A New Year

I'm not one to make new year's resolutions but I have given this upcoming year some thought. There are some things I want to accomplish and improve on.

*Get more involved with the Burn Institute
*Raise even more money for the Breast Cancer Walk in October
*Work out more
*Save money
*Go on a real vacation.. maybe even out of state!
*Pay off atleast one school loan
*Cherish what I have and not dwell on what I don't have
*Figure out a whitty comeback for people when they give dating advice
*Spend more time with my nieces and nephews

I am sure there are lots more things to work on but I will start small. I am truly thankful for all I have. Sometimes I loose sight but I want to focus on that more in 2009.

So to all.. Happy New Year. Hope it is all you want it to be!

Cookie Capers Part 2

I have no idea where this last week went! Friday I spent the entire day baking cookies. I didn't quite get to 50 dozen but I did make 41. It is a close 2nd :) Everyone else from the ECC did a tremendous job pitching in to help. From making a million cookies themselves to buying supplies or giving cash to help with supplies.. it was a real team effort.

Ash and I took on North county. We started Ramona around 9am and headed out the 78 to Intermountain, Witch Creek then on to Hwy 79 where we hit a few other stations. Stopped in Temecula for lunch and to meet up with a Battalion Chief for the USFS Trabuco District. Cruised down the 15 to Red Mountain, Miller and Deer Springs then back up Old Hwy 395 to Old Castle and made our way to Valley Center and Rincon. We got Back to my place about 540pm.It was a long day of driving but I had SOOOO much fun talking to everyone at the stations! We spent a good 20 minutes or so at each station. Some a little longer..

The drive was beautiful! Snow capped mountains, open fields...ahhh.. The only bummer was Ash wouldn't pull over to let me play in the snow on the side of the road. She said it was " dirty and full of junk". Kill-Joy...just kidding. It did look a little yucky in spots so I guess it is best we didn't stop.(Warner Springs Area)

Witch Creek Area

Gloria and Staci took on South County. Staci said they also had a great time talking to all the people at the stations. I am sure they really enjoyed the llllooooooonnnnggg drive way out East to White Star. Patti took care of Battalion two and few of our rural stations. I haven't talked to her yet but I am positive she had fun too.

I have to say (in a non-biased sense of course) that I work with the most amazing people on the face of the planet. Not Just everyone in the ECC but everyone out in the field. I had some great conversations yesterday. This will be a Christmas/Holiday season I will never forget. Everyone was so thankful.

I won't lie.. on Friday I looked at the grand scheme of things and got a baby-bit overwhelmed. I was worried we wouldn't have enough cookies or no one would be able to help out. I was worried for no reason. It all went perfectly. OH... and I didn't make a total fool out of myself.. much. I mis-judged a step at Witch Creek (it was larger than I thought) BUT I did not fall. I gracefully kept walking. Ashley and I were cracking up. Leave it to me to make a dork of myself in front of firefighters. Then there was the little mishap at Deer Springs Station 12 (they dont know about this so shhh). I remembered I had a card for them in the car so I started jogging towards the deck when I hear my friend lovingly yell "Watch out for the stairs". I clear the stairs no problem but my leg smacked right into one of the chairs on the deck. Ouch. I don't think it made a loud noise so they all think I had a day without any injuries. Let's keep it that way, shall we?

I forgot to take pictures at the stations but here are pictures of preparations:

41 dozen...



Decorating about 18 dozen sugar cookies! Lisa, Staci, Bob and I

Cookie Mania!


60 plates of cookies.

Cookie Capers Part !

Over 1000 cookies made... delivered to 55+ stations... over 300 miles drive by 3 teams.... Reactions from our firefighters.. PRICELESS!

*Details and pictures to follow :)

Today is the Day!

COOKIE BAKING DAY!!! That's right folks.. today Operation Christmas Cookie Capers is underway! I have been baking since about 9am. As of this blog I have about 17-18 dozen cookies made. My goal is 50 dozen... Whew! They are the easier "drop" cookies like chocolate chip, oatmeal chocolate chip, peanut butter, and chocolate with reeses pieces. I also have dough made for sugar cookies and a ginger spice cookie. Those will be cut out with cookie cutters so they will be a touch more time consuming. Then off to the family baking at Jim and Jessica's tonight. Tomorrow I am heading down to work for all of us to decorate the cookies and put them all together for the stations.

Staci, Ashley and I spent yesterday planning out our routes to all of our stations. Last count was 50-55 stations. Holy Smokes!! I am SOOO excited though. I plan on taking pictures at all the stations. I know the people at the stations will love the cookies. My ECC counterparts are also at home baking their little hearts out.

I will be the first to admit I have nearly bitten off more than I can chew this holiday season. Between MASSIVE cookie baking, homemade christmas gifts, a baby shower last month, baking a baby shower cake and a birthday cake at the start of next month, treat bags for everyone at work, and christmas shopping.. I have just about lost my mind. When you look at that list it can be overwhelming. Isn't this what Christmas and the Holidays are all about though? Doing things for other people. Knowing the smiles and joy these things will bring to other people makes it all worth it. I love the holidays.

Advice

Being single during the holidays is sometimes sad. There's the stockings hung on the wall.. all grouped together in their little families.. except your lonely little stocking at the bottom all by itself. A house full of people and fun then returning home to complete silence. Defening silence that never seems to go away. Making dinner for one every night. Day-dreaming about a nice guy kissing you under mistletoe. Decorating your tree alone. No date to the office christmas party (again.. third yr running). Watching couples snuggled up in a horse drawn carriage rolling down the street. As if these things don't grate on your emotions enough, you have the constant advice pouring just enough salt in the wounds to make it burn a little more.

It never ceases to amaze me how quick people are to give such advice. The lastest was " you need to get married". Hmmmm... Now why didn't I think of that? As much as I appreciate everyone's care and concern I also dread it. Most people don't realize that on a daily basis (for real) I am given advice about my dating life. Here are some of my favorite examples:
"You should get out more"
"You need to date someone"
" Do one of those house exchanges like on 'The Holiday'.. maybe you will meet a guy"
" Join a theater group"
"Meet someone at church"
"You should have a baby"
OH the list goes on forever. I am also asked why I am (or not) doing these things. I really have no answer for any of you. There is no "magical" way to meet someone. I meet lots of people every day. What people don't get is that it wears on me. More than anyone really knows. Trust me.. I am fully aware of my dating situation. It has been a little over 7 (long) years since my last relationship. There have been prospects but usually one of these excuses comes out:
"Im too busy to date"
"I like you but I don't want to date you"
"we're going in two different directions"
"im too old for you"
"im too young for you"
"i dont date people I work with" etc etc etc...

I by no means feel like my life is horrible just because I am not dating someone. Quite the opposite actually. I have the most incredible family in the world. I am so blessed. I hold my nieces and nephews and I am overflowing with love. Nothing can beat the feeling of a child calling out your name and running to you with open arms. Coffee and pedicures with my sister in laws are priceless moments. Joking around and getting picked on by my brothers is a way of life and i love it. I hope that never stops. My parents will always see me as their little girl eventhough I am grown. I love that. I have a best friend who is a sister, a confidant. Her husband and precious children are family. Sometimes I lose sight of all this. The advice gets me down and makes me dwell and think on what I don't have in my life. I want to be thankful for what I do have every day and be encouraged that God knows the plans he has for me.. for hope and a future.

So I may be single once again this holiday season but I am rich in family and friends. There are great guys out there and one of them will sweep me off my feet one day. Until then I agree with Carrie Underwood's new song: "The Boys I Meet" . Click on the song title and enjoy.

I like to share

I decided to make a smoothie for dinner while I was at work the other night. I got kind of full so I just set the cup aside to wash before I went home. As the next dispatcher walked up to me to do a cross over, I stood up and grabbed my cup.

In one quick move my smoothie cup slipped out of my hand, poured the smoothie down my shirt, onto my pants..hit the floor. It made lots of splatters on the floor, cabinets, drawers, chairs... and much to my horror... the other dispatchers pants and shoes. It was everywhere!

I grabbed a mass amount of paper towels and attempted to clean up my mess. It is amazing how far it all splattered. The command center smelled fruity fresh for hours. And the other dispatcher.. what can I say.. I like to share :)

I Love Lucy

This Thanksgiving took a few unexpected turns to say the least.

I have been totally on edge for the last few weeks knowing my BFF was due to have her little girl any day. Around 2:30am on Thanksgiving morning my phone finally rang with the upbeat tune of "Life is a Highway" and I jumped up like a pop tart fresh from the toaster. Now.. for those of you who know me there is absolutely no "jumping" out of bed in the mornings where I am concerned. My old roommate, Valerie, used to spring forth from her bed when her Rooster alarm clock went off EVERY morning while we lived together. It drove me crazy. (Love you Val).

I quickly got stuff together and high-tailed it to the hospital. Jess and Andrew got there a few minutes before I did. I couldn't believe I was there! I missed the birth of her other two and I was elated that I would be there this time.

It was a long morning full of walking the hallway with Jess. I think we had some of the best bonding time during our walks to and fro. I was constantly thanking God for the memories we were building at that moment. For weeks I had been telling her that I would be right by her side to be strong and hold her hand. During contractions Andrew or I would stand behind her and rub her back and let her work through the pain.

Towards the end I started to crumble a little. I couldn't handle seeing her in so much pain. It was ripping my heart out. At one point I almost stepped out of the room because it was almost too much for me to watch. Instead I just gave her my hand as silent tears rolled down my face.

When it came time for her to push I looked like a tourist with a still camera in my left hand, a video camera in my right hand and another still camera around my neck. I am surprised the pictures didn't come out blurry because I was shaking so much. Lord only knows what the video is like... it may just be of the ceiling. Sorry guys! Yet the whole time I stood strong for my friend telling her I could see her baby's head and that she was almost here.

I again had tears in my eyes when the doctor put this little girl on my friends chest. I stood there thinking how precious and priceless this moment was. How I will never think of November 27th the same. I will always remember watching my amazing friend deliver her baby girl. There are no words to describe what an incredible job Jessica did. Andrew was incredible too. He stood like a rock by her side the whole time, whispering in her ear how much her loved her and that she was doing great. Even now thinking of those moments makes me a little choked up. I will wait a lifetime to have love like that.

I love this little one so much. She may not be blood related but her and her brothers are just as much my niece and nephews as Alissa, Justen and Peyton are! So it is my pleasure to show off my newest "niece" Lucy Eden LaTour: