Are you ready????

ARE YOU READY????



I'm one of those that put my tree up the day after Thanksgiving, and the lights get put up outside then too, my house is all decorated with Christmas decorations in almost every room. I have all my shopping done and 90% of everything wrapped and under the tree...I have packages in the mail already....and this next week I will start my holiday baking. I get excited this time of the year..sure there's alot that is going on and alot of things I am doing..but its what Ive always done this time of the year and its become our family tradition so I wouldn't want it any other way.

What about you....are you ready..or are you one of those that put the tree up last minute...get the shopping done last minute..and throw the gift in a gift bag so you don't have to wrap it??

My Secret Santa Gift Arrived!!!

I was so excited I tore into my package just like I was a kid again!!! I dont care how old you are surprises are ALWAYS fun!!!!




I got not one but TWO great smelling candles...YAY!! I love candles!!!

My Secret Santa didnt know a thing about NASCAR, but bless her heart she tried, Im a Tony Stewart fan, she got me Dale Earnhardt stuff, and I will have to say I don't think you can love Nascar and not love Earnhardt...so thank you Secret Santa!!!

I also got this great Country Living Magazine and its full of some awesome ideas..I love it!!!

And last but certainly not least I got a bag full of my favorite chocolate...REESES!!! mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Im going to get a head start on the holiday weight gain!!! hehe


So who ever you are Secret Santa I thank you for such a super gift...you rock!!!



I also wish you a very Merry Christmas!!!!!


Thanks Georgie and Amy for doing this, it was alot of fun!!!!

Thought 4 Thursday

Toons 4 Tuesday

Music 4 Monday

This should help get everyone in the mood. Josh wants to do this to our house next year...yeah right!!!!!

Its me....Im still alive!!!

Im still here..Im sorry I haven't been around lately..Ive been bogged down with sales with our two online stores...and making holiday crafts for gifts..buying and wrapping gifts....and soon will be starting my holiday baking!! Got the house all decorated..inside and out...so it looks all festive here!! I just dont want you guys to think Im gone from blogging , as soon as things slow down a bit around here I will be back with my daily post!!! Thank you to everyone that has left comments and emails to see if Im ok....you all warm my heart. Yes Josh is still without work but we are surviving and making the best of everything!!! We had a really nice Thanksgiving...my older boys were home and Kody stayed home over the week-end to help get the lights up outside...hes such a sweetheart!!! oh yeah and on top of all this craziness I won a give-away from a fellow blogger!! Yay its for candles...omg Im a freak for candles...love them love them love them!!!!! Go check out her blog, shes awesome!!

Leave me a comment tell me what traditions that you have for Christmas time....I have found that since my older boys are off to college that my oldest is very big on making sure that mom stays with the ole traditions of the holiday...so share with me some of yours..Id love to hear them!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Im baking pies today and tomorrow our house will be full of people and lots of good eats...so I for sure will be a wobblin!!!!

Toons 4 Tuesday

Hope you all have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Music 4 Monday

Fall Out Boy - New Music - More Music Videos

something to think about

Be aware of the thoughts doing battle in your mind, for some of them will win and become your actions. Be aware of your actions, for those which are repeated will become your habits. Be aware of your habits, for they will make your character. Pay attention, because your character creates your life.

Thought 4 Thursday

“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”

Music 4 Monday

Yes its me...Im still alive!!!

As you know from my last post, our life took a wee bit of a turn, last week the place where Josh works did some down sizing and he was one of them that was let go....it came as a complete shock to us and now that its been a week we've learned to deal with it a little better. We have our moments but for the most part we are learning to just deal with what is put in front of us for now and believe that everything will work out for the best in the end. Lucky for us Josh does qualify for unemployment so that will help some. For now he's job hunting, has been helping me deal with our online store which business there has kicked up (thank goodness) and helping me to start a second store dealing with USED items, plus he's been tackling some items on the "honey-do" list!!! I also helped my son Devin start up a store. He's only 11 but he is always asking what he can do for money. Then with us starting our online store he wanted one too. So hes making handmade buttons, key chains, mirrors and more and we created an online store for him to sell these items on so go check them out they would make a great stocking stuffer!!! So that's whats been happening here!!


My thought for Thursday is:

"God doesn't give you the people you want, he gives you the people you NEED. To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be."

and my music for Monday is:

Always remember to never let the weight of the world bring you down!!

Prayers needed........

I've been away for a couple days and it does feel good to get emails from some of you asking if everything is ok. Ive read the stories on blogs of others losing their jobs or their significant others losing theirs, I see it on tv about places closing their doors and knowing that many are now without jobs. I've always thought Josh and I are so lucky that isnt happening to us. That was then.... now its happened to us...Josh was let go from his land surveying job as the work load just isnt there so they had to start eliminating jobs. This came as a huge shock to us and everyone else, no one was given any warning this could be happening, at the end of his day Tuesday, he was told that was his last day, that they had to let some people go and he was one of them. Its taken the last few days for this to soak in and for us to learn to come to grips with the reality of it. We have cried, got angry, and have sat in silence well trying to deal with this. But we have also said we will not let this bring us down. Its scary, but we will find a way to survive this. I've always believed that things happen for a reason and Im trying to believe that now . Sure I know its a sign of the times...things are rough all over and everyone is being hit by this in one way or another. But I am trying to hold on to the belief that this too will eventually have a good ending, and maybe even one day see that this too happened for a reason. Josh has done land surveying for 13 years, living in the area we live in its going to be almost impossible for him to find another job doing that, and its a job he really likes. He was driving 50 miles one way every day of the week for this job. So yes its a little unsettling knowing theres a good chance he isnt going to find another surveying job around here. Plus we live in a town where businesses are closing their doors every month. We have the fear our town is going to soon be a ghost town. We have talked about wanting to move to Texas to be closer to my brother and sister, but I have a really hard time thinking about leaving my older boys who are both in college here in Nebraska and only 50 miles away from me, but now who knows it might be the only thing we can do, so that Josh can get a job he really likes, and make the money he is used to making. So now we are filled with many things to think about and what could be some life changing decisions to be made. So keep us in your prayers.

Morals..where did they go???

Dictionary.com defines morals as:

n : motivation based on ideas of right and wrong


I cant help but ask where are everyone's morals almost every night when the news comes on and I hear about yet another person getting caught having an affair, another person getting in a car after drinking and driving and killing others, another child gone missing, another person being beaten to death or raped and people standing around watching!!! What is going on here???? What ever happened to "treat others as you would want to be treated" And why as a society do so many thrive on these things? I mean we take someone like David Letterman,he cheats on his longtime girlfriend/wife/mother of his child with SEVERAL women, and the media pitys HIM? The only thing he can possibly be sorry for is getting caught. Sure nobody deserves to be at the center of an extortionist plot, but a woman who has been with a man for 20 years doesn’t deserve to be cheated on either. And how can a 15 year girl be at a homecoming dance and get raped and beaten by 10 guys while 20 other guys stand around and watch and no body does anything??? Where are these peoples morals??? What is happening to everyone?? I tell you it scares me to think that these are the kind of people around us. The morals or lack of, that are displayed in some of these cases make me cringe. I know that some of you will say thats why I dont watch the news, but not watching it does not make it go away. Its still happening and way too often!!! Last night while watching the news I heard them blaming the fact that sweet cereals are placed lower for kids to see and want, and candy is always placed by registers to attract kids and that there are games you can play on the internet that is directed towards kids and it has to do with sweets they eat. These things were being blamed on why kids are obese these days. I just thought to myself are you serious?? As a parent if you feel your child is obese then its up to YOU to do something about it, don't buy those foods, make them do some physical activities, but dont blame the fact the sweet cereal is down low on why your child is fat. This lead me to my next thought and I know some of you will not agree and that's ok. But again I blame some of the violence and the sexual abuse that's happening now a days on the crap that is put on tv, and in movies and in video games. Now I don't believe that these things will make a normal person go crazy and go out and do something horrible, but I do feel that having so much violence and sexual content available plays a part in making those that DO these kind of crimes feel its ok, or in some ways its justified, because of the things that's put out there in the media, and for entertainment purposes. In my opinion something needs to be done about this. Its time we start letting known sex offenders out of jail to walk around and be free to do it again when statistics show they are likely to be repeat offenders. Its time to start protecting each other and not just stand around and get some kind of sick satisfaction out of watching another person being raped or beaten to death. There is so much talk about CHANGE....these are things that NEED TO CHANGE....or its not going to be disease, or old age that kills us off..its going to be us as a society that does it!!
I know that America had to move forward and leave behind some of our flawed ways of thinking but in our quest for liberation, are we going too far the other way?

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Toons 4 Tuesday

Music 4 Monday

I've always had a major crush on Nick Lachey....and this song just makes ya melt inside...well it does me anyway.

Nick Lachey "what's left of me"

Thought 4 Thursday

What about ME 4 Wednesday

As you know from my Monday post ..I'm trying to deal with something that happened over the week-end that hurt me...though I'm doing much better than I was , I am still hurting inside...so I really cant think of much to post for today that would be the upbeat things I usually try to post. I feel broken inside..and its making me feel really sad....that's what breaking someones trust does to you...and honestly it truly sucks. I put ALOT into TRUST...its not something that comes easy for me so once I trust you its important for me that you don't break that.

The truth may hurt me...but lies kill me inside



Perfect song for the moment

*Just some thoughts*

*Hold your heart with a gentle strong embrace.

* Realize that what you hold in those hands is sacred and one of the greatest gifts you can give any individual.

* Do not become hard to love...and do not be afraid to love hard

* Remember that people can only hurt you as much as you let them

* The only person that can fix you is you

* Even though your head keeps you focused, your heart keeps you in touch

* Sometimes you have to remind your heart that just because it feels good, doesn't mean it is good for you

* Do not underestimate yourself...you are more resilient than you think

* Let the scars on your heart that others have left behind remind you of how strong you really are

* Never lose the love you have inside because of someone elses mistake

* Know that it's okay to lose yourself in love, just don't lose yourself

* Remember that barriers keep people out, while boundaries just remind people what is acceptable and what is unacceptable

~ALWAYS REMEMBER...TO LOVE YOU FIRST ~

Question 4 you?!?!

What is the strongest opinion you hold?

Toon 4 Tuesday

Music 4 Monday

Usually on Mondays I just post the video and don't really write much about why I picked that song....Today is a little different..I had one of those week-ends where something happened that at the moment felt like it turned my whole world upside down. It made me question everything that I had believed in, and everyone that I trust. (which considering the life Ive had that list is pretty small) I went thru alot of emotions over the week-end, everything from heartbroken, to really mad, and it left me feeling sick and numb inside. It was one of those times where I couldn't help but ask why??? Why do things have to happen like this??? I'm a good person,but why do people hurt me like its no big deal???? I actually found myself saying a couple times over the week-end I just want something or someone to believe in......and that is why I picked this song for today...it kind of goes with my mood. Sure things got worked out over the week-end and I don't feel as horrible as I did..but once you hurt someone, or break the trust..it takes more than just a "I'm sorry" to make it feel better....it takes time..and it truly takes giving the person something to believe in.

Favorite 4 Friday

My favorite for today is...YOU, all my online friends...I know that for most of us we will never have more than the comments we leave for each other on here...and for a few of us we have taken it further and sent emails to each other, and for a few more we have even exchanged numbers/addresses and have talked over the phone and sent cards and gifts to each other in the mail, and maybe if the time comes things will work out for a couple of us to actually meet face to face one day, for one of us thats already happened! Some of you have become really special to me and I want to thank you for your friendship, for encouraging me, for genuinely caring about me, and even for taking the time talking to me. Even though you are "online" friends, it is, to me, a real friendship, and I just wanted you to know, I think you guys are AWESOME!
I have come to really enjoy reading your blogs and getting to know you guys a little more each day,you have made me laugh and sometimes made me shed a tear. You guys have made me stop and think about things and even sometimes see things in a different way. I notice when you haven't been around and I hope that you and your family are ok. I always look forward to not just your post but even the comments that you leave for me, or the email you might send me to tell me something you didn't want to blast out there for everyone to see. You guys and you know who you are have become a friend to me and I value my friendships, and that is why YOU are my FAVORITE for today!!!

Another thought 4 Thursday

Thought 4 Thursday

What about me 4 Wednesday

Thats a great theme for today....its kind of what Ive been thinking the last few nights at about 3 in the morning, as Im waking from what seemed to be a nice restful nights sleep just to look over at the clock and see that I still have 3 hours I could be sleeping...but I just lay there...tossing and turning...trying to find a comfortable position and suddenly no position feels comfortable!!! Im trying to clear my mind of anything and everything...repeating over and over again just go to sleep Dena..as if Im going to put myself into some kind of trance or something....so the last few nights Ive most definitely been feeling the what about me feeling....why cant I just stay asleep...why do I keep waking up at 3 in the morning. Yesterday I was blessed with a horrible headache which probably had to do with my lack of sleep lately....and thats just not much fun trying to take care of kiddos while your head is throbbing!!!! I dont have one today...or at least not yet (knocking on wood) but man am I tired!!!

Toons 4 Tuesday

*you know thats funny..hehe*

2 hours and 45 minutes.......

If I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes taking a nap..Id feel well rested
If I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes watching a good movie..Id think that was worth it
If I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes talking with an old friend...Id feel like we got caught up on things
If I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes playing with my nephew..Id be happy inside
If I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes with my older boys who are away to college...Id be thankful for every minute
If I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes cleaning my house..Id feel like something finally got accomplished around here!
If I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes getting my grove on with my Joshy...Id feel like ok well I wont go there

BUT instead I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes in WALMART waiting for their tire and lube guys to put ONE I repeat ONE new tire on our Grand am....this is by far one of the most ridiculous things I think we have experienced...this is what these guys do every day...after all this is their JOB....oh and it gets better...after about an hour and a half one of the guys say to Josh I dont think this is going to work..Josh asked why and so the guy takes Josh out to the garage area and proceeds to fumble thru what ever it was he was trying to say when Josh noticed they actually had the wrong tire ...I repeat the WRONG tire for our car...they had not tried putting it on yet...I have no idea what they had been doing for the last hour and a half...I should tell you their was only one car in front of us when we got there and they were just getting done with it so the wait wasnt for another vehicle...this was for our vehicle!!!! So anyway by this time Josh is livid and I cant say I blame him....I'm tired and I have spent way too much time in Walmart already...after all I had already been there before doing my shopping!!!! So they were suppose to actually rotate two of the tires but by this time Josh is just done and tells them to put the damn RIGHT tire on and be done!!! So finally 2 hours and 45 minutes after we showed up there we are finally driving away with ONE new tire!!! We actually need to get all new tires but for our little car the cheapest tire you can get is $115 and right before Christmas that's just not going to happen...so we replaced the one that was starting to split and will make do with the others for now...and God forbid we have to go back there to replace the other 3 after Christmas!!!! Can you imagine..we might as well put up a tent and blow up some air mattresses and just camp out!!!

Music 4 Monday

Ok lets be honest girls...how many of us copied that look??


* I know I did...I even used to practice her moves until I got them down pat*

Favorite 4 my Friday

My favorite for today is...my "Joshy"

We've been together for almost 3 years now..and it certainly hasn't always been easy. We were pretty much complete opposites, who had both been thru horrible marriages and had major scars from them. It most definitely didnt make for a good way to start out in a relationship, but here we are 3 years later and we both have grown and learned so much from each other. I wouldn't change a thing. I truly feel in my heart that he was meant to find me and that we are meant to be together. Now if you would of asked me that 3 years ago or even 2 years ago I wouldn't of had the same response. But I honestly feel that way now and thats why he is my favorite.....I thank him for being so patient with me...I had been in 2 abusive marriages before he came into my life and so trust was not something that came easy for me...but he stood by my side and was determined to show me that I could trust him..and I will be forever grateful for that. For him he had to deal with alot in his past too but one thing that hurt him bad was being cheated on..so I had to show him that he could trust and believe in me...like I said it wasnt an easy road for us but we traveled it and we are now on the road of happiness..sure we hit bumps along the way, but its how we handle those bumps now that makes all the difference in the world.

Everyday I get more afraid
Of giving my heart away
Scared of what love will bring
Too nervous to hear the words you’ll say
I find myself lost in you
Not sure if I want to be
I see the looks that you give
And wonder what you see in me
I don’t want my heart broken
But I am so in love
I can’t seem to give up
A guy sent from above
So I’m gonna trust you
Please don’t let me down
For I am giving you a chance
To turn my life around
Don’t take it for granted
‘Cause it might not last long
I have weak thoughts
And my heart isn’t too strong
I’m putting my life in your hands
Now it’s all up to you
I look forward to the places we go
And the things we’ll be put through
But remember that I’m vulnerable
And I can’t stand to be hurt
I want to be at the top of your list
But I don’t have to be first
Believe me when I tell you
That I love you with all my heart
That I’m here for you forever and always
Just like I was at the start.

Light your candles tonight in memory of ALL babies gone too soon!!!

There are so many of us that have experienced the loss of a baby whether it was due to still born, miscarriage, or some other reason. On October 17th 2007 I should of had a beautiful addition to our family...but I lost it due to a miscarriage months before.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is to promote Support, Education and Awareness for grieving parents worldwide.

Too many families grieve in silence, sometimes never coming to terms with their loss. Their goal is to help families live with their loss, not "get over" their loss.

Thought 4 Thursday

There may be days
when you get up in the morning
and things aren't the way
you had hoped they would be.

~

That's when you have to
tell yourself that things will get better.
There are times when people
disappoint you and let you down.

~

But those are the times
when you must remind yourself
to trust your own judgments and opinions,
to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.

~

There will be challenges to face
and changes to make in your life,
and it is up to you to accept them.

~

Constantly keep yourself headed
in the right direction for you.
It may not be easy at times,
but in those times of struggle
you will find a stronger sense of who you are.

~

So when the days come that are filled
with frustration and unexpected responsibilities,
remember to believe in yourself
and all you want your life to be.

~

Because the challenges and changes
will only help you to find the goals
that you know are meant to come true for you.

~

Keep Believing in You!

What about me 4 Wednesday

“I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it -- I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes. Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know -- but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me. However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am Okay.”

*this is a Virginia Satir quote...and I think its awesome...
it wraps it up for all of us don't you think?*

Where did Fall go???

This is what we woke up to on Saturday morning!!!! We got a good 3 inches of snow ....and my middle son that lives 50 miles to the west of us got over a foot of snow!!!! I don't know what is up with mother nature...but I sure would have like to of enjoyed some of the Fall season before the snow made its appearance!!!

Music 4 Monday

I'm in the mood for some Goo Goo Dolls!!!!

Reflection.....

It is not so much the example of others we imitate as the reflection of ourselves in their eyes and the echo of ourselves in their words.
~Eric Hoffer~

Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people.
~Albert Einstein~

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.
~Lao Tzu~

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
~George Bernard Shaw~

Look within!... The secret is inside you
~Hui-neng~

Most true happiness comes from one's inner life, from the disposition of the mind and soul. Admittedly, a good inner life is difficult to achieve, especially in these trying times. It takes reflection and contemplation and self-discipline.
~William L Shirer~

One of the greatest moments in anybody's developing experience is when he no longer tries to hide from himself but determines to get acquainted with himself as he really is.
~Norman Vincent Peale~

Seeing within changes one's outer vision.
~Joseph Chilton Pearce~

The only service a friend can really render is to keep up your courage by holding up to you a mirror in which you can see a noble image of yourself.
~George Bernard Shaw~

The stories of past courage... can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul
~John F. Kennedy~

The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face.
~William M. Thackeray~

I think its important for each one of us to be someone that when we look at our self in the mirror we are proud of the person looking back at us
~DENA~

Life is hard and sometimes it feels like it hands us more than we can handle..but in the end every thing we go thru is a learning experience sometimes we walk away learning more about someone else and sometimes the learning experience is for our self. We can find strength in ourselves at times we didn't think we had any at all.......in the world we live in where every time you turn on your tv or pick up a newspaper it is filled with all the bad that's going on around us its important for us to find some good...and that starts by looking at our self and asking do I like what I see? Do I like me? The person I am? What can I do to make a difference in someones life..maybe its your own life or maybe its someone you know , maybe its the person standing on the street corner feeling like he's got nothing to live for, and a simple smile and a hello could make all the difference. So look at your reflection and ask yourself do I like that person looking back at me...if not the only person that can change that is YOU!

Favorite 4 Friday

Being from Nebraska we dont have alot in the way of BIG sports to be a fan of from our state...not like alot of the the other states who have Pro football..baseball...basketball and such so for those of us living in the Cornhusker state...our HUSKER football is kind of a big deal...and Im sure most of you know we have had a few bad years lately....but we are starting to get a glimpse of hope for ours guys once again...and last nights game was a big win for us...we played Mizzou(Missouri) and we won...after last years game where they stomped us to the ground we really needed this!!! So my FAVORITE for this Friday is the score of last nights game

27 - 12

GO HUSKERS!!!!