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Fish Joke

2011-04-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, April 2nd I walked into my office to find a small bowl of fish on my desk and a larger bowl with fish on my officemates desk. There was also a sign that said, "April Fools". I would explain the joke...if I could. I believe it was to be a distraction joke for a bigger April fools prank, for my officemate, that was successfully pulled off. However, these fish were dying off in their little bowls as the hours passed, so I decided to go buy a tank. Just letting them die off was just not an option for me. From 10 fish to 6 fish, and surprisingly we still have all six. Names? Spot, Ricardo, Charlie Chaplin, Posiedon, Sugar Lips, & Linda Rhonstadt.

There was actually one day where they were all in the left corner and appeared to be staring at the frying pan of eggs and bacon. I laughed out loud, it was so funny!

A Happy Birthday!

2011-04-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Well, April 12th was my 41st birthday. I have to say it was considerably easier to say 41 as opposed to saying 40. Those decade numbers are seemingly begining to feel quite dooming.

So, 41 was welcomed with open arms and heart for me. And a blessed one it was. Sunday night my friend Sherri had a "movie night". Kitchen staff was invited to watch the first two flicks in the Left Behind series. Except when I walked in, I was greeted with this fun array of baloons and quite a spread of yummy food!

On Monday, I got a call from my friend Kameron. She and her two adorable children picked me up from work and took me out to lunch, Islands.

I love their teriyaki chicken burger.

During our time together, Aidan wanted to take a picture of the event. So, I smiled into the camera and Aidan snapped the shot. That picture is still on Kameron's phone so I inserted one of Aidan from a visit a few weeks ago. What face did make for Aidan, you ask? While I may not have the pic of me I do have a very good imitation of it done by none other than the adorable Koryn Morton.

I love this pic!

Thank you for my birthday lunch and some way cool memories to put a smile on my face throughout the whole year!

On my birthday, I went to Target to pick up a lamp I have been eyeing with some birthday mula. I looks like a surveryor tripod.

I also got several wishes and blessing on my Facebook page.

So, all this to say, it was a very happy birthday. :o)

Actually, I get to celebrate it one more time with my sister when I travel north next week.

Puzzle Person

2011-04-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like I'm a puzzle person because here's another one. :o)

Spread out over my living room floor are the pieces for my new entertainment center.

I actually bought an end table that matches a few months ago.

So when the funds became available I decided the end table should be lonely no longer and bought the entertainment center. Another end table and I will have the matchy-matchy living room I have desired for some time now.

Oh, yes, that is Tangled you see on the TV.

I really liked it and thought it would be fun to play... while I played.

6 hours later, not including breaks, here it is! It has a rustic Tuscany look to it.

The drawer is a bit testy, but over all it's grrrrreat!

And here it will stay in it rightful place, under the television.

Next project, one tall bookcase for the left corner. This look is way to crouded for me!

No worries, I've gotta plan for the cords ;o)

Well, that's a decorating Stephanie's apartment update.

On the workfront, change is happening!

I'm learning a new online purchase order system. It's fun!

I submit, they approve, I buy, they pay.

To be honest, I'm waiting to see where the creases are, but I know God has the iron to smooth things out! So, I'm enjoy a new thing. :o)

But I don't know what I'm gonna do without all my paper po's!

2011-03-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

Just couldn't pass up these tulips at Trader Joe's.

I love tulips!! They have such vibrant colors!

2011-03-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

So whadda ya think of this style? I haven't bought any new ones yet, but my current glasses are mended, but functioning. So, it will be soon.

Notice Alice patiently waiting in the background.

2011-03-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine sent me this 3D puzzle. Well...several years ago, and I finally took it out of the closet and put it together this past weekend. It took about 4 hours and I loved it!

The finished product.

And where it sits...on a bookshelf in my living room.

I love bridges!!

A day for yard sales....or not.

2010-01-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday my friend Sherri & I set out to hit the yard sales. Which is quite a rarity because Sherri is usually working. Alice is in tow also. Though we found none worth getting out for, but one, we did see some hot air balloons.

Christmas in Wyoming 2010

2010-01-12T16:27:00.000-08:00

While I title this Christmas in Wyoming it is quite ironic that I have no pictures of the actual day of Christmas. Well, except one I took at the airport of the mountains while I was waiting to board the plane to bring me back to California. So anyhoo...

I did manage to get this picture of tracks of a snowshoe hare that takes refuge on Chris & Sandy's porch.

The Hare...guess it's to cold for the tortoise. Ha ha ha

My brother, his wife, my sister, & myself headed for the hills to go snowshoeing one day. We made this stop to get a pic of the Tetons not only because they are so beautiful, but it was the one day we could almost see them. It had been cloudy every other time we passed. Chris hopped out of the car and snapped this pic of Jeri and I. Thanks bro!

Here is a pic of me getting ready to go snowshoeing. It was fun...for a time. We did get a late start so time was not on our side for to long of a walk. I rather did enjoy it. I look forward to a trip back when I am in WAY better shape and can endure a much longer walk.

I do think this particular picture will be a great "before" picture someday.

A pic of Jackson Hole. Sandy, my sister-in-law, & I went shopping about the town while my brother got the truck worked on.

And I just couldn't resist buying a cowgirl hat while I was there! Thanks for helping me pic out the best one for me, Sandy!

This is a park that sits in the middle of the town and has these arches made of elk antlers on each corner. You see the other corner in the background. And no, they did not rip them just to build these arches. Elk shed their arches once a year. If my memory serves me correctly they shed in March. But don't count on my memory...I'm turning 40 this year.

One day we took a sleigh ride, which was a big wagon on sleds, out to see the elk. In the foreground you see the males & in the background are the females.

The tour guide made a joke saying it looked like a Jr. High dance. Hee Hee

Aren't they beautiful?!

A very blessed and wonderful vacation/Christmas!!!

I see why you moved there Chris & Sandy!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

We went to the Big Bear Resturaunt for breakfast/brunch on Thanksgiving morning.

Can you tell...I can't do bright light in my eyes. Where are my sunglasses when I need them?

In my purse perhaps? The one on my shoulder??
This Thanksgiving we were blessed to hear my brother Todd play his guitar & sing.

Looking for a "grown up" decor

2009-12-06T16:56:00.000-08:00

I watched A LOT of HGTV this year.

And finally sick of the way my apartment had no theme or continuity I started making some changes. Sorry there are no before pictures...I was a little excited and just started going for it.

I painted my chairs black & I found this great picture of the Brooklyn bridge. The shelves aren't really there I thought I wanted them there, but when I got them up, I didn't. So, thankfully, my landlord gave me spakle & paint & they now hang where I want them.

They still need to be filled up so I'll take another picture in the future. Never thought I'd have an area rug, but "they" say on HGTV that it helps define an area.

I like it...I can now find my dinning room. Ha Ha!

I also covered my denim couch with a suede looking brown.
Just a few more things & on to the bedroom.

2009-12-06T16:45:00.000-08:00

Alice & I crashed an outing with my friend Kameron & her family. We through hey around & on each other, we walked through the corn maze, we watched Koryn on the pony ride,

we saw the pig race, & ate hot dogs.

On our way out I couldn't resist taking a picture of Alice in the pumpkin patch.

I think the ghost is appropriate. Because she can clean stuff up or put something away & you will never see her do it.

Who says work can't be fun???

2009-12-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Cut 908 croissants in half in record time.

What that record is...I can't remember anymore.

Made a B-E-A-Utiful hollandaise sauce
MMMMMMMM...

A plate to be proud of by great team work!

And it was very delicious, if I may say so myself.

Worth the Work

2009-12-06T16:22:00.000-08:00

Well, in all technicality this is from last Christmas, but I can't not post this....

We made Sees Candie's fudge recipe & it called for constant stirring. And since it took a while stirring to get the consistency we're supposed to have, we all took turns.

Mom, of course, started the stirring...

And then Jerilyn stirring...And Dad stirring....
And Todd stirring...
And me stirring...

And the taste was all worth it!!!

Oops...Ouch!

2009-12-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

I cut my finger reaching in the dishwasher.

Note to self: put knives in dishwaser sharp pointy side down.

Fifty Years & Counting!

2009-12-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

My parents celebrated 50 years of marriage. The family all gathered at a resturaunt in Bakersfield and had a great time.

2009-01-09T23:08:00.000-08:00

Hello. Here are some old photos. In 2002 my friend Christmas was praying about going to Ireland to be a missionary. What better place to pray than in the country itself? Christmas found a great deal on Travel Zoo. 6 nights, airfare, and car rental for $399 out of New York. So, we met up at Kennedy airport and spent a few day taking in the sights of the Big Apple.

Here's a few pics from the trip -

New York

We decided to take a ferry ride over to Stanton Island

Always wanted to be on Broadway...

I love Bridges. Couldn't pass this picture

"In a city that never sleeps..."

Ireland

We saw many castle and church ruins amidst big beautiful green land.

I actually think this one was where the famous Blarney Stone is located. We took a very enclosed snug staircase up a couple of floors. People would lay down on their backs, hang their head upside down, and kiss the stone. Apparently, that brings one luck. Personally, I'll stick with a Sovereign God and avoid the germs.

The Cliff of Mohr

Christmas and I had quite the adventures in Ireland. Believe it or not, I drove while we were there. What a brain challenge to drive on the other side of the road! Thankfully, I had Christmas there to remid me to "look left, turn right!" Admittingly there were a few close calls and it was always a crack up to hear her say, "Oh sugar!"

We stayed in a different Bed and Breakfast every night and got to visit with all the missionaries Christmas had contacted beforehand. It was always fun to find where we were going, mainly because we had been looking for it for several hours. There are no street names there.

Overall, it was a great trip. I can't wait to go back and spend some time in one or two areas and to see the people and ministries we visited on this trip.

England

Buckingham Palace

A blurry, but I think cool, picture of the London brigde.

Next time you will see me waving from that carriage. :0)

"Where everybody knows your name..." Couldn't pass up taking a picture of this! We were faithful watchers while I was growing up.

2008-10-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been some time hasn't it. Sorry, I think I warned you. If I didn't, now you know...I'm not very diligent at this journaling thing.

So, I went through a box of pictures yesterday and scanned them to my computer.

My crazy family. This is actually the day I left home and start my journey to become a chef. Well...it turns out a pastry chef that can make a mean bowl of clam chowder. ;0)

Christmas about 6 years ago. My cousin is right infront of me; we hadn't seen her in fourteen years! It was a GREAT Christmas. I need to contact her and make sure another 14 years doesn't go by before seeing her again!

One Proud Family!

2008-03-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

I hope you can see this picture. I tried to lighten it up.

Last weeked I drove up to Bakersfield and met with family to celebrate my big brother's graduation. We went out to eat at a great Italian place, Frugatti's.

Yep, my big brother Chris is officially "bonifide".

He done gone and git his Bachelor of Science deeeegreee.

Way to go Chris!!!

We are proud!!!!!

(Top right: Sandy, Chris, Jerilyn. Bottom left: Todd, Dad(David), Mom(Linda), and me.)

And just to show you that Chris is not just a smarty pants, he has a sense of humor too!

Tiramisu happens to be one of my favorite dessert. It's hard to find it made well. This one was absolutely one of the best I've ever had. It is alternating layers of ladyfingers soaked with espresso and a little bit of rum and layers of sweetened mascarpone cheese. This is the first time I have seen it presented with such great innovation.

Chris apply named it "Tiracupsu"

He's so funny!

2008-02-15T21:24:00.000-08:00

Here's the pic of my office I told you about, Kameron. It's really is nice to be away from the kitchen and have quiet. Hasn't made me perfect, but I'll press on. I still need to get some decorative things up on the wall.

The window is second favorite thing!

Chef Ethan

2008-01-29T11:27:00.000-08:00

These are some new pics of my great nephew. Quite honestly, I think we have a great chef in the works here.

Food identification. Along with an excitement about food.

Checking closely for freshness. I wish I could tell you I showed that to him with my three years of experience of checking in produce at my job. But, no, he's a natural!

When he see a good one, he just can't pass it up!

Am I the only one that see's this pic of him as a TV chef personalily. He's totally inviting us to come and see all the wonderful squash he's found.

Happy Birthday Ethan!

2008-01-26T20:52:00.000-08:00

Today is my great nephew's birthday. He is 2 years old! He loves cars and trucks or"crucks" as he says it.

He's so cute!

A Beautiful New Life

2008-01-26T20:32:00.000-08:00

Well, I can't believe I have waited this long to post such a

wonderful event. I guess I let the busyness get in the way. My good friend Kameron gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Dececember 10th, Koryn Louise. I'd brag some more, but the picture says it all.

I got to hold her on her first day of life in the outside world! I love having friends that have the babies. :o)

2008-01-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

This is my friend Alice. She is 61 years old with Down Syndrome. My boss Sherri is her care-taker and sometimes I watch Alice while Sherri works. She is so sweet, funny, and freindly. She will also pray with you on the spot when she finds out your sick. It's awesome! She loves going to church with Sherri and "read the book and sing". The words don't come out clear, but you can hear the tune. It's so awesome to hear her worship the Lord. Sometimes she will have us sing Jesus Loves Me after our staff meetings in the kitchen.

If you have ever worked with a disabled person, you will know that they do not adjust to change very well. Routine is very much a part of their being. And there is one routine that Alice and I have on Fridays. We go to to Taco Bell, we go to my place and she'll watch Veggie Tales while I do what I need to do. Then, when she is ready, she will let me know that she wants to go home and see her baby. That could either mean their dog, Maddison, or her baby dolls in her room. I have tried to change the routine a couple of times only to be met with confusion and a little opposition. To be honest, I don't deal well with change very well either.

Christmas '07

2008-01-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

This last Christmas we all gathered at my brother Chris's house. I got there a few days early and got to spend some time my great nephew. Oh, and Chris, Sandy, Patrick, and Jen too. :o) These pics are when we went to, oh shoot, I forgot the name. Anyway, it is an animal place where they dec out every year with Christmas lights. They also have a train to ride that goes under a tunnel made of lights. It was fun!

O.K. Chris had to take the picture so fast because Ethan was being so squirrly here I was to slow to look at the camera. He had a lot energy to get rid of after a long plane ride the day before.

I love this picture.

Ethan swinging between grandma(Gigi) and grandpa.

A lot of my pics came out blurry.

I thought this one looked really cool.

Jumping hay bails with grandpa's help.

Ahhhh. Cute.

Thanksgiving

2008-01-20T11:54:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving dinner was at my parents house. From the left: my sister Jerilyn, Dad, me, Mom, and my brother Todd. It was good to be home and with family. Jeri and Todd helped Dad and Mom to clear out their garage and racked leaves in the back yard. They needed to get the garage ready for a new door. It was good to do something to burn Thanksgivivng dinner calories.
I know your wondering if I did any cooking. I did make the candied yams, for the first time. Mom got a premade meal. Now, I am traditionalist and have a hard time if somethings are not on the
Thanksgiving table. However, this year we had a short visit and it was worth getting a premade meal so that we could spend time with our parents! So, if you find yourself in the same situation someday. No feelings of guilt are allowed. Family is way more important your favorite dish!!

My Mom wanted to have a girls day out and got us and got us all pampered at the Serenity Day Spa. Jeri got her feet done, I got a message, and Mom got a facial. Thanks for giving Mom! It was a blessing and fun to be out doing the "girly thing".

2008-01-01T20:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

An Amazing Creator We Have!

2007-11-20T11:12:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I heard about an exhibit on plastination. I was intriqued and so I took my friend Cindy to LA and saw it. If you haven't heard of it; they take donated bodies, take the skin off their bodies, put them in different postitions (example; kicking a ball, riding a horse, or just standing), and make their muscles plastic. It really is an amazing thing to see into our bodies.

They also seperate artery and veins, fill them with coloring, and present them in their original state. So, you can see just the veins of the heart or the entire body. They also show healthy organs and unhealthy organs. One area has a box where people can drop their cigarette boxes. This box is stratigically placed between a healthy lung and a cancerous lung. They have stages of babies from weeks to months, babies that didn't make it becasuse of spina bifida and other conditions, and you may have heard of the mother with a baby inside of her. It is not easy to look at, but fasinating at the same time.

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14

I write this not to blog something I did three years ago, but I recently went to a show in San Diego with my trainer, Cheryl. This show was no where near as large as the first one I went to in LA, but the exhibition has grown in popularity and they have spread the specimens across the world. But still, just as facinating to be reminded of how amazing is the Creator of our bodies. The capabilities of our bodies and what damage we can do. I have not only seen a cancerous lung, but what an obese body looks like on the inside. The weight I have put on my heart and the unecessary celulite that I carry around. So much honor is due our Creator and heavenly Father for He has given us these amazing vessels to move about and carry out His plan for our individual lives, to His glory. May we no longer fall to those things that hinder His desires for us.

"Or do you not know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I did not go to Saint Louis, I was just trying to get the picture. I went to an exhibition at Universtiy Town Center in San Diego.

Fun with picnik.com

2007-11-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

This is sooooo much fun! This is my great nephew and his Daddy. Thanks Melissa!

This is a squirrel in the Shenandoah Mountains. His eyes make him look a bit posessed, but I assure you that there were no attacks. Atleast not while I was there. It does make me think of a song that Colleen came up with in Bible College called, Crazy Squirrel. Sing it with me, "I'm gonna gitcha, gitcha, gitcha, crazy squirrel." :)

A Quick Visit

2007-11-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

These pics were actully taken about a month ago. I met up with my niece, Jen(Ethan's Mom) and my sister-in-law, Sandy(Ethan's Grandma) in Ontario. The were at a scrapbooking store on the Ontario Mills Mall. I drove up and we had a quick visit over dinner. I was happy to introduce them to a restaraunt called The Market Broiler. Very good food! Thankfully, they thought so too. Anyhoo, I snapped these two pictures of my very playful and funny great-nephew. He was playing peek-a-boo with his napkin.

What a cutie!!!

My special friends

2007-11-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

Every week we have about 5 different little groups of disabled adults, with a job coach, come to where I work and help out. Some work in the kitchen cleaning the dinning room, they fill up creamers and butters, and some help in our housekeeping department. I had the priveledge of going to see some of them in a play, The Wizard of Oz. They did a wonderfully great job! It is such a blessing to have their help and to get to know them.

I caught the end of one of their songs on my camera. :)

The Scarecrow is falling down in this picture. He is scared of the crows coming after him. Those are little black beaks on the four guys in the background.

Trip To Virginia

2007-11-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

I recently went out to Fredricksberg Virginia to see my long time friend, Christmas, get married. The ceremony was beautiful! Christmas looked amazing, as you can see. Dave is a great guy and a real sweetheart. I didn't really get any pics of the ceremony because I was privelidged to be in the wedding. But, here are a couple of cute ones of the bride and groom.

And, since I have to show some sort of proof I was in a dress, I present one on this blog. I don't really like this one, but it will have to do for now. I'll post another one when I get one I like.

Mr. and Mrs. Beeler

Christmas and Dave's first dance was a very cute choreographed dance to the song, "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You."

I'm speachless. The girl in the background is Christmas' sister, Stephanie. She was a bridesmaid also and a total blessing to hang out with!

After the wedding I went to Ruckersville, still in Virginia, and visited my friend Pam. We met at Calvary Chapel Lake Elsinore. Here are some picks from a drive to the Shenandoah National Park.

There's acutally a squirrel in the middle of this picture. I would do a close up for you, but when I did that on my camera his eyes look posessed.

Can you say, "hard to come back to Southern California"? I sure can! It is so beautiful over there.

In The Beginning

2007-09-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

I guess I'll join the rest of the computer journaling world.

This very cute boy is my great nephew, Ethan Patrick. He is quite the comedian and a very sweet boy.

I would like to dedicate this first post to all those wives and mothers out there. I think you are amazing women to go every day with an obligation in it. You deserve many kudos for the constant schedule you maintain.

This other cutie is a nephew by way of a very good friend. His name is Aidan. I worked with his mother, Kameron, at the conference center.

Well, for an update on life. I am about to hit my 12th year of being on staff at Calvary Chapel Conference Center. I am now the assitant and chef. That means I order all the food, oversee student schedules, and whatever else the executive chef asks me to do.

I attend Calvary Chapel of Lake Elsinore where John Duncan is the pastor. I have the priveledge of being in the women's ministry. I will be co-teaching this year through the book of Mark. It will be my first time teaching a Bible study. So I appreciate any prayers.

"Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the porwer of His might."

Ephesians 6:10

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