BC Day 10 - Best Trip Ever

Blogger Challenge - Day 10 - Best Trip Ever

My best trip ever... hmm. I've had some really great trips in my life. I have 5 that I would qualify for "best trip", but instead of "ever", I'm going to say "so far" because I really, really want to travel more!

First, back when I was 19, me, my mom and my dad went on a 17 day trip up the East coast with Jaylee (Fowler) Noss and her parents, Bill and Phyllis Fowler. We went to Gatlinburg, Nashville, Washington D.C., New York City, Rhode Island, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, Plymouth Rock, Niagra Falls, and many more places. It was such a wonderful trip, and we had so much fun with them. We even got to take a helicopter ride! I have lots of pictures from then, and the memories are forever burned into my memory, and I will always cherish that time that our families spent together. 

Another time, my mom, my aunt and I went to New York City at Christmastime... just to SHOP! It was truly wonderful. I am a city girl at heart, and NYC is my favorite one of all. We went to 2 Broadway shows, the Tavern on the Green, took a carriage ride, stayed in the Times Square Marriott, and SHOPPED! So. Much. Shopping. Great memories!

Another trip I was blessed to take with my parents was down South. We went to Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia. We saw the Gulf of Mexico, and found lots of outlet malls to shop at. Mom and I shopped, while Dad "people watched", which was one of his favorite hobbies.

Every time we went to the Colorado camp outs was a terrific time in my life. The year I was 20 was the best Colorado trip ever. I got to ride out there with friends, which made it even better. Good times! 

And, last, but definitely not least, 2 years ago, I was blessed to be able to take my kids to Los Angeles, Hollywood and Malibu Beach. We stayed at the Hollywood Hotel, saw all the landmarks, toured a movie studio, and Sheridan even got to meet Sophia Bush, who played Brooke Davis on One Tree Hill. It was a terrific trip and I'm so thankful we had that time together. 

I'm not very good at these challenges, am I? I was supposed to pick one trip, but there was just no way I could leave out any of these. Be thankful I'm stopping at this point, because I've been lots of other places! 

Color Walk - Pink!

PINK DAY !!!

Sorry for blog post overload, but I had to post this one for Kelly. I did a color walk, just for you tonight! Obviously, my color was pink. And wow. Pink was really hard. Other than the obvious pink...

FLOWERS!

PINK FLOWERS EVERYWHERE !!!

MORE PINK FLOWERS !!!

You can thank me now. I could have posted 18 pictures of pink flowers. Yes, 18. But I won\"t!

Here are a couple of other pink things I found:

Pink Finger (oops!)

Pink eyes and Pink ears!

Pink horseshoe flower 

Pink collar 

Pink birdhouse (this is the back side) 

Pink frisbee 

And that is it! Not much pink out there tonight. But, in honor of my random photos that I like to take, here\"s one for you (but it isn\"t pink):

Check out how long and skinny my legs look in my shadow! Woo Hoo! I\"m loving it!!

Happy Pink Day Kelly (and everyone else!)

BC Post Day 9 - What’s In Your Bag?

Blogger Challenge - Day 9 - What\"s in your bag/wallet?

Well, I\"m assuming that they mean purse, right?  Oh boy. I carry a really small purse right now, but oh my gosh. It is stuffed full! I go through phases of carrying small, medium, large, and extra large purses, but it doesn\"t seem to make one bit of difference. All the same junk finds its way in there.

Here goes:

Looks can be deceiving. This isn\"t as big as it looks, but inside you would find:

wallet

checkbook

3 sets of keys

ink pens

lotion

gum

lip gloss

chapstick

2 lipsticks (you think I have a lip problem? Lol)

reading glasses (yes, I\"m old)

sunglasses

hand "balm" (I don\"t know what else to call it)

about 467 receipts

about 15 flyers, notes, etc

tons of change, dumped in the bottom

socks

Walmart bag

notary stamp

8 graduation invites (thanks!)

2 wedding invites (again, thank you!)

17 cards (credit cards, store loyalty cards, gift cards, cpr                                   certification cards, etc)

coupons

note pad

feminine products (tmi, sorry!)

4 random keys

bandaids

iPod

headphones

cell phone

bills

granola bar

and last, but not least, a cd.

Whew!! No wonder that sucker is so heavy!

So, how about you? Do you have anything random in your purse/wallet/bag?

BC Day 8 - Five Current Goals

Blogger Challenge - Day 8 - 

Five Current Goals:

Hmm... this challenge makes me think! Okay, here are my five current goals. Not "end result" goals, but the ones I am working on right now.

1. I want to finish my (3) 30 Day challenges that I have going on right now. What was I thinking?? 3 at once? Yes, sometimes I am over-eager. Lol

2. I plan to lose 10 pounds. Yes, I have a whole lot more than that to lose. Baby steps, friends!!

3. To finish up my 2nd job, to finish training Kathy for my old job, and to excel in my new job. Wow! Life can change in the blink of an eye. 3 weeks ago, I had a whole different job plan going on. God definitely knows best though. I have been blessed with a great opportunity at the school, and I am so excited about it!

4. I am going to get my paper "files" (stacks, boxes, piles) under control this summer.

5. To get on a cleaning schedule here at my house. I am pretty good at organizing, but the actual cleaning part? Not so much.

6. And, even though it said 5, I have to add a 6th. I am going to get on a budget!! Ugh! I am the worst at not spending. I have got to get with the program!

Let's do this! It is the summer of attainable goals!!

BC Day 7 - My Favorite Songs

Blogger Challenge - Day 7 - My 5 Favorite Songs

5?? I'm supposed to pick 5? No way. Sorry, it just can't happen. I love music waaayyyy too much to only pick 5. So, in typical Sandy fashion, I'm tweaking this challenge a bit. I am going to do 8 different times/types, and I'll pick a favorite song in each one.

First off, from when I was a kid.  Da Doo Ron Ron, by Shaun Cassidy. He was my childhood heart throb, and I could just imagine him singing this song to me! 

Next, my teenage years.  Of all the great songs of the 80s, my favorite song was probably I Love Rock & Roll, by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

From my High School choir days. We sang many, many Broadway show tunes. And if I had to pick a favorite genre to sing, it would be these. Man, I love musicals! So, out of all the things we ever sang, or that I wished to sing, my favorite song was one my friend, Cherelle, sang way back in the day. I think we were Seniors. Somewhere That's Green, from the Broadway show (and movie), Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Movies, in general: Since I love music so much, I almost always find a song that I love in every single movie I watch. However, the one that has always stuck with me, and really touches my soul, is For Just A Moment (Love theme from St. Elmo's Fire). 

Church song. I can't even begin to name all the church songs that I like. And love. However, being pressed to pick just one, I'm going to say, It Still Takes A Wise Man To Pray. If I am not mistaken, I believe Bro. Eddie Tomlinson wrote this song, and I agree with every sentiment in it.

Christian Song. Even though this is a similar genre, for me, it is different. These would be songs that I hear on the radio. And my favorite of all of them is, I Can Only Imagine, by Mercy Me. Every time I hear it, I can just picture being before The Father, and being unable to make a sound, just being able to bow on my knees before Him. Gives me chills.

For my Daddy: I just couldn't leave him out. For several different personal reasons, and at different times in my life, these songs make me think of my Dad:

• The Battle Hymn of the Republic
• I Claim The Blood, by the Hemphills
• Oh Lord, It's Hard to be Humble, by Mac Davis
• I'll See You Again, by Carrie Underwood

And finally, for my adult favorite(s). I just could not pick only one song here. I finally narrowed it down to three though.  

• 1) A Thousand Years, by Christina Perry (which              technically falls into the movie category as well since it    was in Twilight) 
• 2) Whiskey Lullaby, by Brad Paisley & Allison Krauss 
• 3) That Summer, by Garth Brooks.

What a fun challenge question. It has brought back so many memories, and I'm singing awesome songs as I type this! 

BC Day 6 - What Are You Afraid Of?

Blogger challenge, Day 6:  What are you afraid of??

Hmm... this is an interesting challenge.  I am afraid of a lot of things, some physical, and some not. I try not to think of my fears, but just for today I am letting myself.

First and foremost, I am afraid of not making heaven my home, and never seeing The Father, or Jesus. I'm afraid of never seeing my Dad and my other family, friends and loved ones that have gone on. That is something I have to work on every day. I want to be there with them in the end!

In addition, I'm afraid of living my whole life and never really knowing God. Does that make sense? I don't want to just have a religion. I want to have a relationship with God.

I'm also afraid of living the rest of my life alone. I absolutely hate being single. I can't imagine never again having someone to share my life with. That being said, I'm terribly afraid that I will meet someone terrific, and that in itself is a whole other issue.

I'm afraid that I haven't taught my kids everything I should have. I'm afraid they are going to go out into the big, bad world out there unprepared for what life has to bring them.

I'm also afraid of letting others down by my choices. I know that I should get over that, because this is my life. Mine. And I can do anything I want to do. I am trying to conquer that, slowly but surely.

In the physical sense, I'm super afraid of dogs. I was trapped on a porch by a little yapper back when I was a kid, and it has scarred me for life. If I know a dog, then I am okay. Or, if you have a dog, and you tell me it is friendly, then I will believe you. Other than that, I won't even get out of a car at a house where there is a dog if no one is outside to save me from it.

I'm also afraid of swimming in water that I can't see the bottom in. You never can tell what kind of scaries are in there. No. Thank. You.

Add to that list snakes, spiders, scorpions, mice, rats and any critter that Sophie brings into my house that is still alive. Yikes!!

And tornadoes. Let's not forget tornadoes. I have gotten over my fear of storms as I have gotten older, and now I like to stand on the porch and watch them happen. But tornadoes? No. Still very afraid of them.

And thankfully, God has helped me to overcome my fear of sleeping in my house alone at night. These days, when my kids stay overnight at their friends' houses, I'm okay, and I am very thankful for that.

So, interesting challenge. It has really made me think.

What are you afraid of??

BC Day 5 - My Proudest Moments

Blogger challenge - Day 5 - My Proudest Moment

Geez... this one is really hard. I have thought and thought. I have so many moments that I have felt really proud of myself, my kids, my friends... I just don't know where to start. And I'm not sure what this challenge is really asking from me. So, that being said, I'm going to break this down a bit.

First, my kids. Oh man. I am so proud of them so many, many times. I feel such pride when someone tells me what a kind, caring son I have. I love that other people see what I see in him. I feel such pride in my daughter when someone tells me how she has stood up for herself, or overcame something that was so hard for her. I am so proud of both of them when I see the really good "kids" that they have grown into. I love them both, so much!

My family. I am so proud of my Mom for keeping the faith and striving to carry on without my Dad. Being alone sucks, really. I feel such pride in my sister, for being true to Dad, and striving to take care of the family since he has been gone, as he requested of her. I am so proud of my brother to see how he stepped in and took such good care of my Dad during his last days. I am so proud of my brothers-in-law and my sisters-in-law because when they married in to our family, they stepped in whole-heartedly and loved all of us as their own. 

My friends. I have so many good friends that have went through such troubling times in their lives, and I am so proud at how they have handled themselves. Every time, it has helped me to see their amazing examples. In addition, I have a lot of young friends, that I am so proud of the way they conduct themselves in this world.

And myself. Wow. This one is the hardest for me, because I never think in those terms, "I am so proud of myself because..." I have always been taught not to be prideful. "Pride goeth before a fall", etc. It is hard to change my way of thinking. But here are my thoughts: 

To some, this may sound crazy, but I am proud of myself for sticking with a troubled marriage for 17 years, and for being in it for the long haul, even if he wasn't. And afterwards, when I could have laid down and just given up, I'm proud of how I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and carried on. Although I've definitely had my "not so fine" moments, I'm proud of the Mom that I've been to my kids. I'm proud of the friend that I am and the employee that I am, even though I am by far not perfect.

When I say I'm "proud" of myself, please note that I am really just saying how thankful I am that God has helped me to keep on keeping on. I surely do have my moments that I am not proud of me at all, but with God's help, I can shake those off and move forward.

Like. A. Boss.