Chicago Bound

Ok...well not quite for a couple of months.

Several months ago I attended a web conference for work. Honestly it was dull and boring, but I did learn lots of stuff that can help me understand my job and my company a bit more, so all was not lost. I think perhaps it was the 3 days sitting in front of a computer that did me in. At the end of the conference, the said they would e-mail a survey out to all of the participants and the first to answer all of the questions would win a grant for their house to send staff to the week-long international conference in Chicago. The survey was HARD and I got about half way through and said surely no one would have the patience to answer the 90 questions, so I trudged through not expecting anything........then I WON!! I only missed one question and got partial credit for it!!

This is an incredible opportunity where we are able to send 2 employees to attend the conference for a week in Chicago and all of our expenses are taken care of. How cool is that for a non-profit?? I have never been there before (except one train layover when I was a little kid) and am looking forward to being able to meet my counterparts from all over the world. We are making plans and reservations, and I am getting a bit nervous/anxious/excited about being able to represent an organization I love so dearly.

We finally decided at the last minute to head to the mountains of TN for our vacation. We have been there a few times before, but it is so beautiful and there is so much to do (or not do!) that we headed to our little cabin in the woods. It was quite an adventure as I am not much for driving in the mountains and spent most of the time with my eyes closed and clutching the handle on the car door (luckily Bill was driving ;-).


This was the view going up to our cabin. I don't think the pictures did it justice, but for this Eastern NC girl it was pretty steep!! I think one of the highlights for Bill was getting to meet Cletus from The Dukes of Hazzard. He just so happened to be signing autographs at Cooter's Place in downtown Gatlinburg, so we were able to stop by and say HI. He was a very nice man and really didn't look too menacing as he was trying to arrest Bill.

During our stay we did alot of nothing, getting up early to watch the sunrise then going back to sleep, eating all of our meals on the deck, perfecting our pool skills on our very own pool table, relaxing in the hot tub, exploring the Great Smoky National Park, went to the Dixie Stampede, and reading on the deck. ( I finished 90 minutes in Heaven and it rocked my world!) I think we have decided that this was one of the best vacations that we have had. Our schedules can be crazy at times, so it was great to spend so much time with my best friend and fellow adventurer!

You Just Never Know....

We finally made it on vacation last week. I promise a post is coming with pics and details. Time has slipped away from me again. We ended up going to the Gatlinburg area and rented a cabin in the woods...way in the woods and at the top of the mountain. In fact we were 16 miles away from civilization wayyyy down the mountain. It cracked me up every time we drove up to our cabin and saw this sign. Papa John's in Winterville charges $1.50 to deliver a mile down the road. I never called to ask how much or how long for a delivery. What would your pizza look like if the driver had to drive at such a steep angle with curvy roads??

Then I was watching the news this morning and heard about this. Apparently one of these pizza delivery guys went to deliver a pizza to a remote cabin like ours and saw a lady who was bound and gagged. He ended up calling 911 and saved this woman who had been kidnapped. WOW!!! I take all my jokes back as they probally saved this woman's life!

Vacation time....

We have some time off coming up in a couple of weeks. A whole week in fact!! We decided the first of the year that we were going to take a vacation just the two of us to somewhere. It has been a long time since we have done a vacation that is just us and doesn't involve traveling with or to family. I love my family, but we need some time after the last few crazy years.

Here is where we have a problem--not sure where to go. We have been so fortunate to do so much traveling in our "earlier" years, that I am having trouble deciding the best place. Any ideas out there?? We need to be able to drive relatively easy. We would love outdoors type stuff, but love to have other things to do in case of yucky weather. Fairly inexpensive is nice too :-).

Any ideas out there? I am sure whatever we do we will have the best time as we always do--just want to be together more than anything.

Think this will work?

Our cardinal or should I now say cardinals as there seems to be more than one (male and female) that have been trying to enter our house. Honestly my windows aren't that clean that they can see how nice it can be inside :-). We now have our owl friend who was suggested by a friend to "scare" them away. I am just about to do anything....maybe some of those kids with paintball guns??

Less of Me more of HIM

I am ashamed to admit, but I had a really lousy attitude about this week. Lots of challenges that were presented at work, a sick husband who lovingly shared his sickness with me, having to complete taxes that I put off to the last minute, trying to coordinate with our church on a HUGE Easter Egg Hunt....the list could go on. I was frustrated with many of the decisions that were being made that didn't fit into "my plan" or made things more difficult for me to get through it. I had to learn entirely too many things that I was completely uncomfortable with and it just made for a mess for me this week.

The problem with all of this was that I was focusing entirely on myself and how this was effecting me. The challenges at work were because a co-worker was out for surgery. My poor husband couldn't help being sick and tried desperately to keep the germs away from me. I put off doing our taxes and am paying the last minute price. I probably could have done a lot more to ease my frustrations with some of the things with the Egg Hunt. My prayer when I got up Thursday morning was to take the emphasis off of me and to focus on why I am doing what I am doing and that I purposefully do everything to honor God. Then I was blown away with everything that happened from that point on. Just about every encounter I had at work and at home ALL day were incredible blessings. We won a big grant to go to a conference, lots of people stepping up to help support families, a huge random hug from a Mom, a great e-mail from my sister that came at the perfect time, the list could go on and on.

Then when I got home, this card was in my mailbox.

To those of you who took part in all of the kind words. Thank you! It came to me on the most perfect day and was a true encouragement and outpouring of love. I am honored to be serving and worshipping along with you all!

So, on this holy week I am very thankful for all of the sacrifices God has made for me. I am thankful for the ability to make personal sacrifices for serving his Kingdom. May I live each and every day to honor him and all he has done for us.

Unwanted Visitor

Pretty bird isn't it? Well for the last few days one has taken up residence on our back porch and at about 6:00 every morning it decides that it wants to come into our house and flies repeatedly into our glass patio door. Not only is it loud and annoying, but it leaves "presents" all over the patio. I am sure that the repeated pile-driving doesn't help the door either.

The bird doesn't seem too intimidated by my attack cats who sit with their noses pressed against the glass ready to pounce if the intruder ever made it in. I have tried to take pictures (this one is borrowed) and video because it is kind of funny to watch, but as soon as it sees me through the window it flies off.

Anyone have a good method for getting rid of a bird? My door and our beauty sleep is riding on it.