Diary of a crazy lady.

Hello? Anybody still out there?

2011-07-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Really, another couple of months and it would be a full year since I blogged last. I'm not sure that's a record to be proud of.

Days, weeks, and months have been full. Shortly after my last blog, our 19yo daughter became engaged and planned a June 2011 wedding. Christmas morning, our 22yo daughter became engaged and is planning a September 2011 wedding. I've been a mother in law for almost a month now. I've got to say...I kinda like having an honorary son and look forward to the next one. Both young men are very different, but are exactly what each daughter needs and wants in a spouse. I look forward to continuing to build relationships with these guys - it's definitely different from raising daughters!

In April we were 'blessed' (not the word we used at the time) with a small kitchen leak...when the circa 1978 wood cabinets didn't dry out, we knew we had a problem. Homeowner's insurance covered a full kitchen remodel, hence the BLESSING. Truly this was from God - we would have not had the funds to do this on our own. The down side was that it was about a 9 week process where we had NO KITCHEN. As much as I love to eat out, even I grew tired of it (not to mention how hard it is on the budget and diet!). Kitchen was finished today and I need to photograph and share. Maybe later this week.

For now, my sole purpose in blogging today was to share something neat a dear friend of mine has been working on. Jeanette is the type of friend who loves deeply. She will stick with you through the good, bad, and the ugly, and will only love you all the more. She and her husband, Joe, have 11 children. Not a typo - ELEVEN. Their #11 is named Daniel and he was born in their hearts and joined their family at about one week old. In an effort to help offset adoption expenses, Jeanette has put together an e-book entitled, "Beekeeping Made Simple." It is available at a very reasonable cost ($10) and truly does simplify beekeeping. If you have ever been curious about such a hobby, YOU.NEED.THIS.E-BOOK! I have it, have read through it twice, and it is an informative, basic, "real life" manual to get anyone started with beekeeping. If you have no interest whatsoever in the book but would like to bless the Wood family, please feel free to share this information on your own blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

http://amomentwithmom.com/beekeeping-made-simple/

Blessings ~
Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee ~ 9/17/10

2010-09-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome! It's noon in California and I turned the coffee pot off awhile ago, in hopes of making a pitcher of iced coffee this afternoon. It's the middle of September and our temps today are in the low 90's. Perfect weather for an iced latte! I am very sorry to say that the "Clean The Desk" project from last week still is not complete, though I admittedly used the vacuum hose and vacuumed some of the larger dust bunnies from the back of the desk. Paper is my nemesis and it multiplies faster than rabbits. It's maddening, though I have a pretty nice paper recycling pile growing behind me as I sift and toss. Maybe there's hope for next week?

I've just launched something exciting (well, exciting to me!) - a new cooking blog! I've been working on compiling a simple cookbook for my daughters, but have decided to put it on a blog for now. It's just what it says it is: Cooking 4 (the "for" was taken!) Newbies. You will not find anything gourmet, but you will find some simple, budget-friendly recipes that will feed you a little better than boxed mac & cheese (no offense to the orange powdered cheese) and oriental noodles (delicious at times, but not every night!). Stop by - the first recipe will be posted next week! http://cooking4newbies.blogspot.com/

On that note, it's time to stop blogging and get back to work! Have a blessed weekend!

Cheryl

Praying today for: K; Kate McRae; L, whose father is ill.

Company Girls Coffee ~ 9/10/10

2010-09-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason, I can't get the Coffee graphic to paste in here today. My first time blogging in 5 months and the graphic is rebelling. Maybe I should have had my coffee FIRST!

Yesterday I had grand intentions. My list included: finish a work project, make dinner, and clean my desk. Any guess which one didn't get finished? Yup, the desk. Here are my before and during pictures. Maybe next week we'll have a finished picture!

As we go into the weekend and the 9th anniversary of such a tragic event for our country, the same day is also my husband's birthday. While we will remember the lives lost on 9-11, we will also celebrate. I refuse to allow a terrorist act to ruin my life. God is in control and I will trust Him for my days!

Thanks for stopping by ... have a blessed weekend!

Cheryl

Praying today for: Kate McRae (having an MRI today); a cyberfriend's father in the last stages of his life; a friend struggling in her marriage; a couple in deep financial trouble; my husband and daughter, both runners with plantar fascia pain that is keeping them from running.

Company Girl Coffee ~ 4-9-10

2010-04-09T08:25:00.001-07:00

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by, Company Girls! I’ve got virtual vanilla cappuccinos going today – grab a mug! If you’ve been following along this week, there have been some great tasks assigned to lead to building sanctuary in our homes. I was able to stay on task for the entire month of March (‘whew!) and have to say that it made a huge difference in my home and my attitude towards it. There are times my house just feels impossible. I have a husband who is a wonderful provider, but he has never turned a light switch off in his life, he’s notorious for having several cups ‘going’ because he can’t remember which is his, and he thinks the dining room table is an extension of his desk. It is easy to feel like a martyr, but when I change my heart and attitude toward creating sanctuary, these ‘flaws’ bother me less and less. (Well, except the light switch thing – really – how hard is it to turn it off?! LOL)

I have been buried in work projects and am trying to get much done before a Hawaiian vacation we have scheduled very soon…so it’s time to finish my cappuccino and get back to work. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!

Praying today for: Kate McRae, a precious 5 year old fighting brain cancer

Company Girl Coffee ~ 3-19-2010

2010-03-18T23:41:00.001-07:00

Welcome! Where did this week go? I hope it has been a good one for each of you! As I write this, Thursday night, I keep thinking it is Tuesday. On the other hand, it’s been productive over at Home Sanctuary. For my own accountability, I am trying to show before and after pictures of one project each week. Now, in reality, it looks much better than my cell phone pictures show, and I tossed quite a bit. Any takers on the 8 year old jar of curry, only used once?

I got this in my email. While I’ve seen it before, I thought I’d share it here. I love BibleGateway, but eSword is a new favorite.

The Bible at your fingertips................ Click on any chapter........

Just click on the chapter number you want to read opposite the Book name in the column on the left side.

New International Version (NIV)

Books	Chapters
Genesis	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Exodus	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Leviticus	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Numbers	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Deuteronomy	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
Joshua	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Judges	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Ruth	1 2 3 4
1 Samuel	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2 Samuel	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1 Kings	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
2 Kings	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
1 Chronicles	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
2 Chronicles	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Ezra	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Nehemiah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Esther	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Job	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
Psalm	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
Proverbs	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Ecclesiastes	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Song of Solomon	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Isaiah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66
Jeremiah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
Lamentations	1 2 3 4 5
Ezekiel	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 44 45 46 47 48
Daniel	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Hosea	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Joel	1 2 3
Amos	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Obadiah	1
Jonah	1 2 3 4
Micah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Nahum	1 2 3
Habakkuk	1 2 3
Zephaniah	1 2 3
Haggai	1 2
Zechariah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Malachi	1 2 3 4
Matthew	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Mark	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Luke	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
John	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Acts	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Romans	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
1 Corinthians	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
2 Corinthians	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Galatians	1 2 3 4 5 6
Ephesians	1 2 3 4 5 6
Philippians	1 2 3 4
Colossians	1 2 3 4
1 Thessalonians	1 2 3 4 5
2 Thessalonians	1 2 3
1 Timothy	1 2 3 4 5 6
2 Timothy	1 2 3 4
Titus	1 2 3
Philemon	1
Hebrews	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
James	1 2 3 4 5
1 Peter	1 2 3 4 5
2 Peter	1 2 3
1 John	1 2 3 4 5
2 John	1
3 John	1
Jude	1
Revelation	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Emergency Telephone Numbers

These are more effective than 911
When -
You are sad, phone John 14
You have sinned, phone Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip , phone Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31
You are depressive, phone Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15
You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone John 15
Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, phone Romans 12
ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47
For security, call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18
ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.
NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.
ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.
FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH

Thanks for dropping by. Have a blessed week!

Cheryl

Really?

2010-03-16T12:45:00.001-07:00

As seen in the Target parking lot last week:

Really? You couldn’t have just gone a couple of inches further? (And yes, the cart fit. I know this because I put it away.)

Shaking my head…

Company Girl Coffee ~ 3-12-10

2010-03-12T06:51:00.001-08:00

Welcome, Company Girls! Thanks for stopping by. Is it just me, or are the Small Things over at Home Sanctuary really making a difference?! This week we were challenged to hang up our clothes. Now, I’ll admit I usually have a half dozen items slouching over a chair, but hubby is even worse. He is a close horse and feels that the foot of the bed is a great place for him to pile his things. With that in mind, I present to you the “Before”:

And the “After”:

I’m even pleased to say that, several days later, the room continues to look even better. (Although I realize nothing matches! LOL) It’s amazing how one little thing (“Hang up clothes”) can motivate a person to continue on. I have so far to go, in so many corners of my home, but I am encouraged that in His timing, and with His help, all things are put into place.

Have a blessed week,

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee ~ 3-5-2010

2010-03-05T08:24:00.001-08:00

It’s been too long since I hooked up for coffee, so I thought I’d jump back in today. Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to visiting y’alls blogs, too!

I love it when a new month starts on a Monday! It gives me hope in accomplishing all I want to that month…it seems like a fresh, new start. I am resolved to stay on task with Rachel Anne over at Home Sanctuary this month. My biggest pride this week was my husband’s dresser. (What a chore it was!) I really should have taken a “before” picture of my husband’s dresser, but it was sooo bad that I was ashamed. Instead, I present the “after”:

Please note that the pitiful looking stuffed bear. Hubby and one of the girls had a long standing joke of hiding this poor creature back and forth for the other to find. He’s lived on the dresser for about a year and when I dusted him off, he practically begged me for a trip to the Salvation Army.

My ‘babies’ turned 16 this week. I guess it’s time to stop saying ‘I just had twins’ as an excuse for the extra flab? Working on it, working on it…eating right and exercising…a slow process, but it’s a work in progress. Here’s a not-so-great picture of them opening gifts early that morning before school. Taylor is on the left, Kaylie on the right. They are amazing young women who love the Lord and I learn so much from them daily.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed week!

Cheryl

Contest at a friend’s site!

2010-01-10T20:58:00.001-08:00

Like earrings? OK, let’s be real. Who doesn’t? (Besides my 21yo daughter who has twice had her ears pierced and twice let them close up.) Even better than earrings…FREE EARRINGS! Sarah over at Piece by Peace Designs is having a new contest and you could win this darling pair of blue earrings! Stop on over and check out how. The contest goes through next Saturday…and you can win extra entries.

I have 3 (or is it 4?) pairs of Piece by Peace earrings and get compliments on them every time I wear them. Isn’t it time you treated yourself to some?!

Have a great week and good luck!!

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee ~ 1/8/10

2010-01-08T08:45:00.001-08:00

Welcome! I have been out of the blogging habit. I guess it’s easier to hang out on Facebook. Has it been a great week at Home Sanctuary or WHAT?! What hit home for each of you? For me, the Minimum Maintenance was perfect. It goes hand in hand with the Messy Perfectionism article that followed the next day. I am a perfectionist. I like things done right. And often, if I don’t have time to do it “right”, I will just not do it. Minimum Maintenance gives me the permission to spend 5 minutes in an area. No more, no less. Do you know how much I can accomplish in a 5 minute period?! My master bedroom looked waaay better (OK, my ‘half’, anyway!) after 5 minutes. It got me on board to continue making small changes, all as I head toward the perpetual goal of creating Sanctuary in my home.

As with many other Americans this first full week in January, I am DIETING. It is time…and a new and different mindset about this…so I’m hopeful. Next week I add exercise to the routine. Basically I’ve cut out sugar and flour. No big surprise that those are my two favorite food groups. :oP As I do without those things, my tastebuds and cravings change and fruits and vegetables are getting more popular than cookies. Well, almost. ;o)

Have a blessed week – thanks for stopping by!

Cheryl

2010…bring it!

2010-01-01T00:57:00.001-08:00

I have to say I’m not usually one to make a big deal about a new year. I suppose years of failed resolutions have made me a little cynical about January 1.

For whatever reason, this year feels different. I have goals I would like to strive toward in 2010. Some are the same as years past. Is this the year weight will really come off? Will I read my Bible daily this year? I can only go into the year hoping that I have more discipline than in years past.

2009 has been a year of blessings, mixed with some painful lessons. Every rose bush has its thorns. Or is it that every thorn bush has its roses? Yes, I think that’s it. It’s been a year of change (and I don’t mean Obama’s) and the sting that can accompany it. Lessons learned, when the sting dies down, can be beautiful.

The greatest lesson I learned in 2009: Be obedient. His timing is always best. Had I been obedient to Him, I could have avoided a sting.

Here’s to 2010…a year of obedience, a year of discipline. May He grant me the wisdom to listen and act accordingly.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee ~ 12/4/09

2009-12-04T11:12:00.001-08:00

Welcome, Company Girls! Thanks for stopping by. I am getting a late start today – and just had a bowl of oatmeal. I’ll start some coffee in a minute!

I hope your week has been full of His never-failing blessings!

Cross Country had their State Meet last Saturday. Kaylie (on the right) PR’d on the course and was thrilled!

I celebrated my birthday this week with our family (plus 20yo’s boyfriend) going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra. What a wonderful way to welcome the Christmas season!

Please join me in praying for the following: KM, JB, TG, SG, MW (all fighting cancer); SE (first week in the Navy!).

Have a blessed week!

Cheryl

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

2009-12-02T12:51:00.001-08:00

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset because some folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival.

However, I do appreciate being remembered anytime. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.

I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish; I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing to the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court.

And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember ...

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

Anxiety? or Cost?

2009-11-18T18:48:00.001-08:00

The recent talk about mammograms has me intrigued. One camp says that women really don’t need a mammogram until she is 50. Another camp says that they can save lives.

Today’s Fresno Bee states: “The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said Monday the benefits of mammograms for women in their 40s were not worth the anxiety and costs for false results that lead to unnecessary diagnostic tests – and also did not improve survival odds. The task force said that beginning in their 50s, women should get mammograms every other year, and women shouldn’t bother doing breast self-exams.”

WHAT? How many women’s lives have been saved by a mammogram showing a lump that could not be felt yet? And how many women have found a lump and then been diagnosed with breast cancer as a result of a self-exam?

I don’t believe “anxiety” plays a role here at all. If there was a concerning area on a mammogram, tests wouldn’t cause me anxiety. I would know that my doctors were researching a potential problem. Isn’t it better to be proactive when it comes to life-threatening illnesses? Mammograms? No big deal. They cause me no anxiety. They’re 30 minutes out of my year.

Somehow, just somehow, I think the word “cost” is the bigger issue here.

The proposed plan, almost 2,000 pages of new laws that most of our lawmakers have not even read, will cost approximately $500 million per page. $500 MILLION. And yet it will only affect you and me. Not the lawmakers. Hmm. Yes, our healthcare needs reform. But let’s find something that works for the benefit of everybody and every body.

If this is a sneak preview into proposed healthcare, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Company Girl Coffee ~ 11/13/09

2009-11-13T09:12:00.001-08:00

Good morning! Join me for some hot tea by the fire! We have a lot of fog this morning and my dear husband got the fire going for me. He’s got a 5-day ‘weekend’ that started on Wednesday, so it’s been fun having him home and we have been able to spend a lot of time together…playing right into Rachel’s “All the Fun” challenge! In a private conversation this week with another Company Girl, it encouraged me that we are not all in the same place with our relationships with our spouses…and that “Fun” could mean different things for each of us and that each of us must do the best we can with where we are, but PRAYER is the best thing we can do for our spouses! That’s not to say there was no ‘fun’ though. LOL

Cross Country Valley Meet was yesterday – our daughter was in the paper this morning…not as our team’s star runner, but the girl all the way to the left of the picture (and behind, not in front). Her personal time was 20 seconds slower than her PR of the same course, but she did her best and her team placed second…giving them a spot in the State meet on November 28th. This same girl fell asleep about 10:30 last night with her face in an Algebra 2 book. :)

Weekend with two kids going to an out of town band competition, hubby with full-day basketball commitments, another daughter with plans…sounds like it will be a QUIET weekend on my end. I hope to spend some quality time with my Singer sewing machine to get some more things in my shop and some great praise music.

I wish you all a blessed weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Cheryl

Christmas COSTS less?

2009-11-12T09:11:00.001-08:00

This morning I saw a commercial on TV that I have seen multiple times over the last few weeks. Their closing statement struck me differently this morning. They end the spot with: “Christmas costs less at XXXXXXX*. (*Don’t really want to pick a fight with them, so it will remain anonymous!)

I understand the concept: Shop at our store where things cost less.

But…but…does Christmas truly have to ‘cost’ anything?

It just made me kind of sad that it is so commercial and dollar-oriented. Yes, we spend money on gifts, but I rather long for a society that doesn’t place so much importance on gifts that cost money, even if it’s ‘less’ money than other stores.

As a child, I read the Little House books over and over and have always marveled at the simplicity of gifts. It’s time to go back to those days…

Company Girl Coffee

2009-11-06T08:40:00.001-08:00

I have missed linking up the past couple of months. I’ve done some traveling and just been busy and Home Sanctuary has been pushed to the side. My home has suffered as a result, so I am back and motivated! It’s been a week that I have stayed caught up and I am determined to keep going this time! I loved this task. What fun being creative in ways to create change! What was your favorite change? I even gave myself permission to change my dinner plans!

Life has been busy! Two girls in high school marching band means about 8 hours of practice a week, plus competitions (12-15 hour day on Saturdays) and weekly football games (another 6 hours). One of these same band kids also does cross country (15-20 hours a week), plus classes starting at 6:45 a.m. There is no “down time” and I can’t quite remember the last time either of these kids watched TV. Our Wii has more dust on it than I’d care to admit to. It is not uncommon for homework to be finished at midnight, leaving me with two girls who are slowly wearing out. The good news is that band and cross country will both end at the same time, with the state XC meet being the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It looks like our team will be participating, but the meet next Thursday will be the test. Our daughter (Kaylie) has had her best season ever and we pray she stays healthy and uninjured for the rest of the season!

I have also launched my new Etsy shop – scroll down to the next post to see some of the goodies I have for sale! If you’re in the market for a cozy baby blanket, let me know! If you don’t see one that you like, message me and let’s see what we can find! Coming soon…decorative pillowcases – a fun gift idea for all ages!

Have a blessed week!

Cheryl

New shop

2009-11-01T13:00:00.001-08:00

This is a shameless plug for my new Etsy shop, ClovisCreations! I guess you would call it a “soft opening” because it is small and brand new and some of my pictures need to be tweaked…but…if you’re in the market for a cozy flannel baby blanket, please stop by and see if I have what you need! I also have some beautiful yarn listed. If you are local, you can save on shipping and I will happily deliver to you. All items are made in my smoke-free, outdoor-pet home studio.

Have a blessed day!

Cheryl

Cleaning house.

2009-09-24T17:23:00.001-07:00

Some people spring clean. I tend to get antsy in the fall and feel the need to clean, declutter, organize. I have been busy clearing out. Bags of things have gone to the thrift store, other things have been shared with friends, and still others sold online. Even bigger, though, is that I am working hard to weed stress and nonsense out of my life. Sometimes it means doing things you felt God telling you to do a long time ago. Pruning isn't comfortable, but knowing it is from Him gives me peace.

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. ~John 15:2

Blessings,

Cheryl

Just because.

2009-09-19T10:45:00.001-07:00

Just because it's Saturday...And just because I needed to throw something together to take to a company picnic today...And just because sometimes a girl needs some chocolate...And just because sometimes you wake up, remembering recipes you haven't made in some 15+ years...I bring you this:

Cream Cheese Brownies

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 stick butter, melted

2 eggs

1 pound powdered sugar

1 8oz package cream cheese

2 Tsp vanilla

Combine cake mix, butter, and 1 egg. Press into greased 9x13 pan.

Mix together softened cream cheese, remaining egg, sugar, and vanilla. Spread over cake mixture. Bake at 325* for 25~ minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

*Variations - you can sprinkle chopped nuts between the two layers - my kids don't like nuts, so I didn't add them this time.

Happy Saturday!

Like jewelry? Then check out this contest!

2009-09-18T20:28:00.001-07:00

I just stumbled on a local jewelry designer. Sarah's creations are fun, pretty, funky, different, and affordable...all wrapped into one! Monday she is giving away the prettiest pair of earrings...go to her blog and read how to enter.

http://piecebypeacedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-contest.html

Blogging has taken a back seat to LIFE for the past 5 weeks. In a nutshell: kids started school, I am working on starting an Etsy.com shop (more details later!), working on a project for the 'day job,' etc.

Now, go check out Piece by Peace Designs and enter to win some earrings! :)

Blessings,

Cheryl

My husband is an Ironman.

2009-08-10T18:55:00.001-07:00

Yes, Terry completed his first FULL Ironman Triathlon on August 1 in the Santa Rosa, CA area. For those of you not 'in the know', an Ironman involves 2.4 miles of swimming, followed by 112 miles of bicycling, then topping the whole thing off with a marathon - 26.2 mile run. It adds up to 140.6 miles. He has done two half-ironman triathlons in the past and was excited to take on this challenge. I have NO desire to follow in his footsteps, but am sure proud of him!

Carbing up:

Taking a good look at the finish line:

The neat thing with races is you get a free shirt!

Posing by finish line:

Checking in...about 5:00 a.m.

On the swim (at least it might be him - frankly, they all look alike out there):

Taking salt capsules before hitting the road:

Pulling in to ask me for Ibuprofen...this is about 50 miles into the bike ride:

Back on his way:

Cute shirt on a very pregnant lady - she and her husband are both triathletes and they have high hopes for their baby:

Headed into the run:

Taking time to walk a bit:

His finish wasn't eloquent. He was hobbling and had a Frankenstein-like walk, but he FINISHED! Official time was 15:01.14 (he started in the 3rd wave of swimmers, thus the time difference).

Friend and co-worker, Shahin Mansour, who presented Terry with a bar of iron after the triathlon:

Time for an ice bath. Numb those painful legs:

Beware of Craigslist scam

2009-08-08T13:04:00.001-07:00

My step-sister's beloved dog ran away while they were on vacation. She has placed ads on Craigslist in hopes that someone will return their dog to them.

Today she got an email from someone who said they thought they had the dog. After multiple emails back and forth, things started smelling a little fishy.

Beware of a LATIFA JONES responding to lost and found ads. Her email address includes the words "holy" and "missionary". If she responds to an ad you have posted, she is only wasting your time.

Too fast.

2009-07-29T20:55:00.001-07:00

Summer is going by all too fast. I look at summer as a time for my kids to unwind from the hectic pace of the school year. But there are only two days left in July. Next week my 15yo girls will be at church camp all week. The following two weeks they have marching band practice twice daily, then school starts the next week. Summer break is essentially o.v.e.r. for them. And I'm so, so sad. We had an amazing vacation in Hawaii, but...I am already dreading school starting.

Bad news, good news. I fell last Friday. (Am I getting old or WHAT?!) That's the bad news. I can still walk so I must be fine, right? 5 days later and things are healing...except that my left knee continues to be swollen and the pain increases daily. A trip to urgent care this morning at least got me x-rays (nothing broken), a knee brace, and started the ball rolling to find out what's going on. But hey, I can still walk. And that's good news.

More bad news, good news. While getting x-rays, kids call from home and tell me the kitchen sink is plugged up. That's the bad news. A plumber comes and says it will be $120...but...he proceeds to flood my house through a sink in our wet bar. We had to completely gut the bar (cabinets, drawers, shelves were all soaked with nasty water from the pipes) of its belongings. We used almost every towel in the house, as well as the towels that were out by the pool, and have the majority of the mess cleaned up now...and the bar really needed a good de-cluttering, anyway. Mortified plumber says that there will be no charge and they will reimburse me for ruined items. That's the good news.

Really, in all things, I want to have a grateful heart. The first song on my playlist, Chris Tomlin's "I Will Rise" came to mind as I started washing towels. It's a song that has been playing in my heart often. I look forward to the time with no more sorrow, no more pain!

"I Will Rise"
There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

Tomorrow hubby and I head to the Santa Rosa, CA area for him to participate in an Ironman Triathlon. He will be swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, then topping those off with a full marathon - 26.2 miles. He has been training for this for months and it's my prayer that he is able to finish the race safely. I get to drive him home on Sunday and I don't want him whining.

Lastly, please remember to pray for Kate!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Pray for Kate

2009-07-23T18:16:00.001-07:00

PLEASE PRAY

2009-07-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

Please...pray for this little girl and her family. You can read more at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal

CaringBridge / mcraekate / Journal: "Wednesday, July 22, 2009 4:48 PM, MST
Well, we spoke with Kate's neurosurgeon today and looked at her scans. Let's just say we had to take some time alone afterwards, without Kate seeing us cry. It felt debilitating. A large concern continues to be the location of the tumor, it is very dangerous. The arteries supplying blood to the left half of her brain are entangled in the tumor. Another large concern is the tumor is spread down into the hypothalmus. (this is not a new thing) This would be completely untreatable by surgery. And finally they have a rating system to see how malignant and aggressive (how many cancer cells quickly reproduce) the tumor is. Kate's number was extremely high. Depressingly so. I sobbed for about a good hour, and Aaron a good portion of that."

Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

2009-07-09T22:41:00.001-07:00

We are not cat people. Wait, let me rephrase that so it's in a positive light. We are dog people. BIG dog people. No offense to the cat lovers of the world, but I am allergic and when a creature makes me feel as miserable as the feline crowd tends to do, it's hard to even like the critters.

With that said, our next door neighbors moved 4 months ago. Prior to moving, they asked if we would take over the care of their outdoor cat. Basically, they wanted to put the food dish and cat bed on our front porch. Nothing more and nothing less, as they know we are dog people. We agreed, since said cat was always in our front yard anyway. Said cat has been spotted three times since March, the most recent being in the last two weeks. My question is this: why are we feeding a cat (and yes, it IS eating) that does not patrol the grounds enough to keep a small mouse out of the garage? Yes, in broad daylight one of Mickey's cousins scampered out from under my husband's car, straight to a wall where there are some boxes stacked. Tomorrow the "special blue mouse food" gets put out and he will soon be a thing of the past, I hope. Silly mouse. Useless cat.

Company Girl Coffee, 07-03-09

2009-07-03T15:15:00.001-07:00

Thanks for stopping by! There's a pitcher of iced tea or iced coffee in the fridge. Please help yourself!

Things haven't slowed down since our vacation and I'm not quite sure how it became JULY already. It's a month that we won't have much going on, so I'm hoping to relax a bit before the back to school rush starts up. What about YOU? Do you have any trips planned? Any big Independence Day plans? Our day will consist of swimming, BBQ, and going to a fireworks show with some friends. Hope your day is special...I am so thankful to live in America - may I never lose sight of why this country was formed, or the men and women who keep it safe.

Our last 6 weeks have consisted of:

Prom in May...Layne (17) and Kaylie (15) attended with guy friends Jon and John.

Layne (17) graduated high school the first part of June. Here we are with the graduate. My husband refuses to take a 'real' picture. He says he looks funny when he smiles, so ... yeah.

Last sunset of our 12-day Hawaiian vacation. This was taken between Lahaina and Ka'anapali and there were huge sea turtles swimming just off the shore, so we had fun watching them.

More vacation pix to come as time permits.

Please pray for this family: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal I do not know them, but just read their story today and it broke my heart to see what they are going through with their 5yo (brain tumor).

Blessings,

Cheryl

Please...go vote!

2009-06-28T10:37:00.001-07:00

Go vote for my photo, please! http://companygirl.com/page/12/ - scroll down to the middle of the page, photo #82...click on the star below the picture to cast your vote. You have today ONLY to vote! Thanks!! (You cannot cast more than 3 total votes...and can only vote for any photo once.) After voting, go check out Rachel Anne's Home Sanctuary page. She has a great website that helps us turn our homes into SANCTUARIES.

THANK YOU!

Assumptions.

2009-06-04T08:30:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, a friend's out-of-town relative came over to drop off her two young boys for me to babysit for a few hours. The mother (actually, it's Grandma who is raising the kids) came to the door and proceeded to 'interview' me. (Understandable.) She started with, "Got any kids?" "Yes, 4. They're teens." (Teens seemed easier to say than "I have 3 teens and 1 20-year-old out of the house.") "Ugh - I don't envy you." "They're great - I really enjoy my kids." The "interview" went on with me being told that they don't watch much TV, but then gave an extensive list of PBS shows that were acceptable [I would just like to publicly thank Comcast's On Demand PBS section. Um, not that we resorted to it or anything.].

I was so put off by the assumption that having teens is misery. I have worked hard to raise my kids so that I enjoy them...and that other people do, too. And, for the most part, this has happened. (YES, we have some of 'those days'...but so does everyone else!) But really...I can honestly say I have enjoyed each stage of child rearing. Some seasons (and some kids!) have been easier than others, but they have all been filled with experiences I wouldn't trade.

Now, better go find a new batch of toys since I am babysitting again this evening. And I should take an Ibuprofen early. :)

Enjoy your kids,

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 29, 2009

2009-05-29T07:27:00.001-07:00

Welcome! I want to tell you about a neat photo contest going on over at Company Girl. Rachel Anne is looking for photos that show what it really means to be a Company Girl. Do you have any great "girlfriend" photos? Go upload them before Sunday, June 7th. If your photo is selected, you will receive a copy of this gift book.

We have had an emotionally difficult week in our community. Three sisters from our town were killed, along with their father, when their plane crashed last Friday. The oldest of the girls, Kaitlyn, was a friend of my daughters, and we have all had a hard time grasping what happened. (The two previous posts talk a little more about this accident.) Please keep this family in your prayers.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Next time, get the ice cream.

2009-05-26T12:19:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday night, our 15 year old daughters performed with their high school band for the Spring Concert. Wednesday's concert included a tribute to the Beatles, music from Shrek, and a closing number of "YMCA." It was a fun night showcasing how much they have learned this year. After the concert, we gave two girls a ride home. I considered stopping for ice cream, but because it was late and the parents of the other girls might be wondering where we were, we went on home.

Little did we know that it would be the last time my husband and I would see one of the girls, Kaitlyn, who perished two days later in a plane crash with her father and two younger sisters.

Next time, we stop for the ice cream. Spend the money, take the time, and get the ice cream. Because for some, there may not be a next time.

Please keep this family in your prayers.

How do you...

2009-05-23T16:47:00.001-07:00

How do you tell your 15 year old daughters that one of their close friends, her two younger sisters and their father were killed in a plane crash the night before? Please keep this family in your prayers. I simply cannot imagine...

3 Clovis girls and their father killed in airplane crash

From http://www.fresnobee.com/

By Barbara Anderson / The Fresno Bee and The Associated Press A Clovis High School student and her two younger sisters flying to spend a Memorial Day weekend with family were killed Friday evening when the private airplane piloted by their father crashed in northern Nevada near the Fallon Municipal Airport.

Kaitlyn Elizabeth Hook, 15, Rachel Katherine Hook, 12, and Mackenzie Elena Hook, 9, were killed when the twin-engine Cessna 320 crashed near the Fallon Municipal Airport. Their father, Naval Air Station Fallon Executive Officer Cmdr. Luther H. Hook III, 44, also was killed. He was the No. 2 officer at the local naval air station.

The girls routinely flew with their father to spend weekends with him, said step-father Pat Doles of Clovis.

Gina Gutierrez, a friend of Brenda Hook, the girls' mother, said Kaitlyn, was "an amazing athlete" who loved soccer. She would bring her mother coffee in the morning and pack her lunch. Brenda Hook earned a law degree about two years ago from San Joaquin Valley College of Law and is a child custody attorney, Gutierrez said.

Rachel, the 12-year-old, recently sang at a baby shower, Gutierrez said. "She wanted to be on American Idol." And Mackenzie, who had an upcoming birthday, was "the baby," she said.

Details of the crash are being investigated, but Zip Upham, a Fallon Naval base spokesman said the Cessna 320 crashed and burst into flames Friday night about a mile from the runway after a flight from Fresno.

Witnesses told authorities that the plane appeared to be in distress and was maneuvering erratically shortly before the crash. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the plane was manufactured in 1966 and had no prior incidents.

The National Weather Service said wind was gusting up to 40 mph at the time in the town about 60 miles east of Reno.

Hook, a 1986 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was a decorated pilot who amassed over 2,700 flight hours in an F/A-18 Hornet, flying from the USS Kitty Hawk and other aircraft carriers.

“The fact that it’s Memorial Day weekend makes the loss of our executive officer even more poignant,” Upton said.

The crash was being investigated by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board.

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 22, 2009

2009-05-22T07:41:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my place for coffee! Thanks for taking the time to stop by! Over at Home Sanctuary this week, we were challenged to do something "half-way". Well, for me, that's GREAT...because...sometimes I simply don't do a job because I know I don't have the time, energy, or money to do it the "right" way. Our master bedroom desperately needed some time spent in it. Now, let me preface this with a couple of things. 1) I struggle to keep a clean bedroom. 2) Hubby and I definitely have 'his' and 'hers' sides of the room and we have each agreed to be responsible for our own sides. That said, my side is the right side...and here are the before and after pix. It still needs more work, which is a goal of mine for the long weekend. I have new art for over the bed. I need to find something decorative to put at the end of the bed so we stop using it as a place to pile clothes, shoes, etc. BUT...it's half-way done...and felt great to have permission to only do that much.

Yesterday we were challenged to wipe out kitchen drawers...empty out the crumbs (where DO they come from?) that migrate to our silverware organizers. I did all 9 drawers in my kitchen. I now present my 'best' 3 drawers:

Go to http://www.companygirl.com/ and check out the photo contest! There are already some precious photos that have been uploaded!

An old hymn has been playing over and over through my head this week:

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

I am so grateful for our God's overwhelming love and grace. May I always keep this at the forefront of my mind.

Have a wonderful weekend. If you know a soldier, please thank them for their sacrifice and service.

Praying today for: G (swine flu); family of C; N (dizziness); G&B (to know the Lord).

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 15, 2009

2009-05-15T09:54:00.001-07:00

Welcome, welcome! I'm running late today because I [gasp] slept in! Last night at 10pm I took a half dose of a nighttime allergy medicine. It gave me 10 hours of sleep and today I feel like a new woman. The down side was that was the last nighttime allergy pill in the house, so I will need to go buy more today. I am grateful for the change of seasons, but the pollen and allergies are not welcome here!

This has been a great week over at Home Sanctuary! If you haven't checked out Rachel Anne's site yet, why not today? Each weekday, we are given a "small thing" to do to transform our homes into sanctuaries. That should be reward enough, but she assigns point values to each task and has prizes each month! I have been able to keep up with each task this month. We're half-way to the end, so here's hoping I stay on track.

My 15 and 17yo daughters both finished track this week, not placing high enough to move on after the Area meet. Here is a poor quality video of 17yo pole vaulting (she's the speck that flings herself over the pole on the left side of the screen):

She hopes to vault in college next year, too. I have tremendous admiration for my daughter who started high school and just thought pole vaulting looked fun. She's not the team's best vaulter, but she is certainly the one who tries the hardest to improve week after week. 15yo ran the 3200 meter (2 miles) with a respectable time of 12:32 - not her PR, but not a bad time to end the season on. This weekend is prom and these same 15 and 17yo girls will be going. The other 15yo is going to a friend's for a sleepover.

Have a blessed weekend!

Cheryl

Praying today for: Family of C. (committed suicide last night); N. (recovering from surgery).

Drugs...

2009-05-13T08:59:00.001-07:00

I'm sure many of you grew up with the same DRUG problem I had:

Stethoscope

2009-05-11T22:02:00.001-07:00

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 8

2009-05-08T07:35:00.001-07:00

Welcome! Today in addition to virtual coffee with my Company Girl friends, I'm having girlfriends over for coffee, iced tea, strawberry limeade and goodies.

Several years ago I met a bunch of local ladies who were all Flylady followers. We went from being a group of women who struggled to keep our homes clean to a group of wonderful friends. Most of our discussion these days stems around our families and activities, not the housekeeping website that brought us together.

Coffee today is a time to celebrate those friendships and enjoy each other. Isn't it just fun to have girlfriends who understand you and don't judge you because your house isn't spotless? I think those are the best! I enjoy opening my home to others. It used to be a burden and I would clean for ~days~ before having anyone over. I'm a slow learner, but I finally accepted that my friends actually like me for who I am and they come over so that we can enjoy each other's company...not so they can inspect my home. My true friends know that there may be dust here and there, and perhaps a dust bunny will sneak across the tile floor if a breeze blows through. But they also know that the coffee will be fresh, the iced tea will be refreshing, and that they are more than welcome.

Home Sanctuary has helped form this mindset: My house will never be perfect, but day by day, with each Small Thing I complete, my home becomes a sanctuary for my family, as well as my friends. And that's what I'm going for - sanctuary, not perfection.

Have a blessed weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Cheryl

Praying today for: D.D. (many of life's issues are very heavy right now); F.S. (divorce recovery); R.W. (loss of her father).

Passion

2009-05-06T17:02:00.001-07:00

Have you ever seen the flower from a passion fruit vine? They are absolutely stunning! I was at a friend's last week and she plucked this blossom off her vine and sent it home with me. Not only does it smell sweet and look exotic, but some research told me that it was named for the Passion of Jesus Christ by Christian missionaries in South America in the 16th century. This flower symbolized the death of Christ:

The five sepals and five petals of the flower, which are similar in appearance, represent the disciples without Peter and Judas. The double row of colored filaments, known as the corona, signifies the halo around Christ's head or the crown of thorns. The five stamens and the three spreading styles with their flattened heads symbolize the wounds and the nails respectively. The vines tendrils resemble the whips used to scourge Christ.

God's design is always perfect.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Praying today for: M.G. (11 year old hurt in auto wreck); T.J. (young mother with toxic shock syndrome - body is beginning to respond to treatment); N. (job); R.W. (loss of father); B.R. (infant in NICU, struggling to live).

Free KFC meal...

2009-05-05T08:53:00.001-07:00

Free KFC MEAL...

Click here to print your coupon for a FREE KFC Meal!
You'll Get:
2 pieces of Grilled Chicken
2 Sides
1 Biscuit
Print Now! The coupon is only offered May 5th - 6th.
Redeem May 5th - 19th (except May 10th - I guess they don't want anyone taking their Mother out to a free meal).

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 1, 2009

2009-05-01T08:22:00.001-07:00

Happy May Day! When I was little, we celebrated several May Days by taking strawberry baskets, decorating with ribbon, and filling with cookies or flowers and delivering to several of the elderly people in our neighborhood. My mom was the best!

My morning consisted of making blueberry pancakes for the kids ... then I'm babysitting a 5 year old until she goes to afternoon kindergarten ... then I have got to clean this house! No big weekend plans, except that 17yo heard her friends saying they're all coming over tomorrow night. I honestly love it when they're here. They may be noisy, messy, and eat a lot, but they're in my home and I know what they're doing (and what they're NOT out doing). So what if it costs me a little more in groceries...it's well worth it.

Time to get ready for Katie, the 5 year old. We'll go feed the goslings at the ponding basin up the street.

Have a blessed day!

Cheryl

Praying today for: M.G. (11 year old hurt in auto wreck); T.J. (young mother with toxic shock syndrome - body is beginning to respond to treatment); J.F. (financial needs); Praise: D.M. (congestive heart failure) is recovering!; N. (job)

Why? I still wonder...

2009-04-30T21:25:00.001-07:00

I still wonder why it is only politically acceptable to go against Biblical and moral teachings. Had Ms. Prejean not opposed gay marriage, she would have been cheered and named Miss USA. Instead, she spoke her opinion, based on her beliefs and morals and was jeered.

I'm proud of Carrie Prejean's courage and will pray that she continues to voice her opinion and be a light in the midst of darkness.

For now, I will still wonder...

Cheryl

Miss California appears in anti-gay marriage ad

By Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters
3 hours ago

LOS ANGELES — After failing to stop recent gay marriage approvals in several states, opponents have found an attractive, telegenic poster woman in Miss California, a move reminiscent of beauty queen Anita Bryant's 1970s crusade against gay rights.

Miss California, a Christian college student named Carrie Prejean, joined in a television ad campaign against gay marriage this week, upsetting homosexual rights advocates, including a head of the Miss California pageant.

In the commercial from the National Organization for Marriage, Prejean is shown at the Miss USA competition last month where she answered a question about same-sex marriage by saying she opposed it, drawing both boos and cheers and setting off a raucous debate.

After providing that answer, Prejean was named runner-up to Miss USA. She later said her view on marriage cost her the crown.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Things I've done or not . . .

2009-04-30T08:38:00.001-07:00

Things I've done or not. . . .

I saw this on Danell's blog and stole it!

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (Almost! I quit though.)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited to Mt. Rushmore
101. Learned to play a musical instrument

This put a smile on my face!

2009-04-29T09:03:00.001-07:00

Just something silly:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=16920289001

FREE El Pollo Loco - 4/28/09

2009-04-28T15:25:00.001-07:00

Until 8:00 p.m., El Pollo Loco is giving away two pieces of chicken and two tortillas. Check it out here!

Company Girl Coffee ~ April 24, 2009

2009-04-24T08:23:00.001-07:00

Thanks for stopping by. I've got fresh Starbuck's coffee and several different syrups. No pastries, as I am really trying to get back to eating right. I do NOT want to go to Hawaii in June looking like I do right now. :o(

My week has been busy with: working on senior pictures with Layne; work, sewing Binky Patrol (http://www.binkypatrol.org/) quilt tops; and...hmm. It's been a really busy week, but I can't quite think of anything substantial that I have to show for it. Sometimes it seems like I'm spinning my wheels and not doing anything with an eternal value. Like dieting, it's time for a new beginning with everything I do...

Like the rest of the nation, I have been enchanted by Susan Boyle's beautiful voice. It's doubtful there are any left who haven't seen the clip, but just in case:

I hope everyone has a blessed week. Make the most of every opportunity!

Cheryl

Praying today for: D.M. (congestive heart failure, hospice); C.A. (car accident earlier this week); T.J. (young mother whose entire body is septic and she is in critical condition); M.G. (11 year old girl hit by a car, critical condition).

Speaking of finances...

2009-04-20T10:11:00.001-07:00

OK, we weren't speaking directly about finances, but on Friday, the Company Girls each shared ways that we live frugally. On Sunday we had a guest speaker at church. His sermon was titled, "God's Economic Plan." (You can view the sermon by clicking on the link.) It was very solid Biblical advice for our finances, so I thought I would share the handout:

My husband handles our joint finances (thankfully!) and is a committed saver...so much so that sometimes I have to remind him we will need to have some money for "incidentals" ... you know, like FOOD, toilet paper, shampoo, deodorant, etc. Because he doesn't do much of the shopping, he forgets that these things don't just automatically restock themselves. :) He is a very hard worker and does a GREAT job with the finances - I am blessed and very grateful!

Have a wonderful week!

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee...4-17-09

2009-04-17T08:23:00.001-07:00

Sanctuary on a Shoestring...pretty well sums up my life, that's for sure! There are a LOT of things I do to save money - Once a month cooking, shopping at the you-bag-it grocery stores, shopping at discount stores. BUT something that has made a huge difference is that our kids receive an allowance. How can paying money OUT save money? Before we did official allowances, we would buy things for the kids. Nothing major, but a new CD or DVD, a cute t-shirt, etc. With 4 kids, this could add up fast. We switched to an allowance system so the kids could learn to budget their money and prioritize how they wanted to spend it. They get a pretty generous allowance ($2 for each year of life) at the beginning of the month (coincides with hubby's payday). They are encouraged to tithe, save, and then spend the rest how they would like. They have learned quite well how to make their money last. I didn't mention, but if they want to buy food at school, they also must use their own money. I learned long ago that when they had "lunch money," it typically went to buy a brownie, a pack of donuts, or something else as nutritious as those options. Instead of lunch money, we provide sandwich fixings, fruit, veggies, drinks, etc. This has been a lifesaver for us. When we're shopping and they want something, they think very carefully about it, knowing it will cost THEM and not ME.

Wishing you all a very blessed weekend!

Cheryl

Praying today for: Dora, in CCU and very frail; John & Sharon, leaving tomorrow for an 8-week trip to Europe; Randy & family, auto accident.

Antiquated?

2009-04-16T17:09:00.001-07:00

Apparently I'm antiquated. I was watching Oprah today - a rare thing for me, but they were discussing teens and s-e-x. They said that 1 in 5 teens will have sex by the time they are 15. I don't know about your 15 year olds, but MY 15 year olds aren't even allowed to date. This means they're not having sex. That really goes for their friends, too. The conversation centered around two 14 year old teens, freshmen in high school, who "love" each other and want to take that next step "because we've done everything but intercourse." Much of the conversation dealt with preparing them for sex. Oprah's friend, Gayle, piped in, saying that they are TOO YOUNG and that they shouldn't even be entertaining the idea. AMEN, Gayle! Oprah immediately called her thinking antiquated. Sigh. It is so disturbing to me that someone with so much influence will not use Biblical teachings as a basis.

I think I'll go pray for America's teens. Again.

What to do with leftover Cadbury eggs?

2009-04-15T18:07:00.001-07:00

(Not that there would be any leftovers here!)

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=17252662001

Company Girl Coffee, April 3, 2009

2009-04-02T23:16:00.001-07:00

Welcome, ladies! I hope you have had a productive week. I have been busy, and I'll admit the Home Sanctuary tasks have been hard for me this week and I have had to get very creative. Sad to say, but today to gather trash or donations, I cleaned the fridge. When did I buy this fresh broccoli? I'm thinking it was for the twins' birthday party last month and it never got made into a veggie tray. Why is this new'ish bag of potatoes mushy? Is this sprouting sweet potato the same one I bought around the holidays? If not, where did it come from?

*Warning: political opinions ahead*

In other news, if ya'll take a close look at your recent paychecks, you'll probably see what we saw this week: a little note stating that due to the economic bailout plan, federal taxes have gone up effective immediately. Higher taxes, California's 10% paycut, and an IRS bill. I guess this is the economic stimulus that we've all been hearing about. The only stimulating we will be doing in the economy is buying more Top Ramen and less fresh broccoli.

In spite of my rantings, we ARE blessed,

Cheryl

Praying for: G., hip replacement surgery; R.B., double bypass surgery; E.C., results; Praise: N., ovarian mass is NOT cancer!; B., PET scan today; safe travels for those traveling for Easter (us included!).

Musings

2009-03-31T08:27:00.001-07:00

The State of California recognizes Cesar Chavez's birthday (March 31) by giving its state employees the day off. Um, Happy Cesar Chavez Day? Funny. They no longer recognize Abraham Lincoln's birthday or Christopher Columbus Day. Why is this?

And why is it only acceptable to share liberal views? Seems that those of us with conservative views get bashed for speaking up. Of course, if I believe in the issues that go against the Bible, I am welcome to share them openly. Why is this?

I think I'll stop my pondering now and go sew some Binkies. Track meet this afternoon and it looks like we're going to have perfect weather for it.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Praying today for: L, K, T, midterms; B, PET scan on Friday; N, seeing a specialist on Friday/ovarian mass.

Company Girl Coffee 3-27-09

2009-03-27T08:18:00.001-07:00

TGIF! I'm not quite sure where this week went, let alone this month. Even my kids have remarked that time seems to be going faster lately. My theory (ok, it's a dream) is that God is just fast forwarding time for us and we will soon see Jesus return for us. I am weary - weary of day to day things, money concerns, taxes, the sin I see in society. That's not to say I am a "doom and gloom" kind of gal. That's not the case at all. I love life and am very blessed. But...wouldn't it be cool to just go on to Heaven now?

Yeah, that's the mood I'm in.

Have a blessed weekend.

Praying today for: B., mass, trying to determine just what it is; N., possible ovarian cancer; Praise: N.'s biopsy showed no cancer!; Praise: J. found a job!

"Can't live on less than $53,000 a week."

2009-03-25T08:49:00.001-07:00

Really? REALLY? 36-year-old Swedish countess/divorcee, Marie Douglas-David, has been quoted as saying she cannot live on $43 million. I'm no math major (Terry will second this) and don't balance my bank statements (if it looks close, that's good enough for me!), but if I divide $43,000,000 by 60 years (I'm going out on a limb in thinking she will live a long time, should she not succumb to poverty, of course), divided by 12 months per year = $59,722.22 per month. It's only $6,000/month off, which would likely be her interest, but that's not my point.

WHAT would people do with $53,000 a week? My mind can't quite wrap around it except I admit to thinking it would be a fun problem to have. Just think of the good that someone could do with $53,000 each week! What would YOU do with $53,000?!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Praying today for my friend L's daughter, B., who has a large mass growing in her chest and putting pressure on her heart. B. meets with a thoracic surgeon today to discuss the next course of action. B. turns 20 years old this spring.

Company Girl Coffee - March 20

2009-03-20T08:04:00.001-07:00

Hello! Welcome! It's been a busy week playing catch-up since I spent last week visiting my mom and sister in Texas. En route, I had a few hours to sit at DFW and Rachel Anne was sweet enough to come meet me at the airport. She is as sweet in person as she is on her blog. She was an amazing 'hostess' as we walked our way around the airport in search of a cup of coffee. I felt like I already knew her, having read her blog for the last year. What an encouragement she is - and FUN! We Company Girls definitely need to think about a retreat - somewhere, somehow! If anyone wants to come to Central California, I'll blow up air mattresses and warm up the chocolate fountain. :o)

While in Texas, I was able to pick up my finished quilt and deliver it to my sister. The quilter did an amazing job and I look forward to sending her more in the future. It was fun to give a homemade gift and not clutter that my sister will eventually have to throw away!

I'd better get busy around here - have a blessed weekend.

Cheryl

Praying for: K., test results for spinal tap; B., unsaved stroke victim; N.B., skin biopsy; N.Y., pain; J., looking for a job; C., broken ankle/mobility; N., job interview next week.

Company Girl Coffee

2009-03-06T09:08:00.001-08:00

Thanks for stopping by! I'm running late today and it's not even 9am! I'm not running late for anything in particular, I just started my day late and that makes me feel behind.

My post today will fit right in with today's small thing: Do something bad. My intentions were to write a lovely ('good') post about how my youngest daughters (twins) turned 15 this week, post beautiful pictures of them on their birthday, etc. Here's the glitch: I don't have 'beautiful' pictures of them from their birthday. They left in the morning wearing new tops, hair done extra special, etc. They came home in PE and track clothes, hair ruined, and, rather smelling like they just came from PE and track. :o) But this is the reality of our life and ... frankly ... I think our life is beautiful, so that counts.

So, in honor of my beautiful twin daughters turning 15 on Monday, I would like for you to meet MY Company Girls:

Taylor is actually the second-born twin, but because she always comes last in name order, I thought I'd cut her a break and list her first. Taylor loves music and can play piano, clarinet, violin and trombone. Her goal for high school is to learn as many instruments so she can go on to become a music major. I pray she uses her love and talent for music for the Lord. She has a heart for Him and is truly a light to all of those around her.

Kaylie is my runner daughter. This girl is an amazing runner, like her daddy. She has an amazing work ethic and gives 100% to everything she does. She plays the flute beautifully, and has a soft heart for animals of any shape and size. She wants to be a Zookeeper when she is older. They will be the best kept zoo animals ever! She loves the Lord and will NOT go to bed at night until she has read her Bible.

Here is a BAD quality picture from my cell phone at their birthday dinner on Sunday at Macaroni Grill:

Thanks for letting me brag on two of my favorite four daughters! I'll brag on the other two favorites as their birthdays come up! Have a blessed weekend!

Cheryl

It's over!

2009-03-02T09:00:00.001-08:00

Saturday night, approximately 7:30pm, I got my husband back. Yes, that was the last of the 2008-2009 basketball season for him. Originally his Friday night game was to be the swan song, but he was given a collegiate game for Saturday and you just can't say "no, thanks" to that!

Anyway, basketball season is officially OVER. The polyester ref clothes have been washed, dried, and packed away for awhile, and our family will enjoy having our husband and daddy home every night of the week. Well, except that he's traveling for work most of this week. But after Thursday, we'll enjoy having him home.

Make it a blessed week!

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee

2009-02-27T13:29:00.001-08:00

Thanks for stopping by! I feel like all week I have been running late, so this is even being posted a little later than usual.

It is early afternoon and I just came from lunch with a friend, and I am having a handful of trail mix. Well, to be accurate, I am picking out my favorite things from a bag of trail mix. So I'm eating cashews and peanuts, but no M&Ms or raisins. My husband always wonders where the cashews go. Hehehe

It's been a crazy week with my 9th grade daughters working hard to finish a huge science project that is due tonight. It will consume the rest of my day, hence taking the time for virtual coffee and cashews. In spite of that, I managed to keep up with Home Sanctuary. I have noticed that with each "small thing" I participate in, I find myself looking around and taking it a step further. The task of sweeping baseboards soon had me using an electric broom on all the floors, then a quick mop job. Not only did it get me up and moving (when did I become so out of shape?), but my floors got the cleaning they needed. After following the challenges diligently all month, I can say that there is a difference in our home and in my attitude toward keeping up with things.

Prayer requests today: B., stroke victim whose health is declining; the family of Ella, a toddler who died as the result of an accident this week.

In the meantime, have a great weekend.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee

2009-02-20T07:35:00.001-08:00

Good morning - thanks for stopping by! No sweets today - my favorite jeans are tighter than they should be. I guess last week's cookies weren't calorie-free after all! It's hot tea and fresh orange slices.

Another great week with Home Sanctuary and I am really beginning to feel like things are coming together and my home really IS turning into a Sanctuary. My favorite small thing this week was to clean out the cabinet under the kitchen sink. It really wasn't as bad as I expected, taking only about 15 minutes, but forcing me to sort out what I actually USE ... and what I HAVE. I have had a bottle of pure ammonia for 13 years. I've not used it yet, so it safely went to the "Leftover" bin that will be offered to a friend of mine.

(Those aren't water stains - I tend to leave my dust/oil rag under the sink and don't always set it on top of something.)

Before you leave, would you join me in praying today for: B., stroke victim who is failing; Baby R., born at 24 weeks and is growing - praise God! - her parents are not believers; J., cellulitis in his leg; J., strangulated hernias, waiting to see a surgeon. Thank you!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Help!

2009-02-18T17:00:00.001-08:00

This is from a friend of mine:

I am currently working on my doctoral dissertation and need
participants for my study. It is a brief online survey (less than 10
minutes).
The link is: https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=126209
And the password is clovis
I am eternally grateful for your assistance. Feel free to pass it on
to friends/family. The link will remain active until Friday (2/20).
Thanks again,
Diana

Thank you!

I do, I do, I do!

2009-02-17T08:54:00.001-08:00

I love my husband. I do! Really - I do! BUT I admit the words "OH NOOOO" were the first that went through my head when I heard the garage door open at 7:30 a.m. That could only mean one thing: He's taking a sick day.

Hubby has a cold. A MAN cold.

He flew to Oklahoma a week ago and invariably catches something coming or going. Not only is this a MAN cold, but it's an Oklahoma MAN cold. Because he's a government employee, he had last Thursday off as a holiday. He had previously arranged to take Friday off, making it a 5-day weekend (with yesterday's holiday). His goal, when he arranged this weekend, was to work on the fountain/pond he's building in the front. Instead, it's rained for a week and he has a MAN cold.

Hubby has now had a sandwich, some hot tea, and has taken his MAN cold to bed.

Sounds like a good day to hit the movies.

Cheryl

Praying today for: ~B., a non-believer who had a stroke. Her body is shutting down and she has not yet accepted Christ's love.

Company Girl Coffee - come on in!

2009-02-13T08:01:00.001-08:00

Good morning, friends! Today we're sipping Starbucks coffee with Dulce de Leche creamer. Oh my is it yummy! We also have some Valentine's Day cookies to nibble on. They're calorie-free, of course, because they are for a holiday and that cuts the calories out. (You're welcome.)

It has been a week of ups and downs in our home, with God shining through even tough situations. Praise Him for His faithfulness!

I got my quilt shipped to Texas where a lady is going to do the hard part - the actual quilting. That's one thing I am not interested in tackling (yet?), so I am glad to have found a wonderful seamstress ... and she is excited at the chance to earn a little pocket change for her efforts! In the meantime, another lady about an hour from my town was cleaning out her stash of fabric and selling yard increments for .50/yard. The fabric was BEAUTIFUL and will make many lovely quilts for Binky Patrol. I spent $60, which gives me well over 100 yards of fabric. My husband is very patient. Actually, he mentioned the amount and I asked if he'd like for the two of us to discuss the state of the garage and why he has THREE bikes, ONE of which he rides. :)

I am proud to say I am still on track with Home Sanctuary! Usually by now, I forget to record points, or go through a day and forget to do the challenge. Not this month! The prize would look WAY too good in my office for me to be a slacker! Yesterday's challenge for something sticky was fun and my creative juices got flowing! I printed two pages of silly Valentine's Day riddles out for my kids and hung them in their bathroom. They're teenagers, but will get a kick out of their silliness. AND we used some sticky frosting to frost some more cookies (so glad I baked up all of the dough earlier in the week!). We'll have plenty to share with the neighbors tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a blessed weekend!

Cheryl

P.S. Will the Macy*s saga never end? Why, oh why, should I get a bill stating I owe the full amount...when this was paid days before the bill was generated? Goodness, Macy*s! I sure hope the 7000 people you laid off aren't in your Collections Department because I have a feeling I'm headed back there!

Company Girl Coffee

2009-02-06T09:21:00.001-08:00

What an amazing week it has been! I decided it was time to jump back on board with Home Sanctuary and I've been able to keep up all week! I've got to keep the momentum.

I've given myself permission to take breaks from work and sew. As I explained to my [amazing] boss, I'm being paid for one-quarter of a full-time job, so I'm going to put in no more than 10 hours a week and reclaim my life. That has allowed me to complete my sister's quilt (a birthday surprise, but she doesn't read my blog, so I feel safe!) and get it ready to ship out to the quilter next week. I've decluttered one desk drawer. (Somebody tell me why my husband felt it was necessary to hang on to the duplicate checks from the 90's?)

Prayer requests: Please...if you'd take a moment and pray for the following, they would be blessed:

~B., a non-believer who had a stroke. Christ's love was shared with her this week and it is our prayer that her heart is changed.

~A., suffers from depression and anxiety. Her hope is in our Lord and she needs to feel His touch.

~D., has emphysema, diabetes, impaired renal function, and now pneumonia.

Thank you!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee

2009-01-30T08:16:00.001-08:00

Where did the week go? Seriously - how did it get to Friday already? Oh how I love Mondays. I start every week with such wonderful intentions. I decide that "This is the week I will do every Home Sanctuary challenge!" If you've had any interest in becoming a Company Girl, this is the time to do it! Rachel Anne is holding our hands and teaching us home organization skills step by step. Take a minute and go read this post and see what you think! It's something that even I can do! We'd love to have you join us.

I have been living 2009 as if it's my last year. No, I'm not picking clothes to be buried in - but I AM looking at my "stuff" with new eyes. What MESSES would I leaving behind for my family to deal with? I know I have at least 100 yards of fabric. Wouldn't they rather find completed quilts instead of a stash of fabric? What about these skeins of yarn? Maybe baby blankets for future grandchildren? Do I really still need papers from the homeschooling days? Notsomuch. A dear friend is using this in her email signature line:

Make it do; clean it out; use it up; do without!

I think I've unofficially adopted this mentality. With a 10% pay cut now approved for my husband, it's time to get creative and be careful about what we need to spend money on.

UPDATE ON THE MACY*S SAGA:

I sent copies of my blog to Macy*s in New York. Funny how quickly I was contacted. They *finally* sent me a bill. It was even for the right month. I even walked into our Macy*s and paid it. With a check. I was too lazy to go to the bank and request $39 worth of nickels. Farewell, Macy*s.

Have a blessed weekend,

Cheryl

God's hands

2009-01-26T08:05:00.001-08:00

PSA: The Macy*s Saga, part 2

2009-01-07T08:16:00.001-08:00

If you missed part 1, please take a moment to read this to catch up.

I admit I was actually surprised when a Macy*s bill arrived, though the collections woman promised she would send one. Too bad the date on it was from October (yes, a full month before I opened my account!) and my balance was $0.00. Big surprise. (I wonder what the IQ requirements are to work this job because I have a couple of dogs who could use jobs and they are certainly more capable and cordial than any Macy*s call center employee I have had contact with.)

Time for another call to Macy*s. My request to talk to a supervisor was denied and instead I was stuck with a 'customer service' (those words are used pretty loosely when it comes to Macy*s) agent who was rude and condescending. She told me that my bill is due "On the 10th - when is what?" "It's Saturday." (I offered after a full moment passed and I could tell she was obviously not skilled enough to count up 3 days.) I can only guess I will awake on Sunday to Macy*s collections to hassle me about not paying my $42 bill.

Her final redeeming quality is that she would waive my late fee. A late fee for a bill never sent.

Unbelievable, Macy*s. In this economy, you might try a little customer service if you want to stay open or you will simply be the next in a long line of stores closing their doors.

I will mention this advice. In person. If I ever get a bill. That I intend to pay. In nickels.

Company Girl Coffee

2009-01-02T09:10:00.001-08:00

Thanks for stopping by! Today we're having hot tea. The Christmas dishes are already packed away, so you'll have to make due with my regular mugs.

Although I shared it on my Christmas pictures blog, I will share the story behind my favorite Christmas picture:

Our home is situated so that the bedrooms are all down one hall. Our Christmas morning 'rule' is that the kids can't go into the living room until we're all up and going together. Although our oldest is now 20 and living on her own, she came over and spent Christmas Eve with us and dutifully lined up in the hall with her sisters. I love that at 20, 17, 14, and 14, our kids are still excited to see what "Santa" brought.

Happy New Year!

Cheryl

PSA: While I will never shop at Macy*s again...

2009-01-01T15:02:00.001-08:00

I'd like to think that there are enough people writing nice New Year's blogs that I can instead post a RANT about While I Will Never Shop at Macy*s Again.

In November, Layne and I purchased her formal dress at Macy*s. When ringing it up, I was asked if I'd like to open an account and receive 20% off the dress. My first mistake was saying, "YES, please." Credit card arrives, but no statement. Earlier this week, I CALL Macy*s and ask if I will be receiving a bill. (All in all, in this economy, I think that was pretty generous on my part.) I was assured that I was not late, that the bill would be generated in the next week or so and due the end of January.

The next day I began receiving strange phone calls from "Call Center, OH" and a recording that states I should stay on the line for a customer service person to help me. I googled the number (gotta love Caller ID!) and see that it's Macy*s. Um, I am pretty patient, but anyone who knows me knows that I despise the phone and it's pretty UNlikely that I will wait on the line. More calls daily, which I ignore. I even got one at 9:00am call this morning. (Thanks, Macy*s.) I hang up and mention it to Terry who says that in checking our credit reports earlier this week, a delinquent Macy*s account showed up under mine. ("What?!") At 11:00, I got another call. The woman explains how the charge is small ($50'ish) and if I could just make a $5 payment, they would know I am trying. She also told me that the call was being taped, to which I responded: "Good! Macy*s needs to know about the harassing calls I am getting." I explained that I have never received a BILL and that I was not ignoring it ... I simply cannot and will not pay a bill that I haven't received yet. She proceeded to tell me about late charges and how I am now 35 days delinquent. (Apparently the bill-that-was-never-sent was due about the same day we bought the dress?) I demanded that she cancel my account. "Both accounts?" ("What - I have TWO accounts?") "Um, YES, please." She assured me she was doing so. I'm not holding my breath. I assured her that if she will make a note that IF I AM MAILED A BILL, I AM HAPPY TO PAY IT. And that if they called me again, I would contact my attorney. As she began to wish me a Happy New Year, I hung up. I can only take so much telephone in one day.

And that is why I will never shop Macy*s again. Arrrgh.

Once I get out of collections, I shall write a lovely little New Year's Resolutions post and all that jazz. Til then, get off the computer and go watch some football!

Cheryl

Christmas in pictures

2008-12-29T20:22:00.001-08:00

How quickly it all ends. The photo ops...and Christmas itself.

Here's to an amazing 2009.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T09:41:00.001-08:00

In an effort to save a tree (hence the green font), I’m resorting to an e-Christmas Card this year.

We must really be getting old when the year starts to pass us by as quickly as 2008 did. Even the kids agree that the year has flown by. In a nutshell:

Terry completed three triathlons this year, including a Half Ironman. He also referees all over the state now, calling NCAA and Big West women’s [basketball] games this time of year. The day job with the State of California pays the bills so he can “play” the rest of the time. He lost his last grandparent this year, Ralph Conrad, so we made an unexpected trip to Oklahoma in February for his funeral. Grandpa Ralph had a long, full life and was ready for his heavenly home.

Marlyssa, 20, has moved out and is experiencing life on her own. She continues to work at Starbucks, living and working not far from Yosemite National Park. The house isn’t the same without all four girls living here, but it is exciting to watch our first spread her wings.

Layne, 17, is enjoying her senior year of high school. She’s involved in cheer, track/pole vaulting, working out, dance, yearbook, and photography. She will attend California State University/Fresno next fall. She and Terry tinker on the ’65 Mustang and it’s still her favorite thing to drive.

Kaylie, 14, started high school by joining the cross country team and running 5~ miles daily. She now transitions into the track season. She plays the flute the school’s symphonic band and loves reading, listening to music, and hanging out with friends in her spare time.

Taylor, 14, is involved in marching, symphonic and percussion bands. She loves all things “music” and plays the clarinet, trombone and various percussion instruments. Whatever free time she has is spent listening to music, reading, or being with friends.

I am fortunate to continue to work from home with an old friend of ours, coordinating online continuing education courses for pesticide applicators. It’s a field that is new to me...but allows me to be home with the girls and adjust my days and hours as I want. Free time? I have taken up quilting and love it. There are worse addictions than fabric, I’m certain!

Terry and I were blessed to spend a week in Maui in the spring and we will take the girls there this June. My sisters and I took our mom on a Mexican cruise in November – a great trip that we are determined to do again! I’m ready for a season in life of less work and more travel!

If you’re headed to Central California, we’d love to see you!

May God bless you and yours with a Merry CHRISTmas,

and a 2009 full of grace and peace.

Love,

Terry & Cheryl

Marlyssa, Layne, Kaylie, Taylor

The Truth About Santa Claus

2008-12-20T11:36:00.001-08:00

An oldie but a goodie...

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma.
I was just a kid.
I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the
day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus,"
she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to
her that day because I knew she would be straight with me.
I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth
always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of
her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous,
because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites,
I told her everything. She was ready for me.
"No Santa Claus?" She snorted... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it.
That rumor Has been going around for years, and it makes me mad,
plain mad! Now, put On your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my
second world-famous cinnamon bun.
"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store
in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we
walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That
was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and
buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in
the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my
mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself.
The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to
finish their Christmas shopping. For a Few moments I just
stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill,
wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.
I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my Friends, my
neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my
church.
I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby
Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he
sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.
Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never
went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote
a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we
kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have
a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing
excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it.
It looked real warm, and he would like that.
"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the
counter asked Kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really
needed a Good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put
the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag
fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in
Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa
Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on
secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house,
explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially,
one of Santa's Helpers. Grandma parked down the street from
Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the
bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All
right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the
present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to
the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited
breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.
Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.
Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent
shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That
night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus
were just what Grandma said they were: Ridiculous.
Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.
I still have The Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside:
$19.95.

Company Girl Coffee

2008-12-19T09:28:00.001-08:00

Come on in! Today we're having Hot Spiced Tea. Grab a cup! This week I was determined to stay caught up with Home Sanctuary. Thankfully, Rachel Anne blessed us with some easy days. Yesterday's involved lighting a Christmas candle. While I often have a candle lit, yesterday I had a daughter home, not feeling well, so lit scented candles in the rooms we were in, had a nice fire going, and just enjoyed the ambiance the combination offered. As the other girls got home from school, the first thing they said was, "The house smells so good!" The sense of smell is so important and many of my favorite childhood memories go back to various scents. (OK, in all honestly, most of these are food related, but that's another issue!) I hope my daughters remember things like walking into a home that smells of cinnamon and cloves.

Remember the reason for the season. JESUS!

Have a very blessed and peaceful week.

Cheryl

Christmas fun

2008-12-17T16:39:00.001-08:00

It's a goofy tradition in our home that ... if you live in our house, you must have your picture taken with Santa annually. DD#1 no longer lives here, so she's exempt. Actually, we WANTED her in the pic, but she lives in the mountains and was snowed in and we didn't have another weekend to do this. So...presenting our annual Santa picture, in all its glory:

Happy 20th Birthday, DD#1! :)

2008-12-15T09:56:00.001-08:00

While you're 20 now, this has to be one of my all-time favorite pictures of you! You were 3 months old and so giggly, happy. My pregnancy with you was not easy and doctors told me more than once that you may not survive. Your dad and I cried, prayed, believed, and God brought you through. He has a plan for you and I look forward to seeing you continue to grow in Him all the days of your life.

Happy Birthday! I LOVE YOU!

Mommy :)

Coffee's On - come on in!

2008-12-12T07:58:00.001-08:00

I'm so glad you stopped by! I've got Creme Brulee flavored coffee on the stove, quietly perking along. Please grab a Christmas mug and join me!

My biggest accomplishment this week was my response to Rachel Anne's "Haul Ass" post. (Ass, in the Biblical sense!) I decided it was time to make a serious dent in my shopping. Imagine my surprise when at one of the stores, I was told if I took my receipt to our local mall, I would receive raffle tickets - 1 for every $10 spent in my city. Wow - I managed to get 31 tickets in the drawing for prizes like gas vouchers, flat screen TV, surround sound system, DVD player, etc. It was FREEZING and you had to be present to win...so hubby and I ventured to stand in the cold and listen for our number(s). I'll cut to the chase. NO, I didn't win anything but feet that were frozen and painful for the next few hours. BUT it is rare that hubby and I just do 'nothing.' It was a nice time to just have fun and grab a bite to eat. I also got a lot of my shopping done, so it was well worth a day of Hauling...

I'd better get busy around here today, too. I want to sew a couple of Christmas pillowcases and wrap a few presents.

Blessings,

Cheryl

The Nativity and "Breath of Heaven"

2008-12-11T11:05:00.001-08:00

This is a beautiful video produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am not associated with this church, but believe they did an excellent job of combining Amy Grant's lovely long with the Nativity story.

Enjoy and remember to keep CHRIST at the center of your Christmas.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Ads from the 30'2

2008-12-09T09:42:00.001-08:00

I will just say that I'd be happy if I could eat lard, too!

To All Our Family and Friends:

2008-12-08T09:01:00.001-08:00

To All Our Family and Friends:

Just a note to let you know we are hoping to see you Christmas Day! BUT...

Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Christmas. I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes:

Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.
Once inside, our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the swags of Christmas greenery, mistletoe and berries. Instead, I've gotten the dogs involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the back yard. The mud was their idea.
The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Christmas, we will refrain from using the plastic
Santa plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.
Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I planned. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a Christmas tree.
We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Christmas and the turkey hotline. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.
As accompaniment to the grandchildren's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If they should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.
We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next door.
Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" - meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.
efore I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice between 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice; take it or leave it.

I hope you aren't too disappointed that Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Christmas. She probably won't come next year either. But don't fear. You always have me to rely on.

17 days til Christmas!

The Spirit of Christmas...

2008-12-06T07:27:00.001-08:00

Something to think about.

Blessings,

Cheryl

A week of small things...

2008-12-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by for some Company Girl coffee!

I had two days this week that were my favorite tasks. Tuesday Rachel Anne 'assigned' us to take a break and spoil ourselves. What? For real? And guess what? Tuesday was my birthday! My break consisted of some relaxing time in front of the fire, a piece of birthday cake that my mom sent me :o) and a little crocheting. It was great! Today we were challenged to clean a slate. This could be anything we wanted. For me, it meant tossing old Thanksgiving flowers and then wiping the kitchen counter that had played residence to the dying mums for a week. It also meant takin some time in the laundry room to work on the always-too-crowded counter in there. Big difference and I only spent about 20 minutes total.

Come join us at Home Sanctuary!

Blessings,
Cheryl

Christmas Cookie Rules

2008-12-04T16:31:00.001-08:00

There is a lot of truth in this! (My scale disagrees!)
1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.
2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.
3. If a friend comes over while you are making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free rule #1 is yours also.
It would be rude to let your friend sample alone, and being the friend that you are makes your cookie calorie free.
4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.
5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.
6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have 3 and green ones have 5 - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!
7. Cookies eaten while watching Miracle on 34th Street have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.
8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.
9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate has no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!
And finally...
10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!

NOW I will get excited about Christmas.

2008-11-29T16:13:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2008-11-27T15:39:00.001-08:00

Table is set...

Turkey is done... Fire is lit...

Now we must wait for DD#1 to get off work and get here!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Blessings,

Cheryl

I love Christmas!

2008-11-13T17:48:00.001-08:00

Yes, I DO love Christmas! I enjoy the anticipation, the look on my daughters' faces as they open a gift, pecan pie. I love Christmas.

But in the beginning of November? Notsomuch. I was stunned on Monday to hear the radio play a Christmas song. The kids told me they have been playing them on the radio for over a week. (What would I know? I was cruising in Mexico!) CHRISTMAS SONGS? What happened to Thanksgiving?

Because our amazing first born was born 10 days before Christmas, we make a distinct effort to not let her birthday get shadowed with Christmas.

So, in honor of November and Thanksgiving, please enjoy my blog's new look. When I decorate our home for Christmas, I will change the blog over to reflect the same. I, for one, will not celebrate Christmas until after Thanksgiving.

Blessings,

Cheryl

I'm outta here!

2008-11-01T09:47:00.001-07:00

My first three songs give a clue as to whom I'm with, what we're doing, and where we're going!

Blessings,
Cheryl

Laundry-aholic.

2008-10-23T10:09:00.001-07:00

There. I've said it. I like laundry. It makes me feel good. I never understood moms who talk about mountains of dirty laundry. Maybe it's because ... well ... frankly, I don't want mountains of dirty socks and undies littering my home. :o) Call me a freak. I feel nervous when I don't have laundry to do. I tend to create it when I don't have any to do. "Create" as in ... washing bath mats and guest towels that aren't dirty, asking my kids if I can do their laundry (their own responsibility).

Now, if only I could be a dust-aholic. There's a task that's for the birds!

I'd better go check those guest towels. I don't think they've been washed in a few days...

Lawsuit against God thrown out of court

2008-10-15T14:04:00.001-07:00

Apparently a Nebraska legislator has had his lawsuit against GOD thrown out of court because God was not properly served due to an unlisted home address.

I'm not completely sure, but I think trying to sue God is probably dangerous business.

Company Girl Coffee...come on in!

2008-10-10T09:52:00.001-07:00

One day this week over at Home Sanctuary, Rachel Anne challenged us to pinch pennies. I'm really pretty frugal (ok, cheap!) anyway, so this was an easy one for me. On Tuesday, I took our 17yo daughter to the fair so she could photograph to her heart's delight. Coming home, we stopped at the grocery store for a few necessities and I grabbed a $6 rotisserie chicken to make for a quick dinner. When I got home, imagine my disappointment when I discovered that this was about the skinniest $6 chicken I'd ever seen. I still needed it to feed 5 people though. I carved it like a turkey (DD#3 can't stand "meat on a bone" anyway), served it with whole grain pilaf, veggies and salad, and looked at what was left of my carcass. It was pretty scrawny. Naked. Empty. And yet...it seemed worth the effort to boil down the next day. Know what? There was still meat left on that naked bird. About 3 tablespoons of meat. Hmm...again...the whole "Need to feed 5 people" came into play. No problem! Dump the last cup of chicken and rice from Tuesday's dinner in with those lonely 3 tablespoons of chicken and delicious, rich broth, add half a bag of frozen veggies, and we had delicious chicken soup for 5. Not bad for a too-scrawny $6 bird!

Have a great weekend!

Cheryl

Diary of a crazy lady.

Hello? Anybody still out there?

Company Girl Coffee ~ 9/17/10

Company Girls Coffee ~ 9/10/10

Company Girl Coffee ~ 4-9-10

Company Girl Coffee ~ 3-19-2010

Really?

Company Girl Coffee ~ 3-12-10

Company Girl Coffee ~ 3-5-2010

Contest at a friend’s site!

Company Girl Coffee ~ 1/8/10

2010…bring it!

Company Girl Coffee ~ 12/4/09

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

Anxiety? or Cost?

Company Girl Coffee ~ 11/13/09

Christmas COSTS less?

Company Girl Coffee

New shop

Cleaning house.

Just because.

Like jewelry? Then check out this contest!

My husband is an Ironman.

Beware of Craigslist scam

Too fast.

Pray for Kate

PLEASE PRAY

Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

Company Girl Coffee, 07-03-09

Please...go vote!

Assumptions.

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 29, 2009

Next time, get the ice cream.

How do you...

3 Clovis girls and their father killed in airplane crash

From http://www.fresnobee.com/

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 22, 2009

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 15, 2009

Drugs...

Stethoscope

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 8

Passion

Free KFC meal...

Free KFC MEAL...

Company Girl Coffee ~ May 1, 2009

Why? I still wonder...

Miss California appears in anti-gay marriage ad

By Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters 3 hours ago

LOS ANGELES — After failing to stop recent gay marriage approvals in several states, opponents have found an attractive, telegenic poster woman in Miss California, a move reminiscent of beauty queen Anita Bryant's 1970s crusade against gay rights.

Things I've done or not . . .

Things I've done or not. . . .

This put a smile on my face!

FREE El Pollo Loco - 4/28/09

Company Girl Coffee ~ April 24, 2009

Speaking of finances...

Company Girl Coffee...4-17-09

Antiquated?

What to do with leftover Cadbury eggs?

Company Girl Coffee, April 3, 2009

Musings

Company Girl Coffee 3-27-09

"Can't live on less than $53,000 a week."

Company Girl Coffee - March 20

Company Girl Coffee

It's over!

Company Girl Coffee

Company Girl Coffee

Help!

I do, I do, I do!

Company Girl Coffee - come on in!

Company Girl Coffee

Company Girl Coffee

God's hands

PSA: The Macy*s Saga, part 2

Company Girl Coffee

PSA: While I will never shop at Macy*s again...

Christmas in pictures

Merry Christmas!

The Truth About Santa Claus

Company Girl Coffee

By Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters
3 hours ago