2011

Wow. It seems like just yesterday when I was in High School Dec 31,1999 and my friends and I were wondering what would happen in 2000! My friends mom filled up their bath tub with water, the media said ALL computers would crash. I sat in my friends livingroom (probably drinking ) (horrible I know) and watched the ball drop... only to have NOTHING happen :) I remember thinking... should I hold my breath?HA!!!

Who would have thought that in the year 2011 we would all still be here. And here I am married with TWO toddling 15 month old twirls....which IF I would have known what my life would be like back then, I would have been super excited!

Now it's time to look forward to 2011. Resolutions, diets, , broken resolutions, broken diets all part of a new year. A fear of the end of the world is still in my mind. I look for the signs from the book of Revelations and I pray.
This year I debate with myself... Resolution or not. Back on Facebook or not? I think I let myself down if I set resolutions. So instead I am just going to do what I can to the best of my ability. I am going to be my best self instead of trying to constantly CHANGE myself.

Well - here I am Dec 31 2010. Our New Years plans include: Not drinking... other than Dr Pepper ;)...movies and lots of snacks. AHH I am a homebody, I LOVE my family and I wouldn't have life any other way. Thank you Lord for all you have done!

Christmas Excitement

What a week last week! While it was also the last week of my training.. WOOHOO! My babysitter also received an awesome Christmas gift/news. Her and her family will be adding two more to their brood... no not twins. They received their adoption referral ! A 5 y/o little boy and a 3 y/o little girl from Ethiopia will soon be Home! We are more than THRILLED for them!
We can't wait to meet them! Congrats Kendra, Steve, Faith and Foster!
Meanwhile at our house we have been super busy Playing! On the 23rd we had the Salsberry Christmas with all of Brian's aunts and uncles, the dinner is so big we have to rent out the same building we used for our wedding reception! On Christmas Eve we went to Catholic Mass with Brian's family to support his aunt that is undergoing chemo after just finding out she has Cancer.
We made it to Communion with the girls at church, then they started to break down as they were tired of sitting and Mommy ran out of milk and fruit loops! oops!
After church we had Brian's Parents, brother and my dad over to celebrate our Christmas.
Brian's parents bought the girls a doll house which they LOVE. Brandon bought them an Elmo and Violet... they loved those too! We watched TOY STORY 3 and ate chilli & Monkey bread YUM!
Lillian with the doll house.
Joelle playing with ornaments and books.
Our house on Christmas Morning!

We just used a little tree this year. The girls got 3 gifts each and One to share that is on back order until January soo hopefully when it comes I will post a picture of it because I am REALLY excited about it.

The girls on Christmas morning!

so much to play with! We bought the girls a shopping cart, stroller and each of them a new doll and pj's....

Lillian opening her Cabbage Patch!

Christmas night after we got home from Brian's grandma's and yet another dinner.

The girls are sitting on the quilts that Brian's aunt Judy made.

I would say the girls made out pretty good! Can't wait until their other gift comes in January!

Now ... for a place to put all of this stuff!!

Better

"The sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." Habakkuk 3:19
I love this scripture and repeat it to myself about a hundred times a day. I woke up feeling a little better about things today. I remember who I am and who I want to become. It's amazing how much better you feel after closing your night with scripture and prayer :)
Did you know that there is a Tabitha in the Bible? Acts 9:36-42 After reading about her it was clear to me that I have a purpose. I told Brian that the Tabitha in the Bible was also a Social Worker..he said "nuh uh" I said " she was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor." That is Social Work.

FYI and Blech :-p

FYI Due to the lack of time, extra hands and a busy work schedule, I will not be sending out Christmas cards this year. I know.... I can't believe I don't have the time to do it either! When all I have to do in a day is work and take care of 2-15 month old twirls... I must be lazy right?


BLECH. Stop reading now if you don't want to hear me whine, complain, vent , repeat or word vomit.
This is how I feel while I am at work.

Gross. Tired. Tearful. Though this picture was taken after a nap and rough evening with twirls... it is not far from what I feel inside while at work...daily. What I wouldn't give to be able to call up my mom and say... "I don't want to be an adult right now...for one minute... please help me through this." What I wouldn't give to not feel like I did when I was 14. Unsure of myself, no confidence or self esteem, why am I really in this job? Am I really cut out for this??? While I believe that God puts us where he wants us and can use us the most and I know he has a plan and a reason. While I am at work, I am struggling. Satan is really working over time there. When I visit people on my own(not training) I know that I connect with most of them. I know that I do a good job because my heart is genuinely in it. I don't struggle with the right thing to say because I know that I am human and so are they, they don't need big fancy words, they just need my help. They don't need me to judge them, they need me to LOVE them. But during my training, I find myself forgetting that, instead of worrying about the patient and their needs, I worry about why SHE is interrupting me, What SHE would want me to say and did I say that right? Did I do everything She told me to do? I bet She is thinking "why did she sit on that chair?! Social work is complicated, there is no text book that can tell you the "right way" to do things. It is all based off of learning experience, heart and a genuine concern for others. I know you are all saying..."SHE is just training you." But there is more to it than that. She makes me question myself, who I am, who I want to be? Am I bright? She just made a comment insinuating that she thinks I am stupid? Am I less of a person because I do not belong to the Country Club? Because I work ? Because I didn't get my pants at this store? Because I live on a Social Work salary? Because I don't believe that we should force this woman to give up and stop fighting CANCER and go on hospice instead because she is "costing us millions of dollars" No, because my children are more important than that store, I have more heart than Brains...and sometimes that is ok, who needs the Country Club?... the food is terrible (ha), I work because I want to...and need to and that woman that wants to continue fighting her cancer eventhough its "costing us millions".... thats ok, because she is not ready. She will be ready in time or .....God will. And thats OK, I am going to be OK. I just need to remind myself of that . I am ok. God loves me and he even likes me and... ya know what ..he thinks I am BRIGHT!!!

On another note.....the twirls received a package from my Aunt "Nana" today.... they were pretty excited...

Lillian hugging the bear. Joelle looking at the picture on a Christmas card... she does that... she likes to carry it around and talk to them... and gets REALLY mad when you take it away.

say it with me AWW...

Now that I let it all out... I feel much better.

Boots and Bows

Our Babysitter... Childcare provider... uhh Savior? :-) thats better... anyway...she bought the girls these darling boots for Christmas...and ofcourse.... I couldn't wait to play dressup! hehe ;-)

A-dor- able.

15 months

We went from this ....
and this

and this....

to this... In a year.

Time flies when your having fun.

Don't they look so grown up?

They love to "help" with the laundry.....

and the trash bags....

and read books.

Favorites!

This week I am participating in Hickstionary's "Talk To Me Tuesday"- this week is favorites "Oprah style". Some of my favorites I already have, some are "wants", some are "needs", some are on the "going to purchase soon" list. Since this list goes against everything I have been learning during Church lately, I wanted to start it out with one of my true.life saving. favorites.
All images courtesy of Google Images.
#1
The NEW Living Translation Bible. I was never really able to understand the standard version of the bible with the "thees" and "thous" etc. One Christmas my grandma B gave me money and I told her I was going to buy a new Bible- I did my research and found this one. It is put into English the way I can understand it, it is GREAT! This Bible is easy to read, understand and to look up scriptures. It has a wonderful verse finder in it, which guides you to the right verse that pertains to what you want to look up such as: children, gossip,forgiveness, trials etc. Mine is so worn out and highlighted but I LOVE it!

#2 Ju Ju Be "Pack a Be"

I currently own this. Love it. Well worth the $ spent on it. Great for Mom's of Multiples!

I also own this one- It is huge! Great for trips but not everyday use.

I plan to purchase this one this Spring. Now that the girls are older I would love a smaller bag.

#3 Coach purse. Every woman should own a nice, expensive purse. You deserve it! While I have an addiction to Coach purses, My very favorite is this one that I purchased in 2006 to take on our Hawaiian Honeymoon. LOVE!

#4 UGG boots. Any woman that lives in the midwest should own a pair of Uggs, it should be a requirement. Brian gave me these last year for Christmas and I love them. I really want a few more pairs of Uggs, would love to have the sweater ones with the buttons!

#5. Canon Camera. This is a WANT and a NEED and a PLAN TO PURCHASE. I currently have a Kodak Easy Share. Great at first. Now I hate it. I plan to purchase a new camera someday.

#6 Kitchen Aid mixer. This is a Want. I love this. I really LOVE the color.. but they don't make it anymore :(

#7. Croc flat IRON. This is a want, need and Plan to purchase. I wanted a Chi iron forever but my hairstylist told me that Croc is better. This is on the plan to purchase ASAP list.

#8. Combi side by side twin stroller. I have a twin stroller that works fine most of the time but sometimes a side by side would be better. This is on the need, plan to purchase list along with a double jogging stroller...also in Fushia pink ;-) A twin mom can never have too many strollers.

#9. A good laptop. The internet is my main communication whether it be for work, blog or email. A good laptop is important. Though I would like to have my own instead of sharing with Brian.

#10. GMC ACADIA This is a WANT. Spacious as a mini van, cute as an SUV. This is on my list of the car I want next.... you know...when I win the lottery. I just think it would be easier to haul everyone and the dog with extra room for stuff.

#11 Fuschia beetle bug convertible. WANT. If I had the money to have a "fun" car this would be it!

What are your favorites???

Pillowcase

Saturday the twirls and I spent the day at Grandma Salsberry's ... they played...
We sewed their Christmas dresses.

They are called"pillowcase dresses" and though ours aren't actually pillow cases, I think they turned out pretty cute! Can't wait for the twirls to wear them!

Tried to get Joelle to model but she couldn't have shown less interest....