My niece (14-years-old) just sent this to me and it’s really an eye opener (thanks Abby!)

Cell Phone VS Bible
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we used it to receive messages?

What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it as we traveled?

What if we used it in case of an emergency?

What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?

This is something to make you go….hmm…where is my Bible? Makes you stop and think “where are my priorities?”  Unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. And no dropped calls!

A friend of mine sent me this link this past week with two videos (thanks Amy). I couldn’t think of what to title this post, so took the title that they used on the original blog post. It’s a story of a man named Zac Smith who died of cancer. Zac made a video before he died (first video) and the following video is from his widow one year later. It’s remarkable and I guarantee you won’t be able to watch either of these videos without having tears in your eyes.

Life is what we make of it. Will you choose to be happy and take things as they come or live in a dire world that weighs you down?

The Story of Zac Smith (New Score) from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

A Story | Tears of Hope from Adam Kring on Vimeo.

Recent photo of us a few months back.

Today marks 15-years since Jason and I had our first date. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I remember it like it was yesterday. We went to Olive Garden, then back to my parents house to watch a movie (Apollo 13). I think you just know when there’s something special. I did something with Jason that I had NEVER done with another guy on a date (I’ve got you intrigued now, don’t I?).

I changed into sweat pants, put my glasses on (I wore contacts back then), threw my hair up, and (ready for this), washed my face so I had ZERO make-up on. How bold was that? And, I must have made a decent impression since he stuck around. I guess I threw all of my cards out on the table early on so he knew what he was getting into (well, appearance wise anyway). LOL!  He stayed until 6am that next morning and we talked the whole time.  Nine months later, he proposed and we married five months after that.

Happy 15-years Jason! Thanks for my last first date.

As many of you know, my current favorite Starbucks concoction is the Caramel Brulee, which is seasonal and not currently in season at this time.

I love our Starbucks for many reasons, but my top reason is that they are adventurous and willing to try anything.  They’ll create whatever I want them to and if I don’t like it, they’ll make me something else for free (even when it’s my idea for the bad concoction).  For the record, I have never had a bad one, but to know that they’re willing to remake me something is very cool.

They also are full of suggestions.  For instance, I went inside this past week to ask them a question (as it just didn’t seem worth asking in the drive-thru).  LOL!  I asked them if they had anything similar to the Caramel Brulee and lo and behold, someone came up with a concoction that is almost dead on in taste.  They even wrote it down for me before I left.  Score!

So, if you’re a fan of the Caramel Brulee or hadn’t taken time to try it and wish you had, have your Barista make a Grande with 2 pumps of white mocha, 1 pump of caramel, and 1 pump of toffee nut.  Perfection!!!

Ok, so for my challenge for you all…(and I don’t mean to be tooting my own horn as it seems to sound like that now that I’m rereading what I wrote, but necessary to explain my challenge to you):

I went through the drive-thru the other day and I often times pay for the person behind me.  This particular visit, the thought crossed my mind to pay for the person behind me, but immediately, I told myself “no” because if I did, then that’s one less visit I’ll get to make this month (how selfish am I?).  As I get up to the window and waiting for them to make my drink, I look in my rear view mirror and see a lady with a look of stress on her face or she was flustered because she had a lot on her plate (or whatever) and then notice the infant car seat in the back seat of her vehicle (yes, I could see this all in my rear view mirror).  Again, the thought pops into my mind to pay for this lady behind me.  I wasn’t going to let this thought pass me by again (maybe even a God prompting to bless this lady in turmoil behind me).  I decided to follow this possible God prompting, giving up my selfish thinking (wanting to hoard it for myself).

Every time I choose to do this, the Barista always asks me if I know the person behind me.  I had never thought about that (that I might pay for the person behind me because I know them).  I guess I never think it’s possible to be in a Starbucks drive-thru with someone I know right behind me.  Anyway, I say, “no” and the Barista always seems to be impressed.  I then think how I’m not only blessing this person behind me, but also “speaking” to this Barista who gets to experience my generosity toward a stranger and get to see the look on the persons face behind me that gets the surprise that her order had just been paid for by someone she’ll never meet.

Today something interesting happened when the Barista asked if I knew the person behind me.  He mentioned that sometimes this starts a chain reaction.  The person behind me decides to pay for the person behind her and so on.  I had never thought of that happening.  By me choosing to bless someone behind me, they may make the choice to bless the person behind them and so on.  It’s a blessing that keeps on giving and it wasn’t even planned or thought through.  And even if the person doesn’t decide to pass it on, they’ll remember what I did for them throughout the day, go home and tell their loved one or a friend, and possibly one day do the same for someone else because they remember how it felt to be blessed out of the blue by a stranger. It’s something so simple and it isn’t expensive to do. 

My Challenge To You:
I challenge you to go throughout your next week or two and bless a stranger in some way, then come back here and leave a comment telling us what you did (and you can choose to do the exact same thing I did).  I can’t wait to hear the stories!  Have fun and know that this could be just what this person needs to set their day on a great path.

Happy Valentine’s Day to my sweetheart.  I can’t imagine anyone I would rather go through this life journey with.  I love you with all of my heart!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.  Have you got your significant other a card yet?  If not (and your significant other has a good sense of humor), head on over to mmmcrafts blog and print out her free Valentine card printable.  When I saw it, I just had to laugh.

I thought it would be fun to list a few of my favorite Super Bowl commercials (since that’s about the only reason I watch the Super Bowl…for the commercials).

My Favorite:

A Close Second: Check out the racing stripes on the back of the beetle. LOL!

Most creative:

The most disturbing, but funny:
<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&#038;brand=foxsports&#038;playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:8a69ecae-1bfb-49a9-9e3d-5679464c5fda&#038;showPlaylist=true&#038;from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videosearch&#038;fg=RAMP" target="_new" title="Doritos: Best for last">Video: Doritos: Best for last</a>

All I could think of was, “I wonder how many “takes” they had to do of this first scene” and then, “who would I rather be…the guy licking the finger or the one having my finger licked”. Ew!

And, I have to put Brody’s favorite. I was out getting some last minute food for the game last night and Jason said that Brody laughed at this one (he loves dogs):

How funny that my top three happen to be commercials for cars.

Me in my slippers standing on the parking space line outside the car. *sigh*

It’s been one of those days today for me.  I feel awful!  Stupid head cold.  Brody and I have had so much going on today and I’m having a hard time keeping up.

Brody has had something to do during every single “awake” time today.  This morning he had a free-for-all play at a gymnastic place, this afternoon he had his 15-month well check visit and tonight we both had a Chiropractor appointment.

So…my “unthinkable” happened today (key word “think”).  I clearly wasn’t thinking when I left the house for the Chiropractor.  As I get out of the car in the parking lot of the Chiropractor’s office, I realize (right away) that I’m still wearing my slippers.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  AGH!  There was nothing I could do but laugh.  Still laughing and shaking my head.  Just one of those days.

I thought it would be fun to share a little bit more about myself with you. I don’t know about you, but I always enjoy it when my favorite bloggers share some of their personal life (not that I’m a favorite, but it’s still nice to read more about someone’s blog that you read).

Here are some random facts about me…

–I have an irrational FEAR of spiders! I do not like them…AT ALL! My husband (and eventually Brody) has been trained to kill them upon immediate discovery.

–I don’t like loud noises (firecrackers, thunder, balloons popping).  I hate the “jumping scared” feeling!  If I know the loud noise is coming, I’m good.

–I am not a fan of reading books.  I’ll read a magazine any day though (like the shortness of it and can walk away from it at any time).  If I read a book, it’s a self-help book (something that applies to my life).  I don’t have time to read, so I want to make it worth my while.

–I love watching it rain.  Doesn’t matter if it’s just drizzle or a full on soaking…just as long as it’s not accompanied by thunder.

–I used to play the flute (for 2 years).  I wish I would have stuck with it.

–I am a night person.  I come alive somewhere around 10:00PM.  I love staying up late while the house is quiet.  It’s the waking up in the morning part that I don’t like.

–I can’t wait for Brody to be in school so I can be active on the PTA or be a room mom.

–I wish I could keep a clean house.  I have OCD about everything being in it’s place, yet could care less about dust everywhere.  Go figure.

–In the winter I always have slippers on my feet, but once summer comes, I’m barefoot ALL of the time.

–In my dream home I have a playroom for all of Brody’s toys, a designated guest bedroom, and kitchen drawers that have the soft close feature.

–I wish I had time for more scrapbooking.

–I sleep with Brody’s monitor turned up because I need the white noise.  If he sneezes at night, it scares the crap out of me.  LOL!

–I love to cook, but hate the clean up (and time to prepare things…wish everything was instant).

–I was born and raised in Pekin, IL.  My parents still live in my childhood home.

–I was married 4 months after I turned 21.

–I am not a fan of traveling.  I hate the packing and unpacking and the airport!  I am a home body.

–I am a HUGE planner. Check lists, schedules, charts, etc. I hope to instill this into my children.

–I drive a 2006 Honda Odyssey and love it, but am secretly jealous of my husbands new sporty car (a 2004 Acura TL).

–I have a wonderful relationship with both of my parents.

–I love Twix.

–I just started watching (from the first episode) “How I Met Your Mother” just a couple of months ago.  I’m already in the middle of Season 5.  I love this show!

–When I was in Junior High, I had a pretty rebellious streak!

–I am very much in love with Jason. My heart still skips a beat when I see his number show up on caller ID during the day, or when I hear his car pull in after work.

–I am the happiest and at peace when my house is clean or I’m crafting something.

–Jason is my best friend. We have been through so much together, but there is no one else on Earth that I would rather walk through difficult times with than him. I’m so lucky to have him by my side. He is an incredible father to Brody and partner to me.

Okay! That was my turn! Now it’s your turn! I hope you will play along and won’t leave me hanging here. If you have a blog, do a similar post so we can get to know more about you and each other. Then come back and link them up here! I would love to learn some more about my readers!

This is definitely something I shouldn’t be proud of, but I am.  Stupid gimmicks that just suck you in.

A few months back, I met Charlie at Starbucks.  He works there and is one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet (almost fake nice).  We got to talking about the gift card I was using to buy my coffee.  He asked if I had registered this card.  Nope, I hadn’t…didn’t see the value in doing so since I hadn’t planned on “loading” it up with more money to spend.

He then proceeded to show me his GOLD card (with his name on it) and explained it to me.

I know, it’s not completely glamorous, but I did it.  My addiction to Starbucks this past year has gotten me GOLD status.  LOL!  This is about as exciting as my life gets.

How Can You Get A GOLD Card?
Registering your Starbucks Card signs you up to enjoy My Starbucks Rewards. You also protect the balance of your card if it’s lost or stolen.  This will automatically enter you into the Welcome level of the program, which means you’ll receive a free birthday beverage.

Once you have visited and used your card five times (which earns you 5 Stars), you will move into the Green level, where you will receive the following benefits:

• All Welcome level benefits
• Free select syrups and milk options such as soy
• Free refills on brewed coffee or tea
• Free tall (12 fl oz) beverage with one pound of whole bean coffee purchase
• Special exclusive offers and coupons

After you earn 30 Stars (25 additional Stars after initially qualifying for Green level), you will qualify for the Gold level.  At this level you earn the following benefits:

• All Welcome and Green level benefits
• An exclusive, personalized card (unavailable in stores) and Welcome Packet
• The ability to earn a free drink after every 15 Stars.