In HIS words.....

I believe in God.

I do.

There are just different aspects in my life when I feel the need to connect with him more.
That may be good, it may be bad.
People may feel that I should always connect with him.
Others will feel it's okay to lean when the spirit is compromised.

I want to read the word.
I want to understand what I'm reading.
I know he is real and is there for me whenever needed.
Whether it is because *I* have the need or he has the need to lead.
Who's to say there is a difference.

I am not one to spout off verses.
I am one who has NO verses memorized.
I am not one to throw religion in anyone's face.
Nor will I ever be....
Does that make me any less a believer?
Any less one of His children?

No.

I want to read his word.
I want to comprehend that word.

Will reading his word make what has already been planned for my life change?
No.
Will reading his word make the predicaments that surround me any less questionable?
Maybe...
Will reading his word make me feel I have an upperhand on what is thrown at me or what is given to me?
YES!

I am in search of peace.
I am in search of answers.
I am in search of freedom.

Can I get this from God's word?
Can I get this from just reading his word and feeling that ultimate rush of understanding wash over me?
Can I get this from John, Mark, Genesis, Ephesians??
Can I get this from Galatians, Luke, Matthew, Corinthians?
From Romans, Psalms and Proverbs???

I don't know.
I won't know until I try.

What would it hurt?
Nothing. Nothing at all...

Reading is reading. Words are words. We all comprehend them differently.

Books are time machines.
They are eye openers.
Books are get-a-ways.
They are learning tools.
Books are fun.

There are 66 BOOKS written by 40 authors in The Bible.

66...books!

40...authors!

I am new to this reading of the books and the distinguishing of the authors.
I am new to wanting to understand the word.

I found a book list I am concentrating on reading, in this order.

The Gospel of John
The Gospel of Mark
I John
II John
III John
Genesis
Ephesians
Galatians
The Gospel Of Luke
The Gospel Of Matthew
I Corinthians
II Corinthians
Romans
Psalms
Proverbs

My Bible is out, actually it's John's Bible, but now it's "ours".
I may have to reference the "easy to read" version on my iPad every once in a while to get the "full meaning", but I am learning...I am willing...I am ready.

I am excited.
I am hopeful.
I am blessed.

Truly.


**I want to thank several people that offered up their favorite verses when I asked. They were ones that they find themselves going back to over and over again. They were the ones that really spoke to them. I Thank You... =)

The one where I write....

There are so many times throughout a day that I think "This would be a great blogpost!" or "I should write a blog about this!" And then....life happens, and it never gets done. I even go as far as losing the thought altogether.  I have even written the "thought" down, but then later I'm just not feeling it. You gotta feel it when you write...

I don't do a whole lot or lead a huge exciting life to write a post every single day. But I do wish I could or at least wish I would. I am really wanting to just write to get my thoughts, my emotions, my feelings out. I want to be able to look back on these posts and be reminded as time goes on. Sorta journal/diary like. But sometimes, just sometimes I'm not really sure about letting others that close to my thoughts, emotions, or disappointments. It's a all or nothing kinda thing.

I want to be able to write about that day. THAT SPECIFIC DAY. Specific thoughts, activities, feelings, and life.  

* I am going to try my hardest to write Mondays through Fridays.

* I am going to try to write about ALL my thoughts and feelings. I want to make this REAL.

* I am going to make my blog as simple as possible.  I write, I post. No special days...like Fun Food Friday or Menutastic Monday or Thoughtful Thursday. Not saying that there is anything wrong with that, I actually follow several blogs that do just that, but for me that's just too much pressure.

* Some days I will disappoint myself I'm sure, but that is all about growing and learning. I want to write. I enjoy it. I want to be able to share with my friends, family and others. 

Simple. 

Thoughtful.

Real.

Truthful.

Me. 

Housekeeping Schedule CHALLENGE!

Heeeeyyyy.
Here I am. Bloggin'/Vloggin'.

I just want to give everyone fair warning, video below is me talking. Talking for 12 minutes and forty some odd seconds. Ya. Lovely huh?! I canNOT stand it when someone vlogs and it seems like it's a batrillion years until it's over. I'm sorry, in advance. Soooo, right now you are moving forward at your own will, you know what's coming. Do NOT say I didn't warn you ;)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MEH VLOG!!!!


NOTE TO YOU: The schedule is NOT backwards. It is indeed forward. Go figure, huh?
NOTE TO SELF: It seems when you record yourself the words ARE backwards until replaying it in normal form. You learn something new everyday!
NOTE TO SELF: You blink alot. A-LOT!
NOTE TO YOU: I'm sorry, but I did warn you. ^ there somewhere.
NOTE TO SELF: You are NO camera man.
NOTE TO YOU: I utterly apologize if ANYTHING in this video made you ill. Mainly I'm talking about the crazy fast moving whirling of camera control, or lack of there of, but if you got sick from anything else I'm still apologizing.
If any of you want to do this challenge or just want to look into it then here is the site where I kinda "cheated" on the schedule.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LADY I COPIED FROM!! OHHH AND SHE HAS GOOD TIP THINGS TOO!

Thanks for watching friends!! I <3 you...so be nice ;)

A retiree, Grand Marshall, mentor and friend.....

This year a wonderful woman is retiring from a job that she has had for 40....yes FORTY years.  She will forever hold a special place in my "old" community's heart. That community that I speak of is Altona, Illinois. That  job is librarian of a well oiled machine, commonly know as The Ransom Memorial Public Library. If you know ANYTHING at all about the Altona library you know whom I speak of. And if you don't let me tell you....

~Janice Larson, Librarian at The Ransom Memorial Public Library~

She is making sure her last Summer Reading Program has no kinks and is as fun as they have always been and then she is going to relax and call it 40 years ;) She has been everything to that library and to the patrons for as many years as I can remember. She was my very first boss, and because of that title I know for a fact that she has more patience than most people I know.

There was ALWAYS a summer reading program, story times, and crafts. The library was a place where many kids/parents/grandparents just went to hang out. It was not open every single day, all day...but I will tell you what, that was a wonderful thing! It made us appreciate the days it was open and the hours, all the more. We couldn't wait until Wednesday or Saturday for it to be open during the day. We really couldn't wait for it to be open on Thursday evenings, because that always meant walking home in the dark carrying our "special" bag (over the years they changed...some were Esprit bags, Eagles grocery bags, just plain ole canvas bags with sayings such as "life's a beach" or "SWATCH", heck, they sometimes changed weekly) filled of books, contemplating which book we would start right as soon as we got home and was tucked into bed. She always made sure that "little" library had all the latest and greatest reading material. And if they didn't she made sure she found it and got it to us!

I have SO many fond memories of my time at the library, so many are because of the choices she made and time she put into that place, others are of just her. Her being my boss, a friend to my Mom, a friend to me, a mentor. Someone that I have never ever heard anyone have an unkind word about, in this day and age that is VERY hard to come by.

Please take a moment out of your day and send her some of your memories, kind words, and words of gratitude. She is someone who will genuinely take each and every "story" that you send her and lock it away, in a special place in her heart. Let's show her that we appreciate and appreciated her hard work, her volunteering, and what her all around wonderful attitude and HUGE heart has brought us. If you have some special pictures of your times at the Library please scan them to your computer and send them along with your kind words, everyone LOVES  a picture right?! Afterall, they are worth a thousand words! =)   If you have no memories of the Library but are an acquaintance of Janice's or you don't even know her, send her a "Congratulations" or a "Job well done" or whatever well wishes you prefer anyway...it will mean so much to her!

Please send to ransompl@mymctc.net BEFORE the 18th. Why, you ask...because the Library board has decided to make a book for Janice full of all your kind words! How cool is that?!?

This "book" will be presented to her at an Open House that is to be held in her honor on June 23rd at the Altona Fire Station, it will start right after The Altona Days parade in which Janice is Grand Marshall!!!!!!!  Please take some time out of your day and watch the parade which starts at 11am and then head on over to the fire station to see Janice...she would love to see everyone!!! The parade route starts at the Altona Grade School goes down Johnson-Pyle Dr all the way to the fire station, so if you want front row seats, sit your bootie on Johnson-Pyle Drive! =)

Remember, give something back to the woman that gave to so many for 40 years....

~Thanks~

Ohhhh and there are fireworks at dusk too!!!!! Who doesn't love a good firework?!?

I got pierced!!! "Professionally" pierced!!! Hooolllaa!

Hi y'all!!!

Here is the video and picture that you all have been losing sleep over!! Okay, not really, but I KNOW you are so totally curious =) I really wasn't for sure if I want to record the whole process. I am NOT one of those who absolutely love to see/hear myself on a video, or a vlog.  But, I thought what the hell, it's something that I can't see be done on myself and I wanted to see the whole piercing process...for those of you who have no clue what the video or picture was about, yes, you heard me correctly....PIERCING!

Just a little background info, so you all totally do NOT think I am "just having a breakdown" or "trying to be young" or are thinking "what the hell got into her?".

I have ALWAYS wanted a crazy piercing in my ear! I just never REALLY knew what I wanted. I see so  many people with adorable different piercings and think "Oh lawd, that looks adorable on her!" Then my next thought is "Just because it looks adorable on her, that does NOT mean it is going to look adorable on me", so basically I chickened myself out over and over again.  Then I started leaning towards the barbell....

Then when I was REALLY getting hyped up about making the appointment and gettin' er done, I caved. I thought there is NO way this is going to look adorable on me...it is too industrial...it is too big...it is such a 'surgical look'. Heck, I even asked around (thanks FB peeps) and let's just put it this way, they were not all "Wow! You should soo totally do that, it would look phenomenal on you!" So, my thoughts about it NEVER wavered.

Then I started looking up different piercings in the ear. I found this...

and thought "Bam! THIS IS IT!!!!" So petite and "pretty" and soft. Hooollllaaa!!!! Do a little dance make a little noise, get a piercing tonight!!!!

So, long story short...callled the piercer dude, told him what I wanted and he said unless I was a piercing freak (which, duh, I am SOOO not!)  he would NOT recommend that for me because, and I quote, "IT HURTS LIKE HELL!!!! " Needless to say, THAT freaked me out. Bad. So he was telling me of all the places I could get pierced (he even mentioned some that were NOT on my ear....GULP). He mentioned a spot that caught my attention right away. I have dreamed of having this pierced but always thought it would hurt like all get out. He said it doesn't really, and said I don't think it would hurt at all for a woman that has given birth and went back for more. Which means....HELLO, IF I CAN HAVE A BABY I CAN HAVE MY TRAGUS PIERCED!!!! A tragus piercing is this......

THAT'S ME!!!!! I AM THE TRAGUS PIERCING MODEL!!!! Freaking cute right?!?!!!!!

I now present you two videos (behind the camera, the one and only Mady Moo!)....enjoy. Or laugh. Or cry. Or cringe OR think I am the cutest frigging piercing patient everrrr ;)

On our way.......
Me getting PIERCED!!!!!!!!!!

I want to thank my Mady Moo for going with me, telling me I will be alright and letting me know if I don't go through with it I will be a complete and total WUSS!!!!! I love ya!!  You are one whacky and wild daughter to actually WANT to do this with me! I HAD FUN!!! =) <3

Disclaimer: I'm a freak and hate being videotaped, and plus my eyes do some crazy shit. The End.

P. to the S. Day 3 kinda sucked....I do NOT recommend sleeping on it on Day 2 ;)

Cheater, cheater, Pumpkin eater..... okay not really.

I am writing today on a subject that has been bothering me for some time now.

It is cheating. It is about cheaters. Not the competetive cheating, I would give you an example but they have all fleeted from my damn Sugar infested memory (Did you hear sugar makes you stupider (HA! I said stupider!)? Ya, I believe it. Makes sense as to why everyone is stupid)

It is about when a couple marries and dedicates their life to one another and they cheat.

They are NO good down right dirty rotten cheatin liars!

I am SOOOO disgusted with the nonchalance (is that a word) that this has become.

I am so sick of all the bullshit "excuses" people make for being a cheater.  Did those selfish shits ever ONCE think if they put as much energy into the excuses/reasons as why NOT to cheat that they put into why they DESERVE to cheat that maybe,  just maybe they would have realized that they were about to do something completely shitty, selfish, and immoral? Do you think if it wasn't always about them and the "I want" or the "I need" that it would have NOT happened?

I am not saying that anyone ever needs to stay in an unhealthy, miserable, down right pathetic relationship. What I am saying is that there is..seperation, there is divorce.

Do NOT play your "happy in this relationship but I am really a complete attention whore so nothing is ever enough for me" bullshit!!!  

Do NOT make excuses for why you cheated on your spouse! They are pathetic, they will go right over my head and I will think no good of you. You see, it gives me a little glimpse into the type of person you REALLY are.

Do NOT think it makes you any more of a "man"/"woman" because you can now tell your story and have just a little bit of remorse but you still feel you were justified in your actions! You were NOT, nor will you ever be justified in those actions.

GROW UP!!!!!! Act like someone who is in a committed relationship. Act like it at all times, just not when it is beneficial to you!


Disclaimer: remember this is my blog. I don't write in it very often. I also think LONG and hard on what I want to write or how I want to write it. NOTHING in here is written "fly by the seat of my pants" like. It is MY thoughts. Thoughts that I think. Thoughts that have been eating away at me for some time. This is how I get them out of my head and away from me so I can continue to be as sane as humanly possible for a Lil Mama like me. =)

~The dessert to end ALLLL desserts...aka Butterfinger Fluff~

Hey y'all!!

I am writing this really quick like because I have a few other things I want to get started writing.  I promised this to a few people Easter night and I really want to keep my promises, even though I said I'd do it that night. Better late than never, that's my motto. Well so is, A drink a day keeps the shrink away, but nevertheless. I'm blogging what I said I would blog about, and that would be.......BUTTERFINGER FLUFF! 

Butterfinger Fluff.

Have you ever heard of such a dessert?! Ya, neither have I. But lemmetellyasomething...holy goodness gracious Batman. It is goooo-ooooood! 

I asked all my peeps on my Lil Mama's FB fan (that's right I consider y'all my fans!) page and my personal page what dessert I should serve for Easter dinner. Keep in mind I was cooking the whole meal myself and I didn't want to have to baby this dessert or have it be all complicated....

I got these responses from both pages.....Carrot Cake, Choco Chip Lime Cheesecake {still waiting on the recipe for that one Bliss ;)}, Butterfinger Fluff, Oreo Trifle, Mocha Trifle, Fresh Strawberry Cake w/ Whipped Icing, Fresh Pineapple, Babyfood Carrot Cake, Texas Sheetcake, Jello Cake, Chocolate Bundt cake w/ PB chips in the middle and a PB ganache frosting, Snicker Apple Salad (I always make that for all get togethers, but this Butterfinger Fluff blew it OUT OF THE WATER!), Pineapple Angel Food Cake, Strawberry Pretzel Salad, and Cherry Fluff Salad.

Day-um....I didn't realize there was so much to chose from!! But for some reason when I seen Butterfinger Fluff and the recipe I was freakin' hooked!

Here is my professional Food Network magazine worthy photo.

Ain't it purdy?! 

This is our new most favorite dessert in our family. It will be what I make myself for my Birthday cake, it will be what I bring to ALL the potluck/holiday/picnic get togethers. It is mine.  So NOOOO takesies. K?!

Fine.  You can take.  BUT....you have to let me know what you think. Promise?!  Pinkie promise!!!!!

Here it is....

Angel Food Cake (I bought two little bakery fresh loaves {they were on sale 2 for $3 for the holiday} instead of paying 3.69 for a mix and baking it)
2 small (3.4oz) pkgs of vanilla pudding
1 large CoolWhip container
2 Butterfingers (or 3, because I ate one as I was "cooking" it)

Tear up your Angel Food Cake into pieces into a 9x13 pyrex or rubbermaid container thingy.  Make your pudding mix according to the directions and pour over the Angel Food Cake pieces. Crumble up 1 butterfinger all over the pudding and cake. Spread Cool Whip over that and crumble up another butterfinger over the top. Cover and refrigerate. (Dude, I'm tellin' ya, just writing this my mouth is watering. Wa-ter-ing!)

***Lil Mama's recipe tips....I will probably buy 4 Butterfingers next time. One and a half on the pudding/cake mix and then another one and a half on the cool whip top and 1 for me to just eat  ;) Just to give it a little more crunchy crunch crunch.

I shall say your welcome now, because people, you ARE gonna Thank me!

YOU. ARE. WELCOME!