Thankful Thursday: My Job

Yes, I know it is Friday. Thursday was a blur this week. Actually the last 2 weeks have been a bit of a blur. I've worked the last 13 nights. No days off in between. I finally had yesterday off but I am back at it tonight for another 5 nights.

I am not complaining though. I have a job. It is stressful, busy, crazy, stupid, annoying, frustrating, fun, exciting and I love it. I work with people that are a family. You can really only understand the dynamics of such a "family" when you are part of it. If a firefighter from Northern California gets hurt or dies, we all feel it. We shroud our badges and mourn like they were our closest friend.

My partner, Ali, is a gift from God. We talk about everything. I see her more than my family, Jared and other friends. I see her no less than 36 hours a week. Soon I will see her anywhere from 36-48 hours a week. That's not including overtime.

My other co-workers are just as wonderful. We joke, talk about our lives, encourage and console eachother after a bad/difficult call. We hug and let eachother cry when we need to.

I am thankful that in this economy, when most people have hours getting cut, mine have increased or atleast have stayed the same. I am thankful that I have been able to work a crazy amount of overtime the last few months so I can afford, without stressing, christmas gifts for people.

I am tired and kind of wish I had more than one day off this week but I am thankful.

Thankful Thursday: Friends

Yeah, I know I missed Thankful Thursday last week. It was a Holiday...give me a break. And please ignore the fact that said Holiday was about being thankful. I'm back now and that's what matters. Right?

I've heard it said that friends are the family that we choose. It's true.

People come and go in our lives constantly. I believe there is a time and a season for everything. Some of those seasons last longer than others.

I have a friend that I met in the 3rd grade. We did a very scientific science project together and got a B. Or was it a B+? In any case, that's not a bad grade for counting raisins. We played together constantly, had sleepovers and have remained friends through our adult lives.

I have a friend from Junior High that has a beautiful family of little boys. I love that we still keep in touch and love close by. Even if we don't get to hang out much. We used to go to youth group together and went away to college together. She's one of the funniest people I know. I love seeing how happy she is and that she's still part of my life.

I have a friend that I met my freshman year of High School. She's like a sister to me. She knows everything about me. Her kids call me "auntie" and I cherish the times we get to sit on the couch and watch cheesy girlie movies. We both have an unhealthy love for reality TV shows but I think we keep eachother balanced.

I have a new blog friend whom I've never met face to face. She's funny and I look forward to the emails from her. We've met through Operation Baking GALS. What better way to make a new friend than by joining an organization that helps others?

 I have every kind of friend in between that too. I am richly blessed by the friendships in my life. I am thankful that these friendships have lasted so long. The good, the bad and the ugly.. they have all been there for me. You have all touched my life in ways you will never know. Thank You , friends. I love you.

God

Here's a story for you...


There was a 69 year old man helping out a friend. They were doing manly handyman type stuff when something fell and hit this man's hand. The object cut his thumb to the bone and he passed out, hitting his head along the way. When he came to he got light headed and passed out again. His friend immediately called 911.

In the ambulance the man complained of "heart burn" and to his surprise the paramedic told him he was having a heart attack. This was shocking news for the man because he's never had any type of heart problem. He was taken into surgery shortly after arriving at the hospital. They did angioplasty and put in a stint and he is on his way to recovery.

You see, had he not cut his thumb, his adrenaline wouldn't have elevated and his blood wouldn't have hit the blockage in his heart in such a way and cause a mild heart attack. This man would have been walking around ,unknowingly, with a blockage in his heart. The blockage would have continued to grow and he would have had a major heart attack. He drives for a living and lives alone. It could have happened anywhere. He couldv'e had it while he was home alone or on the road and cause an accident. But someOne was looking out for this man.

If you ever wonder if there is a God. Or if there's someone out there that really loves you unconditionally and cares about every.single.detail. of your life... stop wondering. This story proves there is a God. Nothing is coincidence. Nothing happens by "chance" or "fate". God knows every detail of our lives. He knows where we are at all times. I can hear some of the nay-sayers out there saying "well if God really loved this man he wouldn't have allowed something as bad a heart attack happen to him". How about you change that around. If God hadn't been there, this man wouldv'e had a major heart attack. He might have had major damage or even died. Bad things happen in this world because Adam and Eve brought sin into the world by eating the forbidden apple. God gives us free will and we choose what path to follow. There's more to it than all of this but I am by no means a theologian.

What I know with 100% of my heart is that this man is alive because God was watching out for him. God loves him. God knew what was going on inside this man's body and intervened. You may wonder who this man is and where I heard this story. It happened yesterday and I heard the details of it today because this man is my uncle.

Baking GALS

I know I've mentioned Operation Baking GALS a few time. Like here and here. I can assure you there will be more posts. So I hope you like them.

We are currently at the beginning stages of the Christmas Round. Packages start getting shipped tomorrow. There are 26 teams this round. Meaning 26 men/women (and their co-workers) will be getting packages from all over the United States. Because I was bored, I counted how many people were signed up for this round so far.

(Drum Roll Please)

281.

Isn't that incredible? That's not even counting the people that are also baking but just not signed up on the website. I know a few of my team members have enlisted some of their friends to help but they are not signed up on the website. I am just amazed with how many people have gotten involved.

"Operation Christmas Blessing" is going pretty good. This week I will be getting the letters/pictures made by some kidlets around san diego county. People at work at slowly starting to bring in things for the stockings. The stockings are decorated and waiting to be filled. I think it will be pretty neat to see the end result.

The Pioneer Woman

The Pioneer Woman...
I love her.
She's cool.
I want to be her.

I don't even know where I heard about her for the first time. I've heard mention of her over the last year or so but didn't really know who or what she was. Was she a Betty Crocker type product that made you think there was a real person behind the title but there really isn't?(That's right, Betty Crocker isn't a real person... disappointing, I know) Or was she a real person somewhere in cyberland? Then a friend and fellow blogger briefly wrote about her here. So I followed the links she posted on her blog and that's when I fell in love.

Ree Drummond is The Pioneer Woman. She is funny ,witty and I just can't get enough of her blog. I can spend hours reading through all of the sections on her website. I think I am borderline obsessed. Recipes, the story of how her and her hubby met, homeschooling, her kids,home & garden, photography.. how she does it all, I will never know.

These days, if I am looking for a recipe I check her site first. Hopefully after Christmas I will be able to reference her cookbook (hint hint). This week is "pie week" on her food blog. Just when I thought I knew what pie yuumminess I was going to make for all of the Thanksgiving festivities, "Pie Week" happens. Now I will be spending the day before and the day of Thanksgiving making pies. Pie, Pies and more Pies. More Pie than all of our families can eat, combined. And you know what? They will be gooooooooddd. Oh I'm drooling just thinking about it!!!

Stay tuned for the sharing of these scrumdidlyumptious recipes. Or if you're impatient (like me), check out her website by clicking the link about. Happy Reading (and drooling)!

Thankful Thursday: Family

Not everyone can say they have a close-knit family. I am thankful that I can say I do have a close family and they would do anything for me. They have been by my side during heartbreak, financial struggles, weight loss, joy, sorrow... the list goes on. Some people have no family or are disconnected from them. I don't want to know what that is like. Ever.
My parents have always set a good example for their kids. They have always been honest about life. Even during rough times they stuck it out and made the best out of the situation. Life hasn't always been daisies and roses but I think that has just made us a stronger family. I have seen them sacrifice so much for our family. They taught us that family comes first and we always stick together.

I am blessed to have two older brothers that are protective, caring, annoying, and two of my best friends. They defend me when needed, make fun of me endlessly and love me the way big brothers should. I wouldn't have it any other way. (Jimmy/Brian... this doesn't not give you persmission to increase the teasing!). Both of my brothers have married incredible women. They have become part of  our family. My sisters. We shop, do coffee, talk about pretty much everything. I love spending time with them.

Last year I was welcomed into Jared's family with open arms. His family is a lot like mine. Before I met Jared, I would pray for the unknown man I would marry and the family that came with that. You hear horror stories of "the in-laws". Thankfully his family isn't that family.

Over the years our schedules have gotten more and more complicated. It has been good for us because we have all learned the importance of family. If your family needs you you stop what you're doing and lend a hand. The good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between... that's family.

Beauty & the Beast!

Remember I mentioned that I'm a theater nerd? I really am!

Ali, my work partner, and I went out on the town in late October to see Beauty & The Beast.

Its not that the theater requires you to get dressed up or anything but how often do you get gussied up and paint the town red? We took the opportunity to wear something other than jeans. I am really blessed to have a partner that is more than just a "work friend". She's a wonderful person and has a huge heart. One of the funnest people I know for sure.

It was an incredible show! I love how disney makes everything bold, big and just plain magical. You forget you're in an audience almost immediately. I kind of feel like I needed to watch it again because there were so many things going on. The special effects were pretty neat plus all of the dancing, sets and costume.. just amazing.

I highly reccommend seeing it next time it comes to town. I know I plan on it!

Zumba!

I tried out "Zumba" for the first time last night. For those of you that don't know, Zumba is a workout program based on latin style dance moves. I took the class offered at Ramona Fitness on friday nights.

First of all, I had a blast during the class! My legs were burning, I was dripping sweat and I felt very "white girl" because well, my hips just dont shake or move like that. I had so.much. fun during the class. Rose, the instructor, is the wife of a Cal Fire Captain that I know. She's just a doll and made the class fun while pushing us physically. I can't wait to take another one. Oh and I burned 546 calories in that hour. Not too bad if you ask me!

I officially love Zumba! I am bummed that I will miss the next few weeks of the class because of my work schedule. I may get a Zumba DVD for us to do at work. I think we need to change it up from "The Shred".



I've finally gotten back on track with eating well and working out semi-regularly. I forgot how good it feels to eat right and get your sweat on. iIn the last few week I've lost 7 pounds. It is coming off a lot slower than it once was but I am also not being as dilligent either. Regardless, I feel great.

Operation Christmas Blessing

I was thinking... What would it be like to be thousands of miles away from your family and friends, in a desert, wearing the same tan cammos everyday, no Christmas tree, no Christmas Music, no Christmas Lights, no Stockings, no Christmas cheer? If you ask me it would be pretty bleak, a little depressing and creating a whole lot of homesickness.

I was thinking some more (scary, I know)... Why don't I get a bunch of people to write out Christmas Cards, donate items for stockings and have kids write some notes. Easy, right? I hope so.

I have been involved with Baking GALS for a little over a year now. These last few months we have been sending packages to Jared's brother, Matt. He is on his third tour and is in Afghanistan this time around. His unit will be there through all of the holidays.

My hope and plan is to send filled stockings to each of the 15 people I have names for in his unit. I have asked a few people if their child's class can write cards/ letters, I will be putting out a box of christmas cards at work for people to write out, I've asked a few others to put boxes of Christmas cards out at their work places, I will be asking the owners of Ramona Fitness if I can put out some cards there for members to write and I plan on putting a donation box out at work so people can donate items for the stockings , if they want. My hope is to bombard them with Christmas Love, to bring joy to the desert region and a smile to their faces.

So, my dear readers, can you help? Would you be willing to have your kids color a picture or make a card? Will you write a Christmas card to one of these people? Are you able to donate a couple travel size containers of hand sanitizer or lotion or chapstick? Let me know!

If you don't live local, you are welcome to ship items to me and I will package them up and ship them out.

Donation ideas;

Costco Trailmix (they sell the indiviual serving packets... they are perfect!)

Instand Coffee
Hand Sanitizer
Lotion
Chapstick
Wet Wipes
Hard Candy (hey maybe a box of candy canes?)
Pez (who doesnt get pez in their stocking at christmas?)
Power Bars/protein bars
Toothpaste
Chex Mix
Crackers
Homemade snacks
Granola
Beef Jerkey
Turkey Jerky
 and anything else you might be able to think of. :)

Thankful Thursday: Veterans Day!

I don't think many of us can quite understand the real sacrifices of our service men, women and families. It is a lifestyle I, personally, am not accustomed to. I've seen friends' husbands leave their 2 month old baby for 9 months. I've seen a little boy beyond sad that his dad has to "keep leaving" him. One day these babes will understand why their daddy had to leave for a while. Mothers and Fathers kiss their sons or daughters goodbye for an unknown amount of time. Girlfriends,Boyfriends,Wives, and Husbands put their relationships on hold for 9 months, a year... or longer. Your family can be moved all over the country or even to a foreign country. Sometimes those moves happen every year depending on position, promotions, needs of the government.

Those that serve see, experience, and remember things from their times of deployment that we couldn't even think of in our worst nightmares. They are in the most extreme weather conditions, eat food that closely resembles cardboard and sleep on the smallest of cots for months on end. This lifestyle is far from glamorous. It is difficult and challenging yet when asked, they tell us it is the most rewarding career they could have ever chosen.

On this Veterans Day I am thankful for all of those that have served and are currently serving our country. I am thankful that they are willing to go into war zones to keep myself, and those I love, safe.  I am thankful that their families serve right along with them without complaint. I am thankful I live in a country that remains free because of those that put their lives on the line everyday.

Sometimes "thank you" doesn't seem to be enough. Words, cards, baked goods, balloons and celebrations only begin to express how grateful we are for their selfless service.

To everyone who has served, are currently serving, have a family member who is (has) serving... Thank You.