A Million Things To Say

Do you ever have so much to say that you can't get it out?

That is how I am feeling these days. There are things I want to share, but cannot find the words or they involve someone else and so I need to respect their privacy. Family issues, personal issues, dreams, every day things and eternal things...it is all rolling around my brain with no release in sight.

Hope you are all doing well. I will try to get back on track in a day or two.

My Daughter Has A Blog

...and she didn't even tell me!

I had to find out by reading her comment to today's post about my split personality iPod. I noticed in the email that her name was highlighted and sure enough, when I clicked on it I found her profile along with the blog "This Little Piggy". And, hallelujah, there were pictures of my granddaughter!

Welcome to the blogging world, Kelli! You write beautifully. I am so very proud of you. It is so easy, in these last days of pregnancy, to just want it to be over. Instead you are choosing to focus on the positive aspects of your life. And I love seeing pictures of Brooke the same day they are taken. You need to email a copy of that picture of her and her doll. That needs to be a 5" X 7" on my wall! I hope you don't mind that I entered your link on my sidebar. I figured since you linked to me, I could do the same!

I love you!
Mom

I Think My iPod Has Mulitple Personality Disorder

I was over at Bigmama's blog reading the other day and she asked for some help in putting together some new workout music for her iPod. This, of course, peaked my interest since I had spent about an hour the day before searching the Internet for a list of motivational workout music myself. After reading through about one hundred and forty comments, I headed over to iTunes to download a few of the songs that I did not already have on my new iTouch. (BTW, I had no idea how much I would L.O.V.E. an iPod until I started using one! Can't live without it now. It has my calendar, my to-do lists, everything I need in one place!)

Well, I sure hope Bigmama was getting a commission from iTunes for all those downloads! I went for four, maybe five songs...when one hour later and $50 poorer, I logged off with those five songs plus "Now, That's What I Call Music: 80's" the collection!

As I started putting together my workout playlists for my next day's gym visit, I began to realize the total randomness of my music choices. As I browsed through my music library, it dawned on me that if I were ever to lose this iPod and someone found it...they would have no clue as to the music preference of the person who owned it! Maybe it was owned by Sybil. I don't remember ever actually watching that movie...but I must have seen parts of it or heard enough about it that it registers in my mind. (My mother loves this kind of movie -- she is a Lifetime fanatic!)

In case you are too young to remember, the movie is about a woman who has 13 different personalities. Well, I don't know about 13 but my iPod has at least 5.

There are eleven different genres of music on there, 220 artists, 81 albums and 676 songs. One reason I have so many different artists is because I love the mixed CD's, like the annual WOW and NOW collections.

I decided to do a test. I set the iPod to 'all songs' and hit shuffle. These are what played:

"Hurt Don't Know When To Quit" by Rissi Palmer (If you like Country music - Rissi's CD is WONDERFUL!)

"Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer (Blues - from his Live album)

"Celebration" by Kool and the Gang (80's)

"As the Deer" by Salvador (Worship)

"Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Southern Rock)

"Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns (Inspirational/Contemporary Christian)

"Mary Had a Little Lamb" by Stevie Ray Vaughan (Texas Blues)

"Comin' Home Baby" by Michael Buble (Jazz)

"Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry (Pop)

"The Rockafeller Skank" by Fatboy Slim (Electronic)

"War Machine" by AC/DC (Rock - from the new album, Black Ice)

"In the Ayer" by Flo Rida (Hip Hop/Rap - tell me this one will not getting you to moving?)

"Irreplaceable" by Beyonce (R&B/Soul -- 'to the left, to the left, everything you own in the box to the left' -- I love a strong woman and this song drives Jim crazy!)

My #1 played song is "Johnny and June" by Heidi Newfield, followed closely by George Strait's "Troubadour".

The #1 played album would probably be Toby Mac's "Portable Sounds"...and Gospel/Religious would definitely be the top played genre.

Most of the Worship and Christian music is from my CD collection. It is the reason I bought the iPod to begin with. I have a six CD player in my car and when I take one out, I tend to lose it. (I think I have purchased Mercy Me's "Almost There" CD three times over the years!) Most of the Country music came from a combined collection of CDs from Brianne, Jim and myself. The Rock comes mostly from Jim and myself...mine being the 'old school' stuff, his the newer AC/DC, Kid Rock, etc. The others are mostly individual downloads from iTunes, just because I heard it and I liked it.

I'm sure I do not have the most eclectic mix of music of every iPod in America...but I think I do pretty good at keeping up with the new while staying true to my roots!

Survivor: Texas

I had my first visit with Nick, my personal trainer, yesterday.

When asked at my initial visit whether I wanted a male or female trainer, my only reply was "I don't want a drill sergeant." Well, Nick is a former marine...but in no way drill 'sergeantish'. (Don't you like how I create my own words sometimes!)

Don't worry, he still worked my behind off...but then again, that is only one area that needs to be worked off! Ha! Actually, we worked on legs and then I hit the treadmill for 30 minutes of cardio. In my dreams! I made it to 15 minutes and had to stop the machine before I slid right off the back of the thing and into the elliptical machine behind me. I felt a little intimidated by the young 20 something that was two machines over. She was running when I arrived and still running when I left. Thankfully, there were a couple of people going my pace soon after I started.

I feel a little sore, but not like I am dying...though I have been warned that I may feel that way tomorrow. I have my work out lined up for the rest of the week and I will meet with Nick again next Monday.

Thanks for the inquiries and holding me accountable to this "Live Healthier" goal. I appreciate you all so very much.

Orientation Day

I made it to my New Member Orientation today. The trainer and I went over my goals, my reasons for joining and reviewed my questionnaire. Upon completing the interview, Kennon asked if I was ready for my first mini-workout and proceeded to tell me that over the next 25 minutes he was going to kick my behind (though he used the word that starts with a b and ends with a few t's instead).

He started me with 5 minutes on the elliptical...and even tried to have a conversation with me while I was dying on that thing! We then moved over to the machines where I had to do leg presses, an exercise where you have to step up while pulling on weights from below and another one where I had to push my whole body weight plus 50 pounds against a platform. He then wanted me to work on my abs, but since all the machines were full, he moved me to an ab bench and made me do inclined crunches with an ever increasing weighted medicine ball. From there we moved to the 'perfect crunch' machine in three different positions. I felt pretty good after we finished, until we got back to his desk to set up my 'real' personal trainer appointment and he asked me how long I thought the work out lasted. I replied, "about 20 to 30 minutes". "10 to 15" he said. 10 to 15?!?! How in the world will I make through the 30 minute training session on Monday?!?!?!

I Took The Plunge Today!

At the first of the year I set two goals for 2009.
#1. Draw Closer To God.
#2. Live A Healthier Life.

I tend to make too many lofty resolutions and fall off the wagon by the first of February each year. Like last year when I was going to clean my house every day and have zero clutter while getting up an hour and a half earlier to have more quiet time, make the coffee, do a load of laundry and empty the dishwasher EVERY DAY! So this year, I am calling them goals and have made them less specific. My theory this year is that ANY forward movement is a positive move to be celebrated.

I have been trying to make changes in both goal areas of my life. As for the second goal, I have set the daily mini-goals of drinking two 20 ounce bottles of water a day and of eating more fruits and vegetables. I do reasonably well at the water when I am at work by grabbing a bottle when I get to my desk in the mornings and another after lunch each afternoon. I hope to get to three bottles a day eventually, but you have to start someplace. As for the fruits and vegetables, I am not doing quite as well. I have apples, grapes and carrots for snacks with peanut butter or cheese or low fat ranch...but I could still do much better.

Today I instituted the last step of my three part plan to accomplish goal #2. I joined a gym! I wanted to join with a friend who would hold me accountable...but when that fell through, I knew that I had to act quickly before I lost all momentum. So this morning, on my way to see my dentist for my last two fillings, I pulled into LA Fitness, took a quick tour and signed up. No contract...so if I am unable (or more honestly, unwilling) to follow this through, at least I will not be paying for it for the rest of the year!

Tomorrow I will be meeting with a trainer for my 'New Member Orientation' and I hope he doesn't kill me on the first day! I need to go home tonight and pack my gym bag. That should be fun. I haven't done this in over four years! Any suggestions? Any ideas for keeping on track with my goals? Have any goals of your own?

It Was A Beautiful Wedding

Last Friday morning, Meagan and I headed northeast to attend a family wedding. My cousin Rita's daughter was getting married on Saturday evening. They not only came out for Meagan's wedding last September, but they also spent the day helping to set things up for the reception. We wanted to return the favor.

We had a lot of laughs and made a lot of memories as we visited with my sister and mother and tried to help out any way we could. We made green bean bundles for 150 people even though neither one of us had ever even seen a green bean bundle. (Thankfully, Rosa had made them before!) We decorated tables and set up food, all the while enjoying one another's company. It was a great time spent with my daughter and my sister.

The wedding was beautiful. The church, the bridal party were all pretty...and the bride was absolutely gorgeous as she walked down the aisle. The groom's face when he saw his bride...priceless! The reception went off with just a few hitches that I hope went unnoticed. We visited with 'family' members that I hadn't seen in FOREVER! The whole family helped clean up after the bride and groom departed, we dropped off wedding paraphernalia...and dropped into bed around midnight.

Sunday we had brunch with the bride's family and watched them open their gifts before heading home. A seven hour drive passed with little said due to the fact that we were both exhausted...but content.

I treasure the time Meagan and I got to spend together. I know those times are rare now that she is married and a working mother. I treasure the time I was able to work side by side with my sister...who is a decorating genius I would love to take after! We see each other three or four times a year, but rarely without the whole family gathered round. I am thankful to be able to be a blessing to my extended family who have blessed me in many different ways through the years. I had the opportunity to thank one of my 'aunts' (who was a huge help at my wedding reception nearly 28 years ago) with the heart of a twice decorated Mother of the Bride. I now know how big a sacrifice everyone made to make my wedding day a beautiful memory.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend and I treasure the memories created.

I am also thankful that I was able to miss work yesterday and catch up on some rest. I slept until 1:30 PM!

Papaw's Little Helper

A few weeks ago, Bri snapped the following pictures of Jim and Davin on the tractor. Davin likes to operate the front loader while he rides. He is getting to be such a big boy!
This is some serious work! Look at that expression on his face.
Here Papaw is letting him drive all by himself.
What a big boy! He may need his own New Holland tractor for his second birthday.
I will try to post about our weekend tomorrow.

Learning To Be Thankful

Four things I noticed as I drove in to work this morning:
1. Yaupon bushes loaded with bright, red berries along a fence row standing out from the wintry brown of the Texas countryside.
2. Two alpacas grazing in a pasture...they looked so graceful among all those cows.
3. Miniature donkeys gathered around freshly delivered hay.
4. A new housing development in the middle of nowhere...proving that the economy in our area is not yet as bad as some of the alarmist say.

All of this is evidence that God hears our prayers. You see, this morning I asked Him to remind me to be thankful for both the big and small things in my life. God was very good to us in 2008...and yet, I have found myself in one of the driest wildernesses ever; mostly because I forgot to thank the Giver of all good gifts.

As is my habit, before I had even made it to the freeway, my mind had wandered from the prayer I had uttered and the things He had revealed to the worries and trappings of this world.

As is His habit, He spoke to me clearly through the first verse of this song.

"Made To Love" by Toby Mac

The dream is fading, now I'm staring at the door
I know it's over 'cause my feet have hit the cold floor
Check my reflection, I ain't feelin' what I see
It's no mystery

Whatever happened to a passion I could live for?
What became of the flame that made me feel more
And when did I forget?

That I was made to love you, I was made to find you
I was made just for you, made to adore you
I was made to love and be loved by you?

You were here before me, you were waiting on me
And you said you'd keep me, never would you leave me
I was made to love and be loved by you.

Thank You, Lord, for being faithful when I am faithless. Thank You for opening the eyes of my heart to see Your hand in motion. Thank You for giving me ears to hear what Your Spirit was saying this morning. And thank You for being able to crank up that radio and sing at the top of lungs as the tears rolled.

As George Strait so eloquently sings, I saw God today. I hope you catch a glimpse of His greatness as well.

Edited to add: Thank God from whom all blessings flow. I sat through one and half hours of dental work on my front top teeth without hyperventilating or crying!

Christmas Eve Pictures

Finally, right?

I hate posting pics of myself...but the handsome man on the right should balance it all out!

Meagan, Derrick and Davin
Dirty D didn't want to look at the camera, but Aunt Kelli finally got him to smile.

Brooke, on the other hand, couldn't stop smiling. It was getting her to lower her hands out of her face as she clapped that was the problem.
Kelli, Matt and Brooke

Bri and Josh
Josh had arrived home from his month in Africa that afternoon. He's a little jet lagged, but he managed to hang in there with us for the night.

Brian and Jessica
I think we overwhelmed Jessica! Well, this is just life with the Goodes!

Will...showing off his handsome self.

This is Davin and Brooke in front of the tree. I took four pictures. This is the first one, the next one had Davin facing me and Brooke looking to the side. The next two had, first Brooke and then Davin, walking out of the picture.

This is our living room just before we started opening gifts. I couldn't get Brian and Jessica in the picture. They are in the far right hand corner, just out of sight.

And finally, these were the highlight gifts of the night...toddler sized four wheelers. Meagan has to keep Davin's in the garage or he will not get off of it.

Hope your family had a wonderful Christmas as well.

A Thought For The New Year

I picked up a new devotional yesterday. Yeah, I know it was already the 5th...but better late than never. I pretty much picked it out like I did last years' only at Half Price Books instead of Barnes and Noble. (There is an economic recession on, you know.)

I had met Kelli and Brooke for lunch at Panera Bread and Half Price Books is next door. I wanted to see if they had a One Year Bible...but as I got out of the car, I prayed that the Lord would just open my eyes to what He had for me.

As I walked into the 'Religion' section, a book on the top shelf caught my eye. "A Word For The Day" is the title. It is written by J. D. Watson, whom I had not heard of before this book...but it is published by AMG Publishers and I have a couple of their Bible dictionaries.

The layout of the devotions is to give a Greek word from the New Testament each day followed by an exposition of that word. I love delving into the meaning of words in the original Greek. I can't read Greek...but I have learned to use a concordance and dictionary over the years.

So, today, I was sitting in a waiting room...waiting to have an ultrasound of my thyroid at the hospital...and I pulled out the book to begin reading. I had read yesterday's devotion, but I have some OCD tendencies in that I HAVE TO READ EVERY SINGLE PAGE. I read the preface, the introduction - even the dedication.

As I read through the introduction, I came across a quote that stuck me to the core.

"I pray that this book will bless your heart, enrich your mind, stir your soul, and empower your life."

Whoa! I know that neither my life nor this blog have anywhere near the power or impact of God's Word...but I want these four things to be my guiding light for 2009. What a life lived if someone can say that you have blessed their heart, enriched their mind, stirred their soul and empowered their life!

I think I am going to let this stew a little longer. It has stirred my heart in such a way that I recognize the still small voice God. Where He is leading or what He has for me to learn, I don't know yet. But I do know that He who has begun a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. (Phil 1:6)

What a Holiday

The holidays are officially over. Tomorrow morning we are back at the office for a regular workweek (and probably lots of phone calls as everyone gets back into their offices). Tuesday the boys go back to school. And our last visitor, our nephew Casey, flew out this afternoon.

We had a wonderful Christmas and a quiet New Years. Christmas Eve we had the married children and the grand babies over for a late brunch followed by shrimp etouffee and presents that evening. With thirteen people opening gifts at once, it was WILD in our living room. The little ones loved their four wheelers (one pink and the other green). I spend my time watching all of them and open mine last. What a surprise to find a blue Tiffany's box at the bottom of my stocking. I was even more surprised to open it and not see silver jewelry, but silver keys instead. My darling husband gifted me with a Polaris Ranger for use around the house and on the deer lease. Finally, something that I can drive! And I never had an inkling of what the gift was! He is good!

Christmas Day we slept in for the first time ever! Later that evening we had friends over for more etouffee and seafood gumbo. We played Taboo well into the night and enjoyed a nice, long visit.

Friday morning we headed north to visit with Jim's parents. It was a quick trip...driving there on Friday and back on Sunday. We had a great time with his folks and his brother, sister-in-law and family. It is always a great joy to see how our children fall right in with one another even though they only see each other once a year. Our nephew came home with us to spend the week with Will.

We shot fireworks the night before New Year's Eve. The weather was perfect for it. It wasn't planned, but as we sat around a bonfire talking...the boys decided they wanted go get fireworks right then. New Year's Eve we sat around the fire after enjoying a dinner of steak and baked potatoes. (The steak was compliments of Spanky, the steer we bought at the fair. Delicious!) We did watch a little bit of television, though we missed the ball dropping because I was watching a movie at the time.

New Year's Day was pretty quiet...and Friday meant getting back to the office for a half day. Saturday the kids played paintball at the 17 acres and then we attended the wedding of a dear friend's daughter. Today was spent getting Casey to the airport and then dinner with the family. The girls and I enjoyed two games of Liverpool Rummy...and now I need to be thinking about getting to bed.

I know the blog has been pretty quiet over the holiday...but now you know why. I will be out of town again this weekend for the wedding of my cousin's daughter. I hope to get some pictures posted from Christmas this week between appointments and work. Until then...hope you are all doing well and looking forward to a 'normal' 2009!

Happy New Year

From our family to yours...here's wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009!