Christmas Pictures- A Little Late

These pictures were on our Christmas cards this year and I really think they turned out nicely. Many don't know this but we do have a dog, the one that is in the picture. Her name is Missy.  We can't keep it at our place now but when we move she will be officially ours.

Something Many People Don't Realize

The other night I started to think about my job and the many other people who do the same type of job every day. I work the night shift at a hotel and my hours are 11pm to 7am. I had never done this type of shift before so it has been quite the experience. Does anyone realize how many people pull off working the night shift all week? It seems so convenient when your traveling and need a snack at a gas station at 2am or when your driving late and staying at a hotel and don't check in until 3am. There are so many things that we take for granted and don't really think about. The person who is working at that gas station probably has a family, but when can people see there family when they are sleeping the majority of the day? How do people cope with being awake when everyone else is asleep?

When I'm driving to work it's completely dead, everything is closed and no one is around. (Yes, I know it's Kansas but this goes for any small town). When do these people go grocery shopping? Do they socialize much? Their eating habits are completely different and it's a fact that the majority of people who work a night shift end up eating junk because there isn't anything else available at that time. I speak from experience, even though I take food from home. Its difficult to eat a meal in the middle of the night- the stomach doesn't like it much.

The EMT, jails, prisons, dispatchers, truck drivers, 24/7 Wal-mart workers, and a million others all work this shift and no one really notices. These people are not recognized and they should be. Yes, it is their choice to work the shift but the bills need to be paid.

They give up a lot to make our lives easier. Appreciate them.

2012

 I have no idea what will happen this upcoming year but I am looking forward to some events this year.

• April 14 marks the 100th anniversary since the Titanic sank in 1912. I love any history involving the Titanic so this is a big deal to me. ALSO! I discovered that one of my favorite authors, Deeanne Gist, will be hosting a Titanic Tea Party in Denver, CO on June 23rd in honor of the 100th anniversary. This means I get to wear a period dress and shoes AND hopefully meet Deeanne!
• I will graduate with an Associates of Arts degree and Chance will graduate with an Associates of Applied Science degree. 
• My best friend is having her first baby in February! 
• We will move once again to a place we will hopefully live for longer than a year. 
• I will hopefully find a full time job that does not involve working nights.

That is all I can think of that I am really looking forward to. Things always change and happen differently than expected so who knows what this year will bring!

I did make a few resolutions because there are a few things I want to start but I usually do that throughout the year. Things like praying each day with my husband and cooking more diverse foods are what I am aiming for this year.

We are back in the mountains this week so I won't be writing much, but I thought I should post this now since I have a computer and time.

Another Year is Over

This year has seemed to have gone by very quickly. 2012 is around the corner and I'm trying to remember what happened in 2011. A lot changed for me this year and mylife is completely different then it was a year ago.(forgive me I am typing on a very small keyboard that is touchscreen) I started college classes in January after moving to Goodland, Kansas to be closer to my fiancé, now husband. A long distance relationship for two and a half years was more than enough years apart in my mind.

I started my first job in Kansas working nights which was also a first.
I traded in my Jeep and bought a car.
I started blogging more and doing blogging for books which I find ingenious!
I discovered more about Kansas- its not all flat.
I was/am continually working on trusting in God fully, especially with finding a job. This was really difficult for me this year.
My aunt got married in Corpus Christi,Texas and it was the first wedding I had been in.

Chance and I were married on July 28th in Jackson Hole Wyoming in the backyard of a bed and breakfast. This was my big event this year and made the year memorable.

Completed three semesters of college.

Celebrated our first Christmas together.

I bought a beautiful Pentax camera and Chance gave me a new lens to go with it this Christmas.

I will continue this list in my next post along with my new year resolutions!

Christmas is Almost Here

I can't believe that it is almost Christmas. It still doesn't feel like it at all this year, though we did get some snow last night. I have sent out the Christmas cards, wrapped most of the presents, and have yet to bake anything. At this point I have all of the gifts wrapped, but we aren't celebrating Christmas with both sides of the family until January.


I miss my dear mountains back home and the foot of snow that is being dumped upon them at this moment. The decorations here in Kansas are so very different than what I'm used to. Who puts a bunch of moldy stuffed animals in their front yard each year? Why would you do that? Stuffed animals that don't even pertain to the holidays. I don't understand the people out here in Kansas most days. I am trying but I can never understand even with an open mind.

I will be working Christmas Eve and Christmas morning this year. We have a fireplace at work and a pretty tree so it will be cozy. I might even enjoy hot chocolate on that evening.

I have discovered one new thing this Christmas and that is a new Christmas movie. I had never seen "It's A Wonderful Life" until about a week ago. I got it at the library and absolutely loved it! It's my new favorite and I'm quite certain it will be on my Christmas list next year. I love that it is an older movie but pertains to life today so well. Nothing really does change except hair styles (which isn't a bad thing!).

Sometimes it is hard to think about the true meaning of Christmas while you are being run over in the store, but try to remember what this holiday is all about. Get out your Bible, sing some songs that aren't about Frosty, and remember what is really important.
Merry Christmas!!

Fierce Beauty

Kim Meeder is the author to a new book called Fierce Beauty. This isn't the first book she has written but it is the first one of hers that I have read. I really enjoyed this book and Meeder's stories and her insights on God. The book is a collection of stories and adventures that Meeder has experienced and relates things to God. When I first got the book I thought it was mainly going to be about outer beauty but this book does not focus on  physical appearance, it focuses on other things that matter like being a strong person and TRULY trusting in Christ. It was a very thought provoking enjoyable book and I would recommend it to any woman.


“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”

The Exceptional Life

The Exceptional Life by Stephen Arterburn is written to be an inspirational book that has "8 powerful steps to experiencing God's Best for You". I always ask myself what that really means? Who can come up with "8 powerful steps" that will change a person's life? Arterburn is a well known author and his book gives advice on guilt, love, trust, forgiveness, patience, power, community, and freedom.While his book covers a wide range of feelings, it is not a book that I found to be anything new or out of the ordinary. I do not agree with everything he wrote about from his point of view, but he did have some valid opinions. Each feeling is looked at differently, broken down, and analyzed. Then he writes how a person can change once both sides of the certain feeling are looked at. The first chapter is about giving up guilt in order to get back hope. This obviously won't be "life changing" for anyone, but for those interested on another point of view on such topics, read this book. Arterburn does do a good job on giving examples of feelings with different stories so you can really get into the book and understand what he is writing about.


"I received this book this book for free from Bethany House Publishers"

Ellie Kay's Money Wisdom

Ellie Kay is a pretty smart woman and does know how to handle money and help others do the same.  The 60 Minute Money Workout was picked because I wanted to get some tips and see what advice she has to offer. Her "money workouts" seem clever and set up different aspects to handling money. "Cardio Burn" is usually the part where you, as the reader, must come up with ideas or write something down accordingly to what she is writing about. Kay has some good pointers, but I honestly was disappointed with what I read. I wanted to read something new and this book is not something new. I personally did not like the formatting of the book with the "cardio burn" and "take your heart rate" titles, but that is just one opinion and not what I rated the book on.
Overall Kay is a smart lady, and I don't think this book does her justice.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Check out Cindy Woodsmall!

Cindy Woodsmall is an author that I have followed for the past few years. She writes about the Amish and has come up with some great stories! While some authors who write about the Amish are sometimes boring and dry, I have found Woodsmall to be a bit different. You can read the first chapter of her book The Christmas Singing.
ALSO! With Christmas coming up WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing is offering 30% and FREE shipping on books with this promo code-CHRISTMAS11 when checking out online at WaterBrookMultnomah.com. Expires Dec 20th so it would be a good deal for a Christmas present!

Mine is the Night

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs is a much longer book then I anticipated. That said, it was a difficult book for me to get into and enjoy reading. I'm sure there are many readers who would enjoy this book and its setting in Selkirk. The author did a great job at describing the area, characters, and using the language of the time.
Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the historical setting, time period, and some romance!

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Living Close to God-When You're not Good At It.

Living Close to God When You're Not Good At It by Gene Edwards was an interesting read. I wouldn't recommend the book to everyone, and I was a little disappointed myself. The title is catchy but I didn't agree with everything he wrote about. Each person is different in their walk with God so this book was just one perspective. Edwards did have some great advice such as talking with God in the mornings and keeping Him with you throughout the day. There are a few times in the book where you are suppose to speak out loud instead of just read. I personally did not get too much out of the book the first time around. I would be willing to read it again. To those that think this book will be eyeopening and different, you could be very disappointed.


“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”