Boise State Football starts tomorrow!

BSU FOOTBALL SEASON BEGINS TOMORROW!!! Woooohhoooooo!! As you can tell, I am an ardent fan. And have been n e since I was like 6 when Dad started getting season tickets for him, grampa, my sis and I. This has been tradition every fall, and each and every fall we always get to the stadium a few hours early to sit and eat at The Ram, we always got the huge nacho platter, and then we'd head over to the game.

I am excited for this year, but in the last year or two, things have changed. My sister is 6 hours away going to the rival college, so she cant go anymore. Grampa seems to be losing interest, he only goes to maybe a quarter of the games, usually giving some dumb excuse, this time he's driving my grandma up to BFE for a flea market. So that leaves dad and me. So now I am happy to say my husband gets to go with us, I enjoy having him everywhere I go. Although now since Granpa doesnt go, and gas prices and food prices and sisters college tuition are up... this is the first year we wont be going to The Ram. I am one who really doesnt like change unless I facilitate it, but there is nothing I can do. It is sad to see traditions die, especially when there is such an emotional attachment to them.

This year, it will be myself, dad and Zac. We will be tailgaiting in the parking lot of The Ram. Dad is going to bring the grill and polish sausages and other yummy stuff, Zac and I are bringing potato salad and stuff to munch on during the game, and we are going to have a great time, regardless of what tradition used to be. I enjoy spending the time with my dad. Thats 99% of the reason I go to the games. I love the games, but I dont get to see my dad very often. Even growing up he was the breadwinner, and usually fairly grumpy or tired after work, so we only saw him on weekends.

Tomorrow we play Idaho State University and we plan to kick butt like usual. This game isnt going to be on ESPN, but if you want to watch it, go to http://www.broncosports.com/

A link for you.

Please click here for an awesome post by Anna at Hope Road.

http://hoperoadblog.com/2008/08/27/antipsalm-23/

4 months until 2009. Already dangit.

I wonder where 2009 will take us. (for starters I can hardly believe that 2009 is almost here.) Once May hits, Zac will be done with his certificate studies and can actually call himself "welder". HOwever he wants to get his AA in welding, which would require another year of school whether taken during the normal school year or during the summer. And the second year he can take anywhere he wants because the classes he would need are just like the English 101 & 102, Math and ect.

I dont know where God will put us in 2009... I will be content wherever He places us. Although yesterday in my daydreamy state, googled the places where Ive heard there are welding jobs.(Perhaps a bit sterotypical) I looked in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota... I've never ever had any desire to live in the midwest though. I have always lived either near an ocean or in the mountains. But even if God decides to place us in Alabama or somewhere down there, I will be ok for it would be His will. I would have to get ahold of Anna of Maidens of Worth so she can tell us what are the nice parts of Alabama.

As much as I am antsy to know what is going to happen, it is soooo much easier to let God take His time with us rather than carry the stress of worrying about finding a job, where do we live, so on and so forth. I am so thankful He is there to guide us down His direct path and that we are not alone in our wanderings.

Wherever we go, I would want lots of rain! And lots of trees. And preferably mountains, or large hills. Canada would be cool... expensive, but cool. Alaska would be the ultimate though. Zac would be the happiest there, but we will see. For now we are just enjoying our time in Southeast Boise, tucked away in our little neck of Parkcenter. And I cant tell you how excited I am for Thanksgiving and Christmas!!! My favorite times of the year. Perfect weather, spices, hot food, hot cider, warm cozy atmospheres, sweaters & scarves, football games.... I could go on forever. Gives me the warm fuzzies! I should get back to work before my imagination takes over too much.

Please pray for these poor families!!

Last night there was a horrendous fire in South East Boise, thankfully more south from us, (we live in southeast boise, but still.... 9 homes were completley devoured by the fire, one woman died and there are many displaced and destitute familys now. One man made it out with the clothes on his back and didnt even have time to grab his shoes. This has been a major tradjedy for Boise, please send your prayers for these familys who got out with nothing but their lives.

Here is a link to the broadcast and photos and such:

http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-aug2508-major_fire.117ce9e5.html

FInance "webinar" starts next monday, not this monday...

Im not sure how i overlooked this, but that finance "webinar" I am going to start weekly I meant to say the 1st monday in september, come to realize what I wrote inplied yesterday, which is a week away from the 1st of september. sorry for the confusion. :)

Another treasure find..

I've discovered yet another new blog, Emily at Unfurling Flower has partnered up with two of her best friends to form A Path Less Followed. It's only just begun, but the few posts on it are pure inspiration and full of thought provoking items. Check it out!

Please read this poem, It is really good from a Christian perspective

In our Sunday School class today, we received a poem. It touched my heart and soul completely to the point of a feeling of warm fuzzies. This poem is something that we as Christians need to keep in mind as we go about our lives and sharing the Gospel of Christ, especially for our youth. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

The Bridge Builder
by William Allen Dromgoole

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim,
The sullen stream had no fears for him,
But he turned when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting your strength with building here,
Your journey will end with the ending day,
You never again must pass this way;

"You have crossed a chasm, deep and wide--
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?"
The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,

"There followeth after me today,
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may pitfall be.

"He too must cross in the twilight dim,
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."


I get goosebumps every time I read this.

God gave us money... and yet we spend it like its ours.

Starting Monday, I am going to start posting an 11 week webinar of how to handle God's money and become financially free. This is a subject I am passionate about, as you can imagine it would be nice to not owe anything to anyone. I am so close to getting there that I am so excited that I want to share with you what I have learned through bible study and prayer on this subject. Keep in mind this isnt a professional seminar of anykind, just my experiences from being hopelessly in debt to financially stable. I hope you'll join me. Also, I'd love feedback if you've got a good way of doing things or any input whatsoever. It is good to start young, however I believe a person in any stage of life can put their debts aside provided that God's money is placed back in the right hands.

Here are the weekly topics:

Week 1. What does it mean to be financially free and what purpose does money serve.

Week 2. Financial traps, false notions and God's view of the wrong way to go about money.

Week 3. Serving God vs. Serving Manna and Tithing

Week 4. Make a promise to God to stay out of debt and live within your means

Week 5. Credit cards, loans, interest rates and salesmen

Week 6. Is this the best price? and good debt vs. bad debt

Week 7. Lending and co-signing no-no's

Week 8. What does your signature say about your relationship with God

Week 9. Praying for money...why it doesnt usually work.

Week 10. Slothfulness...the undoing on a good financial system

Week 11. Prepare for an everlasting financial heritage

I do hope you'll join me!

Another year passed already??

I just realized my birthday is coming up in a few weeks. Its funny how as you get older, the more you just dont pay attention to it. I almost forgot! When I was little, I remember looking at the adults thinking they were nuts...how could you forget your own birthday?? Maybe it was all the pomp and procession we got as kids, with the balloons, party favors and as many friends as mom could fit in the living room that made it so special for a little kid. I think the last time I actually celebrated with friends and had a party was when I was 12. And i've noticed that even though my parents still throw me a "family" party, as the years go by it slowly has turned into "dinner-on-your-birthday". Which is fine by me. I'll take prime rib and a nap any day!

So I started a running list of things I could possibly want for my bday. After all, thats been tradition since I could write. It made me laugh as to what I came up with:

1. Tires

2. Tire alignment

3. Tune up

4. Fridge Calendar

5. Fridge Magnets

6. Kitchen Towels

7. MP3 player

I cant imagine how dull my list will be when I have kids. (socks, knitting needles, geritol...) It just made me laugh because way back when, even a few years ago, all I wanted was clothes, girly stuff and misc. junk. And now there is no point, because if the things aren't practical, then they are just something else that is going to clutter things up. Maybe its just part of growing up.

I remember at Christmas and birthdays for my parents, what dull, not fun things we got them. We always got my father spatulas or dish towels as he was head chef of the family. How boring I thought. But now I would kill for some new spatulas and dish towels!! ( I know I can go get them myself, I just havent got there yet.)

I guess my point is that I've got to grow up sometime and when you start you dont even realize it until something like this flys out of the blue. I am almost starting to feel old, but 23 is still really young I know. I'm just excited for prime rib.

New Treasures

I've added a few great new blogs to my Faves list! I've added MerelyMiriam... she is the best friend and co-author of Anna of Maidens of Worth. I've also added Not Her Own, who is the sister of Anna of Maidens of Worth, and Bethanys Blog, who I stumbled upon by accident.

All three of these are such welcoming, wonderful blogs and are really interesting to read too! Check them out!

I've got a new dream...

Yes, I love to let my thoughts wander into daydreams. The daydreams I am the most passionate about usually end up becoming reality, because I love the dream so much I just have to get it manifested. Here is my newest one...

So Zac will finish welding school in May. He would get an awesome job from a referral that takes us out of state, (at this point I dont really care where) and his income would be enough to support both of us. So we'd move and settle into a cozy little place and while he is at work, I would get a part time job at a coffee shop or something small like that to take up some afternoon time, and on my down time I'd go explore the town and surrounding areas since they'd be so new. It'd be like an adventure. Zac would work the job he actually loves until evening and then come home to an already clean house and a hot homemade meal and an awaiting wife. And then after awhile of being able to save money, we'd move to Alaska and call it a day.

I love day dreams. They are so fun because you can hash out any situation however you want and it can be perfect. Please dont get the idea that I dont ever live in the present reality, thats what I do for a living. Daydreams are just my Zen. My candlelit bath. It is a place I can go to just kick back and relax. And the great thing is, is that when I come out of it, my reality doesnt seem any worse or better than before the dream. It's my own private getaway.

And it also fosters ways of thinking that are proactive. When I see myself in a daydream of something that I want to happen, I can retrace my "dream steps" and see how I got there and then mull it over to whether or not it would be feasable to use in real life to get there.

I love that God gave us imagination.

Im such a sucker

I know this doesnt seem like it should be a huge deal, but I get to bring my kitty home!! I worked out a deal with my landlord to make payments for the pet deposit and I can and I'm bringing baby cat home!

Now I realize he is an animal, but I get really attached. And I think it doesnt help that he is pretty attached to me too. Its really like living with a furry two year old. You cant go anywhere in the house without him, I cant even use the bathroom without him wondering why i closed the door and left him on the other side of it. Going on vacation is a whole nother story. (does that last part of that sentace look right?? I dont think Ive ever typed that phrase before.)

Pets are such a comfort to some people, and I am such a sucker. Not to mention he is a big ol' fluffball and hes so cute. I had a photo somewhere I thought, but I guess not. I'll post him later.

Im such a sucker for cute little furballs. Especially the little guys. It would be my ultimate downfall. If the world were ending and I was the only one able to save it, all my adversary would have to do is show me a kitten or a tiny bunny or whatever and this world would be toast. Im such a sucker.

We all are so blessed.

God holds us up through every situation we encounter. He never gives us a trial that is too big for us. And while we go through these trials, no matter how discouraged and frusterated we get, when we come out of them we see just how big God is and just how much He loves us. We are finally moved in to our new place and I just wanted to take some time to recount my blessings and bear my testimony.

I know that there is a living God and that He provides for us every second of every day.

I know that Jesus Christs atonement was the greatest sacrifice and that through total selflessness, He saved me.

I know that the power of prayer is true and I know that no prayers go unanswered.

I know that prayers go unanswered for times only to stregnthen our faith in Him.

I know that when things dont go the way you planned, He is pulling you closer to the plan He wants.

I know that God gave us family as the ultimate support system on this Earth.

I know that the Scriptures are true and that God gave us the ultimate handbook/manual for living on this Earth.

I am so blessed that God gave me such a wonderful husband who loves the gospel as much as I do. I am blessed that I have an opportunity every Sunday to go and to worship Him. I am blessed that He has granted my husband and I knowledge and understanding enough that we are able to feel His presence and listen to His direction.

Thank you, Dear Lord, for all thou hast done for us. I thank thee for the direction thou hast pointed us in and that we were able to heed your way. I thank thee O Lord for the peace that thou hast given my family and for the spiritual gifts we have received. Please let me always remember how good thou has been. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Awesome weekend.

What an awesome weekend. Friday we were house sitting for my inlaws, and we just plopped outselves on the couch with a frozen pizza, coke and ice cream and watched the opening ceremony for the Olympics. WOW. The Chinese are freakin amazing. So we went to bed late and then Saturday (my favorite day of this weekend) we layed in bed aaallll day long! And watched the olympics. Its really hard to get out of my mother in laws bed because they have a memory foam matress topper, I cant tell you the last time I slept so well. So we lazed around and got into the volleyball matches, I still cant tell you how to play, but it got tense! We finally got up at about 5:30 and got our bikes and left for Boise to ride the greenbelt to see what the fastest way to work and BSU was.

Then it was home to our normal home for church in the morning. After church however, I must have gotten some kind of food poisening, because from 1:30-6pm I was throwing up, laying on the bathroom floor, my face was completely swollen up, etc... I now still am having some sinus issues and a sore throat and my back hurts like crazy from throwing up, but aside from all that, I would do that weekend over again in a heartbeat!!

I finally found out my dance schedule. I start September 3rd, Wednesdays are my beginner ballet girls and my intermediate highschool from 6-8pm and Thursdays are my (yay!) beginner and intermediate pointe classes from 7-8pm. Im excited.

And thats the weekend report, I've got to get workin.

WE GOT IT!!

(This is the apartment building. Their photos really didnt do the place justice.)

Ok we are almost officially Boiseans. I say almost because we dont get our key to our apartment until Tuesday. As much as I am not a big-city kind of person, (not like Boise is huge or anything) I am excited to live so close to work. And to have such a great place to live! It really doesnt feel like your in the middle of down town, so I like it.

And I am soooooooo happy we qualified for a $0 deposit!!! That means we've only got first months rent to deal with. YAY! And ofcourse we'll bring Stinky along.

Were house sitting for my inlaws this weekend, so no packing is going to get done, but whatever. We dont have that much anyways. Now we have to find out what ward were in.

Suze is back on top of it!

Oh I feel better. I just dont get it. Oh well, thanks Anna, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one who feels like thier going absolutly nuts once in awhile!

So my mind is clear, I have my drive back and I've got plenty more energy. I got to go to lunch with my husband yesterday, today I'm going to Chef Lou's with Cecelia, and tomorrow I'm going to Lindy's with my friend Linda. Busy lunch schedule.

I think were pretty close to getting our apartment... I have to call back this afternoon to find out more info. I just wish it would get over it. I've never had an apartment take so dang long. O well. Patience, grasshopper. I am imagining myself in the apartment, it is such a nice layout with large windows and out all of them all you see is trees!! Which is a nice change considering its in the middle of the biggest city in Idaho. It feels like a resort on the outside, and a cabin retreat on the inside. Full bathroom and full kitchen! (including diswasher and disposal!!!) I've never had one of those outside of my parents house.

I'm starving. I keep looking at Chef Lou's menu with photos.. it doesnt help that my office is right over top P.F. Changs (chinese) and Protos (pizza). We get thier lunch smell up the air vents everyday. Right now it smells like a garlicky chicken/noodle chinese something but it is making my stomach rumble.

Its a good day. :)

Falling off the motivation train.

I've noticed that when I get to feeling all out of sorts like yesterday, the rest of my life falls apart too. Well not that bad, but things get crazy. Like I cant find time or the motivation to read scriptures, my house gets to be a disaster in a matter of .0089 seconds, and I find myself not wanting to do crap but laze around and sleep. And then when I finally realize whats going on, then usually I've got to go back and do damage control.

But, praise the Lord, I am able to realize these times faster each time they happen, so less damage is done. (by damage i mean messy rooms, lack of motivaiton...) I also have found this comes as a result of not enough sleep. (guilty.)

But even though my lack of motivation for prayer and scriptures is present, I still know He is around waiting for me to come back to life. I still listen to the daily devotionals in the car ride to work, and the hymns on the way home, and my husband and I still pray at night, its just the fervor I normally have for His word and teachings just kind of goes "poof!" I know these are only temporary feelings, but man... I just want to sleep.

I am coming out of this phase today, as I am realizing what went on yesterday and I've got some residual from yesterday with me today. I am perking up as I realize that I must do damage control again, although I must say this is the shortest apathy-gig I've ever been on, which is a good thing. Does anyone else ever feel this way?

Simple Truths

So anxiety, nausea, headaches and that dreaded "end of the world" feeling came over me today at lunch. I know this is mostly due to that wonderful hormonal time of the month when all womankind go a little (or alot) stir crazy and nothing makes sense. However, this was a little different in that I havent ever gotten this bad. I felt so completley gone. My body was jittery and twitching, but my mind was gone. Just no real emotion other than sadness and despair, I felt, well, like crap to put it midly. And for no good reason.

So I went to the Pita Pit and got my pita and then went and sat down in the secluded little park area of the US Bank building grounds. I sat and ate my pita wanting to cry the entire time. After my pita was gone, I had a half hour to kill. So I got out a piece of paper from my purse and started writing down everything I was feeling at that moment, trying to sort out what I was feeling and perhaps why. Anxiety. Nausea. Fear of losing everything, Extreme Fatigue...the list went on. And as I got to the end of the paper, It was like someone slapped me upside the head, I heard very clearly that still small voice saying Stop That! and turn the paper over.

Well, ok so I did. Then I heard Joy! Happiness! Love! So I wrote those down. Then I heard Have You Cried Yet? Huh?? Well, no I havent. Since my layoff I've had to be the strong one so I didnt even get to cry over that, and then with the school deal and moving and so on and whatnot, I told myself I didnt have time to cry. And it suprised me a bit, that when I heard the still small voice ask me that question, and I answered out loud a small "no." , the water works just started flowing.

And it felt good. Really good. Its amazing that Jesus knows what you need when you need it and apparantly I have been so locked up in being stressed and overwhelmed, that the second I got vulnerable and had a spare minute to relax, He finally got to hit me with that proverbial ton of bricks. And while I was crying and then a little after I felt His presence so strongly, like I was being wrapped up in a big blanket of love.

I feel bad that I allowed myself to get so wrapped up in the material world of stress and despair, not to mention the hormones being a wonderful amplifyer of that crap, that I wasnt able to allow my Saviour in and I couldnt hear the voice of the Holy Ghost. But He came just when I needed Him.

It was a great lesson to me that I need to remember that I am a daughter of God and He is there for me, no matter how stressed I am. He never gives you task that you cannot do, albeit some may be a challenge. Thank you Lord!!

Time?? Whats that?

HOLY CRAPOLA. I dont think I have been this busy for a very long time. My days at work fly by, and my nights seem like 5 minutes. This is the first time I have found a spare moment to blog! Jeepers.

Well, the search for an apartment is continuing.. we have found a few places to look at on Saturday since both of us will be in Boise anyways... I am still trying to figure out student loans and whatnot. BSU wont talk to me about it until they have a signed release form, which should arrive there today, and the lady Zac went to talk to last Monday isnt returning my calls.

Then there was this grand idea of camping in Glacier National Park by RV, but that was too expensive, so we i guess were going to tent it. But as luck would have it, Zac has orientation that week and if he misses it then he is dropped from the class... soooooo......

Taxes will be paid off this month!! YAY! and our stimulus package should arrive by end of August I hope. And then I can be relieved about that and just focus on paying my normal bills.

I spend my lunch hours roaming downtown Boise, since I work in the heart of it. So far the only thing I can afford down here is a Steak Pita with Tatziki sauce. Apparently people actually pay $300 for black tank tops that dont even come down to hip level. Apparently everyone in Boise makes $100K a year except me. Theres not even a Target or a Walmart close. So I just walk. Need to get my butt into shape anywho.

Life is good and God has blessed us immensly. I am so thankful for the direction He is turning us and that we are realizing that when we just let Him do His thing, every little detail is worked out for us. I am cat-sitting for my friend this weekend while she is in Salt Lake at a wedding, and somehow I am squeezing bookkeeping in there. (again, whats time?)

I'm really jonesin for a new purse, I hate mine. So non-functional and unpractical, but like I said above, I cant find one down here for under $20 that doesnt look like a plastic grocery bag. I'm suprised Winco down here doesnt charge $20 for their grocery sacs. Although everyone in this city is tree-hugging, dirt-worshipping, GREEN yuppies and/or hippies, so I am about the only one who still uses plastic. Everyone here uses the GREEN canvas REUSABLE bags. Which I'm sorry, but I have too much stuff to remember to take to work every day to remember to bring my 8 GREEN CANVAS REUSABLE bags. Especially when I walk 9 blocks to the grocery store on lunch in heels. Not gonna happen.

Ok I think that is a fairly thorough update for now. Yeesh. Back to work.