Last night I finished the Twilight Saga. Let me tell you girls, these four books are a must-read. At first I was opposed to reading them. Both Hannah and my SIL Brooke had read them and loved them and encouraged me to read them. But, I thought the story of a vampire falling in love with a high school student would be ultra-lame and cheesy. Well, I was SO wrong! These books are amazing and you will be addicted!!! (And don't worry, the vampire is not evil, so don't worry that I am loving some weird books.) The books are hard to explain - so I will just tell you that if you haven't read them that you need to drop everything and get yourself a copy - or borrow mine. I will tell you that you will feel like a 17-year-old while you read them (as it is targeted to that audience) but it is a worthy guilty pleasure. The movie is great too - but read the first book first as the movies leaves A LOT of stuff out that you will need to know. The movie soundtrack is a lot of fun (thanks Hannah for giving it to me) as well. I am sad that I am done reading the series, as I have thoroughly enjoyed it (and I am not ashamed to say so!). I do plan on going back and re-reading the books in the future, and I don't say that about many books! I was excited to hear that the author Stephenie Meyer has another book in the works which is a part of the saga, only written from a different viewpoint. I found it here: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.html I think I will wait until it is in print to read it, but I might not be able to wait that long...;-) In any case, I loved these books so much that they definitely earned a spot in my blog. Let me know if you have read them - as I am sure there are many who share my affection for this series.

Last weekend was a three-day-holiday and I was blessed to be able to fly up and visit one of my best friends, Hannah. I always try to make it to WA to see her once a year (in the three years since we have lived in NJ together) and it always seems to be cold when I go. The first year was March, the second November, and this year January. Next year, no matter where I am living, I hope to see WA when it is warm and green. In any case, we had a super fun time. We saw a movie (Twilight :-)), ate at fun places, went shopping (I got shoes and two very cute bags), went to church, talked/laughed a bunch (of course!), and went to Leavenworth for a day trip. (See pic below.) I enjoyed my time and it went by really fast. Thanks Hannah for your hospitality!

This is why I didn't vote for him... I am not saying he is bad guy. I just cannot choose anything but life, and I honestly think that we all are going to be held accountable for that. It also breaks my heart that my money is now going to fund something I do not believe in nor support.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_abortion_ban

Beloved cousin and friend.

My cousin Scott. Pray for our family. We have broken hearts.

http://www.cbs47.tv/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=91742@video.cbs47.tv

Oh Jersey-kitty!

This morning I was super-excited that I woke up earlier then planned and that I felt rested. I decided to get up and make the most of it and get some chores done before church - that way I wouldn't have to worry about them for the rest of the day. I got everything I wanted to done and I stepped into my shower right on time. When I got out I put on my robe and went to look for my cat. I wanted to put him outside before I dried my hair and brushed my teeth. I called for him and kept on calling him. I looked for him in all of his usual places and could not find him. I was getting irritated because the clock was ticking away and he was ignoring me. Looking back I guess I could have just left him and went ahead and got ready but at that point I was so mad that he was disobeying me that I had to find him and give him the boot. I re-checked every room and kept on calling him. Finally, when I was in my guest bedroom, I heard the jingle from the bell on his collar. I had found him! I heard it under the bed so I crouched down and peeked under it. I didn't see him. I called him and heard the bell again. But, where was he? Then I saw the lump move. A lump that was in the box springs. As he walked this sagging lump from under the box springs moved. I was so confused - how did he get in there? Then I discovered a hole. That little stinker had made a hole in the bottom material and climbed up in there. I was equally mad and equally laughing. Well, he had climbed up in there but obviously didn't know how to get out. So, I spent the next few minutes trying to coax him out. By this time he was purring and batting at me through the hole - the whole thing had turned into a game for him. Finally I was able to get him out. It meant I missed church though...there was no way I would be ready in time by then. To make up for it I watched a church service on TV but it wasn't the same. Anyway, funny story. I will be sure to keep the door closed to that room when he is in the house from now on!!

I am starting off 2009 with a quote I read yesterday that really impacted me.

"'Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ be after me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left.' Surrounded by Christ, we will pass safely through this world to the next." -Patrick of Ireland & Ann Spangler

Praise the Lord that "in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17b) God be glorified in 2009 (and always!).

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandma Murray!

Jerelyn got hitched!

Disneyland!

Christmas just ended and 2009 is right around the corner. I really, really enjoyed this fall and Holiday season. I was super busy – which is exactly the way I like it! My Thanksgiving was definitely one of the better ones of a few years, and this Christmas was low key (and minus a crabby German, hehehe), which made it lovely and stress-free. I hosted Christmas stockings and breakfast at my house this year – totally fun. We had dinner at my folks’ house. I much prefer holidays in Kingsburg to Fresno – but I understand we have to take turns and that is OK. I enjoyed picking out gifts and decorating my house – and was blessed with many gifts, those material and non-material, in return. I put away all of my decorations the other day and was really impressed with how blessed I am. I live in a safe neighborhood in a safe town on the same street as family. I have decent clothes to wear, access to food, and fun things to do. I have family and friends who truly care about me and want to know me and spend time with me. I even have frivolous things such as Christmas decorations. I am beyond taken care of. I even received a (ginormous) frame for a photo collage and when putting pictures in it (I made sure they were all 2008 pictures) I was very thankful for the life, people, and opportunities that the Lord has given me.

That being said, the holidays are (in addition) a really, really hard time for single people like me. It is such a huge desire of mine to be married and to have children of my own, and it is difficult to endure yet another holiday season “alone.” If you have been reading my blog you know that I go through seasons like this, where I have my own little pity party for being single. I try to be brave…and sometimes I just let myself vent. (It also doesn’t help that YL kids I knew in NJ, and their college leaders, are getting engaged and married before I even have a prospect!)

I did recently meet two people through a Christian online matching service who were interesting. One I really liked (as much as you can like from seeing some pics, their facebook, and profile). He seemed like a Godly man (from a super loving family) and told me he was curious about getting to know me. I was really looking forward to making a new friend, while also being cautious about who he would be in person. He must have decided he wasn’t interested, because he hasn’t written in a week. I am a little bummed but it is what it is – and we were only new online friends at that time anyway. And, after reading the fabulous book (which I would recommend to all single women) He’s Just Not That Into You, I know that that is the case here and I won’t lower myself to pleading emails or flowering up excuses as to why he hasn’t contacted me. (I should also mention that I was the one to write the last email, so the ball is in his court.) Like I said, he did appear to be a quality man, so I am just racking it up to experience and keeping on keeping on.

The other guy wasn’t all that appealing to me. For one reason, he lived way - way too far away. But, he did seem like a nice guy and seemed to love the Lord so I did email with him back and forth a few times. I then found out he voted for Obama. Which, for me, is a deal-breaker. I just don’t think I can be suited well with someone who has such sharply different voting ideals (i.e. abortion). He must have found out I voted for McCain (which to me wasn’t that greatest choice either), because he hasn’t replied to my last email, either! Ha! So, that new friendship has come to a quick end as well. I am much more OK with this one doing that though!

So that being said I am wondering if I should keep on trying the online dating thing or give it a rest. Right now I am only doing the free trial. Of course it is New Year Resolution time so obviously I want to make one of those be “meeting my husband.” (Such a small resolution, right?;-)) I would prefer it be the old fashioned way (in person) but I also want to be open to whatever God has for me. It costs money (and a lot of money to me) so I am trying to decide what to do. He has to be out there, somewhere. I am trying my very best to be content with where God has me each day, and frankly I think I have done a fairly good job at it. Yet I don’t think it is so bad to keep on yearning and seeking out a life partner, as so many other people I know have been blessed with. I know that there are many things I need to work on within myself. But I also know (at least I think I do) that I would be a good wife and mom. I don’t know why God has me in this waiting game, but I will continue to look to Him even if I don’t understand (especially on days like today).

So besides meeting someone my second resolution will be what it always is – keep on moving towards a healthier body and lifestyle. This includes physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually healthy. Physically – I would love to keep up my exercise routine while adding a second workout per day as I did this summer. I want to honor God by what I choose to eat. I also want to drop one to two dress sizes by summer. Totally doable. Mentally – I have been considering going for my Ed. D. While I have decided that right now I don’t have the time to carry that burden, maybe I just could take one class at a time. I do enjoy learning… Socially – I need to spend more time with local single women. I have many, many dear married friends in the area that I love. With Jerelyn marrying, my last close single local Valley friend was “gone.” So, I need to seek out some new peers to add to my circle. I should also mention that I DO still have two wonderful best friends (who happen to still be single – and they are such gems and great catches) who are like sisters to me. But one lives in WA and one in VA. Boo! While I am very thankful that I have a family who likes to hang out and do things together, I still need to stay in touch with Fresno area people who are in the same shoes I am. Spiritually - I would love to find a small group to be a part of (my church does not offer any for single women that I am aware of. While normally I would start one myself to solve that problem, I know that I am at my limit for “leading” responsibilities and really need someone else to be that person.). I also want to be more dedicated to my daily quiet times.

I am getting over being sick. I felt it coming on last week at Jerelyn’s wedding. Turns out I have a viral respiratory infection. I had a phone consultation with a doctor (they were too swamped to get me in) and he informed me of the epidemic (his words, not mine) that is going around – which I am now a part of. Since it is viral I would just have to ride it out. Thankfully everything is happening as he said it would…the time frame as to when I would feel like I turned the corner and now getting better, etc. I can now taste and smell, but I still have sinus pressure and congestion. I didn’t miss any work (of which I am glad of – that I stuck it out) and I am glad that when I go back tomorrow that I will (should) feel even better then today. I am thankful to the Lord of this healing process! It is no fun being sick – I hope that you don’t catch it too!!

Speaking of work, I continue to be busy, busy, busy. A new case popped up about six weeks ago which occupies most of my time. I was able to finish the work that needed to be done NOW, on Wednesday. Now I have to wait until the baby is born to do more. (It is for a relinquishment.) Therefore this week I have to catch up on what I have neglected. It is enough to keep me busy all of this week and then some. I still love doing adoptions. I don’t love not being in control of some decisions and having to abide by some of the totally lame laws, but I do love helping families come together. (It is a privilege to be a part of something so special.) I am thankful for my job! If you are ever in the area, come by and visit. I can always do a long(er) lunch!

I am hoping to attach some pics to this blog post from two special things that happened in Dec (other then Christmas, of course!). My family and I went to Disneyland a few weeks ago. We stand at the Disneyland hotel and spent three days at the two parks. It was a really fun time and my niece’s first visit. I was pleasantly surprised with how many rides she could go on – and the employees were very good with her. The park was much busier then I thought it would be for that time of year (although we did go early one morning and that was so, so worth it) but that was probably because of all the neat Christmas celebrations and decorations that Disney does. It was very cool. I like Disneyland…but don’t feel like it is someplace I need to go to every year. The last time I went to a Disney park was to Disneyworld with Young Life friends in 2004. So, it was definitely time to revisit and it worked well with all of our schedules. Staying in that hotel (which is a treat for this family) was also a huge bonus. I recommend it!

Jerelyn’s wedding was a week ago yesterday. It was very special to be a part of her day. I know that she was happy and so obviously because of that I was happy for her. She was a beautiful bride!! I loved being in the wedding party with one of my best friends, Kristin, too. Some of my sorority sisters were there as well so (as always) it was nice to visit with them. Jerelyn is in Hawaii right now on her honeymoon – lucky! Can’t wait to hear about everything when she comes back. She also now lives in Kingsburg!

January is always a hard month for me. The holidays are over and I feel like it is bleak weather and nothing to look forward to. I am fixing that problem though!! My family and I are going to spend a couple of days up in the snow in Fish Camp, and then I am going to visit Hannah in Seattle in just under three weeks. I am also hoping that she can come down and visit me sometime soon (hint, hint). Plus, my friend Kristin is still in town so I will get in at least one more day with her before she returns to VA. All of these things will make a dismal month (for me) a very bright one!

I caught up on all of your blogs yesterday! I have been so busy, which I think is now my new routine, that I haven’t been the best at visiting all of your sites. But I am thankful that you continue to post, as I do love reading your stories and reading about your creations or adventures. Keep it up!! And thanks for keeping up with me – you all are the best. Love you all. Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy New Year!

I have been a huge slacker with my blog lately! Sorry that I have been blog-lazy. It has been a good problem, I just have had so much going on that I haven't had time to sit and write. But, I do have a second now (everyone is taking a nap!) so here are so recent pics of my last few weeks (in no particular order!!).

Jerelyn and Kristin at Kristin's house in NOVA.

The three of us out to dinner. This was taken the day of the big surprise!:-)

Hillcrest with my niece. Brooke and Ryan invited me to join them and it was a lovely Fall day!

Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving breakfast at my house.

Some of the Phelan boys.

Jerelyn and me at her shower at my house.

Carrie and me.

The girls and babies who came to Jer's shower.

Jer and the table of yummy food!

So much to update you on…this is the “newsy” blog I promised you…

Trip to VA

Last weekend Jerelyn and I went out and surprised Kristin with a visit. We had been planning on this since mid-August and were bursting at the seams in keeping the secret for so long. We hardly told anyone we were going – we wanted to make sure our secret would be safe. We took the red-eye out on Thursday night and arrived on Friday morning. We surprised her at Panera Bread (thanks to Troy for helping us out!!) and her expression was priceless. After lunch Jerelyn and I went to Kristin’s for a nap and a shower and we spent the rest of the evening baking brownies, watching a movie, and eating Ledo’s Pizza. Saturday we slept in and attempted going to Great Falls but had to ditch the plan when it began to rain (it literally started pouring before we left the parking lot!:-(). We then went to the mall to take Jerelyn shopping for some “goodies” and then went to dinner at Sweetwater Tavern. That night we watched another movie and hung out at Kristin’s place. It was late that night that we learned that Jerelyn’s dad was in a difficult place and gravely ill…and a few short hours later, in the very early morning, that we learned he passed away (I will allow Jerelyn to touch on this subject more as it is her personal business…in the meantime keep her and her family in your prayers). As a result Jerelyn flew home on the first flight out on Sunday morning and Kristin and I spent Sunday at church (more specifically her Single’s group) and caring for our friend as she tried to make it home to CA amidst a bunch of flying obstacles. I flew back to CA on Monday. Needless to say the trip did not go as expected and while we had the best intentions in going and having a great “girls time out,” our time together will always be remembered as the weekend that Jerelyn had to say good-bye to her beloved father while she was several thousand miles away. I do hope to go back to the EC in the late winter or spring. I try to go every 6 months or so.

Ryan’s Team

CVC is doing great! From what I hear Ryan was even in the Fresno Bee this weekend as a possible pick for coach of the year if his team continues to progress in playoffs. Come out and cheer them on the day after Thanksgiving. It is a home game…and I will be there to visit with as well.J I do feel a bit guilty that I haven’t attended any (OK, I did attend the KHS/CVC game) KHS games – especially since I need to be putting in contact work hours for YL and football games are a great way to do it – but it has been just too much fun hanging out with the family and going to root Ryan and his team on. I have never been able to do this before (as last year I was the cheer coach for KHS and the three years before that I lived on the EC) so I guess it is only fair that I get to experience it this year! And I am glad that I am.

Work

I really love my job now that I have taken on 10+ adoptive cases. It is a very rewarding job and I love to see God bring forever families together. Most of the families I work with are wonderful, well deserving families – and I truly enjoy building relationships with them. I have also been able to assist in two international adoptions, which has also been great. I still oversee a few foster family cases, so that combined with adoptions (and helping to train the new social worker) and my job has become busy, busy, busy!!! I feel like I have found my niche in life career-wise. I feel blessed to be a social worker. Now only if it paid more…hehehe

Social Life

I am blessed to live so close to my family and that they include me in a lot of their outings and times together. I do enjoy spending time with them. I also enjoy time with friends, but have been bummed out that all my local single friends are now married or engaged. While I am super happy for them, I am sad that my single peer group has dwindled. This has made me seriously consider moving to a place that has more people “like me.” Obviously it is my desire to marry and have a family. In the meantime, though, I am feeling more and more pressure to create my own family of other single friends, mainly because I am freaking out about being alone in a few years (socially). As you know, I have been seriously considering moving to the NOVA area ever since I moved back to CA, but have put that idea on the back burner as I wanted to hear God’s guiding loud and clear and wanted also to have the finances to afford it. I am at the place where I simply don’t know what to do. I am content here in the Valley, but also believe I would be content on the EC. I just don’t want to stay here and regret not leaving in the future – but at the same time I don’t want to miss out on Phelan family stuff here. I have not heard God’s leading loud and clear – but I also know He will go with me wherever I go if I make Him the priority. In some ways I feel like I am back to square one. What to do?

Twilight

I zipped through this book on my flight home and LOVED it. Both Hannah and Brooke had told me how I had to read it. I wanted to but just didn’t put it at the top of my list. Well, needless to say, I finally got to it and already went out and bought and started the sequel, New Moon, yesterday. And, I admit, I already visited the “spoiler” websites. I just couldn’t wait to find out about the ending!! OK, so I know, the premise sounds kinda silly, and the book is definitely a teenie-bopper read, but it is Oh! So! Good! Anyone want to be my date for the movie?

Holidays

Yay! I love this time of year!! Can’t wait to decorate for Christmas. Yesterday it was 83, and today it is in the 70s. While I see the trees changing (and they are so bright and pretty – I have never seen the Valley trees change quite like this before) it just doesn’t feel like fall because it is so warm. Don’t get me wrong – I love this weather! For me it is perfect – mild during the day and a bit chilly at night…awesome!!

Gallbladder

It has been over a month and I have had zero problems since the surgery. Guess I am all better. Next health problem to tackle – my diet!! Going back to it tomorrow! Gotta drop a size for Jer’s wedding in just over a month!! Yikes!!

Do we have owls in the Valley? I mean, I'm sure we have them in the foothills or "country." But Kingsburg? The other night while I was lying in bed waiting for sleep to come, I heard a distinctive "Who, Who, Who" outside my window for a few minutes. A bit of me wanted to look out my window and try to find the bird, but decided to stay in my warm bed instead. I have never heard or seen an owl in Kburg. I thought it was kinda cool - but I just want to make sure it wasn't my sleepy imagination!

And on a completely different note, yesterday I was in court (ALL DAY) for a client and on my lunch break got in my car to head off to find some lunch and heard Christmas music on the radio. I thought it might be a special lunch hour thing but it was not, as it was still there while I was driving home last night. I love Christmas music, but I will probably need to restrain from listening to it until Thanksgiving as I get sick of it fairly quickly - the radio stations here seem to play the same songs over and over and over. It was a fun little treat yesterday though...:-)

Next time I blog I am hoping to catch you up on my life a bit more! Haven't written on that in a while. Happy Thursday! I am off to get ready to go walking - and then have another long and busy work day ahead of me!!

First, happy 1st birthday to Jersey-kitty!

Second, check this out:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/huntleybrown.asp

It is an AMAZING read and this man basically wrote all my thoughts. I promise after this post I won't post anything more political!! Tuesday is almost upon us and whether or not "my guy" wins it is time to move forward and leave the divisiveness behind us.

I am copying and reposting this from a friend's blog. I have not checked the facts (although she claims they are legit). Also, I am sure my preferred candidate has some skeletons in his closet to be displayed as well. That being said, this is MY blog written by me, a Republican, and I am free to post this. Therefore I am not going to apologize for the following which I'm sure will piss off the Democrat readers of my blog. But this is def food for thought...

Body count in the last six months:
292 killed (murdered) in Chicago ;
221 killed in Iraq .
Chicago.... Who Runs it:

Senators: Barack Obama & Dick Durbin
Rep: Jesse Jackson Jr.,
Illinois Gov: Rod Blogojevich,
Illinois House leader: Mike Madigan,
Illinois Atty. Gen.: Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike),
Chicago Mayor: Richard M. Daley (son of Mayor Richard J.Daley)

.....our leadership in Illinois .....all Democrats.

Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago .
Of course, they're all blaming each other!
Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!

State pension fund $44 Billion in debt, worst in country.
Cook County ( Chicago ) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. (Look 'em up if you want to).
Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country.

This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois . And he's gonna 'fix' Washington politics for us? Wake Up America !

On a slightly different note, I will be so glad when this election is over. I am so tired of all the commercials, all the mail in my mailbox (how many trees have they killed and trash have they produced by those crappy fliers??), and calls on my answering machine. Plus, I hate debating politics with people. It is so divisive and I would almost rather not know where people stand (and I'm sure they feel that way about me). Because, if I don't agree with them, my opinion of them changes...and I hate that!! I don't want to be that person.

I have shared that I don't really care for either candidate. I am choosing who is the lesser of two evils (for lack of a better term) in my opinion. I do hope that whomever becomes president, that we as a people bond together and respect him and pray for him. It is a big job - a job I know I would not want. And while I'm sure both are in it for just as much fame and glory as a true desire to lead our country forward - they ARE putting their lives on the line.

So many places are going out of business. Mervyns, Linens N Things, Geoffrey Beene, and now...

Mother's Cookies!!!

Oh, how I will miss you, my little circus animal friends.