Friday, August 31, 2007

Quote for today . . .



We all have the extraordinary coded within us, waiting to be released.

-Jean Houston

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Okay - this is so not on my diet, but it looks so good . . .

Pike Speak: Deep Fried Oreos

Friday, August 24, 2007

Weight Loss Journey - Update 3

I kind of hit a plateau for a while - but I'm back to losing again! Yay!

I've been doing pretty well with walking and drinking water - and eating most of the right foods. I am happy to say, I'm down 17 pounds!! I may not be losing it as fast as I'd like - but I'd rather lose it slowly and keep it off, rather than losing it quickly and then gaining twice as much back.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Friends and Seasons

The past week, I have been cleaning out some boxes that have been moved around with me for probably the past ten years. I found a lot of old pictures and letters. Some made me laugh, and some made me cry. I even found a letter my Grandma had written me one year for my birthday - I shed quite a few tears over that gem. :-)

Through all of this 'house-cleaning' - I took the time to share some memories with some old friends I hadn't heard from in a while. It was nice to catch up with some people. During all of this, I realized what people say about certain people coming into your life for seasons. This popular internet email says it all . . .

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person or people involved; and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships, and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.


I am so thankful for the friends I have in my life - whether it be for a short time or forever. I am especially thankful for those forever friends, who even though it may be years between contacts - when we get together again, it is like time has never passed.

I am even thankful for those relationships that for some reason or another, one of us decided to walk away. I know that each of these relationships was a lesson of some kind - and I cannot regret learning.

To all of my friends -- old, and new . . . thank you. Thank you for coming into my life and giving a part of yourself - and allowing me to give of myself to you.

Love,
Iz

May today there be peace within you.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.
Let His presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun.
It is there for each and every one of you.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Shameless Plug

I just had to take a quick second and share this link with everyone.

This is the website for Hunkahubby's budding design business. We created this website in about 2 hours using my Mac Mini and the iWeb software. It has a few issues we need to correct, but I think it isn't bad for as quickly as we put it together. Yay for Macs. And Yay for my honey.

In other news, my 2 oldest children are starting school tomorrow. It is exciting and nerve-wracking for all of us. And my youngest gets to learn what its like to be an only child during the day.

Have a great week!

-Iz

Sunday, August 5, 2007

One of those Mom moments

Today, I had one of those special Mom moments - that I have to blog about so I can come back and remember it later.

My youngest daughter is going to be 4 tomorrow. My baby is growing up. Every birthday (except mine) in our house, I make a birthday cake by request for the birthday boy or girl. This year, she wanted a Mickey Mouse cake. I already had a Mickey Mouse shaped cake pan - but had never attempted to decorate a cake like this. I figured why not . . .

Well - the first thing that happened was when I flipped the pan over - Mickey was missing an ear. That was easily fixable, so I didn't get too frustrated. Then - I could not find the right color icing for his face. Hunkahubby went to 2 stores and then we had to improvise. And then - the pre-made icing from the store was REALLY stiff and wouldn't come out the way it was supposed to. (Next time, I'm making MY OWN icing - because I think it will be less of a hassle.) At the end - I tried to make the icing thinner and it got too runny . . . so Mickey's shoes were kind of Dali-esque. :-)

By the time I was done - (it took me about 4 hours) I was tired and cranky and my back hurt from leaning over the table. Then my daughter came to the kitchen to look at the cake. The look on her face was priceless - and then she said (without any prompting at all), "My Mickey Cake! Thank you Mommy, It's BEAUTIFUL." Of course, I cried . . . all the frustration of making the cake went right out the window with that comment.

It's these moments that we "treasure in our heart." And I will probably have to use this memory to fall back on when she is a teenager and it doesn't feel as much like a blessing. :-)

Here's a pic of my Mickey Cake . . . I didn't think it was too bad for my first attempt.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

You know you've been married too long when . . .

You and your husband buy each other the same anniversary card. . . .

And write the same message inside . . .

:-)

6 years . . .

Hunkahubby and I have been married 6 years today. I can't believe the time has gone so fast. We have been through so much in the past six years and I know, without a doubt, that we would not have made it this far if our marriage was not built on the strong foundation of our faith.

There have been times where I'm sure that both of us wanted to give up, but we didn't, because we had pledged our lives to each other in front of our family, friends and God . . . and we found a Way to make it through the hard times, together.

I'm so blessed to have found someone who loves God above all else and strives to be a good husband and good Daddy - and lets me be who I am. When I was younger - I was known for dating 'the underdog' or 'the bad boy' or just the ones who people could not understand. The thing was - in every one of those relationships, I changed myself to try and make them like me more. I was never myself. With Hunkahubby - I was myself from the very beginning - and that is how I knew it was right.

Following are the lyrics to the song that my cousin Katie sang at our wedding and it still holds true today.



If you could see what I see . . . by Geoff Moore

all of my life
I have dreamed
that someday love would find me
now I can't believe you're standing here

If beauty is all
in the eye
of the beholder then I
wish you could see
the love for you that lives in me

And you would know you have my heart
If you could see what I see
that a treasure's what you are
if you could see what I see
Created to be
the only one for me
If you could see what I see

I know there are days
when you feel
so much less than ideal
wondering what I see in you

It's all of the light
and the grace
your belief in me drives me to say
that I promise you
a faithful love, forever true

And you would know you have my heart
If you could see what I see
that a treasure's what you are
if you could see what I see
Created to be
the only one for me

if you could see...
then you'd understand
why I fall down on my knees
and I pray my love
will be worthy of
the One who gave His life
so our love could be

if you could see
what I see

Created to be
The only one for me
If you could see
What I see

if beauty is all
in the eye
of the beholder then I
am beholding...
true beauty


I love you Hunkahubby - thanks for the past 6 years, I'm looking forward to the next 6!

"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith "A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!"

-Robert Browning