, I found out that it was cut to the bone, he got 7 stitches, he cut it on a kettle as he was cleaning, the skin was just flapping there, and there was a lot of blood. Not really a story that you want to wake up to, but he is okay and his finger is all wrapped up and splinted for the next couple weeks.<br /><br />Don't you know that it would have to be his bowling hand? He has to miss bowling for at least the next two weeks, of course he still wants to go to the bowling alley to watch his team bowl...what joy do men actually get from hanging out in a bowling alley just watching everyone else bowl...I guess some things I will never understand.Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-61711446062760267852008-11-30T00:25:00.003-05:002008-11-30T00:47:53.705-05:00recap of the weekLast Saturday:<br />Watched Michigan lose to OSU :( So sad, but they haven't been playing all season so why should they start now? I was in my Michigan gear from head to toe and so was Jocelyn, but that didn't help them against OSU...next year is our year!<br /><br />Last Sunday:<br />Mike worked so we watched church from home.<br /><br />Monday:<br />I worked late and then played Guitar Hero World Tour with my brother...and his girlfriend!<br /><br />Tuesday:<br />Had a work banquet in Rootstown, so I was out of the office and eating really good food and watching some great entertainment and ended up getting home super late. When I got home Mike and I played Guitar Hero at my brother's house while my brother and his girlfriend were making pumpkin rolls for Thanksgiving.<br /><br />Wednesday:<br />Worked half a day so that I could come home and make sure we had everything finished before Thanksgiving. It was grandma's birthday and I hadn't got her anything so we went to Belden to get a Christmas gift out of the way and a new sweater for Jocelyn and found a little kiosk called Santa's Pen, they personalize ornaments while you wait... so we got grandma one with the names of her 4 great grandkids...the newest one is only a month old!<br /><br />Thursday:<br />Thanksgiving! Lots of food! Ate lunch at grandma's then went to Mike's parent's house where one of his brother's was eating...spent a couple hours there...came back to my grandma's and had some leftovers...my favorite part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers! Then went home to bed early to get some rest before Black Friday!!!!<br /><br />Friday AKA Black Friday!:<br />I was up at 1AM and went back to bed and got up at 2:30. Mike went with my brother to hit the sales in New Phila, so they took Jocelyn. I got up ate some cereal and went to Belden! Went to Aeropostale and the Disney store and then waited an hour in the cold at GameStop! But the good news is that I only have 2-3 people left to buy for and our Christmas shopping is DONE! I then proceeded to work at 7:30 directly from GameStop and worked until 3PM. I got off a little early because my cousins from Michigan were coming in and had actually just arrived before I got off work. Was up late and ended up sleeping at my grandma's house because I was too tired to walk home with Jocelyn!<br /><br />Saturday(today):<br />Got up at 9AM because Mike made me...he said everyone else was up and if I was going to spend time with my family I better get up. We sat around had some breakfast, snacked and talked until we decided to go bowling, but first we needed lunch so grandma made up some burgers and hot dogs and we had lunch before heading off to the bowling alley. I bowled the worst ever, but beat Katie by 16 pins! Adam ended up winning which was a little surprising being he had 140 and Mike bowls on a league, way better than that, but he said he was taking it easy on us! It was a good day, ran to WalMart after that to get Jocelyn's new carseat and renew my Verizon plan, with a new Chocolate 3!!!!! Spent the rest of the afternoon transfering phone numbers and setting my phone up! Came home to put Jocelyn to sleep so Mike could get some rest before work and played some Guitar Hero World Tour...I finished the last level and so now I've unlocked some bonus songs...fun fun! Anyway, now I should get some rest, I didn't realize it was after midnight and tomorrow is another busy day!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-59901146362325671442008-11-18T18:12:00.004-05:002008-11-18T18:29:39.545-05:00a look into my heartWell...we've been looking at cruises and have decided to go to the Bahamas! So exciting!!!! I was actually praying about the cruise before we even won it. Most of you know that Mike and I never got to take a real honeymoon because I was pregnant when we got married, and that things have been really tight financially. It's been stressful trying to balance our time with each other, and jocelyn and work. We really have needed some time away from her, and just a couple hours just doesn't cut it. Don't get me wrong, we both love Jocelyn to death, but we missed out on the newlywed time without a child.<br /><br />The first year was really rough and we're barely past that, but so many times, life just seems to get in the way and I have to step back and remind myself of the reason I fell in love with Mike. I have taken it upon myself to tell him that I love him all the time. It's just one of those things that help put the choice of love into perspective, because just like everyone tells you, you can't FALL into love because if you do, that just means that some day you will FALL OUT of love. I've told Mike from the beginning that he was stuck with me, but I guess I needed a little reminding from time to time.<br /><br />It's time to finally go on our honeymoon. We're thinking sometime around May most likely, that way we have some time to save up some extra cash, and we can really enjoy our time away!<br /><br />I let myself get lazy with my devotions and I have definitly noticed a huge difference in my mental status when I am not looking to God everyday for wisdom and sanity. He is so good to me and it's good to know that all I have to do is run back to him and his arms are wide open waiting for my return. Sunday's message on greed really got to me, and it's not that I'm one to hoard money all the time, but I know that there are areas of my life that really need help. There is money that has been spent in areas that really could have waited, and it's time to buckle down, get my heart in the right place and start focusing on the important things. Pray for me as I begin to change my focus from things in this world, to treasures in heaven.<br /><br />May God bless you and keep you!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-18061815695667656722008-11-15T21:40:00.007-05:002008-11-16T09:58:31.660-05:00Motion of the Ocean UPDATE<div><br />Married Life Live was a blast as always! It's true, they did give away a cruise, and we, Mike and I, unbelievably, were the winners!!!!!!! I was in shock, we can finally go on our honeymoon that we never really got to take! I'll keep everyone posted on what happens, but let me share some pictures with you all for now:</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269268287760926914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5astDvruuTQUWqBYjqLn1vpDHt38LhW45wiLZOBJbSPIbay4zYAyHSk2yP9umepl2gg0WBUbJEzkF85_dHPO6c_OR7dc2KeswEYfoCphO2SrVVxqb-ZR5x8RFrO_rk3We1BEioI9-Gdpo/s320/100_0914.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center">In the atrium with some of the decorations for the night!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269268295741955906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNemmA6NP4iobM9smC4dQyz66It6pljJISvu3S0u0ljb-RJoF7BVtlWAy53FdqvkudtzXfURcLFB2Shn6Sl0PrEzcdpPlMZWuPCHm9Yp1WE7NtDTpCsTCZ5QDwk_in0nd-7Q1qB8nfZxf/s320/100_0915.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Here we are with our wonderful cruise director of the night, Matt Beres.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269268296527477154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrSYXm_fqawulyha-5QYxbdKSC9mlHsissaltvlEhcy_Y7OLqWo0Wz1ppUUArMretizkPtFX133OL3eS8lal374ytT3Zrudh2bEQQ2sW3yCGinQM7W5hROTw9zlsoQEPbOUro3aQSxkOW/s320/100_0917.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p align="center">And here is a snapshot of the voucher, just for those of you that are saying, "No, you didn't!"j</p><p align="center">Since it is a voucher, we can choose the trip or vacation that we want to take and use this for it, so excited to start looking at trips. Well, gotta get going and finish getting ready for church...maybe I'll see you there!</p>Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8937821871479455826.post-69914129937315274042008-11-15T16:54:00.002-05:002008-11-15T16:56:27.106-05:00motion in the oceanThat's the title for Married Life Live tonight. Word on the street is that they will be giving away a cruise! Quite interesting if I do say so myself.<br /><br />Anyway, I'll update you all later tonight after MLL...can't wait to go, ALWAYS a good time there!Clarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09783241726342290041noreply@blogger.com0