Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Being Positive!!
Once you've begun to respond postively to the small things, you'll quickly find it easier to respond postively to larger issues...
From the heart!!
YOUR HUSBAND IS TO BE NUMBER ONE IN YOUR LIFE (AFTER GOD)--AND HE NEEDS TO KNOW IT. AND EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS TO KNOW IT TOO..
Progress!!
We have started siding the house with the logs that we have been staining, I just can't wait to see the end product, because with only one half of a wall done it is looking gorgeous. It will be a beautiful house when the siding is completely done, will keep you posted!!
Progress on the house=)
The house is coming around again, we got the log siding and dale and I have been staining our butts off to try to get it on before winter, here are small portion of the logs that we have to stain, we have many, many bundle to stain yet, wish us luck!!
Farmers Market in the Square!!
I went to the farmers market this AM and I came home with this wonderful boutique of flowers at an amazingly cheap price- FIVE DOLLARS.. I could not go wrong so I brought some home..The flowers were a nice addition to the kitchen..
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thankful Thursday!!
This Thursday I am thankful for the people who are in my life. It is always nice to have someone to talk to.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Seven Steps to Happily Ever After=]
What makes love last a lifetime? Affection? Yep. Respect? Sure. But a great marriage is not just about what you have. It's about what you do to make a relationship stronger, safer, more caring and committed. Here's how to make your "forever" fantastic.
Marriage is a home, a refuge against the outside storms. And like any house, it requires a strong, lasting foundation. To build one, every couple needs to take certain steps — seven, to be precise — that turn the two of you into not just you and me but we. You may not move through all the steps in order, and you may circle back to complete certain steps again (and again and again). But if you make it through them all, you'll be well on your way toward creating a marriage that will be your shelter as long as you both shall live.
Step 1: Find a shared dream for your life together.
It's easy to get caught up in the small stuff of married life: What's for dinner tonight? Whose turn is it to clean the litter box? Did you pay the electric bill? But the best partners never lose sight of the fact that they're working together to achieve the same big dreams. Successful couples quickly develop a mindfulness of 'us,' of being coupled. They have a shared vision, saying things like, 'We want to plan to buy a house, we want to take a vacation to such-and-such a place, we like to do X, we think we want to start a family at Y time.'"
This kind of dream-sharing starts early. When you share a dream, you're a heck of a lot more likely to make that dream come true.
Step 2: Ignite (and reignite) a sexual connection.
In any good relationship, sex is way more than just a physical act. It's crucial for the health of your emotional connection, too: It's something only the two of you share; it makes you both feel warm and loved; it draws you back together when you're drifting apart. And did I mention that it's a whole lot of fun?
Striking up those sparks when you first meet is easy. Nurturing a strong, steady flame? That's the hard part. As the years go by, you'll keep revisiting and realigning and reimagining the passion you have for each other. And if you keep at it, you'll have a sex life that transcends your marriage's lack of newness, the stresses of family and work, the physical changes that come with aging. Now that's something worth holding on to.
Step 3: Choose each other as your first family.
For years, you were primarily a member of one family: the one in which you grew up. Then you got married, and suddenly you became the foundation of a new family, one in which husband and wife are the A-team. It can be tough to shift your identity like this, but it's also an important part of building your self-image as a duo (and maybe, eventually, as three or four or...).
For me, making this transition meant stopping the incessant gripping to my mom when I was mad at my husband — my behavior was disloyal, and I had to learn to talk to Dale, not about him.
Whatever your challenges — an overprotective mom? An overly critical father-in-law? — You have to outline together the boundaries between you and all of the families connected to you. Not only will you feel stronger as a united front but when you stick to your shared rules, all that family baggage will weigh on you a lot less.
Step 4: Learn how to fight right.
I'm embarrassed to think of how I coped with conflict early in my relationship with Dale. I stormed out — I shouted a lot. Fighting is the big problem every couple has to deal with. That's because fights will always come up, so every couple needs to learn how to fight without tearing each other apart.
Fighting right doesn't just mean not Yelling or storming out; it means staying focused on the issue at hand and respecting each other's perspective. Couples that fight right also find ways to defuse the tension— often with humor. Even if you fight a lot, when you can find a way to turn fights toward the positive — with a smile, a quick apology, an expression of appreciation for the other person — the storm blows away fast, and that's what matters.
Step 5: Find a balance between time for two and time for you.
When it comes to togetherness, every couple has its own unique sweet spot. There are couples that are never apart and there are couples that see each other only on weekends. With the right balance, neither partner feels slighted or smothered. You have enough non-shared experiences to fire you up and help you maintain a sense of yourself outside the relationship — not to mention give you something to talk about at the dinner table. But you also have enough time together to feel your connection as a strong tie rather than as a loose thread. Your togetherness needs will also change over time, so you'll have to shift your balance accordingly.
Step 6: Build a best friendship.
Think about the things that make your closest friendships irreplaceable: the trust that comes with true intimacy, the willingness to be vulnerable, and the confidence that the friendship can withstand some conflict. Don't those sound like good things to have in your marriage, too?
Happy couples are each other's haven. They can count on the other person to listen and try to meet their needs. When you're true friends, you acknowledge and respect what the other person is; you don't try to control or change them. This creates a sense of safety and security when you're together — you know you're valued for who you are and you see the value in your partner.
Step 7: Face down a major challenge together.
You're sailing along through life, and suddenly you hit a huge bump. A serious illness. Unemployment. The loss of your home. A death in the family. How do you cope?
The truth is, you never know how strong your relationship is until it's tested. All too often, the stress of a crisis can pull a couple apart. But the good news is, when you do make it through in one piece, you might just find yourselves tighter than ever.
Marriage is a home, a refuge against the outside storms. And like any house, it requires a strong, lasting foundation. To build one, every couple needs to take certain steps — seven, to be precise — that turn the two of you into not just you and me but we. You may not move through all the steps in order, and you may circle back to complete certain steps again (and again and again). But if you make it through them all, you'll be well on your way toward creating a marriage that will be your shelter as long as you both shall live.
Step 1: Find a shared dream for your life together.
It's easy to get caught up in the small stuff of married life: What's for dinner tonight? Whose turn is it to clean the litter box? Did you pay the electric bill? But the best partners never lose sight of the fact that they're working together to achieve the same big dreams. Successful couples quickly develop a mindfulness of 'us,' of being coupled. They have a shared vision, saying things like, 'We want to plan to buy a house, we want to take a vacation to such-and-such a place, we like to do X, we think we want to start a family at Y time.'"
This kind of dream-sharing starts early. When you share a dream, you're a heck of a lot more likely to make that dream come true.
Step 2: Ignite (and reignite) a sexual connection.
In any good relationship, sex is way more than just a physical act. It's crucial for the health of your emotional connection, too: It's something only the two of you share; it makes you both feel warm and loved; it draws you back together when you're drifting apart. And did I mention that it's a whole lot of fun?
Striking up those sparks when you first meet is easy. Nurturing a strong, steady flame? That's the hard part. As the years go by, you'll keep revisiting and realigning and reimagining the passion you have for each other. And if you keep at it, you'll have a sex life that transcends your marriage's lack of newness, the stresses of family and work, the physical changes that come with aging. Now that's something worth holding on to.
Step 3: Choose each other as your first family.
For years, you were primarily a member of one family: the one in which you grew up. Then you got married, and suddenly you became the foundation of a new family, one in which husband and wife are the A-team. It can be tough to shift your identity like this, but it's also an important part of building your self-image as a duo (and maybe, eventually, as three or four or...).
For me, making this transition meant stopping the incessant gripping to my mom when I was mad at my husband — my behavior was disloyal, and I had to learn to talk to Dale, not about him.
Whatever your challenges — an overprotective mom? An overly critical father-in-law? — You have to outline together the boundaries between you and all of the families connected to you. Not only will you feel stronger as a united front but when you stick to your shared rules, all that family baggage will weigh on you a lot less.
Step 4: Learn how to fight right.
I'm embarrassed to think of how I coped with conflict early in my relationship with Dale. I stormed out — I shouted a lot. Fighting is the big problem every couple has to deal with. That's because fights will always come up, so every couple needs to learn how to fight without tearing each other apart.
Fighting right doesn't just mean not Yelling or storming out; it means staying focused on the issue at hand and respecting each other's perspective. Couples that fight right also find ways to defuse the tension— often with humor. Even if you fight a lot, when you can find a way to turn fights toward the positive — with a smile, a quick apology, an expression of appreciation for the other person — the storm blows away fast, and that's what matters.
Step 5: Find a balance between time for two and time for you.
When it comes to togetherness, every couple has its own unique sweet spot. There are couples that are never apart and there are couples that see each other only on weekends. With the right balance, neither partner feels slighted or smothered. You have enough non-shared experiences to fire you up and help you maintain a sense of yourself outside the relationship — not to mention give you something to talk about at the dinner table. But you also have enough time together to feel your connection as a strong tie rather than as a loose thread. Your togetherness needs will also change over time, so you'll have to shift your balance accordingly.
Step 6: Build a best friendship.
Think about the things that make your closest friendships irreplaceable: the trust that comes with true intimacy, the willingness to be vulnerable, and the confidence that the friendship can withstand some conflict. Don't those sound like good things to have in your marriage, too?
Happy couples are each other's haven. They can count on the other person to listen and try to meet their needs. When you're true friends, you acknowledge and respect what the other person is; you don't try to control or change them. This creates a sense of safety and security when you're together — you know you're valued for who you are and you see the value in your partner.
Step 7: Face down a major challenge together.
You're sailing along through life, and suddenly you hit a huge bump. A serious illness. Unemployment. The loss of your home. A death in the family. How do you cope?
The truth is, you never know how strong your relationship is until it's tested. All too often, the stress of a crisis can pull a couple apart. But the good news is, when you do make it through in one piece, you might just find yourselves tighter than ever.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Joke for Monday!!
Kissing a Nun
A cabbie picks up a nun. She gets into the cab, and the cab driver won't stop staring at her. She asks him why are you staring. And he replies, "I have a question to ask you but I don't want to offend you.
She answers, 'My dear son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun a long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."
"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."
She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2 you must be Catholic."
The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I am single and I'm Catholic too!"
The nun says "OK, pull into the next alley."
He does and the nun fulfills his fantasy. But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying. "My dear child, said the nun, why are you crying?"
"Forgive me sister, but I have sinned. I lied, I must confess, I'm married and I'm Jewish."
The nun says, "That's OK, my name is Kevin and I'm on my way to a Halloween party."
A cabbie picks up a nun. She gets into the cab, and the cab driver won't stop staring at her. She asks him why are you staring. And he replies, "I have a question to ask you but I don't want to offend you.
She answers, 'My dear son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun a long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."
"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."
She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2 you must be Catholic."
The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I am single and I'm Catholic too!"
The nun says "OK, pull into the next alley."
He does and the nun fulfills his fantasy. But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying. "My dear child, said the nun, why are you crying?"
"Forgive me sister, but I have sinned. I lied, I must confess, I'm married and I'm Jewish."
The nun says, "That's OK, my name is Kevin and I'm on my way to a Halloween party."
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Log siding!!
Its official we final put in our order for our log siding. We should have our logs for the top part of the new home in 2 weeks. I am so excited!!
Happy Belated Birthday Sherry!!
Just hoped you had a wonderful Birthday, and it is great to have you as a great friend. Can't wait for Kentucky!!!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
AuTuMn!
Here in Wisconsin the leaves are changing and it is getting very pretty outside. I love the autumn smell outside. It is very nice to walk outside and smell the brisk air and the autumn smells (fallic smell). It is nice to still be able to wear sweatshirts in the morning and short sleeves in the afternoon. Autumn is my favorite season that we have in Wisconsin because it is so beautiful outside, and each day is changing as the leaves age and change color due to the new frost.
Autumn Poem:)
When the trees their summer splendor
Change to raiment red and gold,
When the summer moon turns mellow,
And the nights are getting cold;
When the squirrels hide their acorns,
And the woodchucks disappear;
Then we know that it is autumn,
Loveliest season of the year.
My Daily Prayer
If I can do some good today,
If I can serve along life's way,
If I can something helpful say,
Lord, show me how.
If I can right a human wrong,
If I can help to make one strong,
If I can cheer with smile or song,
Lord, show me how.
If I can aid one in distress,
If I can make a burden less,
If I can spread more happiness,
Lord, show me how.
Someone needs a home!!
We found this grey kitten over by the farm in the cat food container. Now I am trying to find a home for him. Wish him luck so we find a good home.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
FuNnY bUt TrUe!
Lately a lot of people have been asking me at work when Dale and I are going to start a family. I guess after being married for seven years people start to wonder. I found this on the net so I thought it was cute and if the next person asks me "when are you going to start a family" I will simple say "We are still trying to raise the cat," HAHA- this ones a cute one=)
Ideas for landscaping
I do understand the house is not done yet, but I don't think its ever to early to look and think about the landscaping. I know exactly what I want but it will take a lot of time and money. One day I will have everything I want and my home will the most amazing home ever. That day I can finally stop dreaming about it and start living with it. How do you like my ideas so far??
ThAnKfUl ThUrSdAy!
I am very thankful this thursday for crocs for they give me something comfortable to wear on my feet. With my career I am on my feet for 12-14 hours a day it sure is nice to not have to worry about sore feet. It is also great to have a different color everyday to match my scrubs, they are so fun and comfortable..
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Teenagers whats the deal!!
My niece has been living with us for about 3.5 months now and some days I feel it is getting better and then there are days that I think "can it get any worse." Dale and I are trying our best but it is hard to be a parent when you never were before. It is very hard to be a parent to a seventeen year old girl who had 17 years of the wrong information. How can you change a girl who is all ready so mixed up, I believe in my heart that she know right from wrong, my question is why is she always choosing to the wrong. She usually gets upset at me and yells at me but for Dale she talks to him with a normal tone of voice. I just feel like she disrespects me and she is not happy with where she is in life. The biggest thing I keep telling her is these are the choices and you will live with the consequences of your choices but why does she keep choosing the wrong from the right. I understand that she is looking for attention, but dale and I give her a lot of attention and we always tell her we care and that she means a lot to us. I realize that being a teenager is confusing and frustrating at times and things they do makes no sense to them and that they have no idea why they are making the choices that they choose. But, my question is why are they making choices that are not very approving and why are they always testing adults. I have read a couple of books on teenage problem/ personalities and some books make sense and then I have a yeah ha moment, but others just don't make any sense at all. How are we supposed to help her when resource aren't very embracing and up willing. Why is life as a teenager different than life as either a child or an adult we are all in the same world. I truly believe it is a turbulent time, with different obstacles that they have to face, and often it seems as if there are more obstacles for them to face. They have many challenges in life that us adults do not face on a day to day basis such as peer pressure, alcohol, sex, drugs, and finding there personal identity. Why cant a teenager be accepted for who they are? Why are kids so opinionated and mean? Why are kids so critical? I don't know do you?? How can one kid have so many dreams and hope about there future, but then in the same token they blow it all in a day. How can choices and obstacles force them to choose the wrong direction to take from the right. How can one kid have so much hatred and hurt built up inside. How can one kid take a wrong turn in the road and not learn from there mistakes. How can a teenagers life be so messed up that they can not find right pathway out of a messy situation. How can alcohol in a teenagers life be so important? Why is saying, "NO" so hard. How can they not see that it will only put them in danger- accidents, or jail time. How can one teenager feel the need to let there life pass them by without even wondering what they want in the future. How can a teenager change there minds so many times in an hour. How can a teenager be mad about something and be cheerful the next, I understand the whole hormonal thing (I'm a nurse) but still it's like changing your dirty socks. How can a teenager feel that life is so short and there is no adventure, for when I was a teenager I lived for the adventure and for everything life dealt me. How can one kid not believe in god, for you need to believe in something, why not be something powerful and meaningful like god. Why is one child leading in the right direction while another is totally in the wrong? Why am I asking so many questions,may be because I am venting and for I have no one to vent to, this blogging helps me feel a little bit better about the decisions that I have made with my teenage niece. For I hope they will help her now and in her future. For I only wish she is more excepting of them..We love her so much and only want the best for her!
I found this poem and thought it was a nice poem for what I am going through with family member
Life
by Jenna Spears
Sometimes I can see myself running.
But what am I running from?
I'm running from life.
It's impossible to get away.
Sometimes I wish I could just close my eyes,
And then things would be different.
I just want to be somebody.
I don't know if I can, but I'll try.
I've messed up in my life more then once.
But at least I'm still alive.
But do I want to be?
Yes . . . I do.
People mess up all the time.
It's no reason to just run away.
If you do, your problems will wait for you.
You just gotta move on.
You have to except what you've done.
Just can't sit and feel sorry for yourself.
Life's not that bad.
It's what you make it out to be.
There will be good and bad times.
Sometimes more bad then good.
Either way it's life.
I would never want to change my life.
Even though I've messed up in the past.
I think it made me a stronger person.
So instead of running,
I'll stay and take life as it is!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Retakes of life =)
After thinking long and hard about this one I have decided that my two retakes would include:1.) I would have loved to have a better relationship with my father and now that he is gone, I will NEVER have that opportunity:(
2.) I wished I would have invested a lot more money when I was young in rental properties or the stock market. I wished I would have taken a risk, and not played everything so safe.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Brittany's first day of SCHOOL=)
THE UNCLE
THE AuNt
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, GETTING READY AND VERY THRILLED AND EXCITED ABOUT GETTING PICTURE TAKEN!!
BRITTANY'S FIRST CAR RIDE TO SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY=)
BRITTANY READY TO GO TO HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. SHE ALMOST FORGOT HER LOCKER NUMBER AND COMBO INFORMATION ON THE FRIG ALONG WITH HER SCHEDULE AND ID CARD. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START OFF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. WE GET HALF WAY THERE AND BRITTANY SAYS TO ME, "WHAT AM I GOING TO HAVE FOR LUNCH," I SAID, "EAT IT ITS HEALTHY," SHE SAID, "I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR LUNCH." I DID NOT HAVE ANY DOLLAR BILLS ON ME; SO I HAD TO SCRAP UP CHANGE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY TOMORROW WILL BE A BETTER DAY. DALE AND I ARE VERY NEW AT THIS PARENTING THING, ALL IN ALL ITS KIND OF EXCITING:)
SHE WILL BE FINE ON HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, SHE IS OUTGOING AND FUNNY SHE WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM MAKING NEW FRIENDS!!!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Labor Day!!
I just hope everyone has a joyest and happy Labor day Holiday!!
When I think of labor day I always think of "End of Summer" kids go back to school, and the weather starts getting chilly. But a good thought is the leaves start changing colors and the beauty is magnificent and then were just a little closer to Halloween..
When I think of labor day I always think of "End of Summer" kids go back to school, and the weather starts getting chilly. But a good thought is the leaves start changing colors and the beauty is magnificent and then were just a little closer to Halloween..
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