What Makes Me Think...

I found these stories on this site-- Makes Me Think... Please read these...they are true...they are real.  They left me crying, smiling, and thinking...and I think they will do the same for you...


1.Today, after a 72 hour shift at the fire station, a woman ran up to me at the grocery store and gave me a hug. When I tensed up, she realized I didn’t recognize her. She let go with tears of joy in her eyes and the most sincere smile and said, “On 9-11-2001, you carried me out of the World Trade Center.” MMT



10.Today marks the ten year anniversary of the day when I slapped him and screamed at him remorselessly for not letting me in the bathroom after we ate breakfast. That moment also marks the positive turning point in my battle with Bulimia. I think he saved my life that day. MMT


 
19.Today, I pulled into a small gas station in the middle of the desert in New Mexico and realized I had left my wallet at my girlfriends house 5 hours away. I had no money and barely enough gas to make it another mile down the road. The only other person that stopped for gas was a burly looking trucker. I was a bit reluctant, but I asked him for some spare change for gas. Instead he filled my tank and said, “Someone did this for me a few years ago.” MMT


 
22.Today in downtown San Diego, I watched a blue collar Mexican man get harassed for being Mexican. It was a blatant act of discrimination. And the man actually began crying. As he left the office building, he took off his jacket. His t-shirt underneath read, “I love the USA!” MMT


 
35.Today, as they teased me and laughed hysterically, I just wished they could see the world through my eyes. MMT



39.Today, I was traveling in Kenya and I met a refugee from Zimbabwe. He said he hadn’t eaten anything in over 3 days and looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Then my friend offered him the rest of the sandwich he was eating. The first thing the man said was, “We can share it.” MMT


 
74.Today at the diner where I work, an elderly couple came in for the 4th time this week and requested my table. I asked them what kept them coming back. They told me that I reminded them of their granddaughter who passed away 6 years ago. Then they told me her name. She was my best friend at the time. MMT


 
99.Today, my fiancé was in a head-on collision car accident. He is currently in a coma. And all I can think about is the argument we had this morning. I screamed at him for screaming at me. It was a petty argument. But if he could scream now, I wouldn’t say a word. I’d just listen to the sound of his voice. MMT


 

 

Four Thursday thoughts...

-To be happier you have to think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth.

-One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.

-The days are long but the years are short.

-You're not happy unless you think you're happy.

Thoughts...

Life is precious...and sometimes ends to short...
Spend your time wisely....
Do things you love to do....
Be kind to others....
Be humble and thankful...
Don't let ANYONE tell you that you can't do something...
Be yourself and stay true to yourself....
Follow your dreams....
Live in the moment...
Believe in who you are...and all of your dreams will come true.

Christmas 2010

Jason and I spent this Christmas with his family down near Earling, IA. 

Andy and little Cici...

Bridget and Adam...

Holly and Bridget...

Presents!

Being my creepy self.. : )

Danna and Justin...

On Sunday we went to the Zeien Christmas at my Aunt and Uncle's skating rink in New Hampton.

Here is my Grandpa and Grandma opening up their presents.

Jason... enough said... : )

Greta...

My mom  and Granpa walking around the rink.

My beautiful cousin, Sabrina and her husband, Travis!  They are expecting a little baby in August, 2011!!  So so sooooo happy for them!!

My mom with her parents and siblings...

The abominable snowman...aka my little brother Jacob...in a Gilly suit for winter weather...and his gun...

Just some skating fun... : )

Having some fun... : )

Recipe Wednesday

Recipe Wednesday

I made these for the cheerleaders Christmas party tonight, Jason tried one to "make sure they were ok"...Thanks Jason! : )

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1 3/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
 
1. In a bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until smooth. Beat in 2 eggs, pumpkin, and 1/3 cup water until well blended, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. In another bowl, mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and nutmeg; stir or beat into butter mixture until well blended. Spread batter evenly in a buttered and floured 10- by 15-inch baking pan.



2. In a bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, remaining egg, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar until smooth.


3. Drop cream cheese mixture in 24 evenly spaced 1-tablespoon portions over batter. Pull a knife tip through filling to swirl slightly into batter.


4. Bake in a 350° oven until center of pumpkin batter (not cream cheese mixture) springs back when touched, about 30 minutes. Let cool completely in pan, then cut into 24 bars.

Christmastime is here...

do you have all your cards sent?

are the presents wrapped and under the tree?

is the baking done and ready to be eaten? 

is the tree trimmed?

is the sidewalk shoveled?

is the wreath hung on the door?

are you ready for this?

or, have you maybe forgot the true meaning of Christmas? 

Sometimes, it's ok to forget about all those things I mentioned above, the cards, presents, tree, and shoveling.  Think about this Christmas and those who mean so very much to you.  Material things should not have a hold of your heart...that iPod you have been hoping for, or that pair of earrings you have been hinting about are things that will be forgotten much faster than the memories you have made with the people you love. Think about all God has blessed you with.  Where would we be if God hadn't sent his son to Earth?  When you think about it that way, presents don't really make sense anymore do they?   
If you still are not really getting what I mean, check out this video, Linus has a clear meaning of what the season means...

After being so very busy these past few weeks with work, cheerleading, Jason with school, wrestling meets and basketball games, and teaching religion, I can hardly wait for tomorrow.  Why?  I have nothing planned that I need to be at.  I have the entire evening to be with the one person who understands me better than anyone in the world.  Who wouldn't want that for Christmas?

Last year in New York City...

I completed something on my "bucket list" last year.  I wanted to see New York in the Christmastime.  I love the Home Alone movie that is set in New York...I know it's really dorky, but I just love it.  And lucky for me, I married a man who has a cousin that lives in Brooklyn, NY!!!!  We saw and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, we saw the Statue of Liberty, we were in the audience at The Late Show with David Letterman, and we saw the big, beautiful Christmas tree.  We went to NYC and lived like New Yorkers for a week...it was amazing and I can't wait to go back!! Here are some pictures from the trip.

Simplicity...

Simple....

The simplest things are often the truest.

-Richard Bach

Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; love more, and all good things will be yours.

- Swedish proverb

“If you can focus on doing things that make you happy, you’ll have less of a need for stuff.”
-Leo Babauta



7 things

Here are 7 ways to look at life from a different perspective...try to do one each day for the next week.  With the holidays right around the corner, some people become overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious.  Take some time out of your day and come back to who you are and how you want to live your life. 

1. Change your words and phrases.
--Instead of saying it's the "same thing, different day," think this...9 days until Christmas! : )

2.  Count your blessings.
--This always brings me back to reality.  Just thinking of the things I have been blessed with is enough to turn my day around.

3.  Dust off your bucket list.
--What do you want to achieve?  What are you doing/working towards to make this happen? 

4.  Wake up claiming the BEST.DAY. EVER!
--Get in the mindset that you are going to have a great day everyday!!

5.  Try something you think you are bad at.
--For me it would probably be baking with yeast...I have tried and failed...but I may have to try again before Christmas!

6.  Declare your life's purpose.
--What do you see in yourself?  Who do you want to be remembered as?  I want to be that person that everyone could relate to.  I hope that the joy I find in my life will rub off on others who do not feel as though they have the same outlook. 

7.  Recognize change happens constantly. 
--You can't have everything be the same all the time...what fun would that be anyway!?

Recipe Wednesday

Recipe Wednesday

What have I got for you today??  Well, it is a one ingredient kind of recipe....one frozen banana!!  Sometimes I add a spash of milk if my food processor is whining...

It is creamy, silky, and healthy...I am in love.  Also, one banana makes a TON of whipped banana...ah..so good

Here's the mix...
Place a peeled, cut into chunks banana into a ziploc baggie and insert into your freezer.  I usually let mine freeze overnight.  Next, take out food processor and place banana in and whip...it will look like nothing is going to happen and it is just going to stay like little chunks of banana, but keep processing, and you will get a creamy delectable dessert that is guilt free!!  Add some milk while processing if your food processor is screaming and not getting the job done, that should take care of it!

Add ins that are optional:  chocolate chips, peanut butter, peanut butter chocolate chips, you get the idea??  I want some NOW!! Enjoy!!

Blizzard 2010

"Snow for the taking!! Free to a good home!  Far away from here!!"

We had issues getting out of the front door...

Notice my snowbuggy in the background...Jason and I scooped out our driveway, his shovel broke near the end, so he had to use mine then... :)  I went in and made dinner!

Our street...

Ahhh...the joys of winter in Iowa.

Patience...

....is something I am absolutely horrible at.  I just have to finish something as fast as I can...like baking, I want to frost the cake right out of the oven, and I have done this before...epic fail.  Do NOT do that.  Or waiting for someone or something to come/pick me up/drop something off/stop by, you get the idea. 

So here's your Friday tidbit that I plan on working towards getting better at next year....Patience!

All human wisdom is summed up in two words--wait and hope.
-Alexandre Dumas Pere

All good things come to he who waits.
-Proverb

Thursday Thoughts.

• I love the smell of chai tea.
• Last year at this time, Jason and I were getting ready to leave for New York City.  Oh how I miss it.
• I never use my snooze button...ever.  My husband on the other hand will hit it up to 10 times. 
• Honey Nut Cheerios make my mornings better.
• I have to make 80 biscuits tomorrow...wish me luck!
• I think I need more coffee cups.
• Baby, it's COLD outside!!! : )

Three Questions:
What is one thing you would like to accomplish before you turn 30?
I want to be able to add on to our small kitchen and have a big beautiful kitchen with a giant table and under cabinet lighting, and a retro design...luckily, my husband makes kitchen cabinets for a living! :)

What would you like to learn about in the next few weeks?
I would like to learn more about my camera!! I feel as though a setting is off that should be on.  It bothers me.  But learning about a DSLR camera is harder than it looks, the vocabulary is beyond me, but I will have to give it a try!

What is something that drives you crazy?
Complainers.  People who think they have the worst life in the world, when really they are quite well off compared to most people.  It makes me angry, and actually kind of sad for them.  I wish they would look around and be thankful rather than whine about how they think nothing right ever happens to them.  Life could always be worse. 

Recipe Wednesday

Recipe Wednesday

I love love looooovee no bake cookies.  They are seriously, just might possibly be...my most favorite cookie, eva.  No lie.  And the best part is they are so EASY!  Here's a recipe for you to try, sometimes I make them into bars instead and they are a little easier to store. 

1 3/4 cups white sugar

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

Oh, Christmas Tree....

I had an incredibly busy weekend...here's everything that I did!

Went to Andy's wrestling meet in Elgin on Saturday, he got 2nd place.  The guy that got first is ranked 2nd in the 1A division, and he placed at state last year...

The team came out on top with a win though!!

My lovely cheerleaders...

I took 2 All-State girls down to practice thier cheer routine in Des Moines on Sunday, then came home and helped Jason set up the Christmas tree! 

Pretty, Pretty!

Bad picture (my camera hated the lighting), but we have silvery glittery glass bulbs hanging from our tree.

Another bad picture, but you can already see here that the cats have decided this is thier tree now.  Trixie already climbed it a few times last night!  Oh well... : )  It sure is beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas!

This is what I am going to be watching today...

N-P Wrestling!!!! : ) 

I love this picture...Andy is wrestling, while little brother Jacob is watching and learning in the upper right hand corner.

Andy with his first pin of the season...

Jacob's first pin of the season...

Way to go Jake!! :)

I'm off to Elgin to watch Andy wrestle today...happy Saturday!!